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Chapter 25
Jaxson
Savannah, GA June 16– Friday
Day before the Annual Hope House Family Fair
Life sometimes throws you a curve that you don’t expect. It’s those unexpected moments that begin to change how you see your life and world.
My curve came when I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in driving for a charity event. All drivers are donating to a children’s hospital or facility of their choice.
I’ve been working out, getting back in shape, and this feels like the right time. Mace and Jake haven’t stopped talking about it since they found out I was going to do it. Hope told me Jake has started to return his posters to the walls and things have slowly begun to appear back on the shelf.
One curve that hit me square in the chest came from Mrs. Coleman, Emory’s mother. Never could’ve called that one even if someone would’ve lined it up for me. I’ve been spending a lot more time with J.B. Hearing that little girl call me “Daddy” is the greatest feeling in the world. I’ve also been stepping in to help so I get to spend more time with her. I’m picking her up and dropping her off every day.
Not having Brooklynn with us is killing me, but I can’t tell her. She seems to be making some headway. Hope said she went with her to visit her grandmother’s gravesite yesterday. She and I have been sending messages daily. I haven’t been able to see her because of the training, interviews, and meetings.
We both have meetings. Being the boss carries a heavy burden.
Curve ball?
The mother, not the daughter. I picked up J.B. today and she wasn’t her usual happy self. I asked her what was wrong, but she wouldn’t tell me. It took me a second to connect the dots. On Fridays, I’ve been picking J.B. up from school then taking her to karate practice. Today, she said she didn’t want to go to school or practice. I got her to go to school but practice was still a “no go”.
As soon as I dropped J.B. off at school, I turned around and headed back to Mrs. Coleman’s. No one answered the bell, and she didn’t pick up when I called. I had to reschedule one of the interviews that was first thing this morning. My next call was to the mayor’s office. The snotty secretary informed me the mayor would be unavailable for the next week.
I’d made plans for J.B. to be with me for the weekend not a week. That was just the tip of this particular iceberg. I received a call from the school. One of the teachers wants to speak with me when I come to pick up J.B. from school this afternoon. When I started picking J.B. up, I thought it would be a good idea if they had my contact information on file. Little did I know, they already had me listed as a parent.
Interesting tidbit of information.
The school called me again thirty minutes later. I started receiving emails from the school about functions and assemblies. Messages from the PTA and the schedule for upcoming practices, games, and meets. When an email about the following week’s meal request came through, I had to stop the phone interview I was doing.
What the hell was going on? My next call was to the school.
“Hello. Hi. This is Mr. Shaw. May I speak with the principal?”
“Hello, Mr. Shaw. This is Ms. Abigail. I work in the office. Mr. Tanner isn’t in right now. Is there something I can help you with?”
“I don’t know who I should speak with about the number of emails and messages that I’m being flooded with today. Is there a glitch in the system over there?”
“No Sir. No glitches. I was under the impression this was a special request. We were told you needed to be informed of everything that happens at the school, so you were well aware. Also, all things related to and having to deal with Jayla Shaw would go through you. Were you calling about next week’s breakfast and lunch choices?”
I believe my brain imploded just then.
“No. I’ll have to call you back with those. Um ... just out of curiosity. Who advised the office to do all of this?”
“Mrs. Coleman left specific instructions last Friday. She stated she’d be out of town for a while, and you would be handling things being her father and all.”
Fuck. A. Duck.
