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“She’s been as good as gold.” I’m not sugar-coating that. It’s the truth. Addison is a lovely little girl. “She seems to have made friends with Nadia… um…” My mind has gone blank, and I can’t for the life of me remember Nadia’s second name.
“Nadia Holland?” the sheriff offers, and I nod my head.
“That’s her.”
He smiles. “Her family live close to the house we’re looking to buy, so that’ll be good.”
“Are you friends of theirs?” I ask.
“Not especially.” He looks down at his future wife. “I don’t think you know them at all, do you, babe?”
“Only to nod and say ‘hello’ to,” she says, and he smiles, then turns back to me.
“In my line of work, I know practically everyone who lives here.”
“While I know practically no-one,” I say and he chuckles. “Although I gather Nadia has older brothers?” I can’t see any harm in gleaning a little information about at least one of my students.
“They’re both at the high school, although I think Josh might be heading off to college next year.”
“Really? They’re that much older than her?”
“Yeah. Nadia was a bit of an afterthought. Or an accident,” he says with a smile. “Either way, they all dote on her.”
“And it’s good that Addy’s made a friend,” Addison’s mom says, looking up at him.
He turns and I follow the line of his gaze to where his daughter and Nadia Holland are standing together, talking away, like they don’t have a care in the world.
“Hello, sweetheart,” he calls, raising his voice slightly and Addison jumps, then grins and runs over to him, throwing herself into his arms. He bends and catches her, leaning her into her mom for a kiss before she nestles against her father… the man who isn’t officially her father, but who sure acts like it.
“Are you gonna take me home?” she says.
“Yes, I am,” he replies. “But then I’ve gotta go back to work.” She pouts, and he tweaks her nose. “I’m sorry, but there are some things I’ve gotta do at the office.”
“Will you be home in time for dinner?” she asks.
“You bet I will. I’ll do my best to be home in time to help with your bath, but if I’m not, I’ll definitely read you a story before bedtime. Is that a deal?”
Addison holds out her hand, and the sheriff pats his against it. “Deal,” she says, then rests her head on his shoulder.
“Thank you for your time, Miss Howell,” Addison’s mom says as they turn away.
“It’s my pleasure. See you tomorrow, Addison.”
“See you, Miss Howell.” Addison pauses, then leans away from her father. “Bye, Nadia,” she calls, and Nadia says ‘goodbye’ too, with a wave of her hand.
While I’ve been talking, Margot has been ensuring the children are sent home with the right parents, although we still have a few stragglers, Nadia being one of them.
“Josh?” Margot says and I turn, looking over at a tall young man, of around seventeen years of age, who’s walking across the schoolyard, his hands in the pockets of his black jeans. He’s wearing a dark gray t-shirt, with a skull printed on the front, and some kind of wording underneath, although I can’t see what it says.
“Hi, Mrs. Ashton. I’ve come to collect my little sister. Mom sent me a message to say she had to wait in for an electrician, or something, so she couldn’t make it.”
“That’s okay,” Margot says and turns to Nadia. “You go with Josh, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Nadia runs to her brother, who turns, suddenly noticing me. “Are you her new teacher?” he asks.
“Yes. I’m Miss Howell.”
He nods his head, blushing slightly, and then takes his little sister’s hand as they walk away, just as a woman of around thirty comes rushing up, apologizing profusely.
