“Gentlemen, I’m assuming you’ve met. That’ll make this easier.”
“What will?” Fletcher asks at the same time that I say, “We haven’t.”
Fletcher’s clear blue eyes pierce me like a spear. “Oh, come on, lovebug, you can’t deny we had a moment. There were sparks.”
Is it me, or is the room too warm?
“There was no moment or sparks for that matter,” I say, a little too loud.
Thankfully, Megan seems focused on her task, so I turn back to Ellis.
“Did something happen today?”
Ellis glances at the back of the room and clears his throat.
“There was a minor incident earlier. George was pushing Megan on the swing. Megan became agitated—”
I’m about to speak when Ellis raises his hand.
“The whole thing didn’t last more than a minute. Megan was a little upset, but she wasn’t physically hurt.”
“Who’s George?” I ask.
Ellis looks at Fletcher, who answers the question. “George is my son—”
“You have a son? You know what, never mind. Megan doesn’t scare easily, so what was George doing that rattled her so much?”
Fletcher straightens his back at my accusation, but I don’t care. I can’t bear the thought that my daughter might have another reason to not feel safe and happy.
“George wouldn’t do anything to hurt another kid,” Fletcher says.
“Yet here we are,” I bite back.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m not trying. I’m saying it. Your son clearly doesn’t understand boundaries or can read when someone else is distressed.”
Fletcher rolls up the sleeves of his sweatshirt. “George is seven-years-old. He behaves exactly like what’s expected of a child his age. I get your little princess was upset, but don’t you dare hint that he somehow did this on purpose.”
I take a step back. It’s definitely too hot in the room.
“Fletcher, Harrison, please. Let’s…calm down for a moment.” Ellis’s teacher voice has the intended effect. “Let me give you some context.”
I nod and lean against the desk next to Fletchers’. That way, I don’t have to look at him.
“Megan is a new student,” he says, I guess for Fletcher’s benefit. “She was very shy on her first day, so George and Ava, another classmate, took Megan under their wing. The three have been inseparable since.”
“What changed?” I ask.
“Nothing changed, Harrison. These are seven-year-olds who are learning their place in the world. George isn’t aware of Megan’s accident or that she’s still recovering.”
“She was in an accident?” Fletcher asks, and I can’t stop myself from looking at him when I hear the concern in his voice.
I sigh. “She was in a bad car accident with her mother months ago. She broke her leg in a few places, so she had to have surgery. It’s been a slow recovery for her. She’s fine, but I’ll admit, she’s lost some of her confidence.”
I run my hand through my hair. There’s no way I’m voicing my concerns in front of Fletcher.
“While George will climb a tree and throw himself off to see if he can fly,” Fletcher says, continuing my train of thought.
