Page 86 of Sneak Attack

“Mrs. Griffith has been teaching since before I was born, and I don’t think she’s lost a child yet. Isn’t that right?” I asked her.

“Not once in thirty-two years, and I don’t plan to start this year.” She smiled warmly down at Jasper. “Do you think you could help me make sure everyone stays safe?”

“Me?” Jasper’s eyes almost bugged out of his head and his grip on my hand loosened. On the other side of him, Selma curled her hand around his shoulder. “What can I do?”

“Well, I need a helper and someone who’sreallygood at listening and following directions.” She tapped her pink-painted nail against her chin. “Do you think you’re good at those things?”

“Sometimes. But sometimes Daddy needs to remind me to feed my dog and I don’t always brush my teeth like I’m supposed to be doing when they tell me to.”

I chuckled. Selma grinned at Mrs. Griffith while she laughed softly. “I think it’s okay if you’re not perfect all the time, but you can try, right?”

“Sure. I guess.”

“Okay then. If you’re going to be my helper this week, can you start now? Because there’s a little boy over there.” She pointed to a blond-haired boy in the corner, sitting in a chair with a book in his lap. “That’s Archer, and he and his mommy and daddy moved to town a few weeks ago so he doesn’t know anyone. And I know you’ve been here for a long time. Do you think you could go see if he wants to help you today? The two of you can be line leaders when we go to lunch and recess later.”

Jasper was nodding happily, and the worry in his eyes was gone. “I can do that.”

He let go of my hand and before he took off, I crouched down. “Can your mom and I have a hug before you go off to make new friends?”

“Sure.” He gave me a hug, halfhearted at best, already intent on doing his important job and then hugged Selma.

“Have a good day, sweetie,” she said, kissing the top of his head. “Bye.”

He was gone, fears forgotten.

“Thanks,” Selma told Mrs. Griffith. “He was excited about school until last week and he’s been nervous ever since.”

“Tends to happen, and if I’m not mistaken, I remember you getting a little teary-eyed your first day, too.”

“Oh, I don’t think we need to let anyone know that.” She said it teasingly, but there was an unkind threat in her words that I didn’t care enough to examine.

“And how are you, Cole? Season going well?”

“We’re just getting started but hoping for good things.”

“And Marley? How’s she doing? We miss her at church and fellowship time these days but we’re praying for her.”

“She's okay. Has some help with her, but I’m sure she’d love some visitors, too.”

“Of course, and we should have thought about that sooner. I’ll make sure to set something up. She should be with her friends at this time.”

“I’m sure she’d love that. You take care, all right?”

“You too, Cole.” She nodded at Selma. “You too. I’ll make sure Jasper has a great first day.”

We thanked her, and I scanned the room but there was no point in saying goodbye to Jasper again. He was sitting on the rug with Archer, and they had a pile of wood blocks in between them.

He was fine. Happy. Which meant I could get to work.

I headed out of the classroom and maneuvered my way through the small building, Selma following me.

As soon as we reached outside and I turned to head to my truck, a cool hand gripped my arm. “Are you going to keep ignoring me?”

People passing us arched their brows. Partly because of who I was, but she wasn’t exactly quiet.

I didn’t need a scene in front of our kid’s school, so carefully, but firmly I yanked my arm out of her hold and spun to face her. “First, you do not ever put your hands on me again. Second, I have nothing to say to you.”

“So you are still mad.” Her eyes narrowed and it was a shame Selma was so ugly on the inside because she truly was beautiful. It was the insides that seeped through once you got to know her that made her less attractive.

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