Page 41 of The Love Syllabus

I can’t believe I’m writing on pink paper, but here I go. Words can’t express how sorry I am for being such an asshole to you, but hopefully my actions can. I’ll never mistreat the woman who treats my daughters like the diamonds they are. And when I say my home is now yours, I mean it. So, I hope you enjoy reading while watching the sun rise and set. You deserve to be surrounded by warmth and books.Have an amazing first day.

P.S. Please don’t lose any more twist ties

Clutching the note to my chest, a giggle escapes me as I marvel at the sincerity of his words and the breadth of his actions. I trace my fingers along the edges of the beautifully constructed nook. His craftsmanship and hard work are evident, but it’s not just the skill that impresses me. It’s his desire to do all of this for me in the first place. The act of kindness confuses me, while it also stands as the grandest gesture any man has ever made solely for my sake.

I’m gently brought back from my reverie by a soft touch on my shoulder. Ms. Tina’s warm voice breaks the silence, “He was up until 3 a.m. working on this. Then he was in the kitchen early to prepare not just breakfast but lunch too. The poor man was so disappointed about not having time to make dinner as well. You’respecial, Ms. Kind, and your spirit has already lifted this household. Mr. Grimes might seem rough around the edges, a tough nut to crack, but once you get past that, you’ll find he’s the most intentional, protective, and gentlest man you’ll ever meet.”

Ms. Tina leaves, but her words sink in, echoing through me as I absorb the beauty of my new sanctuary. Shortly after, I wake up Ari and Syd and prepare them for their school day, but I can feel Vic’s absence hanging heavy in the air.

“It’s so weird not seeing Daddy’s face first thing in the morning.” Ari comments while begrudgingly dragging her feet through the quiet kitchen.

Suddenly, his voice booms from the kitchen camera, “Will hearing my voice first thing in the morning do?” The girls’ faces light up, and their sleepiness vanishes as they chirp in unison, “Daddy!”

Syd’s voice wobbles a bit as she admits, “I miss you already, Daddy.”

“I miss you too,” His response is soft before turning his attention to me. “Ms. Kind, your outfit is... rather casual. I mean, you look nice.” His awkward compliment catches me off guard, but I twirl in defiance and desire to show off just a tad.

Ari cuts through the awkward moment, “Isn’t Ms. Kind pretty in pink, Daddy?”

His reply comes quickly, almost too quickly, “Have a great day, girls.” Then, the camera light cuts out.

I chuckle to myself, shaking my head. There’s something oddly enjoyable about throwing Mr. Structure off balance. Still, a part of me wishes he lingered just a moment longer so I could express my gratitude for making his home mine, too, even if he communicates in his own cryptic way.

The lessons for the day flow smoothly. I dive into reading comprehension, sight words, and single-digit math equations with Syd. Her concentration constantly breaks, but it’s steady enough to get through her work. I enjoy watching her confidence grow as she conquers each new challenge.

Ari, on the other hand, breezes through multiplication and decimals before some structured story writing. She’s sharp,razor-sharp, and her ideas flow with the ease of someone twice her age, like storytelling is stitched into her DNA.

“Ms. Kind,” Ari starts, her voice soft as she dips her head, hiding behind the curtain of her braids. “I want to write a story about me becoming the greatest soccerplayer in the world.” She pauses, her voice growing quieter. “Even with me only having one leg.”

I can feel her insecurity suffocating her aspirations, but as I gently lift her chin, meeting her eyes with an encouraging smile. “Ari, let’s fix that last part. You’re simply gonna be the greatest soccer player in the worldbecauseyou’re the best. End of story.”

She smiles a bright, toothy grin that could outshine the sun and nods, her confidence reigniting like a spark catching fire. “But first, we gotta convince Daddy to let me play! He thinks I’m gonna get hurt, but I can play againstanyone.He won’t even let us leave the house until he feels comfortable enough to trust the people in town.”

Before I can respond, Syd dramatically throws her hands in the air, her face scrunched in exaggerated frustration. “We’re gonna be like Rapunzel for the rest of our lives!” she exclaims, flopping onto the rug like the weight of the world has crushed her. “How will I ever be a world-famous dancer?” She crosses her arms, letting out an overly dramatic huff for good measure.

Ari rolls her eyes. “Ugh, you won’t since Daddy thinks just because there were a few bullies at my last school thateveryone’sevil. He says only great people deserve to be in our presence.”

I bite back a laugh, amused by their dramatics. Sitting cross-legged on the floor beside them, I reach out to squeeze their hands gently. “And you know what? He’s right.Great people do deserve to be in your presence. Which is why I’m gonna make sure you meet all the great people in this town, especially kids your age.” I glance between their hopeful faces, my voice soft but firm. “I’ll talk to your father. I may not get him to say yes overnight, but I’ll warm him up to the idea of letting you two get out and make new friends. I promise the kids around town are as sweet, funny, and kind-hearted as the both of you.”

Ari’s eyes light up with a spark of hope, and Syd’s pout softens into a grin as we continue to work through until the afternoon.

At lunchtime, the staff rolls in with a second extravagantly prepped meal of the day—an array of gourmet sandwiches, colorful fruit platters, and chocolate-dipped marshmallows nestled perfectly on a tray for the girls’ dessert.

“Wow,” I breathe, my eyes widening as the aroma fills the air, rich with hints of freshly baked bread, ripe berries, and the faint sweetness of melted chocolate. My stomach growls in anticipation. “When did this man find the time to prepareall this?” I ask Ms. Tina, still marveling at the spread. Then, half-joking, I add, “Why can’t we just eat the leftovers from this morning? Seems like a waste.”

Ms. Tina pauses mid-step, her expression softening with something between pride and nostalgia. “A waste?” she repeats gently, shaking her head. “Oh no, Ms. Kind. Once everyone eats, the leftover food is packaged and taken to a shelter. The entire Grimes family has done this every day for nearly fifteen years. Giving back is what he does. It’s also how he found us—in shelters, boarding houses, soup kitchens. Our families have been with him ever since, and we happily moved down here when he realized he needed to get away. He even purchased us homes not too far away.”

I pause, and a wave of admiration washes over me as I absorb the depth of his love, loyalty, and generosity. “Wow, that’s... incredible,” I manage, my voice tinged with awe.

Ms. Tina chuckles, her eyes twinkling with pride as she adjusts the plates. “I told you, Mr. Grimes is quite the man.”

By mid-afternoon, Ari’s cellphone buzzes from the no-touch bin. The caller ID flashesDad,and considering his strict rule about no devices before 5 p.m., it must be urgent. My heart skips, and without overthinking, I answer the video call.

Mr. Grimes’ face appears on the screen, his expression shifting from surprise to something softer—something that feels a lot like delight. “My God, you’re beautiful,” he breathes, his eyes widening slightly as he realizes it’s me instead of Ari.

Heat creeps up my neck, coloring my cheeks. “I’m sorry for answering,” I say quickly. “I thought it might be urgent. Is everything okay?”

His features relax into a weary smile, the lines around his eyes deepening just enough to hint at exhaustion. “No, everything’s fine. It’s just been a long day.” His voice softens, warm and sincere. “What I really need is to get out of the office at a decent time so I can come home and take care of you three.”

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