That Little Bit of Hope

3

"You know what Chase, I don't think Allie is coming today," Hope looked at her watch then down at Chase who was yawning widely after coloring almost ten pictures, "She is not usually like this though, right?"

Chase shook his head and yawned again. Hope sighed. It was almost five o'clock, school had been over for almost three hours and rain clouds were gathering above . Beau was unreachable and the only other next of kin that was listed on the register was sadly Brenda. She bit her lower lip as she thought for a while. She figured she would just go ahead and take Chase home with her. The poor boy must be so hungry too. "Lets go buddy, lets go to my house and your dad can pick you up from there." Hope guessed that Chase was exhausted of being there too from how fast he dropped the crayons and reached for his book bag without a second thought.

Hope opened her door and stood to the side to let the little boy in. It was just in time too as the first droplets came down.

Chase followed her in. She settled her work bag on a small console and turned to him. "Feel at home. Come, take a seat." She took him over to her Bohemian themed lounge area, "I am just going to freshen up a bit. Would you like some TV? What would you like to watch?"

Chase looked thoughtful for a split second, "Power Rangers, please." When was the last time Hope even watched cartoons? She had no idea what cartoons were showing. She grabbed the remote control and searched through the channels. She came across a cartoon with some puppies. "Chase, I don't think Power Rangers is on at the moment. Is this one okay?"

"Yes please, I like Paw Patrol too." Chase answered as he scooted back on the sofa.

Perfect. Hope scampered to her bedroom for a shower and a change of clothes before she started on dinner.

"Beau relax. It's Friday for God-sake." Queen tried to convince her boss. Beau shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile.

"You know it makes no difference to me."

"You have been pushing yourself too much. Isn't everything calming down now?" Queen asked as she looked down at the menu in her hands. It was her brilliant idea to treat Beau to a casual dinner that evening. She coaxed him into calling their babysitter to pick up Chase from school and join her at Lotus and Mint for some decent food. Luckily the sitter had agreed and she would have Beau all to herself for the next few hours. She had respected and allowed him his time to grieve but she believed it was time for him to move on. Move on with her of course.

"Its just a quick meal," Queen grinned at him as she placed her warm palm over his hand. Beau returned her smile and caressed her hand with his thumb,

"No, no I think i prefer a full course meal."

"Oh, like how we would order if you ask me on a date or something?" Queen held his gaze.

"Oh something."

Hope stirred the pasta in the hot water. She added salt before looking up at Chase after hearing his small giggles. She couldn't help but smile too. She reduced the heat and turned away. She wanted to give Joy some updates and just check in. She bowed her head and closed her eyes. She searched for the "beam" that connected them all. Hope smiled at herself at how she mastered being a daimon. She had come a long way, from those times where she thought she had schizophrenia to the times she almost drowned in depression from feeling the overwhelming emotions of the spirits and souls in need. She was only ten years old when she went tumbling into her destiny. A path of life chosen for her. A purpose already defined. Hope was not a teacher, nor was she a paramedic nor any of our regular degular jobs. She was a daimon, a chosen being with the power to lead lost souls into the light again. Call them spirit guides or guardian angels but their job was the same. For every soul that has suffered great loss or trauma, or just unspeakable times in their lives but were still able to find love, laughter and breath, it was probably Hope or the others holding their hands. She started with children in the neighborhood; to friends in the high school and now she is pretty much walking the whole earth. It has never been easy but she was glad that she understood everything now. Hope's eyes shot open to reveal lightning white orbs.

'Hey, how is it going', a voice sounded in her head

Hope smiled, 'Better than I ever expected."

"Ooh, wanna trade?' Joy mused.

'Come on, it can't be that bad.' Hope asked barely moving her lips. All she had to do was channel her mind and clear all the energy around her. She could hear Joy as though she was standing right next to her. The perks of being a daimon.

'I am just kidding. It is okay. We are slowly making progress. How's the baby?'

Hope grinned, 'Just fine. He is watching cartoons over here.'

Joy's attention peaked, 'Over where exactly?'

'He is here, at my house.'

'That's interesting. Those strings forming already?' Joy teased

Hope frowned, 'Nope. I am not ever walking down that road again. Anyway, I was just saying hi, talk soon. Bye.' She severed the connection.

She closed her eyes and when she opened them they were back to normal. She blinked away the memories and took a deep breath. She rolled her shoulders back and stretched. Turning around, she was met with a pair of beautiful brown eyes.

"Who were you talking too?" Chase asked with his head slightly to the side

Hope stammered, "Well..I..um..you know, I sometimes think out loud and talk to myself. Trying to plan fun activities for you guys."

Chase gave her a blank look, nodded and went back to watching his cartoons.

Hope let out a sigh of relief and went back to cooking as the rain poured outside.

"No one, absolutely no one, looks good with a mullet, period," Queen said over her laughter.

Beau grinned and nodded, "And that is a lesson I had to learn the hard way. My dad made me have that hair for the rest of the year.

"Serves you right! Gosh, you were such a clown."

"And that was just middle school, it got crazier after that, more experiments!" Beau confessed.

Queen placed her fork down and smiled. She really enjoyed the evening, she didn't want it to end, "I can only imagine."

"Hmmm, the meal was great."

Queen fluttered, her eyelids at her boss, "It was right? But I am looking forward to the desert. The evening can only get better."

"What time is it?" Beau reached for his phone to check as a low rumble of thunder sounded outside.

"I have to go," He sprung up suddenly from his seat.

Queen was confused and got up after him, "What? Why?"

"Allie did not show up to pick up Chase from school," his big strides had him out of the restaurant doors within seconds.

"So where are you doing? To the school?" Queen desperately tried to catch up with him.

Beau looked at her from inside his truck, "His teacher's house. I will make it up to you. Promise."

Queen could only look after the tail lights in surprise. This is not how she pictured the night ending. As she turned around to head back, she almost ran into the face of a small blonde waitress.

"Your bill ma'am."

Queen rolled her eyes and snatched the bill walking back to the restaurant slowly getting wet from the rain.

Beau was soaked. His knuckles rapped on the yellow door to Hope's house. It was so quiet, he couldn't hear any movement from the inside. Within seconds the door slowly opened and grey eyes peered at him.

"Miss Hope, I'm so --,"

"Shh," Hope placed a finger on her lips.

Beau watched quietly as she closed the door again to remove the chain lock and stand aside to let him in. She pointed to the right. Beau's heart wrenched at the sight. Chase was fast asleep in the dimly lit den. He could make out a pink woolly throw cozily snuggled around his son. He looked at Hope then to his son, then back to Hope whom looked fairly younger than usual. Maybe it was the pretty tie die lounge set that she was wearing or perhaps the one too many glasses of wine he had.

Hope ushered him to her little kitchdn island then disappeared into a room. She emerged with a towel and handed it to him. "Can I offer you some water, tea?"

"Water, thank you." Beau looked over to his son again.

Hope opened her fridge and handed him a small bottle of water before sitting opposite him.

"Did the babysitter call you? We waited for her till around 5?" Hope asked in a low voice.

"Um, no she didn't." Beau shook his head then looked at her, "I apologise for the inconvenience, I got sidetracked I thought Allie came through, I am really---,"

"Don't worry about it. My pleasure. Besides, I liked the company." Hope smiled brightly.

Beau slowly returned her smile, "He seems like he only wants to be around me or his aunt and cousins these days."

"Well thanks to him, I am practically a walking Power Rangers wikipedia right now."

They both laughed at the joke and Hope couldn't help but be mesmerized by his beautiful smile. It prolonged her own just a bit longer.

"Well, I guess we should probably get going. I can't than---" Beau began before a bright light tore through the night's sky followed by an angry deafening roar of thunder. Darkness.

"Miss Hope?" Chase called with a sleepy voice.

"Yeah, sit tight buddy, just wait right there." Beau answered his son.

The two adults fumbled for their phones and turned on their flashlights almost simultaneously.

Beau got up slowly and went to the window to take a look outside.

"Oh," he let out a big sigh.

"What, what's wrong?" Hope got up and shuffled over to the window too. She stood a little too close to Beau and felt his biceps under his damp shirt.

"Its only us." Beau stated, "I think the rain tripped the circuit breaker or something. Err, where is your circuit box?"

Hope shrugged and took a wild guess as to what he was referring too, "In the utilities closet, I think."

"May I?" Beau asked before he ventured further into her home.

Hope nodded and her hair bounced, "Yeah, sure. Second door on the left."

Beau disappeared into the darkness while Hope rummage through her kitchen drawer in search of her little solar powered lamp. She found it tucked away in one of her upper cabinets. She hoped it was charged cause she couldn't remember the last time she left it out in the sun. She settled in on the counter and flicked the switch. Nothing. She turned it off and tried again. She flipped the switch again only to have the electricity come back on. She let out a sigh of relief and made a metal note to charge the light soon..

Beau emerged from the little hallway putting his phone back into his pocket.

Hope turned to him and smiled, "That was fast. Thank you."

"Least I could do. But I would recommend an electrician to check it out. I think there is one faulty connection." Beau advised.

"Oh, ok." Hope said a bit unsure as to where she was going to find one.

Beau looked at her thoughtfully almost reading the clueless ness on her face, "I will have a friend of my come check it out."

"Thank you. I'll appreciate that."

The two stood there looking at each other for a moment. Each one kinda seeing the other in a new light. Not the normal dad and teacher sense.

Beau was the first to snap out of the trance, "Well, we should get going. Thank you again."

"I think it is safe to say you just returned the favour," Hope's smile was warm.

"Well, have a goodnight then." Beau bid her with his son at his legs.

"Good night." Hope waved and closed her door.