Chapter Seven – Ruth

“Any juicy gossip?” Dani asked as they sat outside and ate their lunch at school the following Monday. The staff room was stuffy, and although sitting outside often meant interruptions from the children, it was still preferable to sit with the sun on their faces and the wind in their hair. Ruth also had a fascination with the mountains, which were higher than the skyscrapers in the city and she always sat looking at them, in awe of their magnificence.

Turning her attention to Dani, Ruth reluctantly realized that she was the topic of the juicy gossip Dani was fishing for. “I like him.”

“Of course you do! What’s not to like?” Dani asked.

“True.” Ruth closed her eyes and conjured up an image of Michael. Big broad chest, toned thighs, his hair might be threaded with silver, but he had the body of a much younger man.

Ruth brushed the crumbs off her dress. She might have to start working out, since she was soft in all the right places, and a few wrong ones. Although teaching kept her fit, she was often on her feet, walking around the classroom, she wasn’t as slim as she used to be.

“Dreaming of someone we know?” Debra Lassiter, one of the extremely efficient classroom assistants, asked. She sat down next to Dani and opened up her lunchbox with a groan. “I’m trying to lose weight.”

Dani laughed. “Do you want one of my cookies?” She offered Debra a chocolate chip cookie. “It says they are low fat on the box. I’m willing to believe it, since they taste good.”

“After I’ve eaten my salad, I’d love one.” Debra started to eat, and then reiterated her question. “It’s true then about you and Michael ‘Lucky Bear’ Finnian?”

“It is.” News certainly traveled fast around the school. She narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Dani.

“Wasn’t me!” Dani held up her hands in defense, but a giggle erupted from her. She might not be the one who told, but she knew who had. “Juliet heard us talking, she’s at that age where love is so romantic, you know, Disney princesses, the works. So she told a friend, who told her mom, and before you know it…the whole of Bear Creek knows.”

“And I was thinking it was only shared gossip around school,” Ruth sighed in resignation.

“It’s not as if it’s a secret,” Debra replied.

“I don’t want people to think I’m a fast mover.”

Dani giggled again. “Who cares, you two are mates. Jamie and I got together soon after he came back from the Army and I moved here. Fate. No one can outrun it.”

“Who would want to?” Debra said as she munched on a piece of celery. “At least you know it’s the real thing.”

“I do.” Ruth finished her lunch and packed everything away. “I’m sure some people will think I’m after his money.”

“A gold digger!” Dani’s eyes opened wide. “Yes, I’m sure some people will. You know, those who aren’t shifters.”

“There have been plenty of women chasing Michael over the years since he won that money,” Debra tried to reassure Ruth. “But everyone who matters knows the score. If anyone gives you a hard time, just ignore them.”

“Just like Jason needs to ignore the other kids,” Dani said as two boys began a scuffle.

“I’ll go.” Ruth left her lunchbox on the bench and walked across the playground. “Break it up, boys.”

Jason shoved the other boy off, before quickly raising his fists in defense. The other boy, whose name Ruth didn’t know, swung at Jason’s face, glancing off his chin. Jason howled in rage and lunged forward, but Ruth stepped in between them both in time to stop more punches from being thrown.

“Enough!” Ruth said with authority. The two boys stopped jostling her and took a step backward.

“He started it,” Jason’s opponent said immediately, and two of his friends swarmed around, murmuring in agreement.

“I did not!” Jason insisted.

“Mrs. Carlisle will deal with you both.” Ruth watched Jason tuck his head down, his shoulders slumped forward as if in defeat. “Come on, I’ll escort you there.”

Ruth ushered the two boys toward the main school building. As she opened the door for them to enter, she noticed Jenny standing to one side. She looked so sad, Ruth’s heart ached for her. Was Jason the reason they never stayed in one place for long? Did he struggle to control his temper?

“What’s going to happen?” Jason asked quietly. “Will you call Dean or Elizabeth?”

“Probably. Fighting in school is something we don’t tolerate.” Ruth glanced over her shoulder to where the other boy was trailing behind, running his fingers along the wall, not concerned with the trouble he was in. Ruth wanted to ask Jason what happened, but she also wanted to hug him.

“Miss Bishop, is there a problem?” Mrs. Carlisle asked when Ruth knocked on the principal’s door.

“There was a fight in the schoolyard.” Ruth looked at the two boys. “I didn’t see who started it.”

“I have witnesses who say he did.” The boy pointed to Jason.

“You mean you have friends who say Jason started it, Reece?” Mrs. Carlisle asked, a stern expression on her face. “Come inside, both of you, and we’ll get to the bottom of this. Thank you, Miss Bishop.” Mrs. Carlisle rolled her eyes at Ruth as she shut the door behind them.

Ruth stood for a moment, and then retraced her steps, going outside to collect her lunchbox and to speak to Dani and Debra, who were both munching on cookies. “I might need one of those.”

“I bet Reece started it.” Dani offered a cookie to Ruth. “I taught him a couple of years ago, he was always a bit of a bully. Now he’s got a group of kids he likes to impress, and unfortunately Jason is an easy target.”

“Jason looked as if he was going to the gallows,” Ruth replied sadly. She turned to look at the school building, but the boys were still inside.

“Miss Bishop,” a small voice called.

Ruth turned back around to see Jenny beckoning to her. “Yes, Jenny.”

“Can I talk to you, please?” Jenny asked, her huge eyes tear-filled as she twirled her hair between her fingers.

“Of course.” Ruth got up and went to her, crouching down so she was Jenny’s height. The small girl looked scared, and lost. It was all Ruth could do not to reach out and hug her. “What can I do for you?”

“I saw the fight. Reece was calling Jason a nobody.” Jenny looked around to see if anyone was watching.

“A nobody?” Ruth frowned. “Why?”

“Because we’re fostered,” Jenny replied matter-of-factly. “Mr. Nobody. Nobody loves you.” She shrugged. “That’s what we’re called. At all the schools we’ve been to.”

“And how many schools is that?” Ruth asked.

Jenny looked up and her lips moved while she counted. “Four.”

“Four.” No wonder Jason believed they wouldn’t be staying here long. “That’s a lot.”

Jenny shrugged. “I didn’t like most of them. But I like it here.”

“Have you made any friends?” Ruth asked. Jenny spoke to other students in the class, but she didn’t seem to be part of a friendship group.

Jenny shook her head. “Jason is my friend.”

“Jason’s your brother. You need other friends, too.”

Jenny looked down at her feet and twisted around on her ankle. “We don’t stay long enough to make friends. So we stopped trying.”

Ruth sighed. “What if I have a talk with Dean and Elizabeth? Are they coming to get you from school?”

Jenny nodded. “Elizabeth meets us and she lets me push the stroller home, if I’m really sensible.” Jenny looked as if she didn’t know how to be anything but sensible.

“Does Jason look out for you?” Ruth asked as the bell rang, ending lunchtime.

“And I look out for him. We can depend on each other.” Jenny whirled around and ran off, leaving Ruth in a funky mood. Was this the life her brothers and sisters would have had if she hadn’t cared for them? If it was, she was happy she’d given up so many years of her life and her own dreams to care for them.

“Heartbreaking, isn’t it?” Dani asked as they walked inside together. “I look at Juliet and Jasper and wonder what life they would have had if Jamie hadn’t adopted them.”

“I wish Jason and Jenny could find a permanent home. Will Dean and Elizabeth foster them long-term?” Ruth asked.

“If they can. But it must be difficult with a young child of their own at home. Still, Dean has been fostering for years. He’s an old hand, although he usually fosters older children. Fiona took over as Jason and Jenny’s social worker, and persuaded Dean to take them on.” Dani put her hand on Ruth’s back. “Fiona can be very persuasive.”

“I don’t think I’ve met her,” Ruth replied.

“Oh, you’ll know when you do. She’s a dragon shifter.” Dani hooked her hands into claws. “Rarrr.”

Ruth stopped dead outside of her classroom door. “A real dragon?”

“Oh, yeah.” Dani grinned and walked off, leaving Ruth unsure as to whether she was joking.

“Miss Bishop,” Jenny said from just inside the classroom door. “Do you know what happened to Jason?”

“I don’t. But I’m certain he’ll be back in his classroom by now.” Ruth looked down at Jenny’s worried face. “I’ll call and ask Mrs. Carlisle, okay?”

“Yes, please. And can you tell her Jason didn’t start it?” Jenny asked in earnest.

“I’ll speak to her now, while you go and sit down.” Ruth grabbed Mrs. Lassiter as she walked through the door. “I just need to speak to Mrs. Carlisle. Can you get everyone settled, please?”

“Sure, take your time.” Mrs. Lassiter smiled and then clapped her hands, getting the attention of every member of the class.

Ruth grabbed the phone quickly and called the principal. “Hello, Mrs. Carlisle. It’s Ruth. I wondered what the outcome was?”

“Jason and Reece? I’ll speak to both their parents after school. They both blame each other, but of course Reece has his witnesses.”

“Jenny saw the fight, too. She said Reece was calling Jason a nobody. Because of their family history.” Ruth winced as she said the words, they were so meaningless and yet so cruel.

“That sheds more light on things. Jenny is not exactly an unbiased witness either. But leave it to me. These things have a way of sorting themselves out, I just have to figure out how.” Mrs. Carlisle ended the call, and Ruth returned to the class.

After reassuring Jenny, they settled down to an afternoon of fun but challenging activities. Ruth watched Jenny, and as home time grew nearer, she formulated a plan. For which she might need to ask Dani for a favor.

But before Ruth put her plan in action, she wanted to speak to Jenny’s foster parents. Ruth only hoped Dean and Elizabeth did intend to keep the two children for a long time. Or that the brother and sister could be adopted, and have a real family.

All through those thoughts she had to keep pushing Michael to the back of her mind, because he insisted on invading her head. And every time he did, he kissed her, and chased all her problems away.

If only life was that easy.