Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Hello.” Lemon is definitely breathless, and I’m torn between being excited I’ve caused this and anxious to get to my daughter. What a mixed bag of emotions. Still, I can’t miss an opportunity to flirt with her.
“You’re being too professional, Ms. Walsh.”
“It’s part of my job.”
“I’m going to head there and see how she’s doing.”
“She’ll be in my office.”
“Not the nurse’s office?”
“No, mine.” She hangs up before I can question why my daughter is in the principal’s office and not the nurse’s.
I climb the steps to Ms. Linda’s and knock on the door.
“Come in dear.”
“I’m heading over to the school,” I tell her. “Something happened and Goldie wants me to pick her up. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Oh no, was she in the fight?”
My blood boils instantly. Goldie has had trouble making friends and just the other day she told me how she had a new friend named Rosie. “What fight?”
“Two boys decided to duke it out in the cafeteria. Not sure who they belong to.”
“Not sure, but I’ll let you know.” I rush to my truck, start it up, and head toward the school without bothering to put my seatbelt on. If Sheriff Parker wants to give me a ticket, so be it. Hell, he can follow me to the school with lights and sirens for all I care. Although, that would royally piss Lemon off.
I park in my normal spot, kill the engine, and rush inside. I’m heaving pretty good when I get to the office. I don’t bother to say to Jean and head straight toward Lemon’s closed door.
“Stop,” Jean says. “Come here, Wade.”
“Ms. Walsh called—”
She waves me over. “I know she called you but come here. You need to see this.”
I go behind the large desk and walk toward Jean’s desk. From there, I can see into Lemon’s office. It takes me a moment to really absorb what I’m seeing. When it finally hits me, my eyes water.
“Does she do this with all the students?”
“No,” Jean says. “She’s never done this.”
Lemon sits on the couch, with Goldie’s head resting in her lap. Lemon’s reading a book to my daughter and absentmindedly running her hand through Goldie’s hair. I take my phone out and snap a picture. It’s something I plan to look at every chance I can.
“I don’t want to interrupt them.”
“No, I can’t imagine you do.”
I clear my throat and nod. “I’ll knock so I don’t scare them.”
“You know, she called you on her own. I didn’t have to force her.”
“Thanks, Jean.” I smile kindly and head toward Lemon’s door. I knock once.
“Come in.” I step in and find them both in the same position as Jean had pointed out. Neither move until I’m halfway across the room. Every fiber of my being wants to pull Lemon into my arms and kiss her, but I can’t.
Instead, all my focus is on my daughter, who is slowly sitting up. “Hey, sweetie. How’s your head?” Goldie pulls the ice pack away from the side of her head. I see a bit of red, but nothing else and she doesn’t have a bruise. I look at Lemon and hope she can tell I’m not upset with her. “There was a fight?”
“Yes, two boys. Fists started flying and Goldie just happened to be walking by. I took her right to Ms. Cade. She thinks Goldie’s okay.”
“Are you?” I ask my daughter.
She nods. “Maybe I’ll go to class. Rosie probably misses me.”
I have to bite my tongue because I could’ve stayed at work, but then I would’ve missed this. “If that’s what you want, or I can take you to Grandma’s.”
Goldie shakes her head. “I think I’m okay now.”
“Do you want me to walk you back to class?”
Goldie looks horrified. “No, Daddy.”
“Okay,” I say, putting my hands up.
“Show this to your teacher,” Lemon hands her a slip of paper. “If your head starts hurting, ask to go see Ms. Cade. Okay?”
“Thank you, Ms. Walsh.”
Goldie gives me a hug and then skips her way out of Lemon’s office. I head to the door, close it, and turn to face her.
“Can I come over tonight?”
She starts to shake her head and then stops. “What about Goldie?”
“My mom will watch her especially if I tell her I’m going to go see you.”
Lemon tries not to smile and ducks her head so I can’t see her do so. “I should say no.”
I nod.
“But I’m saying yes.”
“I’ll be over around eight,” I tell her. “That’s when Goldie goes to bed.”
I put my hand on the doorknob and begin to turn.
“Wade?”
I look at her.
“Don’t hurt me.”
Tears rush to my eyes. If she wasn’t at work or didn’t work in a school, I’d go to her right now and hold her in my arms. I never meant to hurt her to begin with. I was young, stupid, and did something that changed the trajectory of our lives. It was never my intent, but when the love of your life tells you they don’t want to be with you anymore, you tend to do shit you may or may not regret later. I wish I had given Lemon more time before I allowed myself to do what I did.