Page 16 of Stolen Dreams

This morning wasn’t any better.By the time she got up and I made sure she ate, something that was taking some getting used to, I was running late.Usually, I would grab a cup of coffee and head out.But now I was responsible for this little girl, and I was telling myself it was a learning curve for both of us.

I walk back into the barn, feeling just a bit better.Getting to my desk and checking on things, I see Bobby did everything I needed him to do while I was gone.I slip through the paperwork when I hear Autumn’s voice.“Let’s go see if your dad is waiting for you.”

Looking up, I see Lucy walking beside her, her eyes scanning the room, looking at the stalls of the horses.“There he is,” Autumn points out, and Lucy looks back at me.“We brought you a donut.”Autumn looks at Lucy, who stares at me.

I get up.“Did you have fun?”I ask, and she shrugs.I look at Autumn, who looks like she’s about to break down and cry.

“We went to the park, but it was pretty empty since everyone is in school.The only kids there were toddlers, which wasn’t as fun as we thought it would be,” she relays, “so we went to grab a couple of extra donuts.”

I put my hands on my hips.“We are going to check out your new school,” I tell Lucy, who looks behind her, and I have to wonder if she’s looking for Lilah.“We should get going, actually,” I urge when I look up and see it’s almost ten forty-five.

Charlie comes in the barn with an envelope for me.“This is everything you need for the school.”He hands it to me, and I take it before looking down at Lucy.

“You ready to go?”I ask, and she just looks at me without saying a word.I look at Charlie and Autumn, who look like I feel—demolished.“We should get going so we aren’t late.”

I put my hand on her shoulder and turn her around to head toward the truck.“I’ve heard this school is fun,” I say.“My friend Brady, his son, Wyatt, goes there.Also, my friend Brock’s daughter, Saige, goes there, and I think you are the same age as her.”I fill her in as she gets into the truck.I watch her buckle in before shutting the door and walking over to the driver’s side.“The school year just started, so I don’t think you’ve missed much.”It’s like I’m talking to myself at this point.

We pull up to the school, and I grab the envelope as I get out of the truck and walk around to her side.“Ready?”I ask as she jumps down.Side by side, we walk into the school, a father who has no idea what the fuck he’s doing and a daughter who has no idea what is in store for her.

I have to ring the bell to get in, and the woman greets us at the front door.“You must be Mr.Clarkson.”She extends her hand with a huge smile.“I’m Mrs.Maureen, the school administrator.”After shaking my hand, she looks over at Lucy.“And you must be Lucy,” she says, bending to shake her hand.I wait to see how Lucy will react, and somehow, I’m not shocked that she extends her hand to shake Maureen’s.“How about we take a tour?”she asks Lucy, who nods.Well, at least she isn’t shrugging,I think to myself as Maureen takes us on the school tour.Lucy takes it all in, with kids lining up outside of their classrooms, going to lunch, walking past some classrooms, and seeing some still in class.“This will be Lucy’s classroom,” she states, looking over at us as we step into an empty classroom since everyone is outside for lunch.

A woman at the desk looks up at us, her blond hair in a bob and tucked behind one ear.“Ms.Summer,” Maureen says, “this is Mr.Clarkson and his daughter, Lucy.”She smiles down at Lucy.“She will be joining your class on Monday.”

Ms.Summer gets up and walks over to us.She looks at me and smiles.“It’s nice to meet you,” she says and then squats down in front of Lucy.“Welcome to our classroom.”She gets up.“Would you like a tour while your father fills out paperwork with Mrs.Maureen?”Ms.Summer asks, holding out her hand to Lucy.“I can show you where you’ll be sitting, and we can pick out a couple of things to be ready for you on Monday.”

Lucy goes with her, and I watch in amazement as she leads her to the side of the classroom where there are little cubby holes.“It won’t take too long,” Maureen assures me, “she’ll be fine.”I nod, take one more look at Lucy—or better yet five looks—over my shoulder as I follow her down the hall to the office.

We go through all the paperwork, and she gives me what feels like a million papers to fill out and bring back to her on Monday when Lucy starts.Forty minutes later, I’m standing up with all of my “homework” when Lucy walks back in, a bag in her hand.

“I have to get the kids,” Ms.Summer says, looking at me.“I gave her a couple of worksheets to do at home and return on Monday.”I nod and then look down at Lucy.

“Thank you so much,” I reply, and the two of us walk out of the school.

“Do you want to get some lunch?”I ask once we are back in the truck, and I see it’s a little after noon.“You’re probably hungry.”I look in the rearview mirror at her as she looks out at the school.“Did you like Ms.Summer?”

She nods, and I feel somewhat better, but I would really love to hear her talk to me.We pull up to the bakery, which has started serving lunch specials.Nothing big, some wraps and sandwiches.Bagels are a big thing there now, but they sell out by two o’clock.When we get there, I’m not shocked that it’s starting to fill up.I look behind the counter to see if Ms.Maddie or her daughter, Everleigh, are in, but I don’t see either of them.

“Do you want a bagel or a sandwich?”I ask, and she looks at the display case where the wraps are displayed and then looks at the bagel, pointing at one.“With cream cheese?”I ask, and again she nods.I order two of the same thing and then order the four wraps they have that she wanted to try but was too scared to ask me.I pay for the order and move to the side to wait for the cashier to bring me the bag.The door opens, and I make the mistake of looking over my shoulder and see Lilah come in, except she isn’t by herself.She’s with Caleb, who is saying something to make her laugh.She must feel me staring at her because her eyes meet mine in surprise, no doubt.She’d never expect to see me here, especially at lunch, since I usually just grab something on the go at the barn.

She stops near us, and I see Lucy look at her, and her eyes light up.“Lucy,” Lilah says as if she hasn’t seen her for a week.“I never thanked you for my donut.”She smiles at her.“You left it on my desk, and it was such a nice surprise.”Lucy smiles up at her.“Did you go to your new school?”she asks, and Lucy nods.“I want to hear all about it.”She looks at Caleb.“How about I come and find you when I get back from lunch?We can go visit the horses.”She nods ferociously, then finally looks at me.“If that’s okay with your dad.”

“That’s fine.”I look back down at Lucy.“Let’s get our lunch and leave Lilah to her date.”I put my hand on her shoulder and usher her out of the bakery.I push the door open, holding it on top to have Lucy walk out before me, taking one last look at Lilah, wishing she was coming with us.

ChapterTen

LILAH

Iwatch them walk out of the bakery, wishing for some stupid reason that he had asked me to join them.“It’s our turn,” Caleb says from beside me, and I look back at him, feeling like the biggest asshole.

“Oh, sorry.”I shake my head and smile at the girl behind the counter.“I’ll have the turkey and bacon wrap,” I say, “and a lemonade.”I start to pull my wallet out of my purse when Caleb pushes my hands away.

“This may not be a date, but you aren’t paying for lunch.”I roll my eyes at him.“Go find us a seat.I’ll get everything and come find you.”

I think about arguing with him, but instead, I just turn and head toward the seating area, seeing it full.“We can eat outside,” I suggest.“There is a picnic table in the shade.”I point out the window to the side, and Caleb nods.

Pushing open the door, I head toward the lone picnic table sitting under the trees.Taking out my phone, I find Courtney texted me again.

Courtney: Change of plans.I’ll be at your work at five to go out and have a drink at Thatcher’s.

---