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“Go to sleep now, buddy. I’m here.”
“Okay,” his small rough voice replies as he lets his eyes close slowly.
I wince at the sound of his voice, knowing that he’ll probably have a sore throat in the morning from all the screaming that he did.
Pulling the covers back, I slide in beside him, watching as he closes his eyes fully, but I don’t relax until his breathing evens out and I know that he’s asleep. And even then, I lie as still as a statue, watching him in case he starts to dream about her again.
The smile on my face falls as soon as I see Izzie and Clayton’s downturned faces as they walk up the cobblestone path, Tristan following behind them, running his hand through his hair.
Clayton throws open the door, making the bell clash, and immediately walks over to the beanbags, turning his back to us as he sits down. Izzie clings on to Tristan’s leg, looking between her brother and her dad.
I walk over to them and Tristan clears his throat, bending down to Izzie’s height. “Daddy has to go now.” She clings onto his arm instead so I kneel down next to him and her gaze flits to mine.
“Hey, Izzie. Tilly could use some help setting up for today, do you think you could be a big girl and help out?” She shakes her head and buries her face into Tristan’s shoulder. “Well, that’s a shame. I heard that she has a new story about a unicorn but she has no one to tell it to.”
She lifts her head slightly, her eyes flicking over to my mom. “She does?”
I nod enthusiastically and scrunch up my shoulders in faux excitement. She giggles and grabs Tristan’s face, kissing him square on the lips and skipping off over to the other side of the room.
We both stand up and he blows out a deep breath. “Thanks, I thought we were nearing another meltdown.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, my eyes finding Clayton with his head stuck firmly in a book. He looks like he’s reverted back to the boy that turned up on week one.
He huffs. “I… He had a bad night.” He gazes at Clayton, his eyes shining with sadness. “I don’t think I should leave him.”
“I’m sure he’ll come out of his shell once we start the session,” I say, smiling reassuringly at him.
He looks between us both and rubs the back of his neck with his hand. “Alright, I won’t be far. If he needs me, give me a call.”
“I will.” He shoots me a small wave, turning and walking right into the door while trying to push on it. “It’s a pull,” I say, trying to stifle the giggle that’s bubbling its way up my throat.
He pulls it open and looks back at me, his face turning bright red. “Right... Laters.”
Laters? What is he, a teenager?
He closes the door and I let out the giggle that I was holding in, staring after him. He turns around again and grins before shooting me a wink, causing me to blush.
Mom sidles up beside me and crosses her arms over her chest with a smirk on her face. “Something catch your attention? Or should I say someone?”
I roll my eyes at her and walk off toward the front of the room, ignoring her comment and clapping my hands together to get everyone’s attention.
“Morning, everyone.” I receive a chorus of mornings in return. “Who knows what tomorrow is?” I ask.
Several hands shoot up in the air and I point at Jessica. “Sunday,” she says, smiling.
I chuckle. “It is Sunday, but it’s also a special Sunday. Can anyone tell me why?”
“It’s Mother’s Day!” Ben shouts above everyone.
“Hand up next time, Ben, but you’re right, it is Mother’s Day so we’re going to make something for all the special ladies that take care of you.”
I explain to them that we’re going to make tissue paper tulips, cards, and whatever else they want before I send them on their way after a quick demonstration.
Not long after that, a squeal catches my attention and I twirl around, trying to locate where the noise came from.
My eyes widen when I see Izzie on the floor a couple of feet away from Clayton, crying as he scowls at her. I walk over and pick Izzie up, handing her to my mom who follows me over to the beanbags before bending down in front of Clayton.
“Clayton, what happened?” I ask, using a soothing voice.
