The lady at the front desk calmly reached for the phone and, from what I could tell, rang the classroom without a hint of urgency. My heart was still racing, but everyone else around me seemed so calm, like this was just another day.
I leaned in toward Ms. Honey, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why is everyone so calm right now?”
She giggled softly. “Oh, this happens all the time, especially with the little ones. If they don’t see their parents right away, they think they’ve been forgotten.” She glanced at me with those impossibly large, amber eyes. “I assume, since you said you’re her brother, you’re not her usual pickup?”
Her gaze held me there, and for a second, I completely lost track of the situation. The way her eyes sparkled—it was almost hypnotic. I stumbled over my words, trying to pull myself together. “I, uh, actually, I’m going to be her primary pickup from now on.”
She smiled so warmly and genuinely. There was something about her that made my pulse race for an entirely different reason.
“Good news,” the front desk lady said, interrupting whatever unspoken connection was happening. “Evie told her teacher she couldn’t find her mom or dad, so she went back to the classroom with Ms. Samuels.”
“That’s amazing. Thank you, Sue,” Ms. Honey said warmly, before turning toward me. “I’m going to escort Mr. Cole here to his sister.”
“Hart.” I corrected her instinctively. “It’s Austin Hart.”
“Alright then, Mr. Hart. Let’s go get your sister.”
She turned, holding the door open, and we walked down the hallway. “Wait,” she said as she handed me a paper. “Don’t forget this.”
I glanced down at the paper but couldn’t help awkwardly asking, “Where are you from? I mean, sorry—just... your accent.”
Her aura was so warm, her presence almost comforting in a way I wasn’t used to. I felt ridiculous for blurting it out like that, but she smiled, totally unfazed.
“Oh, it’s no problem. My accent is pretty strong, I know. I’m from a small town in Georgia.”
I nodded, trying to keep my cool as we made our way down the hallway.
“Are you new here?” I asked, trying to make small talk but feeling as though I was failing.
“Yeah. I just moved here. It’s my first year of teaching.”
“Congrats,” I said, and she pointed to a decorated door.
“This is you.”
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
She fumbled with the doorknob of the classroom next to the one she’d told me Evie was at, trying to get the keys in the lock. “Of course, Mr. Hart.”
“Just Austin.” I corrected her, easing the formality.
She chuckled softly. “That’s the third name I’ve called you in such a short time.”
I smiled. “It was nice to meet you, Ms. Honey. I hope to see you again soon.”
She furrowed her brows. “Honey? No, my name is?—”
I quickly bowed my head and stepped into Evie’s class, not wanting to hear her real name. She was Ms. Honey to me. She had so much warmth like the sweet liquid. It wasn’t her kindness, but the way she reminded me of the character fromMatilda, the movie my mom used to play for me when I was a kid.
“Evie,” I called out, my voice full of relief as I spotted her in the classroom.
She was clinging to an elderly woman, her face streaked with tears. The sight of her made my heart ache. I dropped down to my haunches.
“Sweet girl,” I whispered, crouching down to Evie’s level. “Did Mom not tell you I was picking you up today?”
She shook her head, wiping at her tear-streaked face.
I stood up, turning to her teacher with an apologetic look. “I’m really sorry about the confusion. I thought I was at the right door, but I must’ve missed her somehow.”
