Chapter 5 #2
“She’s fine. Little thing was downstairs sitting on a stool at the island. Had every kind of cereal we’ve got lined up for her perusal.” Cecelia chuckles and my anxiety lessens a fraction knowing Everly’s in the house, safe, and no one is upset with her.
“Her tummy’s full, and her spirit’s bright. Hope it’s alright Izzy walked her out to the stables this morning. They only looked at the horses from a safe distance, don’t worry.”
Will I perpetually live in fight or flight? Even the idea of Everly leaving these walls to go visit a horse has me wanting to take her and run, never looking back. But an equally primal part of me, rooted deep in my gut, tells me the Andersens are safe. It’s me who’s on the brink.
“As a matter of fact, Harper’s got her down in the meadow picking wildflowers. I bet you’ll have a lovely bouquet coming your way here soon.”
My mouth dries, a gulp inching down my throat. If Harper’s here, Greyson might be here. It’s silly, but I’m more confident having freshly showered before bed and wearing clean clothes for our second meeting.
Izzy and Delilah were quick to offer me whatever clothes I needed, but it was awkward accepting undergarments, so I borrowed a sleep shirt, and a sleeveless top for today.
Everly must’ve put on her last clean outfit. I was able to pack more for her than I was for myself, but I’ll need to wash everything we brought and rotate the pieces until I can afford to buy school clothes for her.
The bedside clock says I need to get my butt moving.
“If you give me just a minute to get dressed, I’ll be right out.” It’s not hotter here than Missouri, but the dry heat is something completely new. I’m extremely grateful for the flowy tank top today.
“Of course, dear. I’ll be in the family room.” Cecelia closes the door softly behind her.
Dressing takes no time at all, considering I’m keeping on my undergarments from last night. I throw on the borrowed top, and the pair of denim shorts I luckily managed to pack in my panic.
I don’t have all my curl products, so I make do with a messy top knot and call it good enough.
The house is massive by any standard, and I would’ve gotten lost had our room not been right around the corner from the family room.
“Mama!” Everly cheers and launches herself into my arms. My little girl never fails to fill my heart and lift my spirit.
“Holy cow, did you grow overnight? You’re heavier than you were yesterday!” I joke, tickling her sides until she’s wiggling to escape my grasp.
A throat clears, drawing all our attention. Greyson looks pointedly at Harper who shines big brown doe eyes at me.
“Good morning Miss…Everly’s mom.”
Cecelia chuckles. “I just realized we never caught your last name, dear.”
Ice envelops my body, freezing all movement and crystalizing the words in my throat. I intentionally omitted our last name from conversation. But if I’m going to work for Greyson, he’ll need my information, as will the school to register Everly.
“Whitaker.”
“I don’t mean to be difficult, but we need to head out if we’re going to hit the school before I’ve got to get to the store,” Greyson says firmly.
My stomach growls; I’m hungry after not eating enough at dinner from nerves. But I don’t want to upset Greyson, so I hustle Everly into her shoes and wait by the front door. He kisses Harper goodbye, and we head outside to his truck.
“Why isn’t Harper coming?” Everly asks.
“Harper’s already registered for school.” Greyson opens the rear truck door and before I can intervene, boosts Everly into Harper’s car seat and adjusts it to safely fit her small stature.
Not once did Carter buckle Everly into her car seat. He never bothered to learn how.
“Will she be in my class?”
Greyson clicks the last buckle, gives the strap an extra firm tug to secure her, then slides two fingers between her shoulder and the strap to ensure a proper fit.
In my stupor, he’s hustled around the cab and opened the passenger door for me. He might as well be a blue alien with three heads for as shocked as I am.
“I can buckle myself,” I blurt. Oh my god, what’s wrong with me? He knows I can buckle myself because I’m not the six-year-old in the backseat.
Something I can’t read flashes across Greyson’s face, but he rounds the cab before I have a chance to redeem my fumble.
My ears are still hot from embarrassment when we walk into Swiftwater Elementary.
Greyson walks ahead of me and Everly, holding each door for us like a perfect gentleman. A perfect gentleman who grumbles clipped answers now that we’re in public.
Is he embarrassed of me and Everly?
“Mia?” Greyson gets my attention. “Do you have your ID?”
My world comes crashing down.
I don’t have the first clue how to get replacement documents. I’ll have to if I’m going to make this work…
“Can she bring them within the first few weeks of school? Like how the nurse has a grace period for school physicals?” Greyson intervenes.
“Of course, let’s just get you some paperwork. Fill out as much as you can, and I’ll just put you in my follow-up pile with a sticky note,” the school secretary says sweetly.
“Everly, would you like to come see your classroom?” she asks.
“Mama, can I?”
“Go have fun.”
I try to keep the emotion out of my voice as the secretary takes my little girl’s hand and leads her from the front office. Panic from her being out of my sight, and an odd happy-sadness that the baby I just brought home yesterday is skipping down the hall to see her kindergarten classroom.
“It gets easier every year,” Greyson says.
“Hmm?”
“Watching your kid grow up. It gets easier…and sometimes harder. It’s all fucking hard, who am I kidding?” He chuckles.
Greyson stands closer to me than I’d expect. Had Carter stood that close, I’d be stiff as a board, hyper focusing on my every word and movement to avoid upsetting him.
With Greyson standing beside me, I feel grounded. He’s a tall man, but nothing like Carter. I was initially attracted to his height, several inches over six feet. Over time, his stature was one of the easiest ways to put me in line.
I’m comforted that Greyson can’t loom over me. Because I’ll be working for him, of course. That’s all. It’s important to feel safe around your employer. These silly thoughts are nothing more than that.
Fear floods my veins at the consequences I’d face for even looking at another man. The plastic pen creaks from my death grip. Everly’s paperwork is barely legible. Hopefully it’s enough to get her enrolled.
“Listen,” he begins again and my heart stops, terrified of what he’s going to say.
“I’m not going pry into your business, but if you need help”—His pointed expression tells me how serious he is—“with anything, you tell me. I’ll get whatever you need faster and more discreetly than the traditional channels.”
He doesn’t know my story, but somehow, he knows. He sees right through me.
I can’t bear to look at him when I admit this, but I know I need his help.
“I need a new driver’s license, and a copy of Everly’s birth certificate, at the very least.”
“Done.”
“What?” He can’t be serious.
“Done. Just leave me with the key details and I’ll have it for you as soon as possible,” Greyson assures me, confidence unwavering.
Who is this man, and what angel led me to him?