My forever Mate

Chapter 9

While Millie was making a promise to take care of the girls, Cassie was struggling with the loss of her parents. Though she missed them every minute of every day, but right now she was desperate for their guidance … their assurance. She wished that her parents were there to tell her, if she was right. That her decision to leave the known … the comfort of familiar was not an impulsive mistake. This place might be unfamiliar and unknown, but this close knit community was the right environment for Leah and most importantly, she needed their belief that she was adequate …. that she is able to take care of Leah and shower her with the same care and love that their parents gave her.

She was still feeling low when Mille came by the next morning. Seeing the kind and gentle woman, Cassie could not control her emotions any longer and poured her heart out of desperation to seek some assurance.

“Oh my sweet girl, come here ….”, Mille pulled her in a tight and comforting hug. “I understand your doubts and concerns dear but don’t forget that even though your parents are not with you physically but they are always in here …” Millie pointed towards her heart. “They trusted you with their most precious possession, that sweet little girl because they knew that you would love her as much as they did … they were confident in your ability to take the right decisions for your little sister, because they will come from your heart …”

“Thank you aunt M”, Cassie hugged the gentle woman and held on to her like a lifeline … taking comfort and strength from her kind words …. After this heart-to-heart with Millie, Cassie was feeling steady and much stronger and was able to start her work with a clear mind. During their lunch break, Cassie broached the subject of Leah’s admission into a good kindergarten. “I’ve been looking at all the places nearby, they all have good reviews but I’m a bit hesitant … mom didn’t want to be away from Leah when she was a baby so she resigned from her job and stayed home, instead of sending Leah to a daycare centre. We had started looking for kindergartens but then we lost our parents and went through so many changes that it just kept getting pushed back … it’s way past time now but I don’t know how she would interact with other kids? Will she be able to leave me for hours everyday? I mean, she’s been very clingy since our parents death and sticks very close to me, fearing I’ll disappear too ….. she even climbs in my bed most nights …”

“Hum ….. that is a valid point my dear”, Millie said. “I think, I might be able to help there. This town is a very special place …. years ago this community took me in, cared for me, loved me and healed me. It’s time for me to give back so I’ve decided to volunteer at the town’s daycare/nursery/orphanage/kindergarten.

“Daycare/nursery/orphanage/kindergarten …. all of them together?”

“Yes sweetheart”, Millie said with a smile. “This may not be a huge town but the people here are full of love. The entire building is designed for kids and their needs, based on their age and circumstances. Over the next few days as I come over to ‘supervise’ your work, I can spend some time with Leah, getting to know her … letting her get comfortable with me. Eventually, I can take her out for short walks …. Introduce her to some of the teachers, volunteers and kids in a social environment. After work, the two of us can take her to see some of the local attractions … maybe feeding ducks, go to the ice cream place and so on. This way we can get her used to socializing gradually.”

“You are so awesome aunt M. When Jackie told me about you and this town, having grown up in a city, I couldn’t believe that places like this town and people like you existed … but I had hope. I’m so glad I moved here and met you. I guess it’s really true that our parents are looking out for us, ensuring our paths cross with such wonderful and generous people … guiding us to this magical place …”

Mille excused herself for a few minutes and called Derrick to take care of Cassie’s problem ….

“Missing me already”, Derrick said smugly. “I knew you couldn’t live without me …. so what time are you coming in, old girl? I’ve decided I’ll let you keep your pet human to help you with your workload, it’s the least I can do for one of my favourite females”.

“Get over yourself boy”, Millie said to a smug Derrick. “I’m not calling because I want to come out of retirement, my very first day at that … I’m calling for my “pet human”, as you so rudely named her …”

“I’m not interested in anything to do with your “human”, if you’re not coming back and don’t need anything for yourself … then we have nothing left to discuss.”, he barked rudely through the phone lines.

Millie couldn’t control her laughter … “How cute … you really think you scare me … oh, big and mighty alpha” Millie said sarcastically. “You keep forgetting … the number of times I’ve pulled your ears and tanned your hide … I wasn’t scared at 13 when your Grandma turned into a wolf in front of me, I wasn’t scared of your grandpa … the mighty Shade … as for your father and you, I’ve changed you out of dirty nappies … you don’t scare me worth S**t. Now listen to me before I’m forced to come down there and pull your ears … again. Cassie is the sole guardian of her 3 year old sister. I need you to arrange her Enrollment and your assurance that she’d be treated as lovingly as all the pups in our pack.”

“We don’t take humans into the pack nursery, they can’t know about us, you know that Millie”, Derrick replied sullenly.

“Come now boy, she’s only 3. If some kid does cry wolf in front of her, it will just seem like ‘over active imagination’ and don’t forget, just last night, the entire pack promised me that you will all help me take care of these girls …”

“Consider it done”, he said grudgingly.

Mille entered back into the house after securing Derrick’s permission. She informed Cassie that she’d just spoken to the administration about her concerns regarding Leah, not only are they ready to accept her in their kindergarten glass but would also keep a close eye on her and ensure she’s mingling with the other kids and taking part in all activities.

“Why don’t you prepare a day bag for Leah … a change of clothes, some diapers, her favourite toy and some snacks. I’ll take her over there and stay to keep an eye on things. Come over during your lunch hour so you can talk to the person in charge directly, they will gather all the information from you regarding her likes and dislikes … her routine etc so they can make their staff aware of it. It’s covered under your company benefits … all the parents, working at the corporation send their kids there only. I’ll bring Leah over to my place after hours, you can stop by after work and we’ll go for an ice cream treat to celebrate her first day in the Kindergarten …”

Cassie marvelled at the speed with which everything has been resolved. One minute she was worrying about everything, the next she was buckling Leah up in her car seat and seeing her off to a day full of fun and adventure with aunt M …

Leah entered the big building, a bit hesitant, holding onto Grammys hand like a life line.

“Are you scared baby?”, Millie asked the little girl.

“No …”, she said almost as if asking a question, rather than answering Millie’s question. Leah started giving herself a pep talk ‘Cassie always says that my Leah is a good and brave girl. No one can help falling in love with her. Aunt Jackie liked her and so did grammy so maybe it’s true that the kids in there will like her and want to be friends with her … of course they will, my Cassie never lies’. She put on a brave face, a small hint of a smile and entered the building like she was going to a war …

Mille looked at the adorable girl as little Leah was gathering her strength to enter the nursery. She was dressed in denim shorts and a baby pink t-shirt with a bugs bunny printed on it. Her curly blonde hair was tied in two bouncing pigtails, she was wearing lacy white socks and squeaky sneakers. Her soft cheeks had a hint of red that made her look even more adorable than usual.

As Millie left her side for a minute to talk to one of the staff members, Leah kept standing by the door … nervous and excited at the same time. She smiled hesitatingly as a girl, about her own age approached her.

“Hi! My name is Jennifer”, said the little girl extending her hand to shake with Leah and just like that the ice was broken and Leah started chatting laughingly with her very first friend. Soon she was sitting with the rest of the kids as they started getting familiar with each other.

Leah was bustling with excitement, she couldn’t stay still as she waited for Cassie to come over to grammy’s. She wanted to tell her about all her friends … Jen, Matt, Chris, Abby … Nat and so many more. All of them wanted Leah to come to their house to play and Jen was talking about a slumber party and so many fun things. She loved this place … her new home, her new friends, grammy and the little kid’s school … and just in a few minutes she’ll be going for an ice cream party with her Cassie and grammy ….

“Millie …. Millie … Where are you Millie … do you know what your pet human did??? Do you … she messed up everything. Your paragon of virtues, your precious Cassie is even more incompetent than the last dimwit I hired. My time has already been wasted correcting her mistakes … come out now, before I run out the little patience I’ve left.”

He was still going on with his furious tirades when he felt a slight touch on his right leg. Confused, he looked down to find a slip of a girl … I guess you could say cute and adorable, as she kicked his shin … ‘Is she seriously trying to hurt him?, if so, she’s way out of her league for it would take much more than a feather light kick on his shin … by this chipmunk for him to even feel it.’

“What are you doing titbit”, he asked the little chit of a girl.

“I am punshig (punishing) you … you hoffigan (hooligan). You are mean and rude and you also said bad words. How come you are shouting in my grammy’s house?. Cassie says it bad mafers (manners).

“Cassie, so you know that incompetent fool?”

“Hey mister, don’t you say any mean words about my Cassie … otherwise I … I … yes, I will not give you ice cream. When grammy and Cassie and I are having ice cream party and I won’t let you come with us, she huffed …. Satisfied as what could be worst than no ice cream, after all …”