She is Home

CHAPTER FOUR

“Alright, who wants to go first?” Olivia was asking her class, as she held a few crayons in her hands. All hands were up and their giggling made her respond. Children were happy creatures. No worries, reservations or fears about life in general, just a bubble of happiness they seemed to throw at her feet anytime she was in their company. She loved them like she would love hers, and adored each of them.

Their smiling faces were focused on her, “Alright, come for yours.”

A few minutes later, she was walking around, watching and checking what they were doing, till she got to a drawing that was roughly a man, a girl and an empty space that had a big question mark in red.

“Nancy, can you tell me what you are drawing?” She bent to speak to her and lowered her voice.

The little girl smiled at Olivia and she could see just how much she looked like her father. He literally had his face and every bit of his facial expressions engraved on his little girls’.

“This is daddy,” she pointed at the stick-like drawing she’d made of her father, “This is me,” she pointed at the smaller stick-like drawing,

“What is this then?” Olivia pointed at the big question mark she’d made beside the smaller stick-like drawing,

“I don’t know,” her voice didn’t change, like Olivia had expected, “James drew three but I don’t know why.”

Olivia checked what the other three-year-old had in front of him and Olivia could understand what Nancy meant. Jake had three drawings of stick-like people, identical to what Nancy had also done, but his was slightly different. He had his mom, dad and himself in the picture, whereas, Nancy could probably not understand who the third person was meant to be.

She turned her attention back to Nancy,

“Is that you and your daddy?”

“Yes.” Nancy smiled and turned another paper over, “I’ll draw you too, miss Hunt.” Olivia smiled at that.

“Thank you, Nancy, I’m sure you will make me pretty.”

“You are pretty, miss Hunt.” It was James that spoke this time, “I’ll also draw you too, you can hang it at home.”

Olivia’s heart swelled, “Thanks guys.” And with that, children being children, they went back to what they were doing.

A few hours later, Olivia was standing with a few of the kids waiting for their parents to come pick them up. Later, she was only holding Nancy and James, looking out for their parents.

“I’m so sorry miss Hunt, I was swamped with work.”

“It’s okay Mrs. Collins, I had a great time with James, believe me.” She laughed as James ran to his mom.

“I’m sure. Alright James, say bye.” She said as she balanced him on her hip.

“Thank you miss Hunt.” James was waving as they turned and left.

“Goodnight, miss Hunt, goodnight, Nancy.”

Nancy waved back at him and just whispered goodnight as they drove away.

Now, Olivia checked the time and saw that it was past the normal time Mr. Harris picked up his daughter. She was getting worried but still waited for him. A few moments later, Nancy was asleep in her arms as she’d retired to the classroom and was watching out for him from her window.

The sound of rock music filled the air as she scrambled around for her phone and saw the name. She was at the same time pleased, but confused to see, calling her line.

“Hello, Mr. Harris,” she had the phone to her ear.

“Good evening. Miss Hunt, I’m sorry this is coming very late. I thought I could make it in time to pick her up, but is it possible for me to ask you for a small favor?”

At that, Olivia became alert and she could swear her heart was pounding so hard she could hear it.

“What is it, Mr. Harris?”

“Can you help me take care of Nancy till I come back? I’m out of town right now, and I have no idea when I will be back today, though I’m sure I’ll make it back before midnight, so can you help me look after my daughter till I’m back?”

Olivia was sure that was the longest he’d ever spoken to her, as far back as she could remember. But she was excited that he'd asked her to help. Of all people, he trusted his daughter with her. And that said a lot, coming from a man like Guy Harris.

“Yes sir, I’m fine with it.”

He seemed to let out a breath he’d holding, “Thank you very much, I’m grateful, just text me your address, and I’ll call you immediately I’m back.”

“Sure sir.” Olivia was smiling from ear to ear. He’d asked for her address. Well, not for the reason she wished, but this was better than nothing.

“Miss Hunt?” Olivia snapped out of her daydream and was back on earth,

“Yes?”

“Do you have questions? Is she there? I’d like to speak with her.”

Olivia had to calm down to answer his questions. She had still not wrapped her head around the fact that she was listening to his voice on the phone and he wasn’t giving her monologues as a conversation. She was having a full-fledged one with him, even if it was about his daughter.

She couldn’t ask for more, she’ll take what she is given one at a time.

“She is asleep in my arms, what does she like to eat?” she asked as she cooed the baby in her arms back to sleep as she fumbled about in Olivia’s arms.

“Almost anything, she does not have allergies, if you are worried about that too, and she likes apples.” Olivia smiled, like father like daughter.

She remembered when they were in school and she was looking at him in the cafeteria, he’d always had an apple in his mouth, all the time.

“She is so much like you.” Olivia muttered, but his next question made her believe he’d heard her.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, I’ll send you my address.” She changed the topic before he could pursue that conversation and the topic of his daughter seemed to do the trick.

“That’s fine. Thank you so much, Miss Hunt.”

“You are welcome.” Then he cut the connection.

Olivia looked at the child she held, who seemed to find comfort holding her, as if she was scared, she might be dropped. That position proved difficult to pick up her bag and Nancy’s, close the door and head out to her car. It even proved a bit harder to open the car door and settle Nancy comfortably in the back seat. She had to borrow a baby seat from Miss Torres and strapped Nancy safely before she kicked off her car and headed for home.

***

“Were you able to get through to her?”

Rob asked as Guy came back to the room they’d turned to a makeshift office and sat down beside his friend.

“Yes. She agreed to look after her.” Rob slapped him on his back and Guy almost choked on his tongue, “I told you she would be more than happy to help you.”

“And how would you know that?” Rob smiled and shrugged his shoulders, turning his attention to Xavier and the rest.

Guy's eyes scanned the name on his call log as his mind wandered back to a comment she’d made while they’d been talking. She is so much like you. Guy wondered just how accurate she was about that little information that no one else but his mother knew.