Broken Souls ... by Annay Dawson
Chapter 11
Getting out of the truck he walked up to the office and was greeted immediately by the smiling face of Penny, the fiftyish secretary that ran the office and most of the inner workings of the school. Every time he saw her and her salt and pepper hair he had to smile. She was about forty pounds overweight for her five foot four frame but her smile and welcoming attitude always made you think she was at least twenty years younger. It probably had something to do with working with kids all the time.
“Well, well," Cindy said, "We're going to get The Great and Mighty Holden in here today,” her smile was ear to ear.
“The Great and Mighty?” he had to ask.
“Well yes, of course. You’ve been helping out just about everyone else in town since you got here and being just the talk of all sorts of things around here. Holden did this and Holden did that. Cindy was bound and determined to get you in here to help in her room before you were whisked back off to wherever they whisk you off to. And with the way Mia talks about you constantly, well we need you to work some of your magic in there,” and Holden held his hands up in the traditional surrender pose.
“Okay, I give up. I am so not sure if I can live up to that title especially just reading stories to the kids. But if it means that much to her,” and Holden went about the work of signing into the visitor’s book.
“Of course it means a lot to me, and to Mia too,” Holden could hear before he could see Cindy come in from the back of the office out of the corner of his eye.
“Sorry, I’m a bit early,” he put the pen down and moved around to go through the gate into the office area. It wasn’t the first time he had been to the school that his sister worked at, but it was the first time he was there as a volunteer.
“Actually it works out great. The kids are at P.E. for another ten minutes. That gives me time to tell you the plan and even some time left over to grill you since you and Addy haven’t been over to see Jeff and me this time,” she said all of this smiling with just a bit of a twinkle in one eye. It was her ‘tell’ as Holden would call it. She was trying to mask her disappointment that he hadn't been around. But she was right, that visit would have entailed too many questions, too much talking.
“I didn’t know interrogation was part of your training,” he said as he followed her down the hall.
“I work with kids who try to hide things from me all the time, grant it my skills are not as good as yours but try to hide a candy bar from me and you’re toast,” Holden laughed out loud.
“Well you needn’t worry here ma’am, I have no chocolate on me today,” he put on his very serious face.
“Too bad, cuz right now I really could use a very large piece. The kids have been zooey today. Weather change and all,” and she opened her classroom door for Holden to go in.
On first inspection he could tell why she might be pulling her hair out. The desks, although once neatly arranged he was sure, looked as if they had started to meander about the room on their own. Paper was strewn about the floor as if the recycle bin had up-chucked. Crayons lay on the desk and the floor as well.
“Explosion?”
“Arts and crafts,” was all she said as she handed him a pile of books. “I am going to have you read with small groups until lunch which is in about sixty minutes. The directions are on the paper and you should make it through about four groups, five kids each, the last group being six kids but they are the really good ones. Mia and Daniel are in that one,” Holden looked at the directions.
“Looks straightforward enough and not too difficult,” he also knew from what Addy had said that it was never straightforward and with some of them it was really difficult.
“You’d think. The first two groups will struggle more but shouldn’t give you too many problems except,” and she paused, “They will want to get you off track by asking questions. They will do anything but read.”
“So they are skilled in evasive maneuvers?” Holden’s grin was devilish.
“You could say that. Most of the questions will be about what you do. Although they are too young to read what you write about in the papers and mags Mia talks about you like you are the king of the newspaper columnists,” and Cindy went about straightening as she talked never batting an eye as she changed the subject, “Why didn’t you and Addy come over for supper a couple of weeks ago?”
“Oh, so you really did mean you were going to interrogate me,” and he opened up one of the books and started to read through it absentmindedly. Closing it he skimmed the directions as she talked.
“Kinda,” and she stopped to look at him.
“Well,” and the first words of the book meandered through his thoughts. Sam liked maps. Sam had a map to his friend Tam's house. Sam tapped on his hat and he was off. The book went on and on. “It’s not been an easy recovery this time. Things have been better lately,” Cindy almost fell over backward. It was the last thing she expected him to admit.
“So, you’ve been hurt before doing this work?” She didn’t wait on an answer. Holden didn’t know if she expected him to answer or if it was just about how little time she had to get answers, “Something change?” Cindy knew that sometimes it was easier to talk to people who didn’t know you too well. There was no connecting of deep dark secrets, no fault or blaming that happens, just talk, yet she didn't have enough time to explore what he had said. Maybe that was why he had said it.
“Yeah, I have, Addy probably told you, but I think this time was different,” Holden went silent and she knew that was the end of the conversation. Whatever had happened wasn’t going to be shared with her just yet either, most likely because she was a friend of Addison. She glanced at the clock and silently cursed it.
“I’ve got to go get the kids. Make yourself at home at the table and wait for the onslaught. I’ve told them you were coming and they are over the moon about it. After you’re done I will treat you to a school lunch,” Holden’s eyebrow lifted a bit as she walked to the door and then stopped and turned back to look at him, “I’m really glad you’re here. You’re looking good.”
She was back quickly with a bunch of chatty, wiggly kids all just barely able to keep from running up to the back table and barraging him with questions. Her stern look kept most of them from doing that, however, it didn’t stop Mia. She ran up to him the moment she got in the door and gave him a big hug. Evidently that was still cool at this age.
“Mia, back to your desk. Mr. Parker will be starting with another group first. Your group will be last. Michael’s group, go on back. The rest of you please take out your Fabulous Food Packets,” that was the last thing he heard her say as the first group descended upon him rather quickly.
“Mr. Parker, Mia says you are famous,” the first little boy back to the table said.
“I’m not sure of that but I do write for a lot of newspapers and magazines,” Holden opened up the folder.
“My dad likes to read the newspaper on the toilet.”
“Oh gross!” Yelled another child. He saw that he was losing the battle rather quickly with this group. Okay, Cindy was right; getting them on topic and staying there was going to be a challenge. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her smile and maybe even chuckle. Eventually he got them all to open the book and echo read, or repeat what he read. He had never heard the term until now and it was interesting watching some of them just try to parrot him until he insisted that their fingers follow along in the book as they read. After an hour and three more groups, and Cindy was right, the last group was the easiest. They read the book to him and then told him about the story. He was pretty sure there was more to it but if he returned he would figure that out. Holden felt drained and ready for a nap. He definitely had more respect for what Cindy and his sister did.
“Everyone line up quietly for lunch,” Cindy announced.
“Is Mr. Parker coming to lunch with us?” Holden thought it was Jesse who said that but he couldn’t be sure.
“He’s going to have lunch with the teachers,” and there was a collective sigh, “It’s our turn to ask him some questions but he will come back and read with all of you again,” she gave him a look as if to ask if he was prepared to go through this again.
“Can anyone tell me what is good for lunch today,” Holden addressed the long line of kids and that got them all talking all at once again. In the cafeteria he got plenty of suggestions from each and everyone of them including Mia, but stuck with the pizza as the most recognizable item. He walked back holding his school tray with Cindy and Addy.
“Okay, how are you two not completely wiped by the end of the day,” and he flopped down in what might pass for an adult chair at the table. They both laughed. The conversation stayed light as they ate the nondescript lunch and soon he was on his way out the door before the tribe returned. After promising to meet Addy for coffee after school he made his way out through the office where he wouldn't run into any of the kids. He had wound them up enough today for Cindy. Driving back to the house he walked in and flopped down on the couch, kicked his feet up and drifted into sleep. His last thought before his dreams took over was that if Addy had taken him to school in the first place he would have had to nap more like she had wanted him to do over the last couple months.
Kari got into her car and tried to hold some semblance of a smile on her face. Pulling the car out of the driveway and down to the corner she stopped at the stop sign and dropped her head to the wheel. She had always known that this job would be hard but she was under no illusions that she would be left emotionally untouched. Today was one of those days. They had asked her to contact Hospice for them, it was that close and she was going to have to face the fact that she couldn’t help everyone make everything all alright. She was driving toward the office when she spotted the coffee shop, Cup ‘O Joe. It sounded good so she quickly changed lanes and pulled in. It wasn’t until she parked that she noticed an older, well kept pickup parked three cars down.
Kari walked into the coffee shop with her shoulders slightly slumped. Taking it all in quickly she saw him. He was already at a table, a large cup of coffee in front of him looking out the window. Holden sat there, quietly sipping his coffee. He caught sight of her only moments later. When he saw her she watched his eyes take her in, all of her, then slowly he smiled warmly toward her. He pointed to the empty chair in front of him. Kari smiled, nodded and walked over to the counter to order. Whether of not she wanted to acknowledge it, he was just what she needed. Once done she then walked over and sat down.
“Are you following me,” she joked. It was getting easier to smile plus looking at Holden was taking her mind off of the sadness of the last visit. There was something about him that made her relax.
“I was just going to ask you the same question, but fact of the matter is,” and he paused, “I wouldn’t be unhappy if you were,” Holden smiled and slid the sugar toward her.
“Thanks, but I really do drink it black,” and she looked down into her cup, “and no, I haven't been following you, I just needed a cup of coffee.” Her smiled wavered a bit.
It was then that Holden saw Addy walk into the shop. Kari’s back was to the door so she hadn’t see her yet. Quickly, Addison took in the fact that Holden was sitting there grinning and he was with this gorgeous woman. Missing a step she did the only thing she could do. He watched her burst into a large grin, waved herself off and she was out the door before he could even say anything. Evidently the tongue-lashing she wanted to give him wasn’t more important than him sitting with a pretty woman. There was going to be a lot of explaining to do tonight but for now he decided to bring his focus fully back to Kari.
“Hard day?” He could tell by the set of her jaw and the slump of her shoulders and even though the smile was back on her lips it wasn’t in her eyes.
“Yeah,” and she looked up locking her eyes with his, “not every story has a happy ending.”
“Sometimes its not the ending we would have written but it is the one we have to live with,” and as he said this they could both tell that they were no longer talking about her day.
“Very profound Mr. Parker,” she was sure she had heard of him but just couldn’t place where.
“Its Holden please,” his voice soft but firm.
“Okay, Holden,” and she smiled at him. He looked so relaxed, “What do you do besides be the local good guy and resident philosopher?”
“A little of this and that, contract work mostly,” he did not want to be connected to Holden Parker the journalist yet. He had run away from that person for a while and he wanted to get to know her without all that clutter. Some people got star struck when they knew who he was and all the awards he had collected. Not to mention that the ending to his last story hadn't been written and wasn’t sweet either. They fell quiet for a moment as the server placed Kari's coffee in front of her.
“I swear I have heard your name before,” she looked at him more closely now.
“I am no movie star so you don’t have to worry about paparazzi,” and they both laughed. “Tell me Ms. Jackson what brings you here to our neck of the woods?”
“Kari please, and it was time for a change really,” she looked down and Holden could tell it wasn’t the whole story. She was holding back as well. He hoped that one day she would trust him with it.
“After you finish up back at the office Kari,” and he took a little bit longer saying her name, drawing it out as if he were caressing it. She felt a tingle go up her spine in anticipation, “would you like to grab a bite to eat with me?”
Kari sat there silently for a minute, terrified and tempted all at the same time. There was something about this man. She wanted to get to know him and in ways she hadn’t thought about for over a year. Guilt was still trying to rear its ugly head but it was getting harder and harder to pay attention to it. She realized that he was sitting and waiting for an answer and she was staring blankly at him.
“I,” and she paused for a moment, “I’d like that but tonight is too,” and she paused again.
“Its okay,” she could tell he was disappointed but not discouraged. “I should probably go so that you can get back to work,” as he stood so did Kari instinctively.
“If you bring the coffee tomorrow then I’ll bring the muffins if that’s okay with you,” and Kari watched as his smile broadened.
“Deal,” and he held out his hand for her to shake. It was a shameless way to get to touch her again but he hoped it worked. Slowly she put her hand in his, “I will be looking forward to seeing tomorrow morning,” and he held on to her hand a bit longer than he should have, but he wanted it to be perfectly clear. He wanted more than just a handshake one day soon, and when she didn't pull away he was pretty sure she did too.
His hand was warm and it closed so completely around hers. She looked up into eyes that locked onto hers and they stood there trapped in the moment. She wanted to know if the rest of him felt as warm and strong as his hand did. She blushed afraid he could see what she was thinking. Slowly, so slowly he released her hand and moved away. He didn’t look back once but somehow he knew she was watching him, and a few people in the coffee shop were watching her.
Later that evening as she curled up on the couch under a light throw. She couldn't help but think back to that cup of coffee and that hand shake if you could call it one. It was so warm and inviting. She missed having contact like that with another person, but mostly with someone she wanted to be close to. Before she had left the coffee shop she had gone back to the counter and bought four muffins; two that were banana nut and two that were wild berry. She was staring at the counter where the box was right now. She wasn’t sure where this was going but she thought she might be ready to find out, one muffin at at time.
Holden had watched Addy buzz around all night long. She was smiling, she was humming and she glanced at him a number of times with a goofy grin. Each time Addy looked at him Holden could tell she had a thousand and one questions she was ready to ask. The only thing saving him from the onslaught was Mia. Mia seemed indifferent to what was going on. She chattered on about her day and about her trip over to Daniel’s like there was nothing else going on in the world. Which was a good thing. If she knew he would have no hope. Holden knew he was safe until Mia went to bed then he was sure he would be trapped at the kitchen table while the questions flew.
“Mia do you want to watch some TV?” Holden decided to see how far he could push it flashing Addy a wicked grin.
“Just remember it’s a school night you two,” Addy said with a smile, “and remember you owe me a cup of coffee."
"I was thinking of running out to the store and picking up some," was as far as he got.
"Tonight Holden,” this time stressing the next words.
“Okay,” and he chuckled and smiled, “Trust me I haven’t forgotten.”
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