“Come on, sweet pea,” I said a little louder. Then I saw the book next to the bed, with the bookmark moved much farther than it had been when I had kissed him goodnight and turned off the light. “Charlie Finn, did you stay up late reading again?”
He cracked one eye open and looked at me. “It’s a really good book, Em.”
I was torn between being angry because he had stayed up past his bedtime and being happy that he was so interested in reading. Parenting was so not black and white.
“Well, it’s time to get up, you sleepy lug. If you’re tired today at school, you’ll know why. No staying up after lights out.”
No matter what I did, and no matter how I tried to time it, some mornings we just ran late. I was rushing around the house, looking for his shoes, when he remembered that it was his turn for Share Day at school.
“I want to bring a picture of Nana,” he announced. “I love her a lot and I miss her.”
I turned to him, tears coming to my eyes. “I think that’s a great idea. I miss her too, you know.”
He nodded. “She was a good grandma. She took me to all my stuff, and she always tucked me in. She let me read really late,” he added pointedly.
I shook my head at him. “Won’t work. Look on the porch for your shoes.”
“I was going to bring the axe, but I thought you’d say no,” Charlie called from the kitchen.
Good gravy.
I quickly fixed a tray for Cassie and brought it up to her. I could tell by her breathing that she was awake. “Good morning. Will you let me say I’m sorry now?”
She didn’t open her eyes. I sighed. “Ok, that’s ok. I’ll say it anyway. I’m really sorry, and I didn’t mean what I said.”
“You’re just jealous of me,” she said, still without opening her eyes. “You always have been.”
I gritted my teeth. Man, did she make apologizing difficult. “You’re right, and again, I’m really sorry.”
“I feel like strawberry jam this morning. Did you put it on my toast?”
I ran back down to the kitchen to get some.
Charlie and I were late, late, late. I had to walk in with him to the principal’s office. “Sorry,” I said to the secretary.
“You’re not the only one. Monday mornings,” she answered as she handed Charlie a late pass. The phone rang and she gestured at it. “See?”
“Ok, pal, head off to class,” I said, giving him a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll pick you and Darby up this afternoon.”
“Ok, Mommy. I mean, Emmy. Bye.” He took off through the door and I could hear his feet pounding towards his classroom.
“No running in the halls,” I said to myself, and started tofollow him out.
“Are you Charlie’s aunt?”
I turned and saw the school principal.
“I’m Sylvia Ferber, principal here at Whitaker. I don’t think we’ve met yet.”
“Emily Brennan.”
She held out her hand and I shook it, immediately nervous. I got the same way when I saw a police car, even though I had never even gotten a ticket. I felt like maybe they could sense my intention to run a red at the next block or something. Like maybe I was a secret criminal and evenIdidn’t know it yet.
“I’m glad I ran into you. Do you have a minute?” she asked.
I checked my watch. No, not really. “Sure. What’s going on?”
Mrs. Ferber gestured toward her office, and I preceded her in. “Please, sit down.” She went behind her giant principal’s desk and clicked on her mouse.
