“Helena…” He spoke her name carefully, as if he had never heard it before. “My shoes are untied.” He smiled.
Helena blinked and looked at his shoes, which were indeed untied. The boy couldn’t have been older than seven, surely old enough to tie his own shoes. But he continued to look at her, his meaning clear.
“Ah, yes. I will just find…”
She looked around the warehouse, searching for someone to help. Sebastian was at the back, and the other helpers were busy.
“My shoes are untied,” the boy said again.
“I see that.” Helena bit her lip, for some reason nervous about the prospect of tying the little boy’s shoes. “Let me just…”
With great care, she crouched down and got about tying the boy’s laces. Her hands shook, and she could feel him watching her the entire time.
“There you are,” she said once she was done, letting out a sigh of relief. “All better.”
“Thank you!” The boy threw his arms around her neck.
“Oh!” She almost pulled away, but thankfully did not. Rather, she relaxed in his embrace, accepting the hug, feeling his warmth seep into her. “You are welcome, Daniel.”
He let her go, still beaming, and then turned and scampered across the floor.
On her knees, Helena smiled, her heart full as she watched the little boy join some boys his age. It was such a small thing that she did, but it felt huge to her. It felt important.
As it turned out, that was all it took.
No longer so nervous, Helena slowly crept across the floor. Soon, she was surrounded by a group of children, all pulling at her skirt and asking for her name. They were excited to meet her, damn thrilled that she was giving them her time. When one asked if she would read to him, she couldn’t say no.
So it was that Helena found her place.
The rest of the day was spent in the ‘library,’ which was just a small space with pillows on the floor around the bookshelf. She sat on one of the pillows, legs crossed, book in hand, and a dozen children sat around her.
She found that she loved how captivated they were by her. Eyes wide and eager. Smiles on their faces. They listened with rapture, in a way that might have suggested this was the best day of their lives.
Even better was when Daniel sat down beside her, then crawled closer, then bravely scampered onto her lap. His arms wrapped around her, refusing to let go, and she moved her arms so they were around him as she continued to read.
“Well, this is certainly a sight for sore eyes.”
Sebastian appeared out of nowhere. He stood behind the children, smiling with sheer warmth and adoration. Certainly not forced.
“Oh, Sebastian, I did not see you there.” She put the book down.
“Do not stop on my account,” he laughed.
She laughed too. “I was just finishing up, in fact.”
“No!” Daniel cried. “One more! One more!”
“I see you have a fan.” Sebastian grinned.
Helena laughed and then looked at the children, all eager for another story.
“Is there time for one more?” she asked Sebastian, hoping he would say yes.
“Sadly not,” he sighed. “Sorry, children, but I have to steal my wife.” They cried out in protest, and he chuckled. “But I promiseI will bring her back as soon as I can. Assuming…” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Tomorrow?” Helena asked without hesitation.
“Are you sure?”
