“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that man dart out the front door that fast,” she continues, her grin growing wider.
Meanwhile, Rhonan’s glaring at her.
“I was making sure she was all right. She screamed like there was an intruder,” he says, his tone clipped.
Ellis pulls on my hand. “My daddy would have protected you, Ms. Lewis. He knows how to catch bad guys.”
“I know, and I appreciate him making sure I was okay. Unfortunately, my shower isn’t working now and it’s going to be a few days until I can get it fixed.”
Rhonan crosses his arms over his chest, widening his stance. And God, the way his shoulders are highlighted under his white shirtreminds me of what they felt like under my hands the night we met and he picked me up from the floor. “Only if I can’t fix it once the stores open up tomorrow.”
“Well, you can use my shower,” Ellis interjects. “I even have blueberry bubble bath you can use if you want. Daddy says we should share, and I would share that with you.”
I smile down at this sweet child. “That’s so nice of you, Ellis, but I brought my own soap.”
Her eyes widen. “What does it smell like?”
“Cherry blossom and peaches,” I reply.
“Can I smell it?” Ellis pleads with her hands clasped together.
Unable to say no to that face, I pull my body wash from my bag and open the cap, bringing it to her nose. She inhales deeply and then hums in approval. “Oh my gosh, I want to eat that.”
I laugh. “I know. It’s amazing, right?”
She nods. “Yes.” Turning to Rhonan, who’s been standing there watching our interaction, she says, “You gotta smell it, Daddy. It smells so good.”
My eyes lock with his. “I’m okay, Ellis,” he says with a tick in his jaw.
She pulls on his shirt from below. “Please, Daddy.”
Relenting with a sigh, he reaches for the bottle. I hand it over and then watch him inhale, closing his eyes as the scent hits his nostrils. For a moment, he stands there with his eyes closed, inhaling again. His eyes open, and I swear those blue orbs have grown darker. He clears his throat before handing me the bottle back. “You’re right, Ellis. It smells unforgettable.”
A zing of adrenaline races through me, but I turn my attention back to Ellis before I let it take over. “Maybe you can get some of this when your blueberry bubble bath runs out.”
“I don’t know. This bottle doesn’t have Bluey on it, and mine does.” Shrugging, she takes me by the hand and begins swinging it back and forth. “Did you bring your puppy?”
“No, sweetie. Roscoe is at my house.”
She juts out her bottom lip. “Aw, I wanted to play with him. He’s funny and fluffy.”
“I know, but I won’t be here for very long, so I left him snuggled in his bed.”
Rhonan clears his throat, interrupting our conversation. “Ellis, let’s let Ms. Lewis take her shower, okay?”
She drops my hand. “Fine.”
I try to stifle my laugh, but it’s no use. The one thing I’ve enjoyed most about being around my students, including Ellis, is discovering what things are important to them at the tender age of five. Now, at twenty-eight, it’s hard for me to even remember a time when life was that simple and black and white. I’ve been living under gray clouds for years, but these kids are helping the hues of a rainbow break through.
Always look for the rainbows, Vienna.
“Let me show you to the bathroom,” Rhonan says, nodding down the hall.
“Don’t leave without saying goodbye!” Ellis calls after me as I follow her dad down a long hallway.
“I promise I won’t.”
Ellis runs up to me and holds out her pinky. “Pinky promise?”
