“By quirky, do you mean full of questionable buildings?” The motor grinds, and it sounds like a dying cat. If I wore pearls, I’d clutch them.
“Isn’t that what makes small towns so interesting?” she teases as the elevator lurches to a full stop. “Here we are!” Thedoor opens, and we step out onto the next floor and through another set of doors.
It looks like the only part of the school that resembles what it once was is the elevator. Small miracles and all that. Wishing I had something to do with my hands, like grab yet another cup of coffee, I follow behind Lark and Seraphina, vaguely listening as she shows her the middle school hallway. Here, the little flags have the picture of a moose, which seems to be the school’s logo, with the grades marked above the beast’s body. I should have expected a moose as the mascot.
“Here’s the eighth grade, Lark.” Seraphina opens the door to a room that, to me, looks like any other classroom we’ve passed—or even any other classroom I’ve ever walked into or sat in.
But to Lark? Her chocolate brown eyes widen in excitement, and she twirls in a circle before catching sight of the bookshelf and launching her body at it. Her fingers slide over spines of books that I know she’s probably read or wants to read.
“Wren, do you mind?” Seraphina gestures to her desk that sits catty-corner to the classroom in front of a large whiteboard.
“Sure.” I take a seat at one of the small desks, my tall frame barely fitting as my knees bump the underside. Okay, it’s probably a good idea I didn’t refill that coffee cup, because I would have knocked it over.
“If it’s okay with you, I’d love to test Lark and make sure she’s eligible for the eighth grade. I know this wasn’t your destination.”
“Ah, Arlo or Saffron?” I drum my fingers on the desktop, irritation gripping my spine. I’ve heard news travels fast in small towns, but I’ve never experienced it before. I can’t really say I’m mad either. Just cautious.
“A little of both.” Her kind eyes soften further, if that’s even possible. She missed her calling as a Disney Princess with those bright blue eyes. “I hear Lark doesn’t want to miss out on anyeducation. This will prevent that from happening until you get the paperwork settled. I have all of my credentials in a packet for you if you’re worried about leaving Lark with a stranger.”
“No, I believe you.” She’s far too genuine to be a serial killer anyway. My fingernails scrape a long scratch in the wood. “That is very logical, and I really have no complaints.”
Which bugs me, and I can’t quite put my finger on why.
“Perfect. Now…” Ah, here it is, the bomb that’s going to implode this picture-perfect little moment. “I hope I’m not overstepping here, but I hear you may stay until the spring?” Her perfectly sculpted brow rises in question.
Do I want to stay? I think I’ve watched far too many horror movies that start off this way, and the heroine always ends up dead by being far too trusting. “Hmm.”
“I’m hoping you will consider staying until the end of the school year, for Lark’s sake.”
She’s so soft-spoken and logical that she makes it really hard to argue with her, and I’m not sure I even want to argue with her. “I’ll think about it.” I can at least give her that much.
“Lark?” she calls over to my kid, who already has her nose in a book.
Her eyes pop up over the pages. I know that look. She found a book she is truly interested in and doesn’t want to put it down.
“If it’s okay with you, I have some tests to run through, since your former transcripts haven’t made their way here yet. This way you can begin bright and early Monday morning.”
Ugh. Why does she have to make Monday sound magical? The only thing magical about Mondays is when I can pretend they don’t exist and stay in bed all day.
“Sure.” Unconvinced, Lark sets her book aside.
“It’ll be a few hours,” Seraphina tells me. “I hear Arlo is sending you to the library.”
“Nice dismissal,” I mutter.
“You are more than welcome to stay here and watch.” Her head cocks to the side, and it’s then that I decide she’s a zombie.
“Nope, I’m good.” I stand far too quickly, making the desk fall over onto its side and crash to the ground. Because it’s me and I am a klutz, I bend over to right the desk, only for it to slide beneath my fingertips and crash back to the floor.
“I’ve got it.” Seraphina lays a hand on my arm, and I slowly back away.
“It’s these coats,” I mumble, feeling like a marshmallow.
“Mom.” Lark gives me thatyou are embarrassing mevoice.
“I’ll just, ah…” I back away slowly, which is a terrible idea, because I end up just backing up into yet another set of desks. “See you back at the B&B?”
“Make it the diner at lunch!”
