Danny didn’t meet my eyes, but nodded.
I turned around. “One second.” I slipped my shoes back on.
“I hate to wear shoes too.” Danny pointed at my feet.
I smiled back. “All right, let’s check the front office first, then maybe we can check his gym office?”
“I already checked it.” Danny shook his head.
“I’m sure you did. Maybe someone in the office knows new information now.”
Danny shrugged but started toward the hallway.
“Sorry you can’t find your dad. I’m sure that feels scary.” I quickened my steps to keep up with his fast pace.
“I used to have a mom, but now I don’t.” Danny stared at the floor but maintained his speed. “Grandma said it was because she left and didn’t come back.” His eyes shot to me before they darted away. “Do you think Dad will leave me too?”
My heart instantly broke, and I stutter stepped. I reached for Danny’s hand, pulling him to a stop. I kneeled down so I was eye level, and I squeezed his hand in mine. “No, Danny, I don’t think your dad will leave. Your dad loves you very much.”
He stared at the brown woven carpet. “But moms are supposed to love their kids too, right?”
I walked right into that one. I grasped at what to say. I didn’t know the details of his parents’ relationship, other than the gossip around town. Which was basically that she left them both for a more prestigious career.
“Yes.” I thought of my mother, I had almost called her last night. I hit dial and then hung up. She wouldn’t want to get to know me, she would just want to change me. I pursed my lips. “Some people aren’t very good at loving. Maybe they just don’t know how to.” My forehead creased. “I have watched your dad though. He knows how to love.” I pictured Adam as he held Danny and his eyes when he looked at his son.
Danny looked back at me with his eyebrow raised.
I squeezed his hand again, stood, and nodded toward the office. “Let’s see what we can learn.”
I walked into the foyer, which was scattered with a few chairs and a long desk. Margo sat behind the desk. She glanced up and smiled. “Hey, Faith.”
“Hey, Margo.”
Her eyes went to Danny at my side. “Oh no, did a parent forget to pick up again?” She tilted her head. “Wait, you’re Coach’s kid, right?”
I placed my hand on Danny’s back. “Yep, looks like maybe there was some confusion over pickup?”
“Hmm…” She sat back in the swivel chair and clicked her keyboard. “Let me check.” She focused on the screen. “I’m not seeing anything… Oh wait, yep.” She looked back at me. “Looks like we relayed a message to the coach from his mom that she was having some car problems a few hours ago.” She shrugged. “My guess is they got delayed. I’ll call him. Do you want to wait here?” Margo looked down at Danny.
He stiffened and took a small step closer to me.
“That’s okay. Danny was going to help with a few things in my room, the door will be open. When his dad gets here, will you send him there?”
“Yep.” Margo nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll call right now.” She picked up the phone and started dialing.
“Thank you.” I said and headed toward my classroom.
“Are you hungry?” I asked Danny. “I have some gingerbread cookies I made that I need someone to try.”
Danny scrunched his nose. “Why do you want people to try them? Are they in a competition or something?” Danny’s shoulders had softened now that he knew his dad was coming. I was hoping the cookies would help him relax even more.
“Nope, I simply haven’t made them before, so I was trying something new.”
Danny shrugged. “Sure.”
Back in the classroom, I went to my desk and grabbed the Tupperware with cookies. I was going to drop them off in the teachers’ lounge since Rose refused to eat any, but then I got nervous.
Would people think it was weird that I was randomly bringing cookies?
