Chapter Three

Nora

May 2013

"Thanks for tonight," I say, even though I don't mean a single word. Dinner with Jeremy had been awful. We've hit a major bump in the road, and this relationship is over. Three months of going back and forth, and yet getting nowhere.

"Don't you want to invite me in?" he asks, winking with a casual smirk. I used to think it was cute, but now it's just annoying. There's something about the way he stares that gives me an uncomfortable feeling. All evening, he's been hinting at sex—the one thing I've been putting off.

"Actually, I'm kind of tired, and I have to work in the morning." I shouldn't have gone out on a Thursday night, but that's the only time he was available.

"Are you serious, Nora? You're doing this again?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Bullshit. You're pushing me away. All damn dinner I noticed it. I have to work a lot, and I can't help it, baby. I miss you, and instead of working on it, you want to shove me away."

"Look. I'm not in the mood." We've gotten close to doing the deed, but I can't bring myself to want to sleep with him.

"Are you fucking someone else?" he barks, glaring at me.

"No, of course not." I had a feeling he'd go there. Isn't that the usual standby the second you don't want to put out?

"Prove it." Wow, that's a bit excessive. A chill runs down my spine and then I stiffen up that motherfucker. How dare he. I'm not the one claiming to work overtime or out with the guys.

"Are you sleeping with someone else?"

He throws his head back like I slapped him. "Oh, I see what you're doing. You're trying to turn this around to get out of shit."

"No, because the person who makes baseless accusations is usually the one having the affair."

His expression softens, and he takes my hand. I try to pull it free, but he holds it tight. "My sweet Nora, I'm not cheating on you. I just want to see you more."

"So why are you always working late?" I ask, testing that sudden calm.

"To make money. It's not like I'm rolling in dough." He keeps his voice calm, but his tone hardens. Something about it just feels like a lie.

"Look, I'm going to bed. I have to work in the morning, and I need to think about things." I quickly pull my hand from his, yank the handle, and get out of his car. Turning around before closing the door, I give him a sweet smile and say, "Goodnight, Jeremy."

"We'll talk tomorrow, Nora. Get some sleep."

I walk into the house without looking back. The dang jerk didn't even bother to wait until I got inside before driving away. What a gentleman. I'm not having this argument with him, and I wouldn't have even mentioned it tonight. We've both said enough, and I don't want to make things worse. All I want to do is get out of these heels, undo this bra, and fall face first on my bed.

I unlock my door, step inside, and kick off my heels with a deep sigh. Sometimes it's so nice to have this house for myself. Right before I turned eighteen, I left home and moved East, buying this home with my inheritance from my grandparents.

My beautiful little house makes me happy and peaceful. I can't wait for the weekend to come and relax with a book. Smiling, I strip down and collapse on my bed, grateful that I don't have to deal with any problems as a twenty-three-year-old. Tomorrow I'll go into work, play with the kiddos, and give them all the love and attention I can before ending my relationship with Jeremy.

But for now, I'm just going to sleep.

****

My phone has been going off like crazy with an unknown number. No voicemails left, either; like that's going to make me answer. It reeks of my parents or my brother. Nope, not taking their calls. Not a chance in hell. We're not on speaking terms, and it's the whole reason I changed my last name and moved far away from them. By lunchtime, I've turned the damn thing off. It isn't like I have anyone I want to talk to anyway. The situation with Jeremy can be dealt with over the weekend.

"Nora, dear. There's a woman to see you," Sarah says, stepping into the playroom as quietly as possible, attempting not to disturb the kids at play. I'm a paraprofessional at an elementary school. We have several special education, or SPED, teachers, however, each child needs love and care, so we could always use more. Unfortunately, our hands are tied behind our backs. I love these little ones.

"Can you take over for me?" I had a play circle with three of the pre-school kiddos.

"Sure. She's in the main office." I stand up and leave the room after giving the kids each a brief hug and a promise to return.

When I walk into the office, I see someone who shocks me. Someone I haven't seen in almost six years. Not since I moved out of Chicago. An icy chill shoots up my spine, and my trepidation about my parents' calls flood my mind.

My mouth drops open in shock, and I wonder if she's going to bring me bad news. "Julia, what are you doing here?" I ask, voice quaking.

"I know it's been a long time. I didn't think you'd recognize me," she says with a half-hearted smile.

She's always been kind to me. She's the one who helped me run away all those years ago, even giving me access to my inheritance so I didn't have to live on the streets. I thought I would have to leave that money behind. I'm not sure how she worked her magic, but the lawyer transferred the money while not letting my family know where I ran off to.

Whatever the reason she's here, I owe the past five and a half plus years of freedom to her. I throw my arms around her, and she hugs me. "It's so good to see you again. I can't believe you're here. What brings you to Philadelphia?" Then, I hear whimpering that turns into a whine. "Who do you have with you?"

"Can we speak in private?" she whispers, looking around the small administrative office as if someone's watching.

"Yes. Come in here." I lead her over to a conference room where she brings the little boy, who is skittish and doesn't make eye contact. He's too young and doesn't look like her, so I doubt he's her son, but he could be a relative.

"Please sit." She sets him down at the table and takes a set of tactile toys from her large tote bag. He takes them and throws them across the room. We both gently and quietly pick them up and set them down, pretending not to notice his behavior, and sit back in our chairs.

"Julia, why are you here?" I ask.

"The thing is…I need you to take him in," she finally answers.

I suppose she must have learned from my family that I'm a teacher. Despite the name change and no contact, I learned that my brother found me and kept his distance. "Okay. Does he have his paperwork? I didn't know you moved into the area."

"It's not like that, Nora." A tear rolls down her cheek. I reach to the middle of the table and hand her a box of tissues.

"What do you mean?" I ask, setting the box on the table.

She wipes away the tears and clears her throat. "It's a lot more complicated than that. I know that it's asking a lot, and that we haven't spoken to each other in a long time, but this is very important. You're the only person I could turn to when it comes to John and his safety."

She pauses and looks at the little boy who is struggling with the gadget, banging it on the edge of the table. She places her hand over his calmly. He shoves it away and continues without a word. "I need you to take him in as one of your students and also as your ward."

My ears ring as the blood rushes to them. Did she just ask me to raise him? "What do you mean? Who is he to you?"

With a huge sigh, she answers, "He is my godson. Unfortunately, I can't say too much more, or I'll be risking your safety and everyone you know. Please. It's very important that he gets the love and help he needs. It will only be temporary. His parents are dead, and his extended family is out to have him eliminated."

"Oh, my goodness. Why haven't you gone to the police with this?"

"Nora, his family is well connected. I don't have to tell you how that goes." She had to remind me of family, and there it is—the reason she came to me. The one person who owes her more than anyone else. A favor for a favor. A life for a life. She's right, though. As much as I don't like this, and as uncomfortable as I feel, maybe I am the only one who can help them.

"You're right, Julia. Is that where he got the scar?" He has a scar on his left cheek that looks vicious and yet fading.

"Yes. It's still healing, but yes, that's where he got the scar. It's been crazy on the run, but I need him cared for properly and I know you can help him. He was born with a disability and you're a special needs teacher, so it's perfect. I want him to have the life he deserves."

"I'll do all I can. I promise, but we still have to fill out all the necessary paperwork."

"Don't worry about all of that. I have a friend helping me, and by the end of the day, you'll have everything you need. Just trust me." She stands up, walks around the conference table, and gives me a big hug. "John, I have to go."

"You're not taking him with?"

"Well, let's just say that I have some things to do, but you'll see me after school."

"We get out at four."

"His car seat will be waiting." She walks out of the conference room without a backward glance.

I stare at the little boy who doesn't make any eye contact, and I wonder if he's seen any specialists for his autism yet. She didn't name his disability, but it's quite clear from a professional standpoint that he's autistic. I watch him for a few more minutes as he seems unaware that she left. Strange. Then I see he's fascinated with the toy car. I put away my work things and check on him again, but he hasn't budged with his car. "Ja," he mutters. "Ja, Ja," he repeats more excitedly this time, driving his car, speeding the car around before he hugs it. He still hasn't realized that she left yet, but he must be calling for her. That's what the "Ja" is.

"John, it's time to go into the other room," I state, wanting to him to react.

"John." I don't want to provoke him, but I'm not sure what his triggers or his tics are just yet. She left without giving me any information about his personality, his likes, or his needs. All of these things are essential to his care. Damn it.

"John, are you hungry?"

"Food."

A knock on the conference room door brings Rebecca, my boss and the head SPED councilor at the school. "Hey, Nora. The woman that just left dropped this off with the receptionist. She said she forgot to give this to you."

"Okay, thanks."

"Who is this little guy?"

"His name is John. She wants him to join our program." He looks up and then looks around. I suppose we finally shook him out of his focus, and now he realizes that Julia's gone. Panic strikes him, and he flips out.

Rebecca enters the room and slams the door shut, locking it so he can't run out. "Oh, no."

"It's okay, John. I'm Nora." I point to myself. He runs to a corner and ducks down, banging his head against the wall. Damn it. I approach slowly so he doesn't hurt himself. The floors are carpeted just in case kids get a little out of control. I'd rather his meltdown happen there than against the wall, so I gingerly ease him to the floor as he fights me. I'm sure I'll have scratches and cuts, but these moments come with the job sometimes.

"It's okay, John. I promise I'm not going to hurt you." My voice remains calm and low. "No one is going to hurt you."

"Maybe I should call the cops."

"No," I shout, regretting it instantly. John screams.

"Sorry, sorry." I look at Rebecca. "She's a friend and asked me to look after him. Now, can you take out those papers and hand them to me?"

She does and gasps. "Nora, you've just become a mother."

"What?"

"These documents are court papers naming you, Nora Harrison, the legal guardian of John Matthew Ingram, age five." I guffaw in pure shock, which for some odd reason makes John snuggle into me. Then I feel something rolling over my body. I tip my head and see John is using my torso like a racetrack for his car. His vehicle has used my boobs as hills before going down again.

"At least he's calmed down."

"I guess so." When she asked me, she didn't plan on taking no for an answer.

"There's a list of his favorite meals in here, and he has no food or medical allergies. He isn't on any medications at present."

"That's very good to know. I don't want to try to take him out of the room yet. Can you have lunch brought in to us, so I can feed him and see if maybe a little more bonding can happen?"

"Absolutely."

****

As promised, a car seat is delivered to the office via a courier before the school day is over. Rebecca generously helps me install it while John allows me to buckle him in without a meltdown, which I call a major win. Although, the car ride to my house is a nightmare because he cries halfway there, trying to get out. Thankfully, he isn't able to get out of the harness.

My nerves are shot by the time we pull into my driveway. I press my head to the steering wheel, wanting to cry, but I hold myself together. An overwhelming sense of defeat fighting to take over me is unmistakable, but I've been there before—I didn't let it then, and I wouldn't let it now.

Just as I'm about to lift my head, someone pounds on my car window, startling me. With a gasp, I jump back to see Julia.

"Hurry. You shouldn't be out here just taking your time with him in the open. It's dangerous," she gasps. She goes around to the back passenger door, and I unlock it. Quickly she frees John from his seat, and he clings to her. "Let's go inside."

"Okay, okay. Did they follow you here?"

"So far they haven't, but I don't want them to get any ideas. Your school surveillance cameras were down today for maintenance, and that's why I used today to drop John off. I'm completely serious about his safety, Nora. I would give my life for him."

"I understand." I truly do, now more than ever. She is scared, and I can see it. As I reach for my front door, it's already unlocked. "Oh, no. Someone—"

"It was me. Go in." We enter my home, and immediately, it's as if I walked into someone else's home. The place isn't the same way I left it this morning, just like my life. Everything has been rearranged.

"Sorry, but I needed to make sure John has a secure place to live. It needed to be redecorated and safe. Your office is now here. Your desk has locks now so he can't get inside, and the keys are on the shelf." I am as equally impressed as I am pissed.

"How did you…?"

"I had a little bit of help." There is so much more to her, and it scares me. "I know you have a million questions and fears, but it's for the best that you leave it all alone. Trust me when I say that the less you know, the better. John needs a good home and a loving mother to care for him. As much as I'd love to stay, the longer I'm here, the more likely he'll be in danger." She looks nervously around.

"But…"

"Don't worry. I've erased all ties to my transfer of him. It looks like I was never involved in the guardianship, and for good reason. These people are evil to want to kill a five-year-old harmless child."

"Why are you doing this now, though?"

"I'm dying. I have advanced ALS. I'm not going to last long, and I can't take care of John, especially the way he needs to be. He needs someone to treasure and love him like a real family would."

I know that family means nothing, and they'd betray you just for a power alliance. After all, mine planned an arranged marriage with an Irish mob family. They wanted me to marry a man I didn't know who was thirteen years older than me, and Julia was the only one to save me from it.

I nod. "Yes, I understand. I accept, and I will protect him." With one last hug, she hands him over to me and leaves, never to step foot in my home again.

I finally turn my phone on and realize I have a voice message from Jeremy.

Hey, babe, I know things have been bad. I'm sorry. I want to talk about it, but I'm going out of town for the weekend to see my parents. Hehe. I hear a faint feminine giggle in the background. Shush. So, we'll talk when I get back. I'll miss you.

The bastard thinks I'm dumb. Shaking my head, I send him a text that it's over and that he can spend his time away with his giggling girlfriend. I'm not interested in a relationship. Once that's done, I toss my phone on the counter and carry on with my evening. Jeremy doesn't matter to me anymore because I have a child to care for and don't have any time for a cheating boyfriend.