Page 32 of Uproot

I stand up and walk over to greet Dragana as she comes into the classroom. Edison gives her a hug, and shows her the picture in his hand.

"Hello Edison! Hi Selah! How was school today?" she asks, giving me a hug too.

"It was so fun, Gana! Look at what I just made! And we got to paint today too," Edison answers.

"Good job! That is a very good drawing," Dragana cheers, rubbing his head. "Go on and get your things now, it’s time to go."

Edison takes off towards the cubbies and Dragana gives me a warm smile, "Helen brought me over to do pick up today. Beckett had an emergency meeting. She's in the car waiting," she explains as we watch Edison getting his bag.

I try to hide my disappointment realizing I won't be seeing Beckett again today. "Oh, ok. Is everything alright?" I ask.

She waves a hand through the air. "Oh, yes. Just some things he needs to go through with Child Services to get things in order for Edison," she answers, as Edison comes back over to us.

"Oh, ok. I hope that it is all going well," I say. I give Edison a hug goodbye and watch as he and Dragana leave, before going to help my other kids get ready to go home.

???

I open the door to my house, set down my keys on the table, and then take off my shoes. "Hey Willy! Are you hungry Hun?" I ask, heading over to my fish tank.

I take out some food and feed my Betta fish, smiling at him through the glass. I head into my bedroom to change into my ratty home clothes so I can finally relax.

Once I've changed, I sort through my bookshelf until I find the coloring book that I want, then grab my colored pencils and go to sit down on the floor of my living room.

I scoot my legs under the coffee table and turn on the tv to a summer baking competition. I get lost coloring a picture for twenty minutes until my phone rings. I reach to get it from my couch and answer quickly when I see it's my friend Evy calling.

"Hey Ev! Are you done with work?" I ask, propping the phone on my shoulder so I can keep coloring.

"Nope, not yet! Just on a break so I thought I'd call you to see how you're doing," Evy responds cheerfully.

The two of us have become really good friends since I moved here in the Fall. We have a small group of women that love to get together and hang out whenever we can make it work. I'm sothankful for all of the time we spend together and the support we give each other.

"I've been doing well! Edison is doing much better too, thankfully," I respond.

Evy knows all about the situation with Edison, not only because of the bits and pieces I've told her when I was worried about him, but because she's in a relationship with Sheriff Vaughn.

"I'm so happy that things are turning around for him. That poor boy has really been through hell and back," she sighs.

"He has. I'm glad he has his uncle now to help him through all of this. I am hoping that everything goes smoothly for him with getting the permanent guardianship in place," I say, tapping my colored pencil against the table.

"So, is Beckett really moving him to New York then? You won't get to see either of them again?" Evy asks, sounding disappointed.

I frown, my heart sinking like it always does when I think of them leaving. "Yeah, they are Ev. I mean I get it though. Beckett's whole life is in Manhattan. I guess you can't really expect a guy like that to live here in Upwood. He did ask me to come visit them there but.."

"But you feel like he will lose interest once he's back in Manhattan?" she asks gently.

"Yes. Exactly," I mutter. "No matter how much of a connection I feel with him, or how well we get along, I know what happens when people get distance between them. Plus he's taken a lot oftime out of the office and will probably be swamped when he gets back home."

Evy is quiet for a moment before responding, "I know it seems a bit hopeless, Selah. But just don't give up on him yet, ok? I feel like everything that is happening has a purpose that you just can't see clearly yet. Just be open to any possibilities, even those that seem far-fetched right now," she says. "I mean, a month ago it probably seemed impossible that a man like Beckett would literally show up at your front door, right? But it happened!"

I laugh, loving how sweet and optimistic she always is. She's been through hell and back when it comes to romantic relationships, but she hasn’t let it stop her from seeing things in a positive light.

"You're so right, girl. I'll definitely keep an open mind," I agree.

We talk about how things are going with her and Rockwell, and some plans we want to make for summer. Soon her break is over so we say our goodbyes' and she heads back to work at Reece's, and I get up to start trying to figure out something for dinner.

Since I had a big lunch today, I decide to look through the fridge and put together a nice salad for dinner.

I turn on some music on my Echo Dot and go in the fridge to take out some ingredients. It only takes me 10 minutes to finish and I move to sit and eat at the table. I scroll through my phone and startle as it rings in my hand. I set my fork down when I see Beckett's name.

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