Leah settles into my lap on the couch while Lauren snuggles into my other side. “I don’t like climbing on the playground anymore.”
“Okay. Did something happen that scared you?”
“I falled off yesterday.”
Lauren grabs Leah’s hand. “How come you didn’t tell me?”
Leah shrugs, and my gut tightens at the move. “Lee Lee, did someone push you off the playground?”
She nods her head, sticking her nose into my neck to hide.
“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sorry that happened. Did you tell a teacher?”
“Mrs. Halbrand. She telled me to stop playing with the boys if I didn’t want to get hurt. But I wasn’t playing with them.”
I grit my teeth to keep from cursing. Gina Halbrand is a severe woman who should have retired fifteen years ago. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard her name in connection with issues with the students. Lauren was placed in her classroom, and I made sure the administration moved her to a different teacher before the school year started.
“Who pushed you, and was it the first time?”
“No, Mason pushes me on the playground a lot.”
“Oh, baby. I’m sorry he’s been bothering you.”
“He bothers everybody.”
“Okay. I’ll talk with Ms. Nelson and your principal on Monday.” I wrap my arm around Lauren and squeeze my girlsinto my chest tightly. “Now, we’ve got company coming over after dinner, so we need to get the fort set up. Who wants to help me?”
Two sharp elbows dig into my stomach as the girls fly off the couch. I grunt through the pain, just grateful I didn’t get a knee to the balls this time.
I head into the kitchen, where Mom’s hot dish is starting to smell incredible. “Thanks for hanging with them this afternoon.”
“Of course, darling. Farrah asked me to tell you she wants to meet with you on Monday. She said she emailed you her availability. I have a feeling it’s about that bully. You know, I went to school with Gina. She was mean even back then. It doesn’t surprise me that she hasn’t changed a bit.”
“I wish Leah had told me she’s been having issues with this kid before now.”
“It might be a good idea to see why she hasn’t.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“No, sweetheart. It’s just…” Mom hesitates as if she doesn’t want to say whatever she’s thinking out loud. She glances at the stairs before lowering her voice. “I’m wondering if Kathy may have said something to Leah. I wouldn’t put it past her to tell Leah that boys will be boys and to ignore him.”
I let out a breath. I wish Mom were wrong, but given the other things Kathy has told Lauren and Leah recently, I could easily see her doing that. “I’ll ask Leah.”
The girls come down the stairs with their arms loaded with blankets. “Go slow, Lee Lee. I don’t want you to trip,” Lauren cautions, setting the pace to keep Leah from tumbling headfirst because she can’t see her feet.
I meet the girls in the living room to set up the corner posts for their fort. Everything is ready to go by the time Mom calls us in for dinner.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay to eat?” I ask her as she gathers up her stuff.
“I’m sure. Pop Pop made his homemade sandwich rolls tonight.”
“I don’t blame you for passing then. Thanks for this, Mom. We’ll see you for Sunday dinner.”
“See you Sunday. Make sure to bring Gia this time, please.”
“How’d you know she was in town again?”
Mom gives me a disappointed look.
