and then we’ll go to Dairy Queen and get a blizzard. What-”
“Janie!” A woman squealed and practically shot out of the house in our direction.
Janie hid behind me at the woman’s screech, and the woman came to a stop kneeling directly in front of me. Face to crotch.
Janie’s boney arms were wrapped around me from behind. Her face was buried in the small of my back, averting her face from the woman’s excited squeals.
“Oh, Janie! I’ve missed you so much!” She said with a saccharine sweet voice.
Although not obvious to most, it was obvious to me that the woman was lying through her teeth about how much she missed Janie. After six years of working with parents and children, I knew when one was lying. If you didn’t, then a child could potentially get hurt, and that wasn’t happening on my watch.
“Ms. Stevens. It’s nice to meet you. Could we go inside, please?” I asked Anna.
Rather her head because she was still talking to Janie through my crotch.
“Of course! Janie, would you like to see all the toys that you have?” Anna cooed, still crouched down.
Taking Janie’s arm, I led her to the side and curled my arm around her shoulders. Anna’s eyes followed the movement, and she pivoted, staring at Janie intently.
“Would you like something to drink? I have a bottle for you when you get thirsty.” She smiled as if she’d accomplished some great feat.
“Bottles are for babies.” Janie snapped.
She was right. Janie was drinking out of adult cups now. What the hell was this woman thinking?
“Oh, well, I guess we can go find a sippy cup at the store for next time.” She said with confusion.
She snapped out of the confusion moments later by jumping up and clapping her hands, then barreling back inside, expecting us to follow.
“It’ll be okay, pumpkin. I have a water bottle you can drink from, as well as a pb&j in my pack for your lunch that your dad made.”
“Good,” she muttered.
She followed me inside reluctantly, turning around every few moments as if to check that her father hadn’t abandoned her while she wasn’t looking.
I chanced a look back, too. What I saw was Gabe and Jack placing a comforting hand on each of James’ shoulders lending him support. Turning my back, I took a deep breath before breaching the door to Anna’s home, and closing it quietly behind me.
I knew the next few hours would be trying, but I had no idea how much.
***
Teeth gritted tightly, I held Janie’s limp form in my arms, and walked quickly to the car.
One look at my face had James stepping off the sidewalk, but I shook my head no, indicating that now was not the time. Which it wasn’t. I wanted to get the fuck out of there before I ripped someone’s goddamned head off.
I strapped Janie into her booster seat, and then drove back to Kilgore, head pounding with each bump in the road. Occasionally, I’d glance back at the three bikes that were following closely behind me, and gave a sigh of relief.
Pulling into the parking area in front of James’ house, I closed the car door quietly, and then stormed off in the direction of the woods that lined the back patio area. Once I found a tree, I turned my back to it, and then slowly sunk down until my knees were in tight against my chest. Then I put my head on my knees and willed myself not to cry.
I felt James’ body crouch down before me, and it took me a good fifteen minutes before I had enough control over my temper before I looked up at him.
His hazel eyes bore into mine, and I let out a breath before I started to explain.
“That woman is not fit to be a mother. She tried to feed Janie strawberries, which I know damn well and good you’d told her last night that she was allergic to when you were on the phone with her. As well as the court telling her. Then she had a fucking bottle, a baby bottle , of milk that she practically tried to force Janie to drink. When she refused, Anna stormed off, and then brought it back in a margarita
“Janie!” A woman squealed and practically shot out of the house in our direction.
Janie hid behind me at the woman’s screech, and the woman came to a stop kneeling directly in front of me. Face to crotch.
Janie’s boney arms were wrapped around me from behind. Her face was buried in the small of my back, averting her face from the woman’s excited squeals.
“Oh, Janie! I’ve missed you so much!” She said with a saccharine sweet voice.
Although not obvious to most, it was obvious to me that the woman was lying through her teeth about how much she missed Janie. After six years of working with parents and children, I knew when one was lying. If you didn’t, then a child could potentially get hurt, and that wasn’t happening on my watch.
“Ms. Stevens. It’s nice to meet you. Could we go inside, please?” I asked Anna.
Rather her head because she was still talking to Janie through my crotch.
“Of course! Janie, would you like to see all the toys that you have?” Anna cooed, still crouched down.
Taking Janie’s arm, I led her to the side and curled my arm around her shoulders. Anna’s eyes followed the movement, and she pivoted, staring at Janie intently.
“Would you like something to drink? I have a bottle for you when you get thirsty.” She smiled as if she’d accomplished some great feat.
“Bottles are for babies.” Janie snapped.
She was right. Janie was drinking out of adult cups now. What the hell was this woman thinking?
“Oh, well, I guess we can go find a sippy cup at the store for next time.” She said with confusion.
She snapped out of the confusion moments later by jumping up and clapping her hands, then barreling back inside, expecting us to follow.
“It’ll be okay, pumpkin. I have a water bottle you can drink from, as well as a pb&j in my pack for your lunch that your dad made.”
“Good,” she muttered.
She followed me inside reluctantly, turning around every few moments as if to check that her father hadn’t abandoned her while she wasn’t looking.
I chanced a look back, too. What I saw was Gabe and Jack placing a comforting hand on each of James’ shoulders lending him support. Turning my back, I took a deep breath before breaching the door to Anna’s home, and closing it quietly behind me.
I knew the next few hours would be trying, but I had no idea how much.
***
Teeth gritted tightly, I held Janie’s limp form in my arms, and walked quickly to the car.
One look at my face had James stepping off the sidewalk, but I shook my head no, indicating that now was not the time. Which it wasn’t. I wanted to get the fuck out of there before I ripped someone’s goddamned head off.
I strapped Janie into her booster seat, and then drove back to Kilgore, head pounding with each bump in the road. Occasionally, I’d glance back at the three bikes that were following closely behind me, and gave a sigh of relief.
Pulling into the parking area in front of James’ house, I closed the car door quietly, and then stormed off in the direction of the woods that lined the back patio area. Once I found a tree, I turned my back to it, and then slowly sunk down until my knees were in tight against my chest. Then I put my head on my knees and willed myself not to cry.
I felt James’ body crouch down before me, and it took me a good fifteen minutes before I had enough control over my temper before I looked up at him.
His hazel eyes bore into mine, and I let out a breath before I started to explain.
“That woman is not fit to be a mother. She tried to feed Janie strawberries, which I know damn well and good you’d told her last night that she was allergic to when you were on the phone with her. As well as the court telling her. Then she had a fucking bottle, a baby bottle , of milk that she practically tried to force Janie to drink. When she refused, Anna stormed off, and then brought it back in a margarita
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