16. Tucker

Slipping my phone back into my pocket I let out a groan. We’re only two weeks into the school year and I’ve already had to leave work four times to go to the school. I can”t work if I need to constantly close shop to deal with this bullshit.

I”m surprised when I get to the nurse’s office and find Skylar holding my daughter.

“What are you doing here? Do principals normally work in the nurse’s office?”

“Hardy har har. Riley didn’t feel good and asked me to hold her. I needed to talk to you anyway.”

My jaw drops. Riley’s not normally comfortable with other people holding her. She’s happy to snuggle up with me, Ma, and even Colt, but never anyone else.

“Tuck?”

I shake my head, trying to clear the surprising events of the day. Seeing Skylar holding my little girl is sending my brain down pathways it has no place thinking about.

Skylar with a big round belly.

Skylar holding our child right after giving birth. She’s exhausted and her hair is a wild mess, but she’s still beautiful.

Skylar as my wife, holding our kids, and singing them to sleep.

Skylar laying in the center of my bed after a long night.

“Yeah? What’d you want to talk about?” I clear my throat, trying to erase all the thoughts plaguing me.

“Do you mind if we go to my office? I’d rather talk in private.”

“Can this wait? Riley’s sick.”

“It’s about Riley.”

“Oh… ok. Let me take her and we can head to your office.”

With gentle movements I shift my sleepy daughter from Skylar’s arms to my own. She instantly wraps her arms and legs around me, just like she always does.

When we get to Skylar’s office, she gestures for me to sit but I shake my head. Pacing is better, it will keep her asleep.

“Tuck, Meredith’s trying to say Riley puked on her on purpose.”

“That’s a load of shit,” I whisper yell. A smirk spreads across her face and she holds up a hand.

“I know. I said that to her before I told her to go home. I want to move Riley out of her class and into another teacher’s class.”

“I don’t wanna change classes,” Riley murmurs softly in my ear.

“What do you wanna do, Angel?”

“I wanna stay… all my friends are in there.”

“Riley? Can you tell me what happened today?”

“I asked Mrs. Goods if I could go to the nurse. I said I didn’t feel good, but she kept telling me to be quiet. I told her I really didn’t feel good and she yelled at me. My belly really hurt and I puked all over her.”

“So, she wouldn’t let you go to the nurse? How many times did you ask?”

“She said I was fine and to sit down. I asked at least five times… Am I in trouble, Ms. Barren?”

“No, sweetie.” Skylar rounds the desk and comes to my side. She brushes hair out of Riley’s face and lets her fingers trail down her cheek. Her head is resting on my shoulder, she’s too weak to lift it. “I’m on your side, I know you didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll take care of Mrs. Goods.”

“Thanks, Ms. Barren, you’re the best.”

“You just worry about getting better, Riles… Call me later, Tuck.” She rubs a hand softly up and down my back.

“I don’t have your number, you changed it when you left.”

Her cheeks pinken, embarrassment clear as day. She’s flustered as she reaches for a piece of paper, jotting down her number, and handing it back to me. I make sure my fingers brush her skin, not missing it when she shivers.

“Worry about her first, I’ll be up late so call me whenever you can.”

“I’ll call you tonight, Sky. I”m never too busy for you.” I wink then head out the door.

“Daddy?” Riley’s soft voice comes from the backseat of my truck.

“Yes?”

“Why’d you have Ms. Barren’s number?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said you didn’t have it, that she changed it when she left. Where’d she go? Did you know her before she was my principal?” Riley stares out the window at the passing trees.

I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to figure out how to steer this conversation.

“Well… Ms. Barren was one of my very best friends when I was your age. She left about ten years ago and changed her number when she left.” I smile to myself, successfully avoiding any awkward conversations.

“Did you date her?”

Or not.

“Um… Did we date?” I ask, trying to give myself some extra time to think this through. She nods her head eagerly. “Um… yes?”

“Really? I like Ms. Barren! I think you should date her again! Why’d you break up? Didn’t you love her? Did she stop loving you? What happened, Daddy?”

“Whoa, whoa, Riles. One question at a time… We broke up after something sad happened to us. I still love her and I don’t think she stopped loving me, but she needed to leave this town for a while.”

“But she’s back! Now you can date her again!” She sits up a little straighter, looking more than a little excited.

“It’s not that simple, sweet pea.”

“Why not?” Her pout is visible in my rearview mirror.

“It’s just not that easy. She has a boyfriend now.” I grip the back of my neck, trying to figure out a way to explain this to a six year old.

“I’ve never seen her with anyone.”

“He doesn’t live around here. He’s still where Ms. Barren used to live.”

“Why wouldn’t he come with her?”

I have the same damn question, princess.