Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
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.