“Kristina, I think you should go to the Office of the Dean of Students tomorrow and find out which department is in charge of student safety.” Early in his career, Mike had worked in the IT department at a college. Though he hadn’t been directly involved in student services, he’d learned a little about them.
“I don’t think I’m actually in danger,” Kristina said.
“I know.” He leaned a little closer to the phone. “And you can make that clear. Just tell them what you told us and ask what the process is for reporting problems should things escalate. This way you have someone who knows what’s going on and there’s a paper trail.”
“I just feel like I might be making a big deal out of nothing.”
“Mike is right, hon. Having someone there who is aware of what’s happening is important.”
Kristina took an audible breath. “I kind of feel stupid.”
“Don’t,” Mike said. “You’re doing what you need to do in order to feel safe. That’s smart, not stupid.”
“Thanks. You too, Mom.”
“Do like Mike suggested,” Celeste said. “And then text us tomorrow. Tell us how it went.”
“I will.”
“Love you, kid,” Mike said. “Always have.”
It was a familiar exchange between them, one Kristina always finished with, “Always will.”
“I love you too, hon,” Celeste added. “Don’t forget to text.”
“Okay.”
Celeste didn’t say anything for a long moment after the call ended. She steepled her hands and pressed her fingers to her lips. “She is not an overreactor, Mike.”
“She’s also not flaky. She’ll follow through on this.”
Celeste didn’t look reassured. “I hate that she’s so far away.”
He threw caution to the wind and set his arm around her shoulders, pulling her up close to him. “When you talk to her tomorrow, if you’re still uneasy, you can call the Dean of Students office yourself.”
Celeste leaned her head on his shoulder. “Kristina would kill me.”
Mike rubbed her arm with his hand. “Probably, but a parent has to do what a parent has to do.”
She slipped her arms around him, something she very seldom did and only, it seemed, when there was a crisis. “Thank you for being a dad to her all of these years. I was more or less enough for the other two, but Kristina needed something more.”
“Give yourself more credit, Celeste. Being a single parent isn’t simple, and it isn’t easy.”
“And it didn’t get easier once they all left home.”
That was the hard truth. “But there is one thing that does get easier,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“Enjoying a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert without the kids complaining that the music is old or lame or whatever else they would say.”
She sat up straight once more and gave him a look of teasing disapproval. “This is aDestiny’s Childconcert, with special guests The Red Hot Chili Peppers.”
He scooted to the edge of the sofa. “Cue up the concert,” he said, standing up. “I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
She smiled up at him. “You always do know exactly what I need.”
“That’s because I know you really well.”I know what makes you happy, what you worry about, your wildest dreams and fondest hopes. I know you better than anyone else.Why, then, did she seem to not know him at all?
