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ELEVEN
EMMA
Sunday afternoon my phone pinged with an email about career day at Alexis’ school. When she heard about it on Monday, I knew she would be excited to have me join her for part of the school day, which meant I had to talk to my father about attending. Initially, I thought he was going to say no and that he or my brother would attend to represent our family's business, but I must have caught him in a good mood because he agreed I would go under the condition that I talked about our family's role in the community. He had my brother, William, draw up several discussion topics I was to stick to and not stray from. Would everything I said be a lie? Yes, since technically I was a stay-at-home mom. But I knew when it came to the Delcoure name, we always had put on our best faces. No one could think there was anything unbecoming of our family.
As the week continued, I was looking forward to the career day, and so was Alexis. The second she found out I would be going to school with her that day, she ran around her room excitedly. I was still unsure about the whole thing since the school had forgotten about the event, but I was happy to spend the day with my daughter and let her show me around the way little kids do. She forgets I went to the same elementary school she attends now, and several of her teachers were actually mine.
This morning Alexis comes bursting into my room long before she is due to be awake, jumping on my bed excitedly to wake me up. I know there is no going back to bed after this and choose to get up and start my bed.
Alexis asked me last night if I would do double french braids in her hair. Her hair is always easier to braid when wet, so I guide her into the bathroom to start our day and get her hair done. Once she is all set and ready for the day, I quickly get myself showered, dressed, and in a nice pants suit before we both head downstairs for breakfast.
My father gives us the typical lecture to represent our family name and put on a good show since we can always use more donors in the community. After promising to be on our best behavior, he lets us out the door, and we head to the elementary school. Is it weird still answering to my father and him treating me like a child? Most definitely, but I learned long ago to keep my head down and follow the rules. I’m an adult but not in his house and living under his roof. He doesn’t see me as his daughter or an adult. He sees me as a commodity to help his influence reach even further.
Alexis is excited as I lead her to the car. She is having me for a full day at school with her, and she thinks it is the greatest thing ever. For the whole ride, she couldn’t stop rambling about introducing me to her friends and showing me around. I’mglad she is excited about the experience.
For me, I am just excited to get out of the house for the day and feel like I can breathe some. I’m sure my father will have someone at the school reporting back to him on my actions, but it still lets me feel freer than I have in a while. I just wish there was a way I could sneak away and meet Trevor. I have no idea why he is back here or what he was doing at the fight, but I really want to find out before my father or brother does to avoid punishment.
The drive to the school is over before I even realize it. Alexis has been yammering away in the backseat for the whole car ride. She doesn’t even notice we have pulled up to the school until I put the Jeep in park and turn around to tell her.
“Ready?” I question, stopping her from her train of thought.
“Were here? Already?” She looks around excitedly and then unbuckles her seatbelt. “Come on, Mom! We have so much to do!”
I chuckle as she opens the door to get out and I follow behind her. Her little hand grasps mine as she pulls me forward toward the entrance. I barely have time to lock the Jeep behind us.
“Slow down, Alexis,” I plead, trying to pull her to a stop so my arm doesn’t feel like it's being yanked out of the socket. “We have all day for you to introduce me and show me around.”
“Sorry, Mom,” she blushes. “I’m just really excited!”
“I know, Sweetheart. Let’s go get me a visitor badge then you can show me your classroom.” I smile and let her take the lead once more. This time she walks at a normal pace.
Around us, there are adults dropping the kids off and several being led into the school the same way Alexis is doing now. We follow the crowd, and there's a line of about four parents waiting with their kids to be checked in. I look down at my daughter and see her frown start to form. She really wanted to make this a quick stop, but it looks like today will be a lot of waiting.
“Why don’t you run ahead and put your backpack away and then come back? Maybe by then, the line will be shorter.” I give her a slight push out the door so she isn’t just standing here impatiently. She gives me a sad smile before leaving the room and heading toward her classroom. It hurts my heart a little to see her frown, but I’m sure soon she will forget all about it and be smiling once more.
The line to check in passes quickly and before I know it, I’m placing a visitor sticker on my chest and heading toward Alexis’s classroom. The teacher ended up keeping all the kids in the classroom as they arrived and stood in the doorway instructing us to wait in the hallway for her to introduce each of us once she got the class settled.
I gave a polite smile to a couple of the parents around me before I took up a spot leaning against the wall opposite the door. Many parents knew one another and were making polite conversation amongst themselves. I, however, kept my head down and didn’t speak unless spoken to. Everyone knew who I was, or at least about my family, but none knew Alexis was my daughter. To the world, Alexis was my little sister. I didn’t like that, but it was the safest option for her. My father didn’t want anyone to know I was tainted in his eyes.
“Your father couldn’t make it?” A male leans down a little too close to me. It takes everything in me to keep still and not slide away from him. This isn’t one of the parents I recognize. Since he’s asking about my father, I’m assuming they are business acquaintances, which means being on my best behavior.
“No, he had meetings today and asked me to attend in his place.” My voice comes out nicer than I had expected.
“Such a shame.” He practically snarls in my ear. “I was so hoping to speak with him today. But I guess looking at a pretty thing like you will have to do. You did look breathtaking in that dress Friday night.”
The hair on the back of my neck stands at his words. Before I can respond, though, the teacher calls all of us into the room and asks that we stand at the front.
The rest of the morning passes in a blur. The teacher introduced each of us and then had us take seats next to our kids. We spent the morning sitting in on their lessons and seeing what they had been working on. The afternoon was to be spent with each parent talking about themselves and their job.
Quietly I sat beside Alexis while she learned and when she got stuck on a problem, I helped her with it. It was like being at home and helping her with her homework, but at least here at school, she didn’t complain about it. During breaks, she introduced me to her friends who all seemed super nice. They asked about having a sleepover coming up soon, and I told her we would have to see. We both knew the answer would be no but at least we were polite about seeing if it was possible. I caught a couple of the mom’s faces when we said it who knew the truth immediately, but they hid it quickly.
It wasn’t a secret that the Decloure family always kept to themselves. We only attended events that would provide good publicity for the family. Sleepovers and outings with friends were very few and far between. I never had a sleepover growing up, and by middle school, my friends just stopped asking.
“I’ll be right back,” I whisper to Alexis before I excuse myself from the room.
Lunch was still about an hour away, but I really needed to use the restroom. I gave a small smile to the teacher before slipping out of the room and walking down the hall. I knew there was a bathroom down the hall and around the corner. There was also a closer restroom in the other direction, but I needed a second to stretch my legs. I remember the classroom chairs being so much larger than they are now.
No one is in the halls as it’s still class time so when I open the door to the restroom, I’m glad to see it empty. Wasting no time, I take care of business, and while I’m washing my hands, I sigh, letting out a deep breath I had been holding. It’s so hard keeping the persona of a big sister to Alexis. She almost slipped up once in class, but we quickly covered it up, and I don’t think anyone truly noticed what happened. I will definitely be letting her have an extra scoop or two of ice cream tonight even if I have to sneak it into her room.
