Maddy nods her head, turning her attention to Jen.
“I’m so happy to meet you.” She speaks softly, eyes steady on Maddy’s.
“I’m Ms. Casey, and I’ll be your teacher this year. I also have a daughter who is just a little older than you are. She came to live with me a few years ago just like you’re living with Emma. Hername is Maya, and I know she would love to play with you when you’re ready.”
Maddy doesn’t respond, but her attention is glued to Jen.
“Second grade is so much fun. What’s your favorite thing to do?”
Maddy’s hand tightens on mine, like she’s steeling herself to speak. “I like to draw,” she says quietly. “And I like books, but I’m not so good at reading yet.”
Jen smiles at her. “I love books too. I’m looking forward to reading with you. There is a lot of reading practice in second grade. I know Emma loves to read too, so I bet you guys can read together at home.”
Maddy looks up at me and I nod, smiling.
“And we have art class three times a week, so you’ll get a lot of time to draw.”
Jen looks up as the office door opens and a blonde woman who looks to be in her mid-twenties walks in. She’s wearing a dress covered in butterflies, and enameled caterpillars hang from her ears. Whoever she is, she was born to be a teacher.
She beams a smile at Maddy and crouches down next to Jen.
“Are you Maddy?”
Maddy nods again, a smile playing at her lips.
“I’m Ms. Cara, and I’ll be one of your teachers too. I am so excited you’ll be joining our class.”
She leans in closer to Maddy and lowers her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Don’t tell anyone I told you this, but 2B is the best class in the whole school.”
“I like your earrings.”
Maddy’s voice is quiet, but no longer a whisper.
“Ms. Cara has the coolest earrings in the whole school,” says Jen. “The kids in our class like to guess which ones she’s going to wear every day. Maddy, do you think you would feel comfortable going with Ms. Cara for a little bit while I talk to Emma?”
“Okay,” Maddy says, turning her attention to Cara.
“Great!” Cara says brightly, standing and holding out her hand to Maddy, who takes it easily. “We’re going to take a tour of the school so you can see all the awesome things we have going on here. Then, we’ll come right back here, and Emma will be waiting for you.”
Maddy looks up at me. “You’ll stay here?”
My chest tightens at her words. Too many people have left this little girl. I lean down so I can look her in the eyes.
“I’ll stay right here, I promise. I’m not going anywhere else. I’ll be waiting for you when you come back, okay?”
She nods. “Okay.”
She leaves with Cara, and I stand up straight, rubbing a hand over my chest. My emotions must show all over my face because Jen gives me a look filled with empathy and gestures towards an empty office.
“We can talk in there.”
We each take one of the chairs sitting in front of the desk and it’s silent for a beat before Jen speaks.
“How’s it going?”
I dig into my purse and pull out a bag of pretzel M&M’s, tossing a couple into my mouth while I consider my answer. I know I can be real with Jen. She’s been here before. So, I blow out a breath and say the thing I’ve been thinking since Maddy first walked into my life twenty-four hours ago.
“I have no idea if I’m doing this right.”
