"We are going to have to issue her a one-day suspension. And weekly visits with the school therapist."
I nodded. Sadly, this was not new. "Ava is enrolled with a therapist already, but she will, of course, meet with the school's as well."
“I’m sure we will be able to put this behind us. Darlene will have some paperwork for you.”
I nodded, and we made our way out of the office.
We made our way silently to the car.
My mother followed behind us. “Ava Marie. What has gotten into you? I demand an answer.”
“You’re not helping. Why are you even here?” I say through clenched teeth.
“I’m here because the school called and you were not home.”
“And then you call, and here I am. We will meet you at home,” I say with finality she can’t ignore.
Once we were both in the safety of the van, I turned to her, but she wouldn't meet my gaze.
"What happened, sweetheart?"
Nothing. She wouldn't even look at me.
I just blew out a breath and started the car. Nothing to do but head home and deal with the fallout there.
As we pulled up to my mom's house, I couldn't help but feel like I was about to be grounded. Hector was out, and he gave Ava a smile and a wave, but she didn't even acknowledge him and just headed inside. He cocked his head, looking at me. I gave him a weak smile and a wave as we headed in.
"Well?" my mother demanded as soon as we entered the house.
"I got in a fight," Ava finally said.
“AV-a,” she hissed, voice dripping with disappointment. “How could you? Eleanor, this is exactly what I warned you about with public school?—”
I held up a hand, stopping her cold. “Not now.”
Her lips thinned, offended, but silent.
I crouched down in front of Ava. “Honey. Talk to me. Please. Why did you get into a fight?”
Nothing.
Just that stubborn set to her jaw, the one that looked so much like Ethan it made my heart ache.
"Can I go to my room?" was all she said.
I nodded as she disappeared up the stairs.
"What are you going to do about this?" my mother asked with her arms folded over her chest.
"I don't know," I said. And I didn't. I didn't know what I was going to do about anything.
Fighting isn't who Ava was. She was a kind girl, but also one with poor emotional regulation. But there was more to the story. I was sure of it.
"You need to pull her from that school. We need to put her on a strict schedule. And ground her until she can learn to behave."
I just gawked at her. How could she possibly think that was the answer? Forcing Ava to behave was like trying to control the weather. I needed to understand what happened to give her the tools to deal with it. She wasn't a spoiled brat like my mom seemed to think she was.
I couldn't do this. I couldn't live here anymore.
