ANTHONY'S POV
"Mr. Carter. What a surprise."
I turned to see Mrs. Gateway approaching, her signature red glasses perched on her nose and a clipboard tucked under one arm.
I offered a small, polite smile and shook her hand. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Gateway. It's good to see you. How have you been?"
She let out a soft laugh, fanning herself dramatically. "You know, managing kids is a full-time job. Especially the loud, stubborn ones." She winked, then tilted her head curiously. "What brings you here during closing hours?"
I glanced around the busy hallway, children darting past us with backpacks bouncing and shoes squeaking on tile. The smell of crayon wax and hand sanitizer lingered in the air.
"I came to pick up my son. He's in kindergarten," I replied casually.
Her eye
