Page 9 of My Solemn Vow
“Now.” She sits in the other chair, looking me over. “What’s going on?”
“Kerrianne is shifting in her sleep, again. I thought we’d gotten past this back in kindergarten.” I shrug and let my shoulders slump in defeat. “She’s having nightmares and saying that big, bad men were trying to take her from me. She’s afraid and terrified that they know our secret.”
“Well, she is that age.” Dad runs his hand over his five-o’clock shadow and then across his mouth before letting it fall with a thud to his desk. “I don’t envy you. It was bad when you went through it, and hell when Royal went through it. I thought we’d have to buy mattresses in bulk the way he shredded them.”
“True.” Mom laughs and takes a sip of her drink. “It’s normal. She is starting to really understand how different we are. It’s also clear that she’s understanding more about people leaving. Of course she’s afraid to be separated from you. You’re all she has.”
“I am not.” I look at the two of them, bewildered at thesuggestion that my daughter is alone. “We have the three of you.”
“It’s not the same as having two parents.” Mom taps her finger against her chin and pointedly lets that statement go, shifting the conversation. “I think what helped Royal most was shifting before bed. Wore him out until he could hardly keep his eyes open, then he’d sleep through the night.”
“Yeah. Then he hit that growth spurt.” Dad laughs, clearly taking a trip down memory lane. “Practically wore the same size clothes as you overnight. That’s why we stopped after him. We couldn’t hardly afford the two of you growing like weeds.”
I can’t exactly focus on what they’re saying though.Could this be better if I had a mate?I hate that thought.No,Royal and I grew up in a home with both parents, and they’re saying it happened to us. If it happens to everyone, then it’s something I can get her through. We’ve made it this far, just the two of us.
“It’s normal?” I confirm against the warring tension in my gut.
Mom nods and rubs my shoulder, comforting me. “It’ll pass. Leave Kerrianne with me for the night. Go home and get some rest. She’s downstairs playing with some of the other pups from the pack. It’ll be fine.”
“What about school in two weeks?” I run my hands back through my hair. The more I think about this, the more worries for Kerrianne’s safety come to light. “We opted to send her to the school with the advancements but —”
“But nothing.” My mother raises a stern brow. “Is she shifting uncontrollably during the daytime that I’m not aware of?”
“No.”
“Then she should go to that school. The school the pack goes to is very nice, but you’ll have the same issues you had before. She’s smart, Valor. She needs to be in a place that challenges herwith kids her own age. Putting her in the advanced grades won’t make her well rounded.” Mom reasons with me.
I groan before pushing myself up out of the chair because the world is getting blurry, and I refuse to sleep in my father’s office. “I wish the first one had agreed to the security updates. I hate moving her again.”
“It’ll be okay. Kerrianne makes friends anywhere. She’s bright and kind. She’s a good pup, Valor.” Dad reassures me. He walks around the desk and gives me a hug.
I don’t know what I’d do without the two of them in our lives. Beyond that, as I walk back through the house, past the gathering of pack members who give waves and smiles, I can’t imagine trying to raise her without the support network I do have. Every failure I have, someone can help fix it. My family may be small, but my pack is large and full of love.What more could I ask for?
4
ANTONELLA
THE GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT
After a long week of paperwork, fingerprinting, drug testing, and new-hire orientation, I’m finally provided with what I’ve wanted most: my class list. The rest of the teachers at the school all ‘pitched in’ to help fill my class after a long debate about which students would go well together. I got a small rundown of the ‘who’s who,’ and my excitement is next level.
Some new schools can be less than considerate and give the new teacher all difficult students, but I feel like I’ve got a good mix.
My first month’s lesson plans had to match exactly with the other second-grade classroom, so I’m off the hook for planning while I learn a little bit more about my students and their abilities. That’s a weight off my shoulders because one week does not make for adequate time to lesson plan for a whole month, get them approved, decorate my classroom, and take the time to move back into my uncle’s home.
However, it is long enough to make cute ‘fall in love with learning’ themed meet-your-new-teacher crafts to send home, and do all the otherthings.
I don’t announce my presence when I come home, opting to open and close the door to the penthouse as quietly as possible. My assigned bodyguard chose to stay at the front desk and security office rather than come up the elevator. I made him ride in the passenger seat so I could drive all the way home... and make passenger princess jokes.
Berto, Gregorio, and Eduardo told me I couldn’t have Enzo back on my detail despite the fact that he offered and stated it as his preference. If I must make the concession to live at ‘home’ with my family, then I would at least like a bodyguard I know and trust. So, I’ll make this one’s life hell until he complains enough.
It’s childish. I know it is. But in the last week it’s been made abundantly clear that the ‘heads’ of the family are once again trying to appease me by keeping me paid out as my father wished. The issue is they’re ignoring the rest of his desire that I be made a partner, that I become Berto’s consigliere and not be restricted to only financially benefiting from the business.
I don’t even necessarily want that responsibility or involvement, but I want respect as a person and not to be treated like Gregorio and Eduardo treat their wives and daughters.
I refuse to be less.
Settled in at the dining room table, I’m thirty minutes into working on my art project when Leticia comes waltzing into the dining room.
