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comes back for this one.”

“She’s adorable.” Arabella set the folder on Beth’s desktop, well away

from the baby, who reached for it with chubby hands shiny with drool.

“How old?”

“Seven months. My daughter had a thing at Amelia, her oldest daughter’s

school today. A parent teacher thing. She was supposed to have a sitter, but

they canceled on her last minute. She couldn’t blow off the interview, so I

guess it was important. Amelia is six, but she can’t seem to stay out of

trouble. It’s because she’s too smart. She gives those teachers the run

around and no adult likes to be shown up by a six-year-old kid.”

Arabella laughed. “I can imagine. I hope it’s not too terrible for her. Your

daughter, or Amelia.”

“Let’s hope so.” Beth bounced the baby on her knee. “This is Sky.”

Arabella waved. “Hello, Sky. What a pretty name for a pretty girl.” She

noted the baby’s huge blue eyes. “A name that definitely fits.”

Sky grinned and cooed, waving her hands frantically. Beth sighed. “I

keep telling Shannon that she should change schools for Amelia. School is

hard enough without having to worry about teachers trying to bully her.”

“Is she trying to do that?” Arabella wasn’t entirely surprised. Teachers

were just human. She’d had more than her fair share that openly hated on

kids, but that was mostly in high school, where attitudes were generally

shitty all around.

“I don’t know.” Beth sighed. “I’ve been researching schools, but

everything is so far from Shannon’s house. They might have to move to get

Amelia in somewhere else. The kid is in kindergarten. I didn’t anticipate

having these kinds of problems for years yet. Like middle or high school.”

“Don’t I know it?” Arabella muttered under her breath. “Yeah,” she said

louder. “High school is a challenge. I think everyone has a hard time with

that, no matter who they are. But I feel for you. Kindergarten. That’s

rough.”