Page 25 of My Eternal Light

Those dark blue eyes went wide. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know anyone would still be here. I hope I didn’t frighten you.” He stared at her eyes unblinking. “I never thought I’d find you in a school.”

Crazy talk versus hotness.

She decided a few more questions would help. “Did you put that book in your bag?”

He nodded.

“That’s stealing. I should call the police.”

He held up both hands, keeping them visible to her. “I swear it’s for a good cause. I also left money on the principal’s desk.”

“Good cause?”

He nodded. “The group I’m a part of, rescued twenty kids that were raised in captivity. They are nowhere near ready to come to school, so we thought it best to bring the school to them.” He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “You have to believe me. I would never hurt you, never you.”

She decided to ignore that weird statement and stayed by the doorway. She looked past him to the books on the bookshelf. “What are their ages?”

“Fifteen, ten, five and infants.”

“Exactly five years apart? Where the hell were they, in a cult?”

He nodded slowly. “Something like that.”

“You military?”

“I am.”

She took in his wide stance, how he stood up straight and fought back a sigh. As her foster mother would have said. ‘Good lord child, they don’t make em like that no mo.’

“Good lord,” she whispered to herself.

“I know you have no reason to trust me, but I could really use your help.” He pointed around the room. “I have already ordered things like clothes, toys and diapers. That was easy. But workbooks? And, are those tablets?”

Zadie smothered a chuckle. “They are.”

“I thought this was a school for small children.” He brought up his phone and looked. “That’s what elementary means right?”

“Kids get tablets early on now.”

His eyes went wide, and he looked panicked. “I didn’t get those.”

“I’m sure you can order them.” Sighing, she realized she felt like she could trust him. She stashed her pepper spray and phone in her bag and pulled it on to free up her hands.

“The infants and five-year-olds can get by with educational toys for a bit. For the ten- and fifteen-year-olds, I’m afraid the tablets will be your best bet.”

The man scrubbed his hands over his face. “I’m not cut out for this. Kids learn so differently now.” He eyed her. “Could you help me order some things?” He pulled out a black credit card. “I have this.”

Zadie nearly choked on her next breath. She had only heard of cards like that. He went to hand it to her, and she stepped back.

He grinned. “That was my reaction too. It isn’t mine. The one funding everything didn’t think twice about giving it to me. I might still break out in hives from the stress.”

She laughed and his expression softened.

“I guess I could help for a bit. But, maybe not at the scene of the crime huh?”

He stared for a second then nodded. “Of course. I was told human women like coffee and chocolate. Would you feel comfortable at the coffee shop downtown?”

Human?