Page 11 of Healed By the Grumpy Elf

I navigate quickly toward Harriet, ignoring Orlin's disappointed expression.

"Thank you," I whisper to Harriet before turning to Mrs. Sirensong and listening to her worry about her daughter losing her voice.

"She's hardly spoken for days," Mrs. Sirensong explains, her own voice musical despite her concern. "And when she does, it's barely a whisper."

"How old is Coral now? Thirteen?" I ask, recalling the shy mermaid girl who occasionally visits my office for seasickness patches during field trips.

Mrs. Sirensong nods.

"Voice changes are completely normal for adolescent mermaids," I explain. "Their vocal cords are adapting to both air and underwater communication. Has she been practicing her singing exercises?"

"Not as much as she should," Mrs. Sirensong admits.

"Try warm saltwater gargles for five minutes, three times daily," I suggest. "And encourage those scales, the musical kind, not just the ones on her tail."

Mrs. Sirensong laughs, tension easing from her shoulders. "You're a treasure, Nurse Maeve."

By the time I'm done speaking with Mrs. Sirensong, Principal Braggstone is gone and I breathe more freely. I'm still bone-tired by nine thirty, the scheduled end of conferences. After another thirty minutes of tidying up the reception and hallways, I check my watch, surprised at how quickly time has passed. My head throbs gently, and my feet scream for relief, but there's still cleanup to do.

Harriet intercepts me as I begin folding chairs. "Go home, Maeve."

"I'm just helping a little," I argue, wincing as I bend to pick up a dropped napkin. "Won't take long."

"You look exhausted," Harriet says firmly. "The cleaning crew can handle this."

"I'm fine, really." I pick up the leftover pamphlets and place them in a cardboard box. "I just want to make sure everything's in order for tomorrow."

"The mysterious doctor's visit, you mean?" A teasing smile plays on her lips.

Heat rises to my cheeks. "That's not why I'm tidying."

"Sure, it isn't." She laughs before her face takes that serious expression again. "Promise me you won't stay more than another half hour, tops."

"Promise," I agree, crossing my heart dramatically.

After Harriet leaves, the school grows eerily quiet. I hear the distant sounds of the janitor's cart in the far wing and see a few teachers finishing up their classrooms, but the bustling energy from earlier has dissipated.

I help fold the remaining chairs, tidy the refreshment table, and put away the last of the pamphlets. When I finally check the clock, I realize I've stayed an hour longer than promised. Gathering my things, I head toward the exit, the halls now dimly lit with only emergency lighting.

Outside, the parking lot stands nearly empty, just my car and another one far across the asphalt. The night air feels cool against my tired skin, stars visible above Saltford Bay, though clouds gathering on the horizon suggest rain later. The distant sound of waves crashing against the shore provides a soothing backdrop as I fumble in my purse for my keys.

"Maeve!"

I jump at the deep voice behind me, keys jangling as I clutch them tighter.

Principal Braggstone emerges from the shadows near the school entrance, his bulk silhouetted against the dim light spilling from the doors. "I was just locking up when I saw you. Let me escort you to your car."

"That's kind, but I'm fine," I say, taking an instinctive step back. "Just heading home now."

"Let me walk you," he insists, already closing the distance between us. "It's dark out here."

My protest dies on my lips as he falls into step beside me. The parking lot suddenly seems vast and empty, my car impossibly far away. I don't like the way he keeps glancing at me every few seconds, like he's expecting something from me.

When we finally reach my tiny compact car, I almost sigh with relief.

"You work too hard, Maeve," he says, his voice dropping to what I assume he considers an intimate tone. "You need someone to take care of you for a change."

"Thank you." I stiffen, gripping my keys tighter. "I manage just fine."