Shelby looks up at me with dread in her eyes before she turns back to her mom. “It’s a play about traveling to a new world and joining the people who already live there. It’s for our American History class,” Shelby says softly.
“What are you excited about most with the play?” I ask.
Shelby smiles. “I’m excited to work on the props. We all get a small acting part, but I’m really excited to paint. Did you know that they have us painting on big pieces of wood?”
“Really? That’s amazing! Isn’t it, Miss Carol?” I say, trying to pull her mom into the topic at hand.
Carol scoffs. “It sounds like a waste of time. If that’s what our tax dollars are paying for, it sounds like I shouldn’t send you and keep you home to do things around the house.”
Shelby flinches and looks down at the ground. Grinding my molars together, I try to rein in my temper. Couldn’t she have said it sounds nice and supported her daughter? Of course not, that would be too easy for her. That and the only person Carol cares about is herself.
“Well, fortunately for Shelby here, she is required by law to receive an education,” I say brightly.
Carol starts digging through her purse, ignoring her daughter while I eye the clock. There’s only fifteen minutes left in this visit, and for the first time ever, I want to call it early. I can’t, though. While Carol has said some questionable things, she hasn’t made a move to hurt either of us.
“Shelby, how about we leave this one here and go get a snack from the vending machine? How does that sound to you?”
Before Shelby can say yes or no, I cut in. “Actually, Miss Carol, you can’t take Shelby to the vending machine alone. It’s policy. I’m sure you understand.”
Carol’s eyes narrow. “Excuse me? Where do you, a child, think you can tell me what I’m allowed and not allowed to do with my own daughter…”
I feel Shelby tense next to me, and I rest my hand on her leg. “Again, Miss Carol, it’s nothing personal. It’s just the policy we have in place to protect everyone involved.”
“Policy be damned. She is my daughter, and I will do whatever the hell I want,” Carol says as she jabs her finger toward Shelby.
Shelby whimpers and buries her face into my arm.
Very carefully, I pull Shelby up and stand. Slowly I try to tuck her body behind mine as Carol stands.
“Miss Carol, I think it’s time to cut this visit short. I think it’s in Shelby’s best interest since she’s uncomfortable,” I say, trying to defuse the situation.
Carol jumps up, and her eyes narrow. “Uncomfortable? I’ll give you something to be uncomfortable about!”
Carol lunges toward me, and I push Shelby away from me, hoping she gets out of reach. Shelby cries out right as I get hit across the face. Before I can even react, the door to the conference room is slammed open and someone grabs Carol, pulling her out.
Holy shit. She hit me. That crazy fucking bitch hit me. All because I wanted to protect her daughter. I can’t believe it.
“Are you okay, Cora?” Martha asks cautiously as she rests her hands on my shoulders.
“Shelby…” I say as I frantically look around the room, not spotting my charge.
Shit, where did she go?
“Calm down, sweetheart. Shelby slipped out right as we were coming in.”
Relief hits me that maybe, just maybe, Shelby didn’t see her mom hit me. Not for my sake but for hers. No child should see their parent snap like that.
“Oh good.”
“Are you okay, though?”
“Yeah, my cheek kind of stings, but that’s it.”
Martha nods. “Well then, come on. Let’s get you some ice.”
Side by side, we move toward the break room.
“Sit,” Martha demands when we slip inside.
