"No. Not at all. Your report was great." I leaned against my desk, giving her space, trying not to crowd her. "I just wanted to check in. See how you're doing."
Destiny's eyes dropped to the floor. "I'm fine."
"Okay." I didn't push. Pushing never worked with kids like Destiny. Kids like Tommy. "But if you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here. You know that, right?"
She shrugged. Picked at a thread on her broken zipper.
"I mean it, Destiny. Whenever you need me. Even if it's just to sit here and not talk." I tried for a small smile. “I’m actually pretty good at not talking.”
Something flickered across her face. Not quite a smile, but close.
"Okay," she said. "Thank you, Ms. Cummins."
She slipped out the door before I could say anything else.
I stood there for a moment, watching her go. Hoping I got through. Hoping she knew I meant it.
I'm here whenever you need me.
It was Shane’s day off the next day.
He’d slept most of the day, waking up around four with enough energy to take over my kitchen. Zoe was perched on the counter, “supervising,” which mostly meant stealing pieces of bell pepper when she thought he wasn’t looking.
"I saw that," Shane said without turning around.
"Saw what?" Zoe popped another piece into her mouth, grinning.
Millie sat at the kitchen table with me, both of us pretending to work while really just watching the show. She had a calculus textbook open in front of her, but she hadn’t turned a page in at least twenty minutes.
“So,” I said, keeping my voice casual. “How’s the guy from your calc class?”
Millie's cheeks went pink. "Maya."
"What? I'm just asking."
"You're being nosy."
“I’m just concerned.” I smiled. “Is he still texting you?"
Millie glanced at Shane and Zoe, making sure they were distracted, then leaned closer. "Yeah. Every day now."
"That's great, Millie." I couldn't help the warmth that crept into my voice. "Tell me everything."
"He remembered my coffee order," Millie said slowly. "From like, two months ago. I mentioned it once, and he just... remembered. And last week, when I was stressed about the AP exam, he showed up at the library with flashcards he'd made. Color-coded." She shook her head, smiling despite herself. "He's kind of a dork, actually."
"Dorks are underrated."
"He doesn't just text when he wants something, you know? He texts to ask how my day was. Or to send me memes he thinks I'll like." She paused. "He shows up. Like, actually shows up."
I thought about Shane. About Chinese food on my doorstep when I was too tired to cook. About a leaky faucet fixed without being asked. About a man in a suit, kneeling in front of my daughter with a bouquet of flowers.
Kindness shows up when it counts.
"That's the one," I said softly. "The one who shows up. That's how you know."
Millie looked at me, then at Shane across the kitchen, then back at me. A knowing smile spread across her face.
"You really like him, don't you? Shane, I mean."
