His face softened. “Where is she? What does she need?”
“She frew up,” Julian said.
Josh looked at me, concern written all over his face. The expression was kind. So kind it momentarily threw me off guard.
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” he said.
My breath caught, and I snapped back to my senses. “There’s no need.”
“It’s fine. I planned to work on this side of the farm today anyway. Does she have a phone in case of emergency?”
I nodded.
“Is it charged?”
A huff escaped me. How he anticipated my tweens inability to keep her phone charged, I didn’t know.
“Yes,” I said.
I unlocked my phone and navigated to the parental control app so I could add him as an approved caller. “It’s really okay?—”
He held a hand up. “I’ll check in on her. Bring hersnacks if necessary. Don’t worry, I won’t give her a chainsaw or anything.”
I shot him a glare over my phone while Julian laughed like the man had told the most hilarious joke he’d ever heard.
“Does she need medicine? I can run to the pharmacy.”
I shook my head. “I gave her Tylenol, and she’s going to try eating a few crackers, then let me know.”
Once I’d finished adding him to the approved list, I locked my phone and stuck it in my purse.
“It’s okay,” he said, eyes roving over me. “I know you feel guilty, but you’ve got to get to school.”
“I can try to run home during lunch,” I said.
“I’ve got it.” He patted my shoulder gently.
On instinct, I flinched.
Eyes widening, he took a step back.
“Sorry,” I said, my face flaming. God, why was I such a weirdo? It was a friendly pat, for God’s sake. He wasn’t pointing a gun at my head.
Without another word, I loaded the kids up, and Josh got back in his truck, taking his dog with him.
As I walked Julian to his classroom, he clung to me more than usual, and Maggie hadn’t said a word the entire ride to school.
With each step I took deeper into the school, my chest tightened. I wanted nothing more than to grab my kids and run home.
We’d just put all the backpacks away and finished morning circle time when my phone buzzedon my desk.
It wasa photo of Wayne lying on my front porch, blocking the door.
Josh
Wayne’s on guard duty. He’s taking it very seriously.
While my studentsgot settled in their designated centers, I quickly responded.