She is Home

CHAPTER TWO

The first thing that came to Guy’s mind as he parked his car at the allotted space, was that his ever-active baby girl wasn’t standing where he’d grown used to seeing her, waiting for him. He held her favorite ice-cream he’d promised her that morning and stepped out of his car.

He took a quick sweep towards the playground and when he couldn’t find a curly high ponytail. But hearing his name being called, he turned around to face his daughter’s teacher.

“Oh- hello, is she still in class?’’

But the way she hung her head as she waved him over made his blood freeze and he could feel the cold wash over him as he told his feet to move. He was almost running when she didn’t lead him towards the class and instead, towards the end of the hallway.

When she opened the door, the first thing that hit him was that she was hurt.

“Daddy…” He turned towards her and saw the worst he had ever seen, ever since he had carried her as an infant.

He ran to where she sat on the bed and dropped on one knee to check her face. He hissed in anger and turned sharply at the woman who was still standing idly by the wall, almost like she’d disappear with it, if she heard him speak.

And hell yes! He was going to.

“What the hell happened to her?” his voice was angry.

Quickly, the nurse rushed to him and tried to calm him down.

“Mr. Harris, it’s all okay…” she was saying till his deep baritone shut them all up.

“What happened to her?” and this time he had walked to where Olivia stood trying her best to compose her shaky self before she answered him.

“It was an accident… she was playing in the playground, I was-’’ she also got interrupted.

“Oh, the hell you were!” He flapped his hands in annoyance and turned to the nurse, “And what was stitched?”

The poor woman felt everything he was feeling at that moment, as she had kids herself, so she broke what she knew he would flare up at subtly and hoped against all that he would be lenient.

“Just her chin,” she wasn’t going to mention the mouth, as it had stopped bleeding and the right treatment had been given.

She was surprised when he just turned to his daughter, who had been watching the whole exchange with wide eyes.

“I’m so sorry baby- I’m sorry,” he’d knelt again in his old position before his daughter and cradled her in his arms.

“Feeling better?” he asked and she nodded her head at him happily, “think you’d want your ice-cream now?” She gave him a toothy grin that was missing two front teeth, as he handed her the small plastic.

“Thank you, daddy.”

As he stood up, he picked her up and rested her on his forearms and turned to the nurse," Thank you miss-’’

“Torres” she said with a small smile, which he returned.

He turned towards the door where Olivia still stood and passed her by with a nod in her direction and walked out, heading to the main door.

“Go after him.” Miss Torres said, and Olivia ran after him. But she couldn’t catch up to him till he had gotten to his car and had his daughter safe in the back seat. Thanks to his long legs and her short ones.

“Mr. Harris-’’ He turned and c****d an eyebrow at her.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s my fault and responsibility as her teacher and guardian during school hours to make sure no harm comes to her, and I’m very sorry I failed in that aspect. I really am sorry. I’m very sorry I failed Nancy.”

“It’s okay miss Hunt”. Nancy supplied from the back seat with a smile. At least she was better than her dad.

After a long look, he only gave her a nod, entered his car and drove off, leaving her in the driveway.

Olivia stood where she welcomed her students every morning and smiled her usual smile, though it didn’t have its typical light. A few parents had even taken note of that and asked her if she was okay. She had replied fine and they’d left their kids with her and waved bye, promising to come pick them up at an appropriate time.

There was just one parent she was standing for and actually expecting, Mr. Harris. She kept looking out for his black Sudan- ooh! Scratch it… she wasn’t good with cars. She had no idea its properties. But she would recognize that particular car anywhere.

“Good morning, Miss Hunt,” a parent called her out of her thoughts.

“Hello Mrs. Collins, and you Jake.” She smiled at the woman who was holding her son’s hand and stood in front of Olivia. Olivia took the little boy’s hand from his mother and directed him towards the main doors. “There you go Jake, tell mama bye.” His little head turned briefly to his mother and waved at her, before his little legs turned to meet his friends.

“So cute,” Olivia smiled at the retreating figure.

“You know having a child of your own would be good for you. You’d be a great mother; my son loves you. It’s always miss Hunt this, miss Hunt that at home,” both women laughed but turned when they heard a baritone greeting them 'morning'. Olivia was the first to react.

“Mr. Harris,” she looked down at his hand and found Nancy’s eyes looking at her, “How are you this morning Nancy?” the little girl gently flashed her teeth at Olivia and nodded. Children were the best. They had a fast-loving, forgiving heart. Now only if her father…

Olivia looked up at him and quickly covered her smile and tried again, but stopped when he’d turned his attention to the woman beside him, who had his hands clasped in hers.

“Morning Mrs. Collins,” the other woman smiled.

“What happened to you darling?” Mrs. Collins had bent to Nancy’s eye, and at her question, Olivia froze and checked Mr. Harris’s facial expression. He’d frowned at the words but when his daughter answered with a gentle fine, he relaxed and turned to Olivia again, with a stern face he said,

“I trust the events of yesterday won’t repeat itself again?” it was supposed to sound like a question, but the way he said it was more of a statement. And a firm one at that. It seemed to roll out his tongue in a work-like tone.

“Yes sir, it won’t happen again. Thank you, Mr. Harris” He nodded at her once, said good-bye to Mrs. Collins, turned around and left. Nancy was still holding Olivia’s hand.

“I guess it’s time I left. Good-bye, Miss Hunt.”

“Good-bye, ma’am.”

After Mrs. Collins had driven off, leaving Olivia and the little girl. The pull on her hand jerked her back to reality as Nancy pulled her towards the building.

“Let’s go, Miss Hunt.”

With a smile, they both stepped through the school’s doors.