Runaway Mother chapter 19

Both Zach and I said, ‘I’m going with Connie to preschool!’ in unison on Wednesday morning. I’m pleased not to be the only one feeling apprehensive. After all, the stakes couldn’t be higher…it could mean the end of our family! A family we have fought hard to keep together for over six weeks now!

Zach sought me out at lunch out of sheer panic! ‘If we take him out of school now, we could be out of the country in a matter of hours! We could ju…’

I stop him there and put my hands over his which are gesticulating in every direction. ‘Zach, Zach, Zach!’ I try and bring him back to the room. Finally he makes eye contact. ‘I’m just as scared as you are and love that boy just as much, but this is the only way I can think of to give us the possibility to stay a family!’

Zach nods and puts his back against the wall of the corridor and slides down it. I go on my honkers and take one of his hands in mine. ‘She would have called social services had we not arranged this meeting!’ I say.

‘Being honest, with the state the place was in when she called yesterday, I was surprised she didn’t take him there and then!’ Zach pulls my hand towards his chest. As a few passers by asking if he was ok, he kept saying he was fine, but only I knew that his heart was breaking!

Eventually, he gets up and with my hand still in his, he nods to thank me for the chat. I nod back and we go our separate ways. He sends me a text of a emoji of a broken heart and I send him one back with a kiss beside it.

As I walk back into the cafeteria to collect my bag, Anna and Chelsea both look at me like I have two heads as they plan another raging party at Anna’s for Saturday night. It surprised me that Taylor asked me if everything was ok as the other two were picking DJ’s.

‘Are you going to go on Saturday sweetie?’ Taylor asks with a smile that extends to her eyes.

‘I might be minding my little brother Saturday!’ I respond.

‘Does the whole party thing not agree with you either?’

I look at Taylor and ask, ‘do you not like parties?’

‘Nope!’ she replies. ‘My father was a raging alcoholic and died from liver sorosis three months ago.  

I put my hands up to my mouth. ‘I’m so sorry Taylor!’ I say with sincerity, but she just shrugs her shoulders.

She fishes down her top and uncovers her father’s five-year chip that she had made into a necklace. ‘Wearing this makes me feel close to him and deters me from drink at the same time!’ she smiles a friendly smile.

‘So why do you go to the parties?’ I ask out of interest.

‘Its very hard being the ‘new girl’ and I just want to make friends! It seems fitting to make them at parties, but at last week’s party, I felt so uncomfortable and got flashbacks to when my dad was drinking and left as soon as the first person vomited!’

‘You do know I don’t drink either, right?’ I offer.

‘No actually, I just presumed because…’

‘…because I hang around Anna and Chelsea?’

‘Yea!’

‘I drank once in my life…’ I say and recount the vodka story.

‘Anna and Chelsea both think that because I’m from Beverly Hills that I’m loaded, and I wanted to portray that presumption, but we moved here for a reason!’

I nod to let her know I’m listening.

‘After my dad died, we had to sell up and move because he owed a lot of money to a lot of people’ she leaned in close, ‘the type of people you don’t want knocking on your door if you get my drift! And by the time all of that was organised we decided to move here where we were lucky enough to have enough to buy our house outright and mom managed to buy both of us cars as well. The whole bracelet thing was something my mom suggested to try to help win over a couple of people into being my friend!’

‘Well why don’t you ring or text me?’ I ask her.

‘Being honest sweetie, I didn’t know how to ask you for your number without you thinking I was coming on to you!’ we both laughed at that and I gave her my phone for her to put her number into and then I gave her a missed call so she’d have mine.

‘Seriously though, the most conversations I have are with a four-year-old and his toy duck!’ she smiles and as the bell rings I can honestly say that she is definitely a runner for a new best friend. Her story really moved me and Anna has become too materialistic for my liking. I bet I’m not even going to get an invite to the party on Saturday!

 

The end of the school day bell rings and hundreds of hormonal teenagers rush out the exits to go on with their daily lives, most of them in groups. I stand by the gate to the school waiting for my brother. I feel so nervous that I can’t stop my hands from shaking.

When Zach catches up to me, he seems jittery as well.

‘When and where are we meeting this ‘Connie’ person?’ he asks, his voice sounding nervous.

‘She said she’d pick us up here at 3:10.’

Zach looks at me, his eyes filled with tears. ‘What if we can’t pull it off Mare?’

‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it!’ I reassure him and give him a much-needed hug. I lift my head slightly and say, ‘I don’t want to lose him either!’ my own eyes tearing up.

I hear the honk of a car horn and look over my shoulder. Connie is getting out of the car and looking like she’s dressed to impress!’

‘Hi!’ Connie says as we approach her.

Zach offers his hand to her, but she pulls him into a hug instead. ‘After all,’ she said, ‘I am your mother!’

The three of us laugh as we get into the car.

Connie drives us across town to Ethans preschool.

‘So,’ she starts, ‘what do you want said?’

‘Well we think he’s dyslexic, so definitely bring that up!’ I say.

‘And what will I say if she knows I’m not your mother? she asks.

Zach looks at me horrified.

‘I’ve an idea if that situation should arise,’ I swallow hard. ‘I think you should apologise and that our mother had to go on a last-minute business trip, but that you’re our aunt who helps out a lot with Ethan.’

‘Ok!’ Connie turns back towards me, Zach almost having a coronary in the front. She places a caring hand on his shoulder and he completely breaks down!

‘Its good to let it all out dear!’ Connie says to him and hands him a tissue which he dries his tears with.

I hand Connie a piece of paper. ‘What’s this?’ she asks.

‘You can tell Miss Megan that that’s our mothers new cell phone number. You can tell her Etan flushed her old cell or something!’

‘And is it?’ Connie asks.

‘No!’ I say, ‘it’s my number!’

Connie nods, ‘I can see where you’re going with this Mary!’

‘I can’t!’ Zach interjects.

‘The fact is that she wants to talk to mom, right?’ Zach nods in agreement, ‘well if Connie can’t pass as mom but gives her moms ‘updated cell number’, then Miss Megan can call mom, meaning me, and have a good chat with the woman she’s been trying to contact for weeks now!’

‘But what if she already has your number, Mare? Zach asks.

‘She would have rung it at this stage if she had it!’

‘This is a big gamble when our family is on the line!’

‘Have you any better ideas?’ I ask getting pissed off at Zach’s negative attitude.

‘Am I going in alone?’ Connie asks.

‘I presume so, but I’ll try to come in as well. That ok with you Zach?’

Zach can’t help but look befuddled.

‘Trust me, ok, this is going to work!’ I say with confidence and close my eyes tightly shut. ‘At least I hope it will!’ I say under my breath.

As the mom’s and the nanny’s begin to congregate outside the school, I take a deep breath and say, ‘it’s go time!’

Just as we’re getting out of the car, I remember to tell Connie about the crayon mural on the wall behind the couch. ‘If you’re asked about it, just say that it’s to improve Ethans dexterity!’

‘Mural on the wall,’ Connie says, ‘check!’

The three of us get out of the car and make our way to the gate just as the bell rings and the kids come hurtling down the steps into their respective persons area. I spot Ethan next to Miss Megan at the door of the school. I look at Connie and Zach and we nod as the little man’s whole face lights up when he see’s us. Miss Megan lets go of his hand and he runs into my arms and then Zach’s. I look up and Miss Megan is making her way towards us.

‘Well? she says expectantly, ‘where is your mother?’

I sigh with a heavy heart and Zach looks at me with defeat in his eyes.

‘I’m so sorry Miss Megan, but my sister, Carolyn, had a last-minute business trip and is unable to make it today. Connie puts her hand out for Miss Megan to take, albeit reluctantly. I’m aunt Connie!’ she says.

‘And you stay with the kids when their mother is away?’

‘I do!’ Connie says with confidence.

I always thought that when you hold yourself up straight and appear confident, that the people you are trying to fool have no choice but to believe your story! Connie seems to have heard the same thing as she is truly nailing her role as our aunt!

‘Would you please join me in my office?’ Miss Megan gesticulates for Connie to follow her into the school.

Connie turns her head and winks at me, but I can’t help but feel that maybe this is a bad idea. The last thing I want to do is be responsible for the three of us getting split up! I inhale deeply and go down to Ethans level, Zach following my lead.

‘Hey buddy,’ I start. ‘That nice lady who went into your school is aunt Connie! As I see tears begin to roll down Zach’s cheek from the corner of my eye, I can’t stop thinking that this might be the last time the three of us are all together until Zach comes to be of age and can adopt us both! We only have three more months to go! I can’t imagine being away from Ethan for three whole months, longer depending on whether the courts take the case or not. It will all come down to the availability of a judge to rule on the case.

I hold Ethan close and wrap my arm around his neck and bring him into the embrace. I begin to cry myself until a little voice asks, ‘why are you crying?’

We break away and I rub the tears from my eyes. I look at his sweet innocent face. ‘Because we love you buddy!’ I say and look over at Zach, ‘we both love you so much!’

‘Yea buddy!’ Zach puts his hand on Ethans shoulder, ‘always remember how much we love you!’

I look at Zach and ask, ‘is there a swing set here, because I bet you a quarter I can swing higher than you can!’

‘Yea, its at the back!’ Ethan answers, ‘I play on it at recess!’

I lock eyes with Zach and we laugh. ‘Will you show us the way Ethan?’ I ask.

Ethan takes our hands and says, ‘c’mon!’

We both get up and run with him towards the back of the school and find some AstroTurf with a huge playset on it.

‘The swings are over there!’ Ethan points letting go of our hands to run towards them.

I look at Zach and smile. He takes my hand and we run after our boy together.

 

‘I thought I might find you all here!’ Connie says smiling as she walks towards us. Zach looks at me and tells me to go to her with his eyes.

Butterflies envelop me as I walk towards Connie, waiting to hear whether Ethan will be taken away from us or not. We sit on the seesaw and Connie smiles and says the magic words…’she bought it!’

‘Really?’ I say getting up so fast she falls to the ground. I help her up and hug her saying, ’thank you, thank you, thank you,’ over and over again and bonce up on down on the springy ground.

‘I told her that Carolyn will be home from work after six today, so expect a phone call!’

Zach comes running over, closely followed by Ethan.

‘Good news?’ he asks.

‘Yup!’ Connie smiles.

Zach picks Ethan up and spins him high in the air, his laughter infectious. When he puts him down, I can see that Zach is a bit dizzy which just makes him laugh harder. I haven’t heard that sound in over six weeks. The joy is starting to come back into our lives!

 

Connie kindly treats the three of us to ice cream on the way home. We sit at a table for four and try to celebrate without letting Ethan know what we’re celebrating. I look at Ethan and honestly can’t tell whether he has eaten as much as he is wearing.

Zach takes a bit of cream from his dessert and says to Ethan that he has a bit on his face. Ethan looks up and takes a tissue to wipe his mouth. ‘Where?’ he asks. Zach puts a blob of cream on his nose and says ‘there!’ It triggers a domino effect and before we know it…well let’s just say it was the first time I had ever been kicked out of an ice cream shop!

 

We leave laughing and Connie says she’s just parked a half a block away. We go to hug her goodbye.

‘No!’ she objects, ‘I’m telling you where I’ve parked so you can follow me!’

I can’t help but stare at her blankly. I look at Zach and he has a confused expression on his face.

‘I’m bringing you all home!’ she smiles.

I look at the state of the three of us. ‘We’d ruin your car!’

‘Cars can be valeted!’ she says, ‘besides, I think out of the four of us, I’m the dirtiest!’

I turn my gaze to Zach and he shrugs his shoulders, so its decided…we’re getting a lift home with Connie!

Connie had a made forty-five minutes journey home on foot fifteen minutes by car. I made a very good executive decision to have Ethan on my lap as it meant only one side in the back was sticky by the time we get out.

‘You’ll come in, right Connie!’ Zach says as we exit the vehicle.

‘Not today if you don’t mind,’ she replies, ‘I think I should go home and shower!’ Zach nods.

‘Would it…’ she stops mid-sentence.

‘Would it?’ Zach asks smiling at her.

‘Would it be ok if I called around some time?’ she asks.

‘Well you are family now!’ Zach answers.

Connie laughs and says that she’ll see us soon.

‘Thank you for the ice cream aunt Connie!’ Ethan says and I can see tears forming in her eyes as she gets out of the car to hug the little man.

‘You kids look after each other, ok?’

‘Yes,’ we say in unison and she gets back into her car and drives off.

‘I can see now why you like her!’ Zach smiles at me, a smile which I mirror. ‘Right young man, I do believe you need a bath!’ Zach picks Ethan up and carries him straight upstairs.

 

I begin to follow them when the phone rings. Zach looks at me from the top of the stairs and I nod confirming it to be Miss Megan.

I enter the living room and close the door before answering the phone, ‘hello’.

‘Hi I’m looking for Carolyn Fisher?’

‘Speaking!’ I lie.

‘Oh great, I’m glad I caught you! I’m Miss Megan, Ethans preschool teacher!’

‘Oh hi Miss Megan! How can I help you?’

‘I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for weeks now and I…

‘I’m sorry about that Miss Megan, I have a very demanding job which takes up a lot of my time!’

‘Oh I understand Ms Fisher, I understand completely!’

‘Is everything ok with Ethan?’ I try to push the conversation along.

‘No actually, it’s not!’ she takes in a deep breath, ‘is everything ok at home Ms Fisher?’

‘Yes…why do you ask?’

‘Ethan’s behaviour has changed over the last couple of months, he’s not mixing with many of his fellow students and is falling behind academically! He’s also being having these temper tantrums!’

‘I’ve noticed, from doing homework with him, that he is finding it hard to make the letters and numbers on his own. He’s able to trace the dots fine, but he gets very frustrated when he cant do it on his own! We think that he may be dyslexic and that’s why he gets so distressed doing his homework…because he is unable to do it right!’

‘Yes, I can see that from the homework…when it’s been done!’

‘I must apologise for that, a miscommunication occurred between us. I thought Mary or Zach did it with him and when I returned home from work, I failed to ask them whether it had been done. That’s totally my fault!’

‘Do they look after Ethan often, only I see them either drop him off or pick him up…never you!’

‘I’m very busy what with work and trying to keep the wolves from the door. They kindly drop him off and pick him up and watch him until I return home from work. If I have an overnight stay, my sister Connie sleeps here.’ I close my eyes thinking I have given too much away.

‘I’m delighted you have a system going!’

‘Yes, Ethan has a strong family behind him who all want the best for him!’

‘Being honest with you Ms Fisher, dyslexia would make a lot of sense! You see in a class of twenty you can’t watch each individual child when they are doing their work, and come to think of it, that’s exactly the times his temper comes through!’

‘Is there a test that can be done to diagnose it? He’s only four after all but I have read the earlier you catch it the easier it is on the child!’

‘I’ll arrange for the school councillor to get him tested and will ring you back with the results!’

‘Great,’ I say with relief, ‘now if you don’t mind Miss Megan but I have a little boy who needs a bath!’

‘Of course Ms Fisher! Thank you for taking my call!’

‘Bye!’ I say before hanging up.

 

That night after Ethan goes to sleep, I fill Zach in on the conversation and we high five each other reassured Miss Megan isn’t going to call child protective service on us…yet!