19
Beckett
I parked my car in the school lot and I'm making my way to the front doors when I hear a voice calling out behind me.
I turn around, frowning in confusion as one of the mom's I recognize from the park last week comes trotting over to me from the car rider line.
She smiles brightly at me, her red hair frazzled and flying around her pale face. She's holding a silver tin in her hands that I look at cautiously, already having a sinking feeling as to why she's approaching me.
"Hey there! You're Edison's Uncle, right? Beckett Kade?" She asks, stopping in front of me.
"I am," I clip, glancing at the front doors.
She extends a hand to me, balancing the silver tin precariously with the other.
Her eyes widen as she looks over the tattoos on my arms and hands, but she quickly recovers. "U-um, I'm Monica Bell. Edison is buddies with my son Gunner," she says as I shake her hand.
I raise an eyebrow, remembering the nosy little red headed boy who asked about Charlie being in jail. I distinctly remember him saying that his mother had found out some information about what was going on.
"Right," I respond, moving to continue on to the front door.
Unfortunately, she hurries alongside me, stumbling when I stop with my hand on the door handle. "I-I just wanted to welcome you to town, Mr. Kade. I baked some sugar cookies for you and Edison," she offers, handing the tin to me.
I take it tentatively, not really believing this sweet " welcome to town " greeting, and her Martha Stewart gift giving are genuine. I stare at her waiting for her to continue talking, because I know that wasn't all she wanted from me.
If I've learned anything in life it's that if you stay quiet long enough people will just tell on themselves and save you a lot of energy trying to figure them out.
She shifts uneasily at my silence, pushing her hair over her shoulder. "I was wondering if Edison will be staying here in town? I heard you run Kade Technology in New York, so everyone is saying you won't be keeping him here. It would be so sad to see him go," she says frowning glumly, even though her voice lacks any sincerity.
I sigh, unimpressed with how utterly predictable she is. "We haven't made any decisions. Thanks for the cookies.."
"Oh! Monica! Monica Bell," she says quickly, smiling again.
I nod at her and finally head inside the school, irritated that my meaningless interaction with this Nosy Nelly cost me precious time with Selah.
I haven't seen her nearly enough this week since I have been so busy with work and handling the custody issues. I miss her face and the sweet smile she always gives me.
When I step into her classroom I first look for Edison and see him playing happily with Lego’s. I then quickly find Selah tidying up her desk.
I walk over to her and she does a double take when she sees me, looking flustered, as always. She fidgets with the pens in her hands, giving me a shy smile, and I wish I could wrap my arms around her and give her a hug.
"How was your day, beautiful?" I ask coming to stand next to her.
"My day has been great. We did a little Science project, and got to do some finger painting, which the kids always love," she responds excitedly, her face lighting up.
"That's wonderful, angel. These kids are so lucky to have you," I praise, smiling proudly.
She looks over at her students, "I'm the lucky one. They make me want to be a better teacher."
I smile at her and she moves over to a bag on her desk. "Thank you for lunch today," she says. "When I said I didn't want to eat out for lunch, that didn't mean I needed you to send me a packed lunch."
She hands me the lunch bag I sent with Dragana this morning when she and Helen brought Edison to school. I asked Dragana to prepare lunch for Selah along with Edison's today. She was more than happy to make her a nice sandwich, and prepare some fresh fruit and vegetables.
I knew that Selah would just go back to eating air, and reading her smutty novels during lunch if I didn't bring her something myself.
I take the lunch bag from her and shake my head. "I did need to, and I'll bring another one for you tomorrow, angel," I say, giving her a look that tells her not to bother arguing with me.
"Ok. Thank you Beckett," she says, looking down at the tin in my other hand.
I hand it to her, "How about you give these to the kids who are still here," I suggest looking around at the few children playing at the stations.
She gives me a puzzled look and opens it, revealing about two dozen sugar cookies.
"Wow! These look so good, Beckett! Did Dragana make them?" she asks, walking over to set them on a table.
"No. They actually came from the red head's mom," I say unable to hide the irritation in my voice.
Selah pauses, twisting her mouth. "Monica Bell? Sh-she brought them for you ?" she asks, and I swear I hear a hint of jealousy in her voice that makes my cock twitch.
"Yes. She brought them as a welcome gift I guess. I think they were really just a way to have an opening to pry some information out of me she could take back to her friends to gossip about. But I don't want them," I respond, looking her in the eyes. "I'm sure that they aren't nearly as delicious as your cookies."
Her expression softens and she smiles at me again. "That's sweet of you to say, Beckett. Sorry if she bothered you. I'll just bag these up so the kids can take them home."
She moves to a cabinet, taking out some Ziplock bags. I go to wash my hands at one of the small sinks so I can help her, then we get to packing them up.
Edison finally spots me and runs over to give me a tight hug around my waist. "Uncle Beckett, are those cookies for us?!" he asks eagerly.
"They sure are, little man. Do you want to help give them out to everyone?" I ask, and he nods enthusiastically.
"Yes I can!"
He moves to distribute the bags to his classmates and I go to get his backpack, then turn my attention back to Selah. She is wiping down the table, and I take the time while she is unaware of my eyes on her to drink her in.
She finally notices me watching her and bites back a smile, coming back over to me. I reach out to her, unable to keep my hands to myself any longer. I run my fingers along her bare arm gently, and feel her shiver under my touch.
She bites harder into her lip and I restrain myself from leaning down and adding my own teeth to it. I clear my throat, taking a half step back from her before I do something that isn’t appropriate for the classroom.
"I'll see you tonight, sweetheart. I'll pick you up around six, ok?" I say, as Edison comes running over to us.
She gives Edison a hug and then nods at me. "I'm looking forward to it, Beckett."
Not as much as I am , I think as I take Edison and head back outside.