Page 4 of Broken Dreams
I crouch down. “I know it’s hard, you miss Nana and Pop, and our home, but this school is fun. Your teachers are nice and...” I’m explaining this to a three-year-old who doesn’t care, but I don’t know what I’m doing, and this seems like the best option. So I go back to my original point in negotiations. “School is fun.”
“No fun.”
No, it’s probably not. I hated school, but alas, he has to go.
“Hey there, Jett,” a soft voice says from behind me.
When I turn to look at the speaker, my breath lodges in my throat. This woman is stunning. She has long blond hair that is pulled to her right shoulder, the warmest, most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and she’s holding the hand of a little girl who is identical to her.
“You must be Jett’s dad, I’m Addison and this is Elodie. They’re in class together.”
I rise and clear my throat. “I am.” I extend my hand. “I’m Grady Whitlock.”
“Oh! Oh wow! I never put two and two together. I’m Addison Davis. I moved here a few years ago, I’m not really all that sure about who is who, and I swear people show up and I feel dumb not knowing them...and...I’m rambling,” she says with a laugh. “Let me try this again. I know your brother, Asher, from working at Run to Me.”
“Run to Me?”
I don’t know what the hell that is.
“Yes, it’s the safe haven in town for runaways. I’m one of the founders. My friend, Blakely, is the other owner out in Oregon.”
“That’s great. Welcome to Sugarloaf. Although, I guess I should be hearing the same since I never really lived here.”
“No? I didn’t know that.”
I shake my head. “My mother moved here when Brynn was young, but I was in college and...since then, it was the military for me.”
“Thank you for your service.”
I shake my head. “No thanks needed.”
I’m always so uncomfortable when people say that. I did what I did because I wanted to do it. I loved my job, flying, everything about it, and I don’t feel I did anything extraordinary. Sure, it’s not something everyone does, but it doesn’t require my thanks.
“You have it anyway.”
Elodie starts to grumble. “I want to paint, Mommy!”
At the same time, Jett starts in. “No. School!”
“Does this get easier?” I ask Addison.
“Not even a little bit, but Elodie hated school at first. She was always with me or family. So, when I had to get her in here, it was a shock. He’ll settle in. They’re really great here.”
I nod, hoping that’s true. “If you say so.”
She lifts Elodie into her arms. “Stay firm and show no mercy.”
“Solid advice.”
“Do you want some help?” Addison offers. “They say it takes a village.”
Not wanting to feel like a complete loser who can’t even get his kid inside a daycare, I flash a grin and shake my head. “I got this. I was a squadron leader and if I could get those infants to listen, I can handle this.”
Jett pulls on my arm harder.
Addison watches him try to rip it from the socket and pulls her lips in, fighting a smile. “Okay. Good luck, then. I should get her in, I need to relieve my overnight staff.”
“Of course.”
