Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
RACHEL
It became a routine to leave work early to meet Mojave and Frankie.
I met him under that tree, we picked up Frankie, who looked less apprehensive about the walk as the days passed, and found something quiet to do that I knew Frankie would enjoy without stressing out Mojave too much.
It was so routine that it was a little jarring when Mojave wasn’t there when I arrived at the school a week later.
I pulled out my phone to call him, moving to our spot under the tree so Frankie would know where to look, and dialed the number, putting it to my ear with a frown.
He answered on the first ring, his voice tight with frustration. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m on my way, but I have to be quick. Something came up that I need to handle.”
“Oh. If you’re busy, you can always skip today. I can take Frankie home.”
“No. I promised I’d be there. I just–” He growled out an irritated sound, and I heard him curse quietly under his breath. Whatever was happening, he was stressed about it and driving a motorcycle was dangerous enough without adding distractions into the mix.
“Mojave, you aren’t breaking your promise if you don’t show up every day,” I reassured him.
“Frankie will be disappointed, but I promise, she’ll get over it fast. Kids are resilient and they understand that sometimes life happens.
I think we’d both rather you were safe and focused on the road rather than rushing to meet us here. ”
He went quiet, and I could practically hear the discomfort over the phone. He’d made Frankie a promise to show up and walk her home. He didn’t like the idea of breaking that promise even once.
“How about this—Are you somewhere you can video call her? You can chat with her, listen to her talk about her day, and I promise she’ll be just as happy with that. Does that work?”
With a heavy sigh, he agreed. “Yeah. I can do that.”
We switched to video mode just as Frankie raced out the door. Her footsteps slowed when she noticed Mojave wasn’t where he usually was and she looked around with a frown before asking, “Where’s Mojave?”
“Right here,” I told her, handing her the phone.
“Hey, kid,” he greeted. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there.”
“Why couldn’t you?” she asked. She didn’t sound hurt or upset, just curious. I figured that’d be the case. Mojave calling meant he still cared, he just couldn’t be physically present right now.
He shifted the camera to show behind him, where he was definitely not in town. I didn’t recognize the area, but Mojave turned the camera back to his face before I could try to figure it out.
“I got held up on my way back. Should’ve left earlier. I’m sorry.”
Like I thought, Frankie didn’t hold it against him.
She shrugged it off and started talking a mile a minute like she always did, telling Mojave about how her class is doing a project about animals and she picked a frog because she thought they were cool.
She barely paid attention to her surroundings, letting me usher her into my car and out of the heat so she could keep talking while I drove her home.
It made me smile listening to her talk and Mojave responded with hums and murmurs, mostly letting her do all the talking.
He didn’t realize it, but he was making her feel heard for the first time I think ever in her life.
I doubted parents who cared so little about Frankie would sit down and listen to her talk about frogs.
It didn’t surprise me when I pulled up in front of Frankie’s house that no one was home.
Usually, Frankie dropped off her bag and went on an excursion with Mojave and me, or just Mojave if I had to get back to work, but it’d never been just us before.
I wasn’t comfortable leaving her home alone for hours until her parents arrived, so I turned in my seat, smiling when Frankie turned the phone around to show Mojave the inside of my car.
“Your parents aren’t home yet. How about we go on an adventure ourselves today and let Mojave finish his drive safely? Then we can tell him all about it tomorrow.”
“What kind of adventure?” Frankie asked curiously.
I pursed my lips thoughtfully. “How about the mall? A girl's shopping trip sounds fun.”
Frankie and Mojave both made the exact same face at the same time. I laughed out loud. “Okay, maybe not. Where do you want to go?”
“The clubhouse,” Frankie answered promptly, but Mojave shook his head before she’d even finished saying the words out loud.
“Can’t go to the clubhouse right now. It’s not safe.”
Frankie slumped, disappointed, so I offered, “Do you want to play with the toys in my office? It’s nice and cool there, and I think Ted knows how to do origami. He might be able to show you how to make something fun.”
“What’s that?” Frankie asked.
To my surprise, Mojave answered before I could. “Paper folding. I can do that too. Go with Rachel, make something with Ted, and I’ll bring you something I made tomorrow. Deal?”
“Deal!” Frankie agreed, bouncing in her seat.
Mojave was back under the tree the next day, looking a little tired but no worse for wear.
He forced a small smile that held a wealth of guilt in it, so I gave him a small kiss to reassure him before stepping back.
He looked just as stunned as the first two times and I found myself biting back a chuckle at the wide eyed expression.
“What was that for?” he croaked.
“You looked worried. I wanted to reassure you,” I quipped.
“I promise, Frankie wasn’t upset. She missed you, but she had fun learning from Ted and she was smiling when I dropped her off at home after her mother got off work.
She’s very excited to show you what she made so she might be a little loud and bouncy, but she’s not upset and neither am I. ”
“You’re not?” He looked more surprised by that revelation than the kiss.
Laughing, I shook my head. “No, Mojave. I understand that sometimes things come up. You cared enough to want to rush back, you stayed on the phone with her the entire drive to my office, and you apologized sincerely. You wouldn’t believe how few people go to those lengths to make up for a simple mistake. It’s okay.”
Hearing that seemed to help and he let out a slow breath, nodding once. To my surprise and delight, he leaned in to press a chaste kiss to my lips before murmuring, “Thanks,” and stepping back again.
I wasn’t sure how to define our relationship.
Aside from our time with Frankie, we’d only shared a few kisses, but it was kind of nice not to rush into more.
Mojave seemed to like to take things slow, and I appreciated it.
I had enough on my plate with Scott still sending me emails and texts every other day.
He didn’t approach me anymore, I assume my parents warned him off after my last call, but that didn’t mean he’d given up just yet.
When Frankie came out, Arthur came with her, a supportive hand on her back as he led her outside.
I took in the tear stained cheeks and the heartbroken look on her face, and concern filled my chest. Mojave was already moving before I could even blink, eating up the distance between us and Frankie as quickly as he could manage without shoving other kids out of his way.
When I arrived, Frankie had thrown her arms around Mojave’s neck, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. I shot a questioning look at Arthur, who sighed.
“We had another incident at school today. It wasn’t Frankie’s fault and she’s not in any trouble, but she’s pretty upset.”
Mojave, who’d looked a little awkward at first with the hug, wrapped his arms tighter around Frankie, a dark scowl on his face that he directed at Arthur. “What happened?”
Arthur didn’t take offense over the look, his expression resigned and unhappy.
“I wasn’t there for the initial incident, but I got the report from Ms. Judith and the janitor who saw the whole thing.
Frankie had an origami figure she’d taken out to show her class.
To keep it safe, after Frankie had shown everyone, Ms. Judith suggested putting the figure into her backpack so it wouldn’t get squashed or ripped.
Frankie stepped into the hall to put it in her cubby when Hunter approached her and demanded to see it.
Frankie refused, which she was within her rights to do, and Hunter took exception.
They got into an argument, and Hunter stole the figure, holding it above her head to keep Frankie from getting it.
Miss Carver must’ve heard the children arguing because she stepped in just as Ms. Judith came out to handle the disagreement.
Miss Carver took the figure from Hunter, but instead of giving it back to Frankie, she ripped it to pieces while screaming at her for causing trouble for her son.
It was then that Ms. Judith called me and I asked Miss Carver to leave for the day. ”
Poor Frankie. She’d worked hard on that origami with Ted.
She’d been so excited to show it to Mojave.
The fact that she’d been brave enough to show her class and engage with them was a very positive sign, but I worried that growth would be ruined thanks to the continued bullying.
And I knew Frankie’s parents wouldn’t do a thing about it either.
My eyes drifted back toward the little girl who clung to Mojave like a vice.
The reaction revealed an important development that I couldn’t ignore.
Frankie didn't say she was fine or resort to anger or violence this time. This time, she sought reassurance from Mojave. Whether he’d intended it or not, he’d become the adult in her life she knew she could trust. I didn't think he had any idea how important he really was to that little girl.
Drawing in a breath, I returned to the matter at hand. “I want to file a formal complaint about Darlene’s behavior, as well as Hunter’s repeated bullying of Frankie. I’m also going to need documentation of this and any other misconduct Darlene has shown around children, especially Frankie.”
Arthur grimaced, but didn’t argue. “I figured you’d say that.
I already planned on calling the superintendent, but formal complaints will only strengthen my recommendation to remove Miss Carver from her position.
” He gave a sad smile to Frankie as he pulled a handful of red paper out of his pocket.
“I’m sorry your figure got ruined, Frankie. I promise, it won’t happen again.”
Frankie didn’t look up at him, only clung tighter until Mojave stood and took her with him, holding her in his arms and letting her hide her face away.
I took the remnants of the origami from Arthur, turning to Mojave with a pained smile.
“I’m going to go inside so we can get the paperwork started right away.
Do you want to take Frankie home without me or–”
“We’ll wait at the park,” he grumbled before turning and walking away.
I watched them go, taking in the way he held her like a good father might.
I still wasn’t sure how he would feel about it, but I needed to bring up Mojave taking on Frankie’s care, at least temporarily until her parents shaped up.
No one would make her feel as safe as he did.