11. Chloe

CHAPTER 11

Chloe

" M ommy, when are we going to go home?" Penelope asks, clutching onto her lunch pail and backpack. Her big hazel eyes look up at me imploringly, and I feel a pang of guilt.

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. The day has been long, and I can feel a headache coming on. "In a second, honey. I'm just finishing up tomorrow's lesson plan. Is that alright?" I try to keep my voice gentle, even though I'm exhausted.

"I guess so, Mommy," she replies, her little voice tinged with disappointment.

Penelope sits on the ground, shoulders slumped, while I sit at my desk. I watch her out of the corner of my eye as she fidgets with the zipper on her backpack. The clock on the wall ticks loudly, reminding me of how late it's getting. I know I should wrap things up, but there's still so much to do. Being a single mom and a teacher is a constant juggling act, and sometimes I feel like I'm dropping all the balls.

I rub my temples, trying to focus on the lesson plan in front of me. The words swim on the page, and I can feel a headache coming on. Penelope's been so patient, but I know she's getting antsy.

"Just a few more minutes, sweetie," I promise, though I'm not sure I believe it myself.

The sound of footsteps in the hallway catches my attention. I look up to see Rendal's towering figure in the doorway, Zola peeking out from behind his legs.

"Knock knock," he says with a warm smile. "Thought you could use a pick-me-up."

He steps into the classroom, holding out a steaming cup of coffee and a paper bag that smells heavenly. My stomach growls, reminding me I skipped lunch.

"Oh, Rendal, you're a lifesaver," I say, gratefully accepting the offerings. I take a sip of the coffee and sigh contentedly. "How did you know?"

He shrugs, his blue eyes twinkling. "Just had a feeling. Rough day?"

I nod, gesturing to the papers strewn across my desk. "Lesson planning is kicking my butt. I promised Penny we'd leave soon, but..."

Rendal's gaze sweeps over the mess on my desk, then to Penelope sitting dejectedly on the floor. His expression softens.

"Hey, why don't I take the girls out for lunch?" he suggests. "Give you some time to finish up here without worrying about them."

I hesitate, not wanting to impose. "Are you sure? That's a lot to ask..."

"It's no trouble at all," Rendal insists. "Besides, I think these two could use some fun."

Penelope perks up at the mention of lunch, and Zola claps her hands excitedly.

"Can we, Mommy? Please?" Penelope asks, her eyes wide and hopeful.

I look at Rendal, feeling a rush of gratitude. "If you're sure it's not too much..."

He grins, already helping Penelope gather her things. "Positive. Take your time, we'll be back in a couple of hours."

As they head out the door, Rendal turns back to me. "Don't work too hard, okay? And enjoy that croissant."

I watch them go, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. Taking another sip of coffee, I turn back to my lesson plans with renewed energy.

By the time I finish, Rendal calls me and tells me that he and the girls are at the park, enjoying some playtime while he eats some apple sauce. Now, it's my time to return the favor.

On the way there, I pick up some sushi for us to enjoy while the girls get their energy out. When I get to the park, Zola and Penelope are swinging high on the swingset while Rendal sits on a picnic blanket, sipping the last bits of applesauce out of the tiny container. It's comical how that thing looks bite-sized compared to his large hand.

I offer Rendal the sushi as I sit down next to him on the picnic blanket. His eyes light up at the sight of the food.

"You're an angel sent from the heavens," he says playfully, reaching for a piece of California roll.

I can't help but laugh. "Oh please, it's just sushi. But if that's all it takes to earn my wings, I'll take it."

Rendal grins, popping the roll into his mouth. "Mmm, definitely heavenly. Though I have to say, I'm a little worried about what this means for my status as your knight in shining armor. Am I being replaced by raw fish?"

I pretend to consider this, tapping my chin thoughtfully. "Well, the sushi doesn't leave apple sauce stains on its shirt, so it's got that going for it."

He glances down at his shirt, where a small smear of apple sauce is indeed visible. "All the cool dads are wearing their snacks these days."

"Oh really?" I raise an eyebrow, fighting back a smile. "And here I thought you were just trying to save some for later."

Rendal laughs, his deep voice rumbling pleasantly. "You caught me. It's my secret stash for emergencies."

We continue bantering as we enjoy the sushi, the afternoon sun warm on our faces. I watch as Rendal expertly uses his chopsticks, despite his large hands.

"I'm impressed," I say, nodding at his chopstick skills. "I half expected you to just stab the sushi with those big mitts of yours."

He feigns offense, holding a hand to his chest. "I'll have you know I'm the picture of grace and refinement. Watch this."

Rendal proceeds to attempt to balance three pieces of sushi with his chopsticks. Predictably, it ends with a piece landing on the ground, much to my amusement. Instead of letting it go to waste, he pops it into his mouth.

"Oh yes, very graceful," I say through my laughter. "I think you've got a new talent there, Mr. Refined."

With a small sigh, I pop my sushi pieces into my mouth as I relax and watch the girls. The relaxation washes over my body and I have nobody else but Rendal to thank.

With that in mind, I turn to him. "I can't thank you enough for taking Penelope earlier. It's like you lifted a mountain off my shoulders."

He smiles, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "Happy to help. Though I have to admit, I had an ulterior motive."

"Oh?" I raise an eyebrow, curious.

"Yeah, I figured if I took the girls, you'd end up bringing me sushi. Along with a nice side of ginger and wasabi," he says with a wink. "Clearly, my master plan worked."

I laugh, shaking my head. "Ah, so that's your game. Using your dad powers for personal gain, I see."

"Hey, a guy's gotta eat. And orcs have to eat two pig-sized meals to get satisfied," he quips. "But seriously, how's work going? Seemed pretty intense earlier."

I sigh, picking at a blade of grass. "It's been... challenging. End of the year stuff always is, but this time feels different. Maybe I'm just getting old."

Rendal snorts. "If you're old, what does that make me? Ancient?"

"Well, if the shoe fits..." I tease, feeling some of the tension melt away.

He clutches his chest dramatically. "Ouch! Wounded by the angel herself. I may never recover."

I can't help but giggle at his antics. It's amazing how easily he can lighten my mood.

"But seriously," he continues, his tone softening. "You're doing great, Chloe. Those kids are lucky to have you as their teacher."

His words warm my heart. "Thanks, Rendal. That means a lot."

"I mean it," he insists. "You pour so much into your work. It's inspiring, really. Just don't forget to take care of yourself too, okay?"

I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat. It's been a while since someone's shown such genuine care for my well-being.

"I'll try," I promise. "Though it helps to have someone around who brings me coffee and takes the kids on adventures."

Rendal grins, puffing out his chest. "Well, lucky for you, I happen to be an expert in both those fields. It's like I have a PhD in this shit."

I laugh, feeling lighter than I have in days. "Oh really? And where did you get this prestigious degree?"

"Chloe University, of course," he says without missing a beat. "I'm at the top of my class."

"Mm-hmm," I hum, pretending to be skeptical. "And what exactly does this curriculum entail?"

Rendal starts ticking off points on his fingers. "Coffee delivery, kid wrangling, sushi appreciation, and of course, the fine art of making beautiful kindergarten teachers laugh."

His words make me blush, and I duck my head to hide my smile. "Well, I'd say you're excelling in all subjects."

"I'm an ambitious orc. I've been valedictorian before, so that's not surprising."

I scoff. "I'm starting to think that all of these compliments are getting to your head."

He shrugs, leaning on his arm while he smirks at me. In my peripheral vision, our girls continue to run around the playground, their giggles echoing across the clearing.

As the evening sky soars above us, I know that there's no place I'd rather be than right here with Rendal.