Page 27 of Reformation

“Miss Blackstone, can I tell you something?”

I look up from his worksheet. “Of course.”

“You should smile like that more often. You’re really pretty when you smile like that.”

And now I’m crying and giving Anthony the biggest hug I can because children are the best.

“Oh, Anthony, one day you’re going to make someone the happiest person in the world.”

He laughs, used to my hugs. “And we’ll all live happily ever after in Jingleville.”

Chapter Fifteen

Garrett

I’m a doctor. I hold a degree from one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world. I’m renowned in my field. I could call any hospital in the country right now and say I wanted to come work there and they’d make it happen.

So how in the actual fuck am I lost in the hallways of an elementary school?

I mean, small children navigate these hallways every day. It can’t be that hard. Yet, here I am, passing the same picture of Thomas Jefferson for the twentieth time.

Maybe ol’ Tommy boy knows the way to Paige’s food drive meeting?

“I didn’t realize doctors made school calls these days.”

The voice startles me, and I turn around to see my sister-in-law wearing a shit-eating grin on her face.

“How long have you been standing there?”

She laughs, taking a few steps toward me. “Long enough to know that you’ve walked past the same hallway three times and you were two seconds away from asking Mr. Jefferson for directions.”

Sometimes I forget Charlie works for the CIA.

“What are you doing here anyway?” Charlie asks as she guides me to the hallway that I swear appeared out of thin air. Maybe it’s like one of those Harry Potter hallways that move around from time to time.

Not that I know about Hogwarts or anything. Okay, I know a little.

“I’m helping Paige with the food drive and she asked me to come to the meeting.”

Charlie stops walking, so I follow suit, though I’m confused as to why we are stopping. But I don’t ask, because Charlie is too busy inspecting me like she is looking for something hiding on me.

“What are you looking at?”

She puts a finger in front of my lips as she continues to search behind my ears. “I know Area 51 is a hoax, but I do know where the CIA actually hides the aliens. However, I didn’t get the memo they were releasing them and especially not in Virginia. That’s the only plausible explanation as to why you’re helping with an elementary school food drive.”

I grab her finger and shove it away as Charlie continues to laugh.

“I’m glad this is so amusing to you. For your information, I volunteered to help Paige. I’m trying to do more. Give back. And she mentioned she needed help, so I volunteered my services.”

At first, I didn’t know if I said any of that out loud. I haven’t told anyone about my hospital epiphany. Well, anyone besides Paige. And hell, she doesn’t even know the full extent of it. It’s not that I’m ashamed by it, but when you’ve been a conceited asshole for as long as I have, people are going to give you shit, look at you like you’ve grown three heads, or think you are joking when you say words like “giving back” and “volunteering.”

Sort of exactly like how Charlie is looking at me right now. Well, that is if she could talk. Her jaw is currently on the ground.

Even after she picks it up, it takes her a few seconds to formulate words.

“I have so many questions. And while many of them revolve around how you connected with my son’s teacher about volunteering, I have a more important one.” She takes my left hand in hers, holding it up. “Garrett, why aren’t you wearing your wedding ring?”

I shake out of her hold and take a deep breath. This conversation was inevitable, though I wish I wasn’t telling Charlie before Mark. And I wish I had more to tell her. I also know I can’t lie to her. It’s Charlie. She’s crazy scary.

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