Sidney moved to get up.
“Oh, I’ve got it.”
Lance beat her to it, taking the card from Zoe and walking it over to Sidney’s desk.
“Thank you.”
Sidney reached for the card, but Lance purposely hung onto it, causing her to look up at him. When she did, he smiled at her and let go.
Sidney gave him a polite smile and then busied herself reading Carla’s note. She took her time just to have an excuse to ignore him, but she could feel his eyes on her. She always felt his eyes on her whenever he was there volunteering.
It made her skin crawl with imaginary spiders.
“Well, I have to get to the hospital. Thanks for getting this together so quickly, Zoe.”
“Oh, you’re welcome.”
“It was good seeing you both.”
“Thanks, Lance!” Zoe called out. “We’ll see you later.”
“Sidney.”
Even the sound of his voice made her uneasy.
She looked up at him, purposely distracted.
“Yes. Have a good day.”
She turned quickly back to the pressing matters on her desk, and he left the office. She exhaled once he was gone.
“You’re bad.” Zoe’s tone was amused, and Sidney glanced up to see her smirk.
“What?”
“He looks at you like a love-starved puppy, and you just ignore him.”
“What would you have me do, Zoe? Flirt with him and lead him on? I’m practically a married woman. Besides…” She glanced at the door to make sure he was really gone. “He gives me the creeps.”
“What?” Zoe’s tone implied that she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “He’s so handsome!”
“So was Ted Bundy. I can’t stand the way he’s always staring and lurking.”
“Well, he stares because he’s interested in you! And he doesn’t lurk.”
“He lurks! How long had he been standing there in the doorway listening to you ask me if there was trouble in paradise, huh?”
“Oh,” Zoe gave her a dismissive wave of the hand. “He wasn’t lurking.”
“He lurks. That was lurking.”
A soft knock on the open door got their attention and they both turned to see a young woman standing there.
“Knocking.” Sidney gestured to the woman in the doorway. “Making yourself known. That’s not lurking.” She smiled at Zoe. “See the difference?”
“Oh, stop it.” Zoe turned back to the woman at the door. “Beth. Come on in.”
The woman stepped into the office, and Sidney noticed she was severely bruised on the left side of her face, and clearly afraid of her own shadow. Her demeanor made Sidney’s heart ache with sorrow and unhappy memories of herself in similar circumstances.
“Beth, I’d like to introduce you to Sidney Fairchild.” Zoe gestured Sidney’s way. “She’s the Assistant Director, and my right hand around here.”
Sidney stood and stretched out her hand. “Hello, Beth.”
“Hello.”
Beth barely looked her in the eyes, and Sidney just wanted to hug her.
“Beth and her daughter came to us yesterday. They’re still getting settled in.” Zoe smiled at her. “What can we do for you?”
The woman hesitated for a second, unsure what to do with her hands.
“Um… I was just wondering… well, I-I mean…”
“It’s all right, Beth,” Sidney spoke up, hoping her voice was soothing. “Whatever it is. If we can help, we will.”
“Well, it’s just that… I can’t send Kylee to school because my husband… well, we’re not really married, but… well, Hank could get to her there. He keeps threatening to take her and leave town.”
Sidney closed her eyes for a split second.
“I’m sorry you’re going through that.”
“Yeah, well… anyway… I was just wondering if you had any schooling she could do while we’re here? Any textbooks or home schooling?”
“No, I’m sorry. We don’t.” Zoe’s expression was as apologetic as her voice, and she and Sidney shared a look.
“How old is your daughter, Beth?” Sidney asked.
“She’s eight.”
“So, she’d be in the third grade, right?”
Beth nodded.
“You know, I’m actually a teacher by trade. I’d be happy to tutor your daughter in a few subjects while you’re a resident here.”
“I-I can’t pay you…”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t dream of charging you.”
Beth finally sent her a timid glance.
“Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
“Not at all.” Sidney smiled at her. “What subjects does Kylee need help with?”
“Well, mostly math. She’s a really good speller, and she loves to read.” Beth perked up when she talked about her daughter’s skills. “But numbers give her a hard time, and I want her to do better at them. Maybe that way she can grow up to be a banker or an accountant or something, and she won’t allow herself to end up like me.”
Sidney and Zoe exchanged another look.
“Seeing her mom fight to break free of an abusive situation will help keep Kylee from ending up in one herself someday,” Sidney said. “Your strength and courage. Those are two of the best things you can teach her.”
Beth finally met her gaze head on, and smiled.
“That said, it would be my pleasure to help Kylee with her math.”
“Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome. I’ll bring in some materials and we’ll get started tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay.”
Beth thanked her again and left the office.
“That was very kind of you.” Zoe grinned at her.
Sidney shrugged a shoulder. “It’s not a big deal.” She sat back down at her desk. “So, what’s her story? Beth?”
Zoe sighed and sat back in her chair. “I got a call from Sgt. Malone at CPD yesterday afternoon.”
“Malone?”
Zoe nodded. “He works in the domestic violence unit. He asked if we had room for two more. I guess her neighbors called and reported the fight. He said they do that a lot.”
“Is the husband, boyfriend, baby-daddy in custody?”
“Actually, no. Sgt. Malone said when they showed up at the house he wasn’t there. They found the daughter huddled next to Beth in the kitchen, crying and afraid her mother was dead.”
“Jesus,” Sidney whispered.
“Right? So, here they are.”
“What’s her plan?”
“Well, I know she’s filed a restraining order, and the cops are actively looking for him… Whatever his name is.”
“I think she called him Hank.”
“Mmm. Other than that, I’m not really
