3. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Jackson
I tap on my steering wheel impatiently as I sit in traffic. My eyes keep darting to the time, and I remind myself that I’m only five blocks away from my daughter’s school. I almost get out and walk because I hate being late to get her, but a few cars start moving.
You’re already ten minutes late, what’s three more?
When I finally make it in front of the school, my eyes quickly find my kid’s pink dress as she sits on the steps of her school. My annoyance quickly fades at the sight of her smile as she looks up at her teacher but then I notice the dean standing with them.
“Great,” I mumble as I turn the car off and step out.
“Daddy!” Isabelle rushes over to me, and as soon as she’s in reach, I lift her and throw her in the air. Her laugh captures every ounce of my attention and I pull her in for a hug.
“How was your day, penguin?” I set her onto the ground again and she grabs my hand, but I don’t walk off because I feel her teacher and dean watching me like they have a lot to say.
“It was perfect. I got a great student sticker.” She shows me the back of her hand which has a huge gold star.
“Good job, baby.” I fix the bow in her hair before walking over to her teacher. “Hi, I’m so sorry I was late. There was an accident on the highway.”
Neither of them looks like they believe me, although I’m not lying. “No problem,” her teacher, Rose, says, and her tone alone tells me it’s certainly a problem. “ Another reminder though, her tardies are accounted for and we want all of the kids to be a part of that ice cream party at the end of the year.” Condescendence drips from her tone as she offers me a forced smile.
You shouldn’t punish kids for their parents being a few minutes late at pick-up, but okay. “Thanks for the reminder, Ms. Rose.” I offer her a smile and before she can respond, Dean Carmen joins.
“Do you have some time to come in and speak with us regarding Isabelle’s grades?” She looks down at my kid with a smile, and when I look down at her, she doesn’t look nervous or guilty, so I’m assuming they didn’t tell her whatever problem there clearly is.
“Yes, of course.” I follow them inside and we slow down as we reach a group of kids building Legos.
“Isabelle, why don’t you wait here while we talk to your dad?” Carmen smiles down at her.
She looks up at me for approval and I give her a smile as I nod for the other kids and she takes off.
“Is everything okay?” I ask once she is out of earshot. Both of them share a glance as we continue walking and my mind begins to run wild with the worst-case scenarios.
“Not really, Mr. Carter,” Carmen starts. “We had our first assessment earlier this week and her test scores were concerning.” She opens her office door for me and as I walk in, I turn to her instead of sitting.
“I thought you were working with her after seeing her score for her entry exam?” I look between both of them and Rose raises her brows unamusingly, but I bite my tongue.
These private school people have their heads so far up their asses. Being that we’re moving soon, I enrolled my daughter into this school since it’s closer to our new home, but a part of me is having serious regrets.
Carmen gestures to the chair in front of her desk and I take a seat as she sits in front of me. “We usually like to have these talks with both parents,” the dean starts, her gaze carefully watching me. “Mom hasn’t made an appearance and we think her involvement would be beneficial.”
I force a smile. “Mom won’t be making an appearance. It’s just me,” I remind them. We vaguely spoke about this at registration and like before, their nosy gazes are apparent.
“Well,” Carmen continues, her judgmental gaze clear as day. “We’ve noticed a delay in Isabelle’s development and things like this can happen after divorces. I heavily suggest Mom—”
I cut off her assumptions. “The separation wasn’t recent so I doubt that. What exactly is she delayed with?” I switch the topic, my concern peaking again.
Rose hands me a folder before standing beside her boss. “We have been working with her, but she hasn’t been making much improvement, especially since her uncle is constantly pulling her out of school during her tutoring hours.”
I open the folder and the first paper is how many times she’s been taken out of school early. A bright red ten stares back at me, and while that doesn’t seem like a lot, it certainly is considering school has only been in session for one month. She’s practically missed half of her tutoring sessions.
I swallow my anger and decide I’m killing Isabelle’s uncle . The next few papers are a few of her assignments and her last development test. I read through her scores as Isabelle’s teacher speaks up again.
“We can’t stop her from being pulled out of school early, but let’s be honest, there can only be so many family emergencies. She needs to be in school and I think Mom will agree.”
“ I agree.” I close the folder and let my eyes meet their harsh gaze. “She won’t be pulled out of class anymore,” I assure them. I was aware she was being taken out of class for her ice cream dates with her uncle since the school calls me whenever someone picks her up, but I didn’t think it was this bad. Either way, I already told him to stop doing this.
“Jackson.” The dean folds her hands together on her desk. “Isabelle’s promotion to the next grade is in doubt. Considering she’s a new student and on probation, like all new students are in their first year, failing will unfortunately get her kicked out of the school.”
I stare at her for a beat, but she’s being serious. “She’s five,” I point out. “Five-year-olds aren’t necessarily reading novels.” I try to hold back my defensive tone but fail.
“No,” she drawls. “However, she isn’t reaching milestones we like to see in kids her age, which could be for a number of reasons.” She raises her brows as she focuses on my frame.
I keep my initial response to myself. “She has the entire semester to catch up. Children develop at different ages.”
She nods in understanding before leaning back in her seat. “I’m aware, however, we have high expectations for all of our students and she’s currently not meeting them. I just don’t see her catching up in three months. I told you this would be a concern when she tested to get into our school considering her score was borderline passing. I’m aware five-year-olds aren’t reading novels, but if you look over the assessment, you’ll find she struggles with separating facts and opinions. She has a hard time conveying the meaning of passages that are read to her. She shows little interest or throws in the towel completely when she’s having a hard time in class—”
“And her math score was in the ninety-nine percentile,” I remind them. “I doubt you’d show interest in things you struggle with, it’s our job to help her.”
She looks offended, but I continue to defend my kid.
“She’s also bilingual as your requirements state. Her speech is amazing for her age and her tuition for the year was paid in full long before her first day. A comprehension test and failing to separate facts from opinions are going to get her kicked out?” I glance down at the assessment. “Giraffes have pretty fur?” I read one of the questions she got wrong where she should have answered giraffes have long necks. “Can we not agree why a five-year-old would think that’s also a fact?” Sure, she struggles with some things, but not enough to be kicked out.
“No, considering she was the only one in the class to get that wrong,” Rose cuts in. “With all due respect, an unstable household can be a direct result of her low performance in school.”
I lean back in my seat and I’m sure my face shows just how much her words offend me, but she has the nerve to continue.
“Why is it that Mom can’t meet with us?” She pries again like a starving lion.
“I’m sorry, do you all not accept students with single dads?” I look between the both of them and now it’s their turn to look offended, but the second they found out Isabelle’s mom wasn’t in the picture, it’s like I can’t make a single mistake without being labeled a bad dad. As if my kid is suffering because she doesn’t have a present mom and her struggling in school is a result of that, which isn’t true.
“Of course we do.” Carmen laughs nervously. “We’re going to keep working with her, but I highly advise a personal tutor for after school. We have great ones here.”
“I’ll look into it.” I stand from my seat, but she adds more.
“The next exam is in December and if she doesn’t pass, I suggest transferring her for the spring semester. You wouldn’t want an F or summer school on her record.”
“With all due respect, Dean Carmen, I’m not transferring her in the middle of the year, especially since mid-year transfers are nearly impossible in private schools.”
Rose raises her brows again in disapproval as she collects Isabelle’s folder. “I’m sure a public school transfer would be a piece of cake.” She holds out the folder to me. “Our expectations are not just for our students.”
I bite my tongue so hard, I can taste the copper in my mouth. I could buy the property we’re standing on three times over, but because of the narrative they made up in their mind for the reason Isabelle’s mom isn’t in the picture, I don’t deserve to be here.
“Have a good day,” I bite out before taking the folder from her and walking out. As I pass by the group of kids, I find Isabelle adding a Lego to the top of the building they’re making that is nearly her height.
“Let’s go, princess.” I keep my tone light, refusing to let my annoyance affect the way I speak to her.
We’re walking to the car when she glances up at me. “Did Ms. Rose tell you about my reading test?” She looks down at her feet. “It was so hard, but she said I did good. I don’t think I did.” Her head hangs low, and I lift her into my arms as we cross the street.
“You did your best and that’s all that matters. I’m proud of you, penguin.” I kiss her nose before opening the back seat. “We’ll keep practicing.” I put her in her car seat and she nods in return as I put her seat belt on.
As soon as I slip into the driver’s seat, she asks for my phone to play music.
“Let me text Abuela, you’re going to go to her house and I’ll meet you there later.” I text my mom and Isabelle speaks up from her seat.
“Do you have to run errands?”
“Just one.”
“Hello Isabelle’s dumb ass uncle,” I voice as he opens the door.
Sire looks confused at first before a smile tugs on his lips, and I know he finds it funny when people are mad, but I might punch him in the damn face.
We met in college, and when he and his brother were signed with the Dodgers, they also signed me to be their agent. When my daughter was born, Sire was always around us and she started calling him Uncle Sigh . Since we are as close as we are and I don’t have any family in the States besides my parents, he’s on my kid’s blue card, but that’s changing today.
“What’s up your ass?” he teases.
“Read this.” I shove the paper I received from Isabelle’s school.
“Don’t shove shit at me.” He tries to shove it back at me, but I push the paper into his chest again.
“Read about how my kid most likely won’t be promoted to first grade thanks to your dumb ass always pulling her out of school early.”
“What?” He glances between me and the paper.
“What I just said.” I walk into the apartment and his huge rottweiler walks over to me. I pat her head before she walks over to Sire’s girlfriend, who’s making her way to us.
“Hey, Jackson.” Vidia treads lightly as she glances at the paper he is reading. I say hi in return as I watch the realization slowly hit him.
“They can’t do this.” He shakes his head in annoyance as he hands the paper to his girlfriend.
“Yes, they can . She isn’t meeting the requirements to be moved up. Do you expect them to let her struggle in the next grade?”
He remains silent.
“Exactly, you pulled her out of school ten times this year and I told you to stop doing it. Now look.” I gesture to the paper.
I can tell he feels bad, but his sympathy isn’t going to help my kid. I’m more mad at myself for not putting my foot down and taking him off her blue card like I said I would.
“It was not—”
“It was, Sire. They showed me her record, she’s barely been in tutoring. Aside from you fucking up my kid, do you know how bad of a father I look now?” I read with Isabelle every chance I get but of course, they don’t know that nor do they care.
“Oh, please. You’re not a bad dad, Jack—”
“To them I am. It was hard to get her into this damn school and all of them doubted me from the second I signed her up because they think she’s suffering with one parent. Now she’s failing and it’s proving all of them right that I can’t do this.” I let out a long breath before running a hand down my face. I feel my head pounding and I don’t think today could get worse.
I turn to leave but stop short at Sire’s words. “Wait, Jackson, I’m sorry, okay? I shouldn’t have pulled her out of class so much but you’re far from a bad dad, man. You’re the best damn parent I know and everyone who doubted you can go fuck themselves.”
I shake my head at him before turning around and he goes on. “You can do this. You’re already doing it. You’re kicking ass at raising Isa.”
“And we’ll make sure she doesn’t fail,” Vidia voices from his side before grabbing a hold of his hand.
“Yeah.” Sire nods encouragingly. “Bring her over for a few hours after school and I’ll work with her, get her up to speed.”
Vidia offers me a smile as she continues for him. “If that doesn’t work, then we’ll find the best tutor and pay for everything.” She smiles up at me and I decide not to decline their offer only because she’s smiling at me like she thinks this will work and I need it to work.
“Fine.”
They both nod but I look over at Sire again.
“You’re off her blue card.”
He must sense the seriousness in my voice because his entire face drops. “Jackson, come on.” When I don’t respond, his shoulders drop slightly. “Who are they going to call if there’s an emergency and you don’t answer? I swear—”
“They’ll call Vidia.”
Her head snaps over to me and she looks confused before her face softens and a smile grows on her face. “Really?”
“Yeah, I know you two are always together, so you’ll most likely be with him in the event of an emergency, or you’ll call him.” I give her a shrug as her smile grows. “Either way, I trust you.” She also went to college with us, and while we weren’t as close, if Sire is dating her, I trust her with my kid.
“Thank you. I won’t be pulling her out of class, promise.”
Her boyfriend playfully shoves her away and her laugh fills the entire apartment. “Smartass.” He rolls his eyes at her with a smile before turning to me. “August is going to be offended. You told him he was your third option after your mom and me.”
I let out a soft laugh as I imagine his brother’s dramatic reaction. “I lied. I love your brother and I’m sure he’s great with kids, especially mine, but he’s one of the last people I’d trust if anything happened to Belle.”
He wouldn’t be able to stay calm or focus very long in an emergency, which isn’t his fault, but still.
“I’m telling him you said that.”
“I’m sure you will, asshole.”
Sire laughs and I ignore him as I hug Vidia goodbye.
“Bring Isa over anytime so we can tutor her.”
“Okay.” I have serious doubts about this, so I’ll be looking for actual tutors. I pull away from her hug when my eyes land on someone sitting on their couch.
She ties her hair into a bun and as if she can sense me watching her, she turns to me and I realize it’s Sire’s sister. In the last few years I’ve known Sire, I’ve hung out with Lisette in group settings a few times, still, she doesn’t offer me an inch of a smile.
She turns back to her phone and I turn back to Sire just as he offers me his hand.
I mindlessly do our short handshake as I glance back at his couch. “Your sister okay?” I nod towards her, noticing she looks off. She’s usually always smiling or making a joke.
“She’s gonna be okay.” He musters up a smile and I decide not to push for information as I turn my full attention to him.
“If Belle gets kicked out of this school, I’m seriously not letting you around her anymore.”
“She’s going to pass the next exam,” he assures me, and she better.