Mia
“HE’ELL BE HERE SOON. He’s never late.” Franny’s dark curls whipped in the wind, hitting my favorite patchwork dress as she stood beside me looking out over the horizon. Her tiny fingers threaded through mine almost instinctively.
Squeezing them gently, I reassured her. “Of course he will. Your father probably called the phone inside and I didn’t hear it while we were out for recess.”
She nodded solemnly and mimicked my tone. “Yes, of course.”
She stood as tall as she could and smiled tightly. I sighed. “You sure you don’t want to go play on the swings for a bit?”
Her blue eyes stayed glued to the lush green rolling hills. Franny, at the age of seven, was an old soul who was not willing to engage in frivolousness when she thought something might be wrong.
“My mommy didn’t pick me up from school one day,” she shared. Her concern became more evident when she continued, “Then she never came back.”
It wasn’t my job to pry into the child’s homelife. Summer school was all I could provide—or rather, all I wastoldto provide. Despite that, I responded with, “But I bet your dad probably came instead, right? He always comes.”
She didn’t even hesitate. “Yup.”
“Then there is nothing to worry about,” I said confidently, but doubt crept in. No cars were in sight down that road. So, I pointed over to the swings. “Look, I put some extra flowers above your swing this morning. Why don’t you tell me what scents you’re smelling over there?” I’d threaded lavender into the bouquet last night and tied crystal beads in, too, hoping it would give the children a calming effect.
Each of my five students for the summer were always wound tight. There most likely was a study out there that stated it would make them successful in the future, somehow. They were products of high-achieving parents, ones that sent nannies to get them from school or were on phones as they drove in daily for pickup.
Franny’s father, Jameson, was always present without his phone though. Every day, he would get out of a black SUV and kneel to catch Franny as she ran into his arms.
He was prompt, never late. And never dawdled to talk about much with me either.
“I’m not super interested in swinging with flowers right now, Ms. Darling.”
“I know, Franny. Would you feel better if Xavier went to go call him inside?” I pointed behind us toward the ornate building where one of the armed guards stood.
Blackstone Academy was an imposing, secluded, stately structure. The first time I saw it, I almost resigned. Surely, they didn’t want me, a woman in her twenties with only a few years of teaching experience, to be the supervisor of this entire school for the summer. It had to be hundreds of years old, all stone angles with a Gothic central tower that reminded me of medieval times. It was clear it had been built for many students, and during the school year, it housed some of the most elite college kids from around the world. Yet, I’d been informed I would bemaking it a welcoming classroom for just five second graders for the summer with only the help of armed guards.
“Well, someone should call him.” She huffed like she was the teacher.
It was probably that time. Twenty minutes had passed since the last student had been picked up. Normally, I didn’t call. I’d been hired at this private academy as a last-minute addition and didn’t want to ruffle feathers by overstepping. This was unprecedented though. “Xavier.” I turned back to one of the armed guards. He wore black and didn’t so much as look at me unless I asked him to. “Could you call Franny’s father and see if he’s headed this way?”
His small shake of the head signaled all I needed to know. Something was amiss. He glanced at his partner on the other side of the porch and then murmured into his headset. “We’re calling.”
I heard the rumble of engines just as Xavier’s partner started talking to someone. The scramble of guards overtook the serenity of Blackstone Academy and Franny tapped my leg. “Who’s that driving to see us?”
I watched the cars speed around the winding road, moving so quickly, I could see smoke as they turned the corners. It was almost picturesque, the way they shined in the sunlight, such a juxtaposition to the surrounding nature.
“Ms. Darling.” Xavier’s voice was close now and much more commanding. “You both need to go inside with Archer immediately.”
“Inside?” The question tumbled from my mouth as Archer jogged over and tried to take Franny’s hand. I gripped it more tightly and pulled her close. If my children’s parents weren’t present, I was their guardian. I stayed by their sides. I kept them safe. It might not have been what I was told, but I felt it all the same. So much so that I’d overstepped at my last job and almost been fired.
And still I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Archer narrowed his dark eyes at me, his brows slamming down. “We’ve got a safe space inside. Out here, you’re exposed and …” He glanced down at Franny, who was listening intently.
“Okay.” My voice shook, but I tried to keep calm even though their stances suddenly seemed on edge. “Franny, we’re going to play inside for a bit. Mr. Archer here will show us where to go. We’ll play a fun little game of hide-and-seek for a bit, right, Archer?”
I shoved my loose chestnut waves away from my face while I shuffled Franny ahead of me, keeping hold of her while Archer hustled us in from behind. He explained, “Yes, hide-and-seek is my favorite game, Franny. And there’s a secret spot I want to show you. You’re going to be very quiet in there, okay? Because we only want your daddy to find you and no bad guys.”
“That’s weird.” Franny wasn’t convinced. “Daddy doesn’t like games. He likes to get home so we can have dinner.”
“Oh, today, he will love this game,” I said with conviction, even though I had no idea. Jameson Knight, although beautiful and open with his daughter, was a locked box with me. I’d only gathered he was a creature of regimented habit by observing he was always on time to pick her up. He also wore a different version of the same suit every day. I guessed that he owned dozens of that specific style. They were impeccably tailored for him, too, draping flawlessly over his massive shoulders and hitting his wrists at precisely the correct length while tapering nicely down his torso. Plus, someone must have advised him on the color selection as well with how each suit always complemented the deep ocean-blue hue of his eyes.
Not that I was looking.
