Page 1 of Willow and the Wraith

CHAPTER ONE

“There she is,” Freddy yelled excitedly as the battered blue hatchback came into view.

He jumped down off the swing he’d been pushing back and forth disconsolately and raced towards the pick-up lane in front of the school. Willow breathed a sigh of relief and hurried after him. Freddy’s mother was a nice enough woman, but she was completely disorganized and lived her life in a state of constant panic. This wasn’t the first time that she failed to pick up Freddy on time.

Freddy’s mother came rushing around the car as he approached, bending down to give him a big hug. She fastened him into his car seat before turning to Willow. She looked as frazzled as she obviously felt - her t-shirt ripped, her joggers splattered with paint, and her hair falling out of her messy bun, but there was something appealing about her helpless air.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Harper.” She gave Willow an apologetic smile and waved at her pants. “I was trying to freshen up the back porch, and I’m afraid time just got away from me again.”

“I understand,” Willow said quietly. “But Freddy does worry when you’re not here on time.”

“I know he does.” Big eyes filled with tears. “I promise I’ll try and do better. Thank you for not sending him to the office to wait for me.”

Willow really didn’t mind waiting with the boy, but she didn’t want to encourage his mother’s behavior either. She settled for a non-committal smile.

“I hope the two of you have a good weekend. Bye, Freddy,” she called.

He grinned at her, a cheerful smile now covering his small face, and waved back.

She watched the car drive away, then sighed and returned to the school building. Her friend Martha was locking her classroom as she walked down the now empty corridor, and she rolled her eyes at Willow.

“Let me guess. Freddy’s mother was late again,” Martha said disapprovingly.

Her friend had a kind heart, but she ran a tight ship and didn’t put up with any nonsense. Her opinion of Freddy’s mother was not favorable.

“I’m afraid so.”

“And I suppose you didn’t take him to the office so that she had to go in and pick him up?”

“I didn’t want to leave him there by himself. You know how much he worries.”

“The secretary would be there,” her friend said sternly. “And as long as you keep taking care of him, his mother isn’t going to change. You’re just too nice, Willow.”

“Is there such a thing as too nice?” she asked a little wistfully, and Martha laughed.

“There is if it means you’re being taken advantage of. Are you leaving now? I’ll wait and walk out with you.”

“Not yet. I want to tackle my classroom before I leave. The children are really excited for Halloween, and they’ll be thrilled to come in on Monday and see the room all decorated.”

Martha sighed.

“It’s Friday night. You’re young and pretty. Why aren’t you going out on a date instead of decorating a classroom for a bunch of five-year-olds?”

“Because no one asked me?”

“Only because you discouraged them.” Martha pursed her mouth disapprovingly. “We both know that Tom would leap at the chance to take you out.”

Willow winced, trying to hide her distaste. The new gym teacher had definitely made it obvious that he was interested, but they had absolutely nothing in common. He was a too-hearty former quarterback with a loud voice who saw everything in terms of sports metaphors.

She’d much rather decorate her classroom, then go home alone, pour herself a glass of wine, and pick up one of her favorite books.

“I’m not really interested,” she said apologetically, and Martha’s eyes narrowed.

“Are you waiting for a knight in shining armor to come along? Because I have to tell you, there aren’t many knights out there.”

“I don’t need many, I only need one.”

Her friend snorted, then shook her head.

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