"I'll see you later JJ." His body isn't so small anymore as I grunt out while he holds onto me like a lifeline. "Do you have to go?" he looks up to me and he gives me the biggest puppy eyes and pout I've ever seen; little does he remember that I taught him that. I'm dropping him off since he stayed the night around my house last night.
I look around in the mess Maia calls a house. I see her sitting on the sofa smoking a cigarette with fake nails that I call claws, while watching the news. Magazines are laid out on the floor and clothes thrown down without a care, none of which I notice are Jamie's, I know how neat he likes to be. I look to a side table and see leaflets for a car dealership which means Michael is here somewhere. Michael and Maia have been together for nearly a year now.
"How about this, I pick you up from school Monday and we will go to the park?" he beams a smile then squeezes me once more which I return and runs off talking about how excited he is as he goes to his room. I faintly hear his voice saying he needs to fold the laundry. Since when is he doing adult chores at the age of six, maybe he is pretending to be older? But I hear him say Michael's name and I get a chill. Of course!
It somehow makes me upset he is learning to do grown up things when he still just a kid, I know it's bad but I want him to have mess, I want the tantrums, I want him to beg for a toy he can't have, to have a sleepover with friends, however he has always had trouble in the friends department.
I look over to see my older sister looking back at me. Judgment lurking in her eyes. I know she is waiting for me to leave; I have tried to talk to her about how she talks to her son, but I've given up. I'm not his mother so I don't have a say. I need to remember my place. I try one last time, "How many times have I told you not to smoke around Jamie and go outside to do it in the garden?"
"I'm sorry, are you saying I'm not a good mother?" her voice dripping in sarcasm, only internally in my mind! "You do remember that the smoke can set off Jamie's asthma, it's not good for him to be around it. It's also hurting your lungs-"
"Tell me something I don't know Emilia" she rolls her eyes and takes another drag waving her hand at me dismissing it. "Jamie is doing fine, is something wrong with him?"
"No."
"Does he need to go to the hospital?"
"No-"
"Then everything is fine, you don't have to be so paranoid." Thinking about it, I now remember that whenever I pick him up, his bedroom door is always closed, I always thought it was because he likes privacy but instead it's probably to protect him from the smoke. I did say he was mature for a six-year-old. However, that doesn't mean the smoke won't filter through the bottom of the door...
Michael isn't any different, if anything he encourages it. He claims he is helping Maia withdraw from the alcohol she used to consume that is taking her years to get over. The smoke is a 'safe' distraction.
What a load of bullshit!
I disagree with the way he speaks to Jamie, once I was on my way out and I heard him tell Jamie to clean the living room and go to his bedroom after to sleep. I almost stormed back in there to tell him he is just a child, but I am not his legal guardian or mother and can't tell Maia how to parent. She loves him and tells me she sees Michael as Jamie's father. That makes me want to stick around Jamie more to reassure me that he is okay.
******
Sunday went too quick and now I'm back at work but I'm not complaining, luckily because it is an animal shelter, I can bring Scooby in with me.
He barks with a big smile when we enter, he runs over to see Rosie the receptionist. A beautiful brunette with brown eyes, wearing the signature pink shirt with blue trousers. I am more practical in my work, so I have a navy-blue collar shirt with dark jeans. "Hey boy, how's it going? Have you been a good boy for mummy?" she reaches under his stomach since he can't roll over for belly rubs but we manage to do it for him to show he isn't different on the inside as he is outside. She is still doing her dog voice, even if they deny it everyone has one.
"Hey Rosie" I smile at her as I unpack my things underneath her desk before looking at the Rota to see where I am today. Scooby is not only very special physically but literally around here. He goes around freely, meeting other animals who come in and sometimes helping dogs who are distressed before they undergo surgery. He really is the best support dog, and I couldn't ask for anything else.
It's halfway through the day and I hear my name being called and I am told from my co-worker Jeremy that I have a call; I finish the job I am doing quickly as I can and go to reception to answer. Scooby wanted to tag along since he follows me, but I tell him to stay put with the other dog daycare bunch and he listens and starts to chase and play with other young dogs, I silently laugh at him basically being a child then head straight for the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Emilia Taylor. I understand Jamie Reed is your nephew?"
"Yes, Jamie is my nephew." My heart skips a beat hearing the teacher say his name.
Jamie never gets in trouble.
"We tried to contact Maia Taylor and Michael Shay, but they wouldn't answer, and you were the last contact in the emergency contact on his file" where is this conversation going, of course Maia wasn't available. I roll my eyes in anger.
"Jamie has been in a little altercation in school with another student. We will need you to come and pick him up so you can talk to Headmaster Mathews." I'm lost for words, that was not what I was expecting to hear.
"I'm sure you have the wrong student."
"I assure you we don't Miss Taylor. We will see you soon. Preferably before the end of the school day." before I can say anything else she hangs up.
Bitch.
******
I barely manage to get out of work within an hour, but I did it in return I would do overtime this Saturday. I rush into the foyer and see Jamie sitting staring at his hands, on another sofa opposite him is another little boy with darker hair with a bruise on his eye.
Oh Jamie!
I sign in at the office to the left and sit down next to him. I know he knows I'm here yet keeps his head down.
"You got in a fight?" I see a small nod from him.
"Did you start it?" another nod, I see his eyes water. I bring him into a side hug, as I do I notice he doesn't have his jumper on, and I see a small bruise making its way to the surface on his right lower arm. "After I have talked with the headmaster we will go home."
As we are waiting, I see someone else coming in and see the other little boy sitting opposite us look up and recognise the man instantly, I'm guessing this is the little boy's father?
"Hello, I am here to talk to the headmaster" I look over at the owner of the deep, smooth voice who is now walking over.
He doesn't say anything when he sits down next to the boy. I look over to the man and study him, they both share similar features, the dark hair is obvious, the little boy has darker brunette, short and trimmed, whereas the man has darker brown almost black fluffy hair with hints of waves and curls. Then there are the dark eyebrows holding a very serious expression and its clear, where the boys hold fear the man is very intimidating.
I notice he is wearing a navy shirt under a leatherjacket, with washed out jeans and he has a few rings on his fingers, one looks like a wolf on his middle finger on his right hand. My eyes travel up to see his hazel eyes burning into me and I immediately look away embarrassed but there's no use hiding it since he caught me red handed. Great! now I'm red faced.
I try to sneak another look to see if this beast of a stranger really did catch me studying him. My thoughts are confirmed when I see the small smirk in the corner of his mouth, his lips the perfect shade of pink and it's clear that yes, he did in fact see. I might as well fall into a grave at this point.
I hear a voice clearing next to us on the left and I see the headmaster, his white hair slightly falling out. He looks just over sixty years old, but the wrinkles make him look older. I stand up ready to greet him, the stranger staggers over my five-foot three height. He is at least six foot four. It makes me feel like a little mouse next to a lion.
"Emilia, it's nice to meet you I am Headmaster Mathews." he turns towards the 'Beast'. "Liam, good to see you again." he holds out his frail hand for us to shake. He says the word again in a bit of a more spiteful manner.
The so-called 'Beast' has a name.
Liam goes to shake his hand first and me next, the headmaster leads us away from the boys to his office. He enters through his office door not waiting for us, and Liam catches the door before it shuts and he holds it open motioning me in with a nod and he holds my stare, the same smirk there plastered on. Oh, so he is a Smug beast huh.
I just nod in thanks and take a seat in front of the big oak desk where Mathews is already waiting. Beast takes a seat next to me but it's still too close, no matter how much I'm trying to listen to Mathews.