The Presence of Grace (Love and Loss Book 2)(4)

Schoolwork was one area where both the kids excelled. Rarely did I ever have to get after them to do their homework, and I enjoyed helping them if they needed it. They each grabbed their backpacks, took a stool at the bar, and made themselves comfortable. As I did every evening at homework time, I poured them each a glass of chocolate milk. In about a half hour, I’d pop some popcorn and let them munch on it as they worked.

“What do we have going on this evening?” I asked as I set the glasses down in front of them, flinging a kitchen towel over my shoulder.

“I have to read this story about the Oregon Trail and then write a paragraph about it,” Ruby said, holding up a small book.

“I can sum up the Oregon Trail in two words: wagons and dysentery.”

“What’s dis-sin-tury?” Jaxy asked, slowly pronouncing the unfamiliar word.

“It means they pooped themselves to death.” Both kids immediately broke into fits of giggles and I leaned back, watching my children laugh. Even if it was at the word poop, I could listen to them laugh forever. When the laughter died off, and it took a few minutes, I asked Jaxy, “What about you? What are you working on this evening?”

“I have a math packet,” he replied, opening his backpack. “Oh, and Miss Richards sent home this letter.”

My gut immediately dropped. Letters from teachers were notoriously bad things. My mind buzzed with what Jax could have done and how much trouble he might be in.

“What’d you do?” I asked, my tone indicating I believed him already guilty.

“Nothing, I swear! I was just sitting at my desk and Miss Richards told me there’s a letter in my bag for you. I didn’t get into any trouble.” He shoved the envelope at me like it was proof of his innocence.

I took it from him with a skeptical look, but proceeded to open it.



Dear Mr. Roberts,



It is with great excitement that I write to inform you of Jax’s invitation to join the Talented and Gifted Program at North Elm Elementary. Jax has always been a bright student, so I am not surprised he has earned this honor. I would like to discuss plans with you at a parent/teacher conference. Please e-mail me to discuss possible meeting times.



Jax is a pleasure to have in class and I can’t wait to help him with this next big step in his education.



Best Regards,

Miss Richards

2nd Grade Teacher

North Elm Elementary

[email protected]



I read the letter once, and then I read it again. I looked up to Jaxy, who had started his math worksheet, obviously not caring too much about what the letter said.

“Jaxy, this letter says you got into TAG.”

“What’s TAG?”

“TAG is an acronym for talented and gifted.”

“What’s an acronym?” he asked, faced scrunched up.

“It’s when they use the first letters of words to make a new word. Kind of like a shortcut,” I answered with a laugh.

“Oh,” he said slowly. I could picture the wheels turning in his brain. “Cool. Can we have popcorn now?”





Chapter Two

Devon

Getting my mom to watch my kids was not difficult. She loved having them. My dad did too, but we all knew what was up. Grandma was in charge and she made the plans for the grandkids. Dad was just along for the ride, and he enjoyed them just as much as she did. It was a bonus, however, when I asked if they could take the kids on a Friday night and my mom suggested a sleepover.

I love my kids just as much as the next dad, but a night off from parenting and a Saturday morning to sleep in? You couldn’t ask for more than that. I dropped them off with their overnight bags, and they couldn’t even be bothered to give me a good-bye hug before they ran off into the wonderland that was their grandparents’ house.

“I’ll be by tomorrow by eleven to pick them up,” I said to my mother as I handed the bags over to her. My parents started having kids early, but I was the youngest so by the time they’d had me they were close to thirty. I worried sometimes that overnight visits were too much for them. I wanted them to enjoy the kids, but not to the detriment of their health. “You can call me if you have any problems and I’ll come back to get them. All I have planned is this parent/teacher conference.”

“There won’t be a problem,” my mother responded, looking at me like I might have offended her. “I raised five kids. I know how to handle little ones.”

“Of course, Mom. I didn’t mean any harm.”

“I know, baby,” she said, leaning over the threshold and pressing a kiss against my cheek. “Go. Be kid free for an evening.”

“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She shut the door before I was even done speaking. “All right then,” I said to myself. I turned and walked back down the driveway and got into my car.

When I arrived at North Elm Elementary, I noticed the parking lot was empty aside from one or two cars. I figured Friday evenings weren’t the most popular time to be at a school. The front doors were still unlocked and I followed the instructions from Miss Richards’s e-mail to her classroom. The halls were empty too, and I couldn’t help but feel as though I was somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be. The lights were dimmed and my footsteps echoed through the halls. An empty school was weirdly creepy.