Chapter 18
The next few days were extremely hectic.
Riley spent each night with Porter, then after breakfast, went back over to her apartment to get as much work done as she could.
She’d explained the situation to her clients and most had been supportive.
It helped that she was still able to deliver their transcripted documents.
For the few people who needed big jobs done as soon as possible, she gave them the name of a trusted friend she’d made in the business, who was very thankful for the references.
At lunchtime, Riley went back over to Porter’s apartment and got caught up on what everyone had done each morning, then they’d run errands.
Porter had brought Bree to see a child psychologist twice, and the sessions seemed to go well.
The psychologist told Porter that he thought Bria was a remarkable little girl, and while she might have a bit of PTSD, having her brother with her was working wonders for her mental health.
They’d gone to the base and had gotten Bree her own ID card, which she couldn’t stop showing off to just about everyone they met. They went grocery shopping, clothes shopping, toy shopping, and one afternoon, Logan helped his uncle put together the bunk beds he’d bought for him and his sister.
They’d even found time to hang out at Brain and Aspen’s house one evening.
All his teammates had been there, and of course the women.
Even Brain’s ninety-something-year-old neighbor, Winnie, had come over, with her granddaughter and her boyfriend.
It was a packed house, and Riley had been proud of both Logan and Bree.
They’d been polite to all the adults and didn’t seem all that bothered to have everyone around.
When it was time to head home, Bria was sound asleep in Winnie’s lap.
Today, they were all headed to Gerry Linkous Elementary School.
Porter had taken the job of finding Logan a new school very seriously.
Even though he only had a little bit of time left in elementary school, it was important to find a place where his nephew would be comfortable.
Not to mention, Bria would be there for several more years.
Gerry Linkous seemed to have a good reputation. Porter knew they’d had an active shooter at the school years ago, but he’d been impressed at how the entire situation had been dealt with. He’d even called Fletch to get his thoughts on the place, since his daughter Annie had attended the school.
“I liked the school on post,” Porter told Logan as they drove toward Gerry Linkous, “but I think this one might be a better fit. It’s in the same district as the high school with the best baseball team.”
Riley turned around in time to see Logan nod from the back seat. He looked worried.
“What’s up, Slugger?” Porter asked, alternating his attention from the road to the rearview mirror so he could see his nephew.
Logan shrugged. “I don’t know. I just haven’t had luck with school.”
Riley hated the fear she heard in his tone. Bria wasn’t sure if she should be excited or terrified, and kept looking at her brother for cues on how she should feel.
The little girl had also latched onto her uncle very quickly.
Maybe it was because he’d been the one to take her out of the nightmare she’d been living in, or maybe because he was male, like her brother, but Bree adored him.
Riley was determined to get the little girl to like her just as much.
No matter how long it took, she wanted Bria to trust her too.
“I think you’re looking at it the wrong way,” Riley said quietly. “If you hadn’t been in your other school, what do you think would’ve happened to poor Lacie? You stuck up for her and I know she appreciated that.”
Logan shrugged.
“I have a good feeling about this school. Your uncle told me there’s a retired Army soldier who teaches gym. I bet she’s awesome.” Riley turned to Bria. “And Mr. Santoro is one of the first-grade teachers, and he’s won lots of awards. Maybe he’ll be your teacher.”
Bria’s eyes sparkled, but after a look at her brother, she copied his uninterested shrug.
Sighing, Riley turned to face forward. She’d tried. Hopefully the day would go all right.
An hour later, they’d dropped Bria off in Mr. Santoro’s class.
She was going to sit in on the class while they visited with the principal, Jane Allen.
She had a doctorate degree, but she didn’t use her title when she’d introduced herself.
She seemed down-to-earth and approachable, which was a nice change from Mr. McClain.
After introductions, Riley sat in a chair off to the side of the large, welcoming principal’s office while Logan and Porter took the chairs nearest to the desk.
“It’s good to meet you, Logan. Can you tell me why you want to change schools after you’ve only been in town a few weeks?”
When Logan didn’t answer, Porter prompted, “You were asked a question, Slugger.”
Logan’s shoulders were slumped and it was obvious he was uncomfortable. Porter had warned him he was going to have to explain why he’d been suspended, and why he wanted to go to a new school, but Logan wasn’t very happy about having to do so.
“I was suspended,” he said after a moment.
Bless Ms. Allen, she didn’t seem alarmed in the least.
“Tell her why,” Porter encouraged.
“I hit Gary Wittingham,” Logan said so softly, it was hard to hear him.
“Why?”
Riley relaxed. The other woman asking for details was already a lot more than Dr. McClain had done.
“Because he was touching Lacie, and she didn’t want to be touched.”
Ms. Allen rested her elbows on her desk and leaned forward as she said, “Ah, I see. And I’m guessing the other school had a zero policy on physical violence.”
Logan nodded.
“Right, we have the same policy here. But, we also take into account what happened before and after the violence occurred. We don’t condone children hitting each other, but I think it’s important to know what provoked the altercation.
Do you think you might’ve done something differently if you knew about the consequences of your actions? ”
Logan thought about that for a minute, then said, “I probably could’ve gotten between Gary and Lacie, so he couldn’t touch her anymore.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Ms. Allen said, nodding. “Now, your uncle tells me that you like baseball, is that true?”
Logan looked up at the principal in confusion.
“What?” she asked.
“I…are we done talking about me hitting Gary and being suspended?”
The principal smiled. “Yes. It wasn’t right what you did, but you did so because you were defending someone else. I would much rather have a class full of students who want to protect others than a class full of bullies. So…baseball?”
It was as if a weight had been lifted off Logan’s shoulders. He sat up straighter in his chair and began to tell Ms. Allen all about Shin-Soo Choo, who was, in his opinion, the best outfielder in the world.
Riley shared a quick look with Porter and couldn’t help but be relieved. It looked like they’d found Logan and Bria’s new school. Even though she wasn’t related to either child, she was just as invested as Porter in finding a good fit for his niece and nephew.
On the way to Whataburger for lunch, Logan and Bria babbled nonstop in the back seat.
Bree was telling her big brother all about her time in Mr. Santoro’s class and how much she liked the other kids.
Logan had briefly met the fifth-grade teachers and some of the kids.
He was obviously withholding judgement on the other children, but all in all, things looked promising.
Porter reached over and grabbed her hand.
He looked tired, which worried Riley. He was working extremely hard and wasn’t used to being a dad to one kid, let alone two.
But he never complained. He was getting up at five in the morning to go work out with his team and get a few quick meetings in before coming back at eight to have breakfast with the kids and to entertain them while she worked for a few hours.
His commander had been amazing over the last week, giving Porter as much time off as he needed. But the time was coming for all of them to get back into a normal routine. The kids needed that as much as Porter did.
Arrangements had been made for Logan and Bria to start school the next day. They’d take the bus together in the morning and afternoon. Riley could catch up on her work and Porter could get back into the swing of whatever it was he did during the day on post.
They all climbed out of the Expedition at the fast food restaurant—and Riley was shocked when she felt Bria’s hand slip into her own as they walked toward the door.
She’d never been as happy as she was right that moment. She had the most amazing boyfriend, Bria was beginning to trust her and had come out of her horrific ordeal relatively unscathed, and Logan’s personality was really starting to blossom.
Porter’s arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled her into him, bending down to kiss the top of her head. He didn’t need to say anything, but it was obvious he was also happy with how things had turned out.
Later that night, after Porter had to go into the kids’ room and tell them to hush, that it was late and time to sleep, he came back into the master bedroom smiling. He climbed into bed next to her and snuggled up close. “God, who would’ve thought I’d be happy to have to yell at my kids?”
“Yell?” Riley questioned with a smirk.
“Okay, there was no yelling, just a request for them to shut the hell up,” Porter clarified.
“I love hearing you call them your kids,” Riley told him.
He nodded. “They are my kids. I might not have been around for the beginnings of their lives, but I’ll damn well sure be around from here on out.
And no one will hurt them as long as I’m alive.
Bree’s been through too much shit as it is.
And Logan feels responsible. I’m gonna give them the best life I can. ”