Page 76 of Timelessly Ours
Nicole jumps with a clap and races over, giving my girl a high five.
Running my hand over my face, I move to the far wall along the corridor, near the entrance and Nicole catches my eye. Bracing herself, she lifts her head and walks around the staff and children, reaching me in the corner.
My arms are crossed in front of me and my jaw is set. She takes me in tentatively. “So I signed a consent?”
“There wasn’t enough time to reach you,” she whispers.
“What’s the urgency?” I ask but I’ve already pieced together this little puzzle.
“She needs to learn to defend herself.”
“Nicole, playgrounds will always have bullies—in all sizes. You can’t—”
“Of course, I can’t. But she can protect herself.” She nods as if reassuring herself.
“Nicole.” I reach for her, and she snaps away.
“You weren’t there. This kid tugged on her hair and then his friends laughed, and she looked so helpless…” She chokes and the tears fall. “She just…stood there, Royce.”
She swipes at her tears and looks up at me defiantly. “It doesn’t matter. Rory will learn to protect herself. And if I get to make any decisions as her nanny, then this is the only thing I want,” she sobs, making heads turn.
I grip her shoulders and twist her away from the crowd. “Okay. Okay. We’ll sign her up with a fast track if that’s what she wants, okay?”
She nods vigorously. “Ok-ay.”
“Oh, baby.” I pull her against me, and she tenses before slowly calming under my touch.
She sniffles and turns her face against my chest. “I never want her to feel helpless if someone hurts her.”
I turn her to face the floor of students. “Look at her. By the time she’s in high school, she’ll be able to take anyone out by just looking at them.”
She laughs and swipes under her eyes. “She’s going to be okay.” She nods again, reassuring herself.
And I’m…done for.
20
I’ve calmed down significantly since this afternoon.
If only that girl learned to talk to playground bullies the way she speaks to her babysitters, we’d never have a problem.
Well, she’d never have a problem. Who knows how long I’ll be around to protect her myself?
One thing’s for sure, I’m not going anywhere until I teach that girl self-defense.
I may have gotten a little bit carried away this afternoon. Jumping the fence like I’m some superhero. Then hauling the six-year-old downtown to my dojo and drilling the skill of martial arts into her.
After her bath, Rory was out like a light an hour before her usual bedtime. She even finished all her vegetables, convinced it would make her big and strong overnight.
I’m sitting by the fireplace when I hear the lock turn on the front door and brace myself. He went easy on me because I was an emotional wreck earlier, but I know what’s to come now that he’s not faced with my tears.
Men can’t stand seeing women cry.
I’m seated on the sofa and set the magazine down, letting him know he has my full attention. When he walks in, I wince.
He looks utterly drained. “Hey, how was practice?” I ask, somehow knowing this isn’t about me.
He shakes his head and tosses his jacket on the chair, then steps further in. He sets down a small shopping bag at his feet and sits a cushion away on the sofa.