Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

It was the second day since Zetti had died, a day since Kicks had informed the pack they were going to either get along with me or get out, and we were all sitting around the kitchen table like nothing was amiss. Kicks, after sleeping who knew where last night, had strolled in with a basket of freshly baked croissants and an urn of coffee and fresh milk. Even the buttery perfection of the croissant couldn't distract me from the strangeness of the situation. Were we really going to pretend everything was normal after what had happened?

"Charlie, the teacher was asking about you. Are you ready to start school?" Kicks said, his voice too casual.

Yep. We were going to keep going like nothing had happened. It had been the plan to get Charlie in school, but that was before Zetti died. Did Kicks not realize the potential issues now?

"Do they have room? If they're mid-semester or in the middle of lessons, maybe he should wait?" I phrased it like a question, but my stare made it clear Charlie wasn't going anywhere until I checked things out. The condemning glares from the pack were still fresh and raw in my mind, but Kicks thought sending Charlie to school with these people was a great idea?

Charlie stared at me as he continued to eat, as if he couldn't figure out what had happened to me.

"I talked to the teacher this morning, and she isn't worried about him starting mid-lesson. She doesn't think it'll be a problem," Kicks said, trying to imply everything would be fine because they'd had a chat.

"Still, I'd like to go check out the school before he starts." Just because this teacher was nice to Kicks, the alpha, the leader who could banish her, didn't mean she'd treat my helpless little six-year-old well.

"Do you not like the teacher?" Charlie asked, worry starting to leak into his voice.

"No, not at all! I've never even met her." At least, I didn't think I had. "I just want to go check everything out myself and make sure it's good."

"That's a great idea. I've got to help at the mill, but I'll be around this afternoon if you want me to come," Kicks said.

"That's okay. Charlie and I can go after he's done eating." There was no way I was waiting for Kicks so he could taint the whole experience with his alpha presence, skewing their reactions.

Kicks nodded, a look in his eyes saying he understood.

We all fell silent again. The idea of Charlie being away from me at this point made me want to choke on my croissant.

"I wonder if Alex and Petro will be there today?" Charlie said, mentioning the two kids he'd been playing with the other day. "I'm going to go get ready." He choked down the rest of his croissant and was off to his room.

I shot a glare in Kicks' direction before picking up some plates and bringing them to the sink.

"It'll be fine," he said, following me.

"You can't know that."

"Cecelia, the teacher, is a kind-hearted shifter. You'll like her."

I wasn't so sure, but I wouldn't start this argument until after I met her.

The morning sun was hidden behind storm clouds, as if trying to warn me this wouldn't be a good day, while Charlie and I walked toward the school. He scanned everyone we neared with a squinty look.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing."

"It's obviously something," I said.

"Are they staring at you because that woman died and they think you did something?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"I think so." I tried to keep my voice calm even if I was anything but.

I wasn't sure how much Charlie knew, but it wasn't worth debating right now. The point was he did know, and I was going to have to get used to him hearing a lot of things with those ears that I'd prefer he didn't.

"Do you like it here so far? The other kids seem nice," I asked, trying to shift the focus to something other than the latest death associated with me.

"They're really nice," he said, wrinkling his nose as he walked.

"Then why are you making that face?" I asked.

"I can't say."

"Why not? You can tell me anything," I said.

"Because I thought I wasn't supposed to talk about how people smelled," Charlie said, looking up at me as if he were truly confused now.

"Do you mean me? Do I smell bad?" I asked, glancing around to make sure no one else was trying to listen in. Waking up and feeling like a murderer was bad enough. Now I was a smelly killer?

He didn't have to say anything else; his face crinkled up a little more.

I stank. The kid was telling me I stank!

"What do I smell like? Is it bad?" I said, not sure if I wanted to know but feeling like I had to.

"Not bad. Just different, like those white flowers."

"What white flowers?" It was winter. What was he talking about? We hadn't seen a flower in months.

"The ones my mom bought for the neighbor when her daddy died."

I smelled like funeral flowers. No. It was just a coincidence. Zetti dying did not somehow make me smell different.

"Have I smelled like these flowers before?"

"No," he said, with no hesitation.

Maybe it was the clothing I was wearing. It was from Evangeline. It would smell different. I could even smell the difference with my plain old human nose. That was all. I couldn't let something so simple make me crazy.

We were at the school, which hadn't yet started. The kids were all running wild outside.

"Charlie!" one of the little boys called from across the field. He had two others with him, and they were waving Charlie over.

"Can I go play?" he asked, sounding like a boy who was starving and begging for a crumb.

"Yeah, go ahead. I'll find you after." It might be better to be alone anyway, in case words needed to be said.

I walked into the small single-room building. It reminded me of what schoolhouses might've been like a couple of centuries ago, and I wondered how one person managed all the kids. That one person was bent over her desk at the front of the room. She didn't look familiar, but that didn't mean she hadn't been there at the party. Even if she hadn't, she would've heard.

She glanced up to see who'd entered her domain. Although she didn't look angry about my presence, there was a glimpse of surprise.

"Piper?" she asked.

"Yes. I'm Charlie's older sister."

"Yes, Kicks said Charlie would probably be starting school here soon. I'm Cecelia. Nice to meet you." Her smile seemed friendly enough, but she didn't make a move to shake my hand. I didn't hold that against her.

"I wanted to stop by myself and make sure you were okay with Charlie coming here. I'm sure you're already juggling a lot," I said, giving her an easy out if she wanted to take it. "I've been toying with schooling him myself, so it really wouldn't be an issue at all if it was too much." Now the groundwork was laid, she could easily back out if she had any doubts about getting involved with us. Even the tiniest hint she didn't want him here, and I'd tell Kicks I was going to school Charlie myself. It would be easier than his feeling like he had to fix a situation that couldn't be fixed.

"I've seen him playing with the other kids. He seems like a lovely boy. I think he'd fit in here nicely, as long as you want him to come."

She seemed sincere. Too bad I couldn't sniff out emotions like a shifter.

"I wouldn't want you to be put out in any way," I said, trying to add extra weight to my words so she fully understood. "It's just that children pick up on that sort of thing, and if you felt like it was too much on you, it might be better if he didn't come. I don't want there being any misunderstandings." The only way to make that clearer would've been to pull out a blade and tell her not to screw with my kid.

Her chin inched up. "I understand you don't know this pack, or me , but I never feel put out by teaching children. If Charlie does come here, there won't be any kind of misunderstanding."

She had the direct stare of someone willing to back up their words. I might be uneasy with the pack, but I liked her. I just hoped I was right. Too bad Widow Herbert wasn't around to bounce it off, but it seemed she had other things to do lately than haunt me.

"Okay, then he'll be here tomorrow if that's good?"

"Sounds good."