AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Eliza took Kenna’s hand and shook. “You pretty.”
“Not as pretty as you.”
“It’s a tie.” Max brushed his hand over Eliza’s hair and smiled at Kenna.
Remmy, Chase’s service dog, walked over to Kenna and brushed up against her side.
“Hello, there.” Kenna had seen Chase’s service dog a lot down at the barn.
Kenna looked up at Chase. “You’ve got a beautiful family.”
Chase hugged Shelby close to his side. “Thank you. It’s good to see him”—Chase notched his chin up toward Max—“happy again. How are you feeling today?”
Kenna gave Remmy one last pet, then planted her free hand on her knee and stood with a groan.
Shelby rushed forward, took Kenna’s arm, and helped her stand without spilling her coffee.
“Thank you,” Kenna said. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“You, too. That’s a nasty head wound.”
Kenna brushed her fingers over the line of stitches on her temple. “Everything is sore today. But at least I’m alive.”
Shelby put her hand on Kenna’s back. “We are all happy about that.”
Kenna bit her bottom lip. “It’s a little overwhelming to be welcomed like this, but I’m so happy to be here with all of you. Especially you,” she said to Max. “Like for real. We had a really close call.”
“Too close.” Max brushed his fingers along the cut on her head. “Drink your coffee. Want something to eat?”
“One of those peanut butter granola bars you picked up for me.”
“I want,” Eliza said. “Peanut butter my favorite.”
Kenna smiled down at his niece, then pulled the box from the cupboard. “Then it’s your lucky day, sweetheart, because I have two.” She pulled the treat out of the box and handed it to Eliza.
Shelby rolled her eyes. “You already ate breakfast.”
“I want it.” Eliza held it to her chest.
Shelby looked at Kenna. “Do you really have another one?”
Kenna pulled out the second granola bar. “I do. No worries. I’m like a squirrel, I always have snacks. Some of my students don’t always get enough food at home. It’s well known that I keep a stash of things in my classroom.”
“That’s really nice and thoughtful,” his dad said, addressing Kenna for the first time.
“I wish it wasn’t so necessary.”
His dad acknowledged that with a nod. “You need help restocking, we’re happy to help.”
Cyn touched Kenna’s arm. “I could put a collection box in my shop. Lots of moms and grandmas come in. I’m sure they’d love to drop off food for the kids.”
Kenna’s eyes shined with joy and unshed tears. “That would be amazing.”
Cyn held her hands out. “Then consider it done. I’ll drop the food off here with you once a week.”
“Thank you. It’s been my dream to set up a food pantry in my class, where kids can grab what they need without feeling like they’re being judged.”
“I can talk to my work about doing the same thing,” Shelby added. “I’ll even ask the juice place next door about donating fresh fruit. They seem to throw away a lot of stuff. Maybe some of it can go to the school.”
