Chapter 18
18
Lenore walked down the hall from her classroom to the office. Sticking her head in, she smiled at the school secretary. Jeanette was one of the many people who had assisted when Evie was first diagnosed, organizing meals to be delivered to her house. She had only been working there for a year, but just like everyone in Valier, they pitched in to help when needed.
“Hey, Jeanette. I need to pop over to the elementary school during my lunch break. I'll be back in time for fourth period.”
“Is everything okay, honey?” Jeanette asked, peering at Lenore over the eyeglasses perched on her nose.
Grateful the FBI had kept her and Evie's names out of the news, she simply nodded. “I just want to let the principal know that Evie's medical tests were good, and I'm hoping she can return to normal, albeit not strenuous, PE and recess activities.”
“Oh hallelujah, for that good news!” Jeanette said. “You run on, and if you need a few extra minutes, I'll have Mr. Hallan keep an eye on your class until you get back.”
With a wave, she headed out the door to the elementary school, located at the end of the block and across the street. Another advantage to a small town was everything was so close. Some teachers and resources worked at the elementary and middle/high schools, so it was convenient for them to be close together. In fact, she was sure that years ago, they had all been housed in one building.
Stepping inside the elementary school, she smiled. She was certified to teach fourth through twelfth, specializing in sixth through twelfth English. She loved teaching teenagers, but something about walking into an elementary school was always special. There was an air of excitement with shouts of glee and the handprint artwork on the walls.
She had called ahead and knew that Bob Walters was waiting on her, so waving at the secretary, she headed through his open door. She smiled as the kindergarten teacher, Amanda, came in right behind her.
“Hey, Lenore,” he greeted, standing and offering a hug. “I was so happy to hear that Evie's tests came back with good news.”
“Yes,” she exuded. Sitting in the chair in front of his desk, she said, “Okay, what I'm going to tell you two needs to stay private.”
Amanda and Bob both had similar, lowered-brow expressions, but Bob nodded. “Absolutely.”
“I assume you heard about the hospital incident with the escaped prisoner the other day?”
“Yes, it was all over the news,” Amanda said. “I thought it was crazy! To think that happened near here!”
“Well, the authorities managed to keep the names of the kidnapped and released persons from getting into the news, but I need to let you know that it was me and Evie.”
Dead silence followed her comment, and then suddenly, both gasped. “You? Evie?” Amanda asked just as Bob fell back against his chair. “Holy moly, Lenore!”
“Yes. I know it's… um… well, we were in the stairwell trying to leave when we were taken by… well, taken.” She pressed her hand over her stomach, suddenly feeling the nausea that she'd felt the other day. She didn't have that feeling when she was with Sisco or even yesterday when it was just her and Evie at home. But now, it came rushing back.
“I am so sorry! Are you okay?” Amanda winced. “How stupid of me… of course you’re not all right!”
Lenore smiled at Amanda’s obvious concern. “I will be. I haven’t slept very well the past few nights, but I have someone I can talk to.”
Bob nodded emphatically. “What can we do?”
Swallowing down the bile, she forced out a tight smile. “Well, for starters, just keep an eye on Evie. She seems fine, but you never know. She didn't see much. There was a man… a friend—who was carrying her, and he covered her face most of the time. But she was very clingy with me this morning.” She offered a rueful glance at Amanda. “That's why this morning’s drop-off was so difficult.”
“We’ll certainly watch over her carefully,” Bob assured. “Have you talked to Kyle?”
Kyle was the school counselor who serviced the Valier school system. “I saw him this morning at the high school. That makes four of you who’ve been told since my principal knows. I desperately need for no one else to know.”
“We understand but hate that you might not get the emotional support you need during the aftermath of a tragedy if you remain quiet?—”
She held up her hand to halt Bob's comment. “Thank you for your concern, but the case is ongoing.”
Spying the confused expressions on Bob and Amanda's faces, she swallowed deeply again. “The FBI doesn't want the news crawling all over Evie and me, making it easier for… um… the ones involved to have too much information.”
Amanda reached over and placed her hand on Lenore's leg. “Oh my God, I am so sorry!”
“Are you in danger?” Bob asked, his eyes growing wider.
Lenore thought of Sisco and found breathing easier as the pressure eased from the weight of terror sitting on her chest. “I have a security company providing… um… basic security, so… we're good. But no one must pick Evie up from school other than myself or my mom, who is out of town but will return in a couple of weeks.” She hesitated. “We can also add Sisco Aguilar to the pickup list. He works for the security company, but I'm sure I'll always be here to get her.”
“Of course,” Bob said, leaning forward, his arms resting on the desk. “This is incredible, Lenore. I don't know what to say other than we'll closely monitor Evie.”
Now that the hard part was over, Lenore filled them in more on the hospital tests that showed Evie was still in remission. “I just want to be careful, so continue PE as long as it's not strenuous because she still gets tired. Same with recess.” Looking at the clock on the wall, she stood. “I'm sorry, but I have a fourth period class to get to.”
Saying goodbye with a hug from Amanda and a heartfelt handshake from Bob, she hurried out of the school and down the street to the high school. As she walked along, a chilly wind blew, and she wrapped her jacket around her closer. She cast her gaze around, not seeing anything suspicious, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that eyes were on her. “It's just because of what happened,” she grumbled.
After she entered her classroom, she sat at her desk, enjoying a moment before the students arrived. Pulling out her phone, she felt foolish for checking for a text from Sisco. But he was away on an assignment. They had talked yesterday, and he said he'd call her later tonight. Still flicking through her contacts, she came across the counselor she'd talked to when Evie had been diagnosed. She knew they offered virtual counseling. Maybe it would be a good idea to give her a call.
She made it through her afternoon classes but was sure her students noticed she was off . Concentrating was hard, so she finally allowed them to work on research for an upcoming paper.
At the end of the day, she was glad to walk out with others filling the sidewalks. She made it to the elementary school as they were waiting for the buses and parents. She waved toward Amanda, who checked Evie off her pickup list. Evie noticed her, and the sound of “Mommy!” from her daughter's mouth was music to her ears. Opening her arms, she braced as Evie ran to her. Enveloping her tightly, she asked, “Did you have a good day?”
“Yes!” Evie exuberantly replied. They walked down the street still filled with students and parents, hands held, as they made their way to the teachers' parking lot.
Once buckled in, Evie began talking about her day, excitedly telling Lenore about finger painting during art class, working on numbers and letters, which she claimed was easy, and how Nikki's mom was bringing in cupcakes tomorrow for her birthday.
Their home was only a few minutes away, and soon Evie was in the backyard, happily swinging. As Lenore stood on the patio, another chilly wind blew, causing her to wrap her arms around her middle.
“A fine October day; such as I remember, the sky without a cloud, the air fresh and cool, and the wind shifting about, as if it wanted to chase the sunshine away, and get up a storm.” Shaking her head, she wondered if she was losing her mind, thinking of a quote from Emily Bront?'s Wuthering Heights . “That’s what happens when you teach English Literature.” She chuckled.
Calling Evie to come inside, she hoped the words weren't a portend of bad things to come.