Page 9 of My Solemn Vow (The Mafia Arrangement #1)
VALOR
THE MELTDOWN
The heart attack I get when Sean’s phone number pops up on my screen will kill me someday. Before I hit answer, I’m already closing my laptop and on the move.
I don’t bother with hello, fearing for the goddamned worst. “Go.”
“Valor.” Sean is calm, and the gentle sound of the SUV on the road is in the background.
I take half a second to relax. She’s safe.
My wolf goes from violent and snarling to on edge and growling.
“Yeah, Sean?” I grab my keys out of my top desk drawer and start gathering my stuff to leave.
“Kerrianne and I are detouring for a sundae at the ice cream parlor.” Sean isn’t asking, which is fine.
He and Kerrianne have privileges to make a stop up to twice a week at preapproved, very particular places if she doesn’t have other commitments after school.
But he usually sends a quick message letting me know.
Communication is paramount when it comes to Kerrianne’s whereabouts, but a phone call means there’s more than just a slight change in plans.
Given his casual tone, though, it isn’t life threatening.
It means my little raptor is within hours of a meltdown.
Hopefully, we’re pre-meltdown, but it could likely be post.
“Well, the two of you have a good time.” I cautiously proceed with my offer, knowing the call is on Bluetooth in the SUV and Kerrianne will be listening. “Maybe, if I can get away early, I’ll meet you, and then raptor and I can get dinner.”
I close and lock my office door at our legal business front and head out to the parking lot.
“Can we get pasta?” Kerrianne’s words tremble.
So, it’s post meltdown. Which is why Sean called. School has only been in session for three and a half months, and this is the third time she’s had an issue.
I scrub my hand down my face, not from frustration with her falling apart but that I wasn’t there.
Pup needs to learn. This is learning. My wolf groans and hangs his head with the defeat I feel. We want to protect her from all the heartache of the world, even if we realistically can’t.
“Sure thing,” I answer, but I fake needing to cut the call short. “Okay, I’m going into my next meeting. You two have fun, and we’ll get pasta for dinner.”
“Okay.” Kerrianne’s little agreement wrenches my heart from my chest. The single word is laced with frustrated sadness.
I hang up before starting my car. The ice cream parlor is a ten-minute drive from the office, and I get there in time to watch them walk inside.
I force myself to stay in the SUV rather than rush in and save the day. But she’s expecting to get ice cream with Sean before I show up, so I let them enjoy. She trusts him. Hell, they’ve been paired together since prekindergarten.
The lighting at this time of day is perfect, allowing me to watch from my parking space through the ice cream shop’s big plate-glass window .
Her cheeks and nose are red. Her hair is a little more ruffled than it was this morning, and she wipes her nose with her sleeve while she waits for Sean to pay. They sit toward the front, for my benefit. Sean skims the parking lot and gives a small nod when he sees me.
After about five minutes, he’s got her at least chatting and not shut down.
Normally, no ice cream before green things is the rule, but everyone needs a mental health day now and again. The school lunches are balanced meals anyway.
I take my time getting out of my SUV and walking to the front door. Kerrianne sees me coming and gives me a big, excited wave.
Sean stands up, giving me his seat at the little café table.
It’s the changing of the guard — smiles, handshakes, and nods.
After he gets out to his SUV, he’ll text me anything he knows about what triggered the meltdown so I can assess if there needs to be a change.
There’s no need for me to get hung up on that right now, though.
Instead, I focus on what Kerrianne might need from me in the moment.
“Hey, little raptor.” I smile and sniff her ice cream, acting like I might take some.
She snatches the bowl off the table and gives me a pointed glare. I laugh and settle in. Sean takes off through the front door. He isn’t going far but gives us the feeling of privacy. He’ll be our armed escort.
“Dad, can I go back to the other school?” Kerrianne hangs her head and stirs the ice cream in her cup that’s slowly turning to soup.
“Why do you want to go back to the other school?” I cock my head.
Parenting books are bullshit. Parenting books are bullshit, I chant in my head against the barrage of intrusive thoughts thanks to the books I tried to read for ‘ reasoning.’
Obviously. My wolf huffs, angry that I distressed her by changing her world.
“I don’t think my teacher likes me.” Kerrianne furrows her little brow, and I reach over, smoothing it out and then tipping her chin up to me.
“Let’s go walk, and we can talk about it before dinner.” I smile at her. I want to know her side before I make any assumptions about what happened today.
There are three sides to every story — hers, the teacher’s, and the truth. Determining whose story is closest to the truth isn’t the easiest thing, but it’s literally my job in all aspects of my life.