****

“Are you going to read to us now, Ms. Tasha?” Lucy, one of the children asks as we finish up our lunch.

I grin at the bit of ranch dressing she has on her cheek from the salad she just scarfed down. “Yes, Lucy.” I laugh, handing her a napkin to wipe her face. I turn the lights in the lunchroom down low and take my seat toward the front while the children move closer.

I pick up the book to see where they have left off in the story. Each day a different counselor or teacher reads to them a bit after lunch to calm them down before their parents pick them up.

“Oh, this is one of my favorite parts. Danica’s in big trouble since the wizard has stolen her ability to see into the future,” I say out loud.

“But you haven’t been here in forever, Ms. Tasha. How do you know what happened to Danica?” one of the children asks, catching me off guard.

“Are you kidding me? I’ve been reading on my own. I love reading about Danica,” I explain, covering the fact that I’m the one who actually wrote the book. The name of the author on the cover reads “L.T. Jones.” L.T. is for LaTasha, but Jones is my grandmother’s last name. I chose it to pay homage to the woman who first encouraged my love of reading and writing. “Okay, let’s get started. I’m excited to see how she’s going to fix this.”

I begin reading, getting lost in the world of science fiction, featuring a young girl with afro puffs and skin the color of a dark chocolate Hershey’s bar just like mine. I begin reading, remembering the different stages I went through when I first started writing this book. I laugh at some of the funny parts right along with the children and get sucked into the sad parts like when Danica finally remembers the night her parents were killed. I lose all track of time, and when I look up from the book, I notice that most of the older children are watching me just as enthralled as the younger students. It’s not just them either. Most of the teachers and counselors are standing around the lunch room watching and listening attentively as well. Even Coral is amongst them. I give her a half grin before lowering my head. I may hate the idea of being publicly known as the author, but I’ll never get over the feeling of pure joy at seeing people enjoy the words I’ve written.

“Okay, guys that’s where we’ll leave it today,” I say, sticking the bookmark inside and closing the book. My book.

“Awwww,” the children whine.

“Will you be back tomorrow to read to us? We love it when you read to us, Ms. Tasha?” Jayshawn asks excitedly.

I give Coral a look before turning back to him. “Sure, I’ll be back tomorrow,” I agree. It’s not like I’ve been able to write.

I might as well spend my time here. I spend twenty-minutes helping the children pack up all their stuff and prepare themselves to leave for the day. When there are only a handful of children left, most of whom are with their parents talking to their counselors, I notice a girl, who looks to be about twelve years old, waiting by herself. I’ve seen her here on occasion before. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Coral talking to a group of her staff, so instead of asking her about the girl, I wander over to her. I don’t know what has drawn me to her nor do I question it.    

“Hi,” I greet her.

Dark brown eyes peer up at me suspiciously. Her golden-brown skin looks a little flushed from the summer heat. “Hey,” she returns and then looks off.

“It’s hot out here. Do you want to sit inside in the air conditioner while you wait?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Okay. Well, here’s a bottle of water to help. I just got it from inside and brought it out for me, but it looks like you could use it. It’s unopened. See, the seal hasn’t been broken.” I show her that the seal is indeed still intact.

She eyes me and then eyes the bottle for a moment. I wonder how long she’s been out here waiting to be picked up. Finally, she grabs the bottle and opens it after some effort. She gulps half the bottle down in a few swallows. For some reason, I start to feel an ache in my chest for the little girl who I’ve suddenly become drawn to. She reminds me of someone…someone who used to wait outside of school sometimes for hours because their mother had forgotten about them.

“I’m Ms. Tasha. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Ms. Coral’s sis… uh… friend,” I introduce.  “What’s your name?”

“Trudy,” she answers before taking another sip of water.

“Do you want another bottle of water?” I ask as she finishes the first one.

Trudy looks at the empty bottle as if she’s just realized the water is all gone. Then she looks back at me and nods.

“Okay. Hang on.” I dash inside to the kitchen and grab two more bottles of water, an apple, and an orange from the fridge. “Here,” I say, passing the water and fruit to Trudy, while keeping one of the bottles for myself. “Did you enjoy story time today?” I attempt to make conversation as we wait.

“It was cool.” She shrugs.

“Have you read any of Danica’s stories before?”

“Nah. I just heard them here. I liked the part where she tricked the wizard into thinking she was bigger than she was and was able to stop him,” she says, becoming excited. But before she gets too wrapped up in her excitement, she deflates. “It’s cool.” She shrugs.

I nod. “I liked that part too. Will you be back tomorrow? I’ll be reading again.”

“I dunno. If my mama can bring me, I guess I will.”

“Well, I hope you’ll be here. I think we might finish the book.”

Her eyes widen just a bit, and I can tell she’s interested, but she quickly recovers. Before I can get another word out, a honking horn grabs her attention and mine.

“Trudy! Come on, girl. I ain’t got all day!” a woman in the passenger’s seat yells out.

Trudy quickly grabs her belongings along with the water and fruit. “Bye.” She waves.

“Bye, Trudy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She looks at me and gives the faintest smile before turning and running to the dark red vehicle. She climbs in the back seat and before she’s even had time to fasten her seatbelt, the car pulls off. I watch as the car heads down the street and rounds the corner, a sad feeling growing in my chest.

“Hey. I’ve got some paperwork to do in my office for a little while and then Laura’s nanny will drop her off here. We’ll probably go to the children’s museum for a little bit. You cool with hanging out or I can take you home?” Coral asks, coming up behind me.

“I’ll hang out with you guys for the day. Laura’s lucky to have a mom like you,” I say, remembering how the woman I suspect was Trudy’s mother had treated her just a few minutes earlier.

“I’m not her mother. I’m just…” Coral trails off.

“Yeah, yeah…”

We’ve had this discussion before when Coral told me that Liam had brought up the issue of her possibly adopting Laura.

“I’ll read on my tablet while you work and wait for Laura out here. Oh, before I forget, Stacey is coming next week for a visit,” Coral informs me.

My eyes widen as I look at my sister. “For what?”

Stacey is Coral’s younger sister and my other older sister; only she doesn’t know about me.

“She has a work conference to attend here in Dallas and she’ll extend her trip a few days to visit.” She shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “Maybe this time you can actually talk with her and you know…tell her the truth.” She gives me an expectant look as if waiting for me to say something.

For months, Coral has been trying to get me to reveal the truth to Stacey.

“Tash, I know you’re scared and nervous, but Stacey is the least judgmental person you’ll come across. She’s a social worker for God’s sake. And you don’t have to tell her everything all at once.”

I wince at the word everything. Naturally, I don’t want to tell Stacey or anyone else about my tragic past. But looking at my sister whose eyes now shine with empathy, I remember she’s the only living person in my life who I’ve trusted since I was a child.

“All right, Coral, let me think about it.” I grin when her expression turns hopeful. I even laugh, realizing how much more expressive with her emotions she’s become since marrying Liam. Then again, it might just be pregnancy hormones. “I’m not making any guarantees,” I hedge. “I’m just thinking about it.”

“That’s more than you’ve offered to do in the past, so I’ll take it. All right. Let me go get some work done, so when Laura gets here we can head out.”