***Isolde***
Isa smiled as Ray left her apartment with his adopted dad. Earlier, they had surprised her with breakfast before spending the morning with her. Such surprises were always welcome. She sometimes felt guilty for being so busy that she couldn't even spare having breakfast with them.
She opened her empty fridge. Looked like she needed to get some more groceries if she planned to return the favor. Little Ray was a growing boy, after all.
Jamie's store was closer than the grocery store. Isa could go there.
She left a note for the boys should they return before she did and headed off. A girl with an apron caught her eye. It was one of her former students, Cyan. She was walking on the sidewalk across the street. Her eyes were on the ground
Isa waved to draw her attention. "Out for a stroll?"
She jumped, pale cheeks reddening. "Yeah. I wanted to get some fresh air."
"Would you like to walk with me? I'm going by Jamie's to grab a few things."
Isa didn't know what else to do. Her former student looked like she didn't feel that well.
Cyan smiled back at her. "Sure."
"Did you need to buy anything?" Ms. Jaune asked.
"No, I actually went by Jamie's earlier."
As Cyan said that, the pair approached the convenience store.
Jamie smiled when she saw Isa. "Came by to grab a couple things?"
"Yeah. I'm going to be busy with grading, so I thought I'd buy a hot dog and a couple snacks."
"Let me grab that hot dog then." Jamie turned to Cyan. "Is that boy doing better?"
"He's at home sleeping. His godmom is keeping an eye on him for me."
"That boy from the dance?" Isa asked. "Is something wrong with him?"
"He has a headache. I thankfully got him to take some medicine by hiding it in a bowl of soup."
"Did he fight you on it?" Jamie asked.
"He got spooked when he saw it. Maggie said it wouldn't be worth it to fight him for it."
Both women shook their heads. "That isn't fun."
"Is it hard to take care of Collin?" Isa asked.
"It definitely can be. But there's something about when he smiles. It's... so pure and sweet. Like one from a kid like Graham."
Jamie smiled. "My bear cub is a little lovebug."
Isa handed Cyan a bag of cookies.
Cyan furrowed her eyebrows.
Jamie smiled. "Just take it."
"Thank you..."
"What you're doing isn't easy. You need to treat yourself, sometimes," Isa said. "Would you like me to walk you home?"
"No, I'll be fine."
Cyan held out her terminal, but Jamie pushed it down.
Cyan then left.
***Maggie***
Maggie walked into the convenience store. Cy teleported away as soon as she stepped toward the counter. She lowered her gaze. Hopefully, she was fine.
Isa smiled when she saw Maggie. "Did Cyan forget that you guys needed something for the house?"
"Ms. Jaune, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, what do you need, sweetie?"
"Can we talk about it somewhere else?"
"You can talk about it in my living room," Jamie said.
"Thanks," Maggie said, smiling.
A woman with gray hair came downstairs.
Jamie looked at her. "Mom, would you mind watching the store for a bit?"
"Of course not. Josh said that he was going to be running late."
"I wonder what he was asked to do..." Jamie mumbled.
Isa put a hand on Maggie's shoulder. "Let's go upstairs."
Maggie let Isa drag her upstairs. She didn't feel like fighting them.
Jamie went over to her fridge. "Would you like a drink?"
Maggie shook her head.
"I'm fine," Isa said.
Jamie grabbed herself a soda before joining them at the kitchen table.
"So what happened?" Isa asked.
"Cyan ran out to get the rugrat some medicine. Like most kids, he didn't want it. We discussed how to trick him into taking it."
"You're taking care of a toddler?" Jamie asked, blinking.
It certainly would have been easier to take care of Collin if he was one.
"So, he isn't a kid? Does he like crawling on the floor?" Jamie asked.
"Not really," Maggie replied. "He tends to sit on his bed or on the sofa."
Jamie gave her a strange look. "Okay..."
"Isn't he hurt?" Isa asked.
"He is, but he can at least move around the house. He doesn't think, though. He went hours without eating because he didn't grab a snack or tell me he was hungry."
Jamie paused. "What else happened after Cyan left?"
"Her date came home with her, and her date got mad. Cyan eventually kicked me and her date out."
Isa furrowed her eyebrows. "I understand her boyfriend, but why did she kick you out?"
Maggie bit her lip. "I sorta of sided with him. That kid can get violent. He even hurt..." She cut herself up.
"Who?" Jamie asked.
Maggie lowered her head. "His brother."
Jamie sighed. "Wonder if it was one of those usual fights. Even my kids did. Addie would hit her big brother whenever he made her mad."
Maggie frowned. Addie, she had vanished years ago... She was her best friend before she met Cyan. It was after she disappeared that Maggie had become colder.
A Key keeper had taken her according to the authorities.
Maggie glanced up at Jamie. The poor lady. Her children kept being hurt by those monsters. Hopefully, Graham wouldn't end up being targeted, too.
"Are you going to go back to Cyan and Collin?" Isa asked.
Maggie folded her arms. "Nah. Cy is too stubborn for her own good. If she wants to drown, I'll let her."
Jamie tilted her head. "Are you sure that's what you really want?"
"Isa, can I stay with you until I find an apartment on my own?"
"I don't mind if you spend the night. I could find something for you. I just might be bad company because I need to grade."
Maggie scoffed. "You grade on the spot, teach."
Ms. Jaune laughed. "Meant my son's stuff."
"Is it hard?"
"Art can't do it. It's better than having to bug his colleagues."
Maggie smiled. "I could try to help you."