KAYLA SAT AT THE KITCHEN table with Isabelle’s daily calendar clenched in her hands. Lowering the calendar to the table, Richmond marched past her with an angry look on his face. Seeming infuriated, he twisted the doorknob and flung open the door leading to the garage. When he slammed the door behind himself, the whole kitchen shook.
What’s wrong with him? Whoever had called him must’ve upset him, must’ve have given him some bad news.
Hoping everything with Richmond was okay, Kayla tapped the calendar button on her cell to input Isabelle’s upcoming activities. This precious angel was the busiest little girl she’d ever come across. Yesterday, she’d had ballet and horseback lessons. Today, she had piano and soccer lessons, and a playdate with some kid named Logan. Tomorrow, she had a birthday party to go to at the Equestrian. Then afterwards, she was scheduled to go shopping with her grandmother, Leslie.
Finally having the information stored in her phone, Kayla began walking toward the den, where she’d left Isabelle and CJ after she’d cleaned the kitchen earlier. “Guys, it’s time to start your school lessons.” Cartoons on the television blared throughout the house as she entered the den to find it empty. Hmm. Now where had they gone?
At four years old, Isabelle was such a smart little girl, and at three years old, so was her little wild rascal, CJ. The two of them were like peas in a pod already.
Holding onto the handrail at the foot of the staircase, Kayla’s eyes traveled up the steps to the second floor. “Isabelle! CJ! Where are you?”
Let’s see, today was Friday, and she’d prepared a hands-on math lesson using manipulatives for those two today. Until she’d met Isabelle, she’d never understood how valuable homeschooling could be for a kid. Smart beyond her young years, Isabelle made the perfect candidate for such a thing. And considering she had a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and had always wanted to be a school teacher, this homeschooling, nanny thing was a perfect match for her job-wise.
Those two are up to something. Ascending the steps, her hand glided along the rail. Reaching Isabelle’s room, she wondered why in the world she and CJ had shut the door. She grasped the doorknob and pushed it open. The room was in total disarray. Nothing like she’d left it this morning.
Toys, playful dress-up clothes, and pictures scattered the carpet. Isabelle sat on the floor playing with her dollhouse while CJ sat in a corner pushing a truck up the wall.
Kayla hurried over to CJ and gently gripped his wrist. “CJ, don’t do that. You’re going to get black marks on the paint,” she said, lowering his hand and the truck from the wall. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you two. I need you both to clean up this room. After you’re done, I’m going to teach you some math, then shortly thereafter it’ll be time for your piano lessons, Isabelle.”
While the children dumped the toys into the toy box beneath the window, Kayla picked up the photos from the floor. Coming across a picture of Richmond, Salina, and Isabelle, Kayla’s heart softened. She brought the photo closer to her eyes. Isabelle couldn’t have been any older than one in the picture. Ah, just look at the happy family. Richmond and Salina looked so in love. So happy. Full of life. Like the perfect couple. Gosh, Salina was so very pretty.
Isabelle peeked up at Kayla. “That’s my mommy.”
Kayla glanced around the pink room and noticed Richmond didn’t have a single picture of the child’s mother or him anywhere. “I know, sweetheart. Would you like to make the picture bigger and put it in a frame to keep inside your room?”
Nodding, Isabelle fisted the material of her dress near her waist. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay, after your piano lessons, I’ll take you to the store and have one made. And I’ll let you pick out a pretty frame to put it in.”
Isabelle threw her arms around Kayla’s leg and hugged her tight. “Thank you.”
Falling head over heels for Isabelle, Kayla caressed her back. Keeping the photo she’d plan on enlarging, she put the rest of the photos back in the drawer where Isabelle claimed they belonged, grabbed her and CJ’s tiny hands, then marched their little behinds back downstairs so they could learn some math.