“He doesn’t know you yet, Kaz. That’s all,” she assures me and touches Tommy’s arm to get his attention.
After a few more signs, he swings his eyes to me and gives me a smile. It’s too big, too forced.
“It’s fine.” I turn back to my phone, the weight of his discomfort sitting on my chest like a weighted vest.
Gerald is having more trouble than he originally thought he would getting the will and guardianship paperwork, but it’s been three days. He should have something by now.
“Are you certain this is going to be okay?” Sienna leans forward through the opening between the front row seats.
“He wants to be back at school. You said that yourself.” I type out a demand for Gerald to get the job done.
“What if my uncle shows up, or Dante?”
I twist so she can see my face. “Mikhail is going to be with him. Even if Dante shows, he won’t get within fifty feet of Tommy.”
“Yeah, you explained that. I still don’t understand how the school is allowing one of your men to shadow Tommy all day. Isn’t that…weird?”
“It’s handled,” I say as we pull into what looks traffic jam leading into the school parking. “What’s this? I don’t like this, it’s packed in here.”
Car horns blare. Kids run past the car with their backpacks bouncing behind them as they make a run through the lot. A car door opens and a woman in a flannel pajama set and a pair of knock off Uggs jumps out, waving a lunch box.
“It’s the drop-off line.” Sienna laughs. “Welcome to civilian life.”
The strong aroma of coffee wafts from minivan windows. Mothers waving their children goodbye, sending blown kisses through the air. Men like me don’t live in spaces like this. Too damn normal.
I check the side view mirror. Mikhail’s car trails us, Melody is jerking her finger toward a parking area, her face tight with irritation.
Sienna spots it too, laughing.
“She’s trying to get him to park. If he stays in this lane, he’ll be forced back out and have to go around again. Tell him to just listen to her.”
I shoot him a quick text. Seconds later, Melody’s frustration morphs into a triumphant grin.
A woman appears at Tommy’s door.
“Hey!” I’m out of the car before I can think. She jumps back.
“Kaz, it’s okay.” Sienna leans over Tommy as the door swings open and waves. “It’s fine. This is Mrs. Martha. She works for the school.”
I glare down at the woman— middle-aged, bundled up in a green knit hat and gloves, eyes wide.
“I’m just helping Tommy from the car,” she stammers, gesturing toward Tommy who is climbing down from the car.
“Sorry, Martha.” Sienna calls from inside the car.
“It’s all right. Glad to see Tommy is well protected.” Her voice wobbles.
Tommy stops in front of her and starts signing. She quickly responds. I watch their hands move, a language I can’t read. With a quick look over his shoulder at me, he waves, then runs off to the front doors.
“Wait!” I call after him, realizing how stupid it is the moment the word leaves my mouth. My pulse spikes until I spot Mikhail following.
“Your friend there seems to have caught up to him,” Martha says. “Oh, Melody will be joining us, too?”
“If that’s all right?”
“Actually, that works perfectly. Suzanne, his usual aide, is out for the week. We have a substitute lined up, but I’ll send her home.”
“Good.” I push the door shut, closing Sienna inside. “You’re aware of the situation with Vicente Conti.”
