by Dana Corbit
“Not even a power screwdriver to assemble the balloon-dart booth?” He was grinning again now.
“Then you’re in?”
“How can I not be with you and Chelsea teaming up against me?”
Caleb Williams chose that moment to approach them. “Hey, Dinah, I hear you’ve recruited some new talent for the carnival.”
“Alex Donovan,” Dinah said before turning to the black-haired man, “I’d like you to meet Caleb Williams, our amazing youth minister.”
“I don’t know about the amazing part, but it’s good to meet you.” Caleb pumped his hand. “Thanks for volunteering. We sure can use the extra help this year since we’re ramping up the carnival and everything.”
“It does sound like a big job.”
Caleb’s confident smile suggested he was up to the challenge. “Well, we had to do something amazing if we wanted to outdo last year’s carnival. Last time the kids made all the adults dress in costumes, so they’d remember what it was like to play. This year we want the kids to be just as wowed as we were. I think it will be a blast for all of us.”
When the youth minister excused himself and headed over to the video area, Alex turned back to Dinah. “Okay, I’m giving in for the sake of the carnival. Brandon, Chelsea and I will put in as many hours as we can in the next week or so.”
Alex paused, crossing his arms. “But I’m telling you right now, after the carnival is over, the kids will only be coming here a few times a week, just like I said.”
Dinah grinned, understanding how important it would be to him to establish his authority by not going back on his earlier decision. “Way to stick to your guns, Mr. Guardian.”
Alex turned his forefingers and thumbs into a pair of imaginary pistols and tucked them into an equally pretend holster at his hips.
Dinah was still enjoying his acting when something he’d said earlier came to mind. “Wait. Didn’t I hear you tell Chelsea she was right? Was it her idea to come here?”
After a quick peek to where his young cousin was now holding court among the older girls, he turned back to Dinah and shrugged. “It is pitiful, I guess, taking parenting tips from a third-grader.”
“Not pitiful.” But she couldn’t keep a straight face.
“I know it is, but in my defense, my nine-year-old counselor did have a good idea. Chelsea suggested that we find a youth group so Brandon could make some new friends.”
“And you said you didn’t have one at your church?” She knew it was a sneaky way of trying to ascertain whether Alex attended church or not, but she couldn’t help herself. If he didn’t already have a church home, she had one she could recommend—just for the sake of outreach, of course.
“No, my church is too small for that. I never needed a youth group before, anyway.”
“You have a point there.” That she was at once pleased and disappointed that Alex attended church somewhere else shamed her. She couldn’t claim an interest in only his spiritual health when her feelings were so conflicted.
“Anyway, part of this grand scheme was all my idea.” He didn’t hide how pleased he was about that. “Chelsea didn’t know about this youth center, but I did. I’d read about all the activities here in the newspaper even before I met your dad. Every once in a while I get things right.”
Dinah chewed the side of her lower lip as her gaze flitted from scene to scene in the room without really landing on any one of them. With Alex feeling confident about one of his parenting decisions, it didn’t seem right for her to rain all over his parade.
It just wouldn’t be the Christian thing to do. Maybe God wouldn’t mind this time if she let Alex continue believing something that made him happy.
When she turned back to Alex again, he was studying her. “Okay, what are you not telling me?”
She pressed her lips together for a few seconds and then spoke. “In class the other day, I told my students about this youth center where I volunteered.”
“You mean she knew about this place all along?”
“Afraid so. She must have thought the center sounded like fun.” She expected his expression to fall just as his confidence must have, but after taking a few seconds to digest the information, Alex grinned.
“Then I’d better watch out with this little one. If she decides she wants a sports car, there’ll be a Lamborghini in the drive by the weekend.”
They both laughed at that, though Dinah’s laughter was more of the nervous variety. What if Chelsea had developed some ridiculous notion that her teacher and her guardian should be together? That was silly. The little girl probably just wanted to try out the youth center. Still, Dinah had the odd feeling she should thank Chelsea for bringing them all together tonight.
Chapter Five
C helsea climbed off her school bus and hurried into the building behind several other children, all of them carrying near-matching backpacks except for the key chains and toys that dangled from the zippers. No one was moving fast enough this morning, in her opinion.
She hadn’t been this excited to go to school since last spring when her mom used to kiss her on the cheek and pat her on top of the head every morning before she got on the bus. Since before Mom got sick. The thought tried to make her sad as so many of her thoughts had lately, but Chelsea made herself think about all the happy things at the youth center until her eyes quit burning.
Last night had been so much fun, even if she hadn’t won any games in air hockey and even if they’d had to go home just before the end of Dumbo. The big girls had let her play with them, and Nikki, who was sixteen, had even let Chelsea comb her long blond hair. Someday Chelsea planned to have hair just as long and pretty as Nikki’s.
Brandon had liked the youth center, too, whether he would say so or not. He’d smiled a lot and laughed sometimes, and he hadn’t called Chelsea a name even once all night.
The best part of the youth center, though, had been seeing Uncle Alex and Miss Fraser together, but Chelsea didn’t think she should tell them that. Uncle Alex had said it wouldn’t be a good idea to ask Miss Fraser on a date, but he liked her. Even Chelsea could see that, and she was only in third grade. So why couldn’t Miss Fraser see it?
Grown-ups. Would she ever understand them?
But that didn’t matter today. Her idea was just the best. Everyone would think so later.
“Chelsea, please slow down in the halls,” the principal called from behind her.
Turning her head, she spoke over her shoulder. “Sorry, Mrs. Pratt.”
She tried to make her feet move slower even though she wanted to skip. Once she reached her classroom, she hung her jacket on the hook with her name next to it and placed her backpack in her cubby before taking a seat at her desk.
Miss Fraser looked so pretty this morning. Her light blue blouse and its matching tank top made her eyes look so blue. She wore her pretty red hair in a ponytail today though Chelsea wished she’d worn it down the way she did sometimes.
“Good morning, class,” Miss Fraser said as she stepped to the front.
“Good morning, Miss Fraser,” Chelsea chorused with her classmates.
“Everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Chelsea recited the words as loudly as she could, her hand perched right over her heart. It was the same routine they followed each morning. Next would be attendance and the lunch count. It was strange: even the regular stuff felt more exciting this morning.
Today would be even more fun than the youth center. All she had to do was wait through math, social studies and gym, and the time would be here.
She could hardly wait.
Dinah startled at a sound that was becoming as familiar as that cranky bleep of her alarm clock in the morning. Not again. Maybe it was just a momentary electrical lapse, and all would return to the normal low rumble that signaled education was taking place here.
But as hard as she wished for it to stop, the fire alarm continued to blare. This was a frustrating way to end the school wee
k. She’d hoped that last time would be the last time, but at this point it seemed unlikely.
“Everyone, please grab your jackets and line up at the door.” At least this time they wouldn’t freeze while they stood there at the curb, waiting for the all-clear signal. “I need you to be quiet until we reach the flagpole.”
“Is it another false alarm, Miss Fraser?” Lily Polson called out.
Dinah pulled her own coat from her storage cabinet and put her index finger to her lips in a call for silence. “I don’t know that. We always have to take a fire alarm seriously.”
She remembered the exact person who’d told her that, the same person who would be disappointed in the students here if this was another false alarm.
“How many fire trucks do you think will come this time?” Kellan Stolz exclaimed as they started down the hall.
Dinah spun to face her students and then pinned him in her stare. “Kellan, I need you to be quiet.”
He straightened up after that, and somehow they made it out of the building. As the wind pelted her face, Dinah shivered despite her jacket. Already, she could hear the sirens of the approaching fire engines.
Once she reached the flagpole, Dinah pulled out her grade book and started checking off the names on the list. The first half of the alphabet went well, but when she reached the bottom end of the second half, something gripped inside her.
Where was Chelsea?
Her pulse thudding in her chest, Dinah scanned her line of students again and then a few of the lines next to them. She couldn’t panic; at least, she couldn’t let the children see. They were counting on her to keep them safe and calm.
Continuing her scan as inconspicuously as possible, Dinah racked her brain to remember when she’d seen Chelsea last. Had it been while they were gathering their coats and lining up at the door? But as hard as she tried, she couldn’t picture Chelsea next to their coat hooks and cubbies.
Two fire engines and two smaller trucks pulled into the lot, and just like last time, two firefighters hurried into the building.
That was when Dinah remembered. Of course. Chelsea hadn’t been at her classroom door because she’d taken the restroom pass just before the alarm sounded.
Did that mean Chelsea was still inside? What if this wasn’t a false alarm at all? Panic clogged Dinah’s throat, and as hard as she fought against it, she wasn’t winning.
Dear God, please be with Chelsea, she prayed, but Dinah needed to be with her, too.
Stepping over to the next line of students, Dinah leaned close to Lydia Shultz, the second-grade teacher who’d been at Grove Elementary since Dinah was a student there herself.
“Will you watch my class for a few minutes?” Her whisper sounded desperate, even to her own ears. “I need to get inside.”
“You know you can’t go back in, Dinah. Not until the bell. We don’t even know if it’s a false alarm.”
“I have to go. One of my students is in there.”
She rushed across the blacktop only to stop where she stood when the front door of the building swung wide. Principal Alyce Pratt emerged, holding Chelsea’s hand. The child looked fine, even if she wasn’t wearing her jacket. Rather than rattled, as Dinah expected she would be, Chelsea appeared strangely calm.
At least she was okay. Thank you, Father. Dinah slowly released the breath she’d been holding. She wanted to run to the little girl and to see for herself that she was okay, but before she could do it, the door opened again. With his helmet under his arm, Alex tromped out with another firefighter. His posture was stiff, and he had fury stamped all over his face.
Realization dawned like the opening scene of a bad dream. Chelsea had pulled the fire alarm? No, it didn’t seem possible. Not sweet little Chelsea whom Dinah had known for more than a year. Chelsea who was nice to everyone and insisted on trapping spiders in the classroom to release them outside.
But as the principal approached her, with Alex as close behind them as he could be without stepping on their heels with his heavy boots, Dinah knew it was the truth. That same child had placed all of her schoolmates and teachers at risk for a silly thrill. Did Chelsea think it was worth it now that she’d been caught and would have to face the consequences of her actions?
Taking a few steps closer, she stared down at the young lawbreaker. “Chelsea?”
Dinah wished she could hide the disappointment in her voice, but she couldn’t. She expected the child’s shoulders to droop and for those light brown eyes to be filled with guilt as they looked back at her.
Chelsea showed neither of those things. Instead, a small, confusing smile appeared on her face. Dinah turned a questioning glance toward Alex, but his grim expression didn’t spare any answers. The bell rang before she had the chance to ask for them.
“Why don’t the four of us go in my office for a little chat?” Mrs. Pratt suggested.
Dinah swallowed, her insides clamping tight. In her three years of teaching, she’d had to face students with their parents a few times. She’d even been present for discussions that involved the principal when the necessity arose. So why did this time feel so different?
She tried to reconcile it while she crossed to her students, making arrangements for the third-grade paraprofessional to cover her class for a few minutes. She was still the teacher here, and Chelsea was still her student. Alex and Mrs. Pratt were each present in their roles, though Alex did play a dual role of civil servant and guardian.
Still, there was no argument that the situation felt different. It was irrational; she understood that. But as they passed through the school doors and entered the office to the left, Dinah had this odd feeling that she would sit on both sides of the desk this time. She would help to dole out proper discipline as an educator, but at the same time she would share Alex’s embarrassment and self-blame as he faced this difficult time with the child he loved.
Alex took one of the seats the diminutive principal offered in an office that was already crowded before she’d stuffed the four of them in it and closed the door. It was stifling. He released the remaining fasteners on his coat and settled into the padded chair. He didn’t even want to look at the child seated next to him, though he figured he didn’t have any choice.
He could only imagine the ribbing he would take later at the station. Some guardian you are, Donovan. What will you teach next at your house, arson techniques?
“It’s been an eventful morning,” Mrs. Pratt said as she rested her elbows on the desk.
For several long seconds, the principal focused on Chelsea, who sat without squirming. Dinah, on the other hand, kept shifting in her seat and wringing her hands, as if she were the one in trouble instead of the girl. Finally, Mrs. Pratt glanced to her right and left to draw the two adults into the conversation.
“We all have an idea why we’re here, but to bring everyone up to speed, our custodian, Mr. Vinton, witnessed Chelsea pulling the fire alarm this morning in the grade three-four hallway.” She turned back to Alex, a sad smile on her lips. “I would have had to call Mr. Donovan in for a meeting this morning, but since he was already here…”
Letting her words fall away, the principal turned back to Chelsea. “Now, young lady, I have a few questions for you. First, did you pull the fire alarm any of the other times, or is this the first time?”
“Just this time.”
It had to be the smile on Chelsea’s face that made Alex’s hands grip the armrests of his chair tighter. How could she not be sorry?
The principal nodded, no judgment in her expression. “You’ve never been in trouble before. Why did you choose to change that today by pulling the alarm? Did you understand that making a false alarm is breaking the law?”
Chelsea stiffened and drew her eyebrows together. “Am I going to jail?”
Appearing surprised by the child’s answer, Mrs. Pratt cleared her throat. “No…not yet, anyway.”
The threat didn’t have teeth, and Alex knew it, but he didn’t contradict the educator. Even i
f it was illegal to create a false alarm by tripping the lever at a pull station, nobody at the Chestnut Grove Police Department would be willing to haul a nine-year-old off to jail for what could only amount to a practical joke.
“But you knew it was wrong, didn’t you, Chelsea?” Alex couldn’t help prodding. She didn’t seem to feel guilty, and he couldn’t relax until Chelsea experienced at least a little remorse for what she’d done. He could just imagine the miniature delinquent he would be giving back to Karla when she was released from the hospital. “We talked about that after the last false alarm here. Don’t you remember?”
“I remember,” she said in a small voice.
“Then answer Mrs. Pratt’s question. Why did you do it?”
Chelsea gave him one of those strange kid looks that he was beginning to recognize, the one that said, “Don’t you get it, you clueless adult?” It was one of Brandon’s favorite expressions, so Alex knew it well. Instead of answering, Chelsea glanced at Dinah and then looked back at him. Was it hope that he saw dancing in her eyes?
Alex swallowed, a disturbing suspicion settling in his gut. No, Chelsea was too smart to do something like that. At least he hoped she was.
“Because you would come,” Chelsea said finally.
He groaned inside as she confirmed his suspicion.
Dinah, who’d been quiet until now, straightened in her seat. “Of course he would come, Chelsea. Firefighters have to take alarms seriously even if you—”
She stopped suddenly and turned from the child she’d been addressing to him. From her crimson cheeks and her wide eyes, he could guess that the realization had dawned as disturbingly on her as it had on him. She chewed her bottom lip, and her gaze darted away from him.
Silence enclosed the four of them until the principal cleared her throat to fracture the quiet. “What am I missing here, Miss Fraser?”
Instead of waiting for Dinah to find her words, Alex forced himself to begin. “This all appears to be a misunderstanding.”