someone to be there for her and her daughter — what if he let her down, too? But Talie forced herself to swallow her fear and think about all he’d done already. This time would be different — it had to be.
~~~
Roman parked his new SUV and turned off the engine. “You got your school bag?” he asked, knowing she did, but trying to make her aware she was prepared for the day.
“Yes, sir,” she answered.
“Got your lunch box?” he asked. He’d ordered her lunch to be catered and delivered like most of the other kids, but he couldn’t help it. He worried that they might forget to bring hers, or that she might not like it. He couldn’t even think about her being hungry, so, she had money in her pocket to buy snacks or drinks, a lunch with snacks from home in her lunch box, and a catered lunch order. No matter what happened his daughter was not going hungry.
“Yes, sir.”
“You got your money?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. I have everything,” Darcie answered.
“Alright then, we ready to do this?” he asked, turning in the driver’s seat and smiling at Darcie.
“I think I might throw-up,” she admitted, holding her stomach.
“What? In your mama’s new car? We just bought it for her! You can’t get sick in it,” Roman teased, trying to get her to relax.
“I know. And I know she wouldn’t like it as much if it smelled bad, but my stomach is all sick feeling and I kinda want to cry,” Darcie admitted.
“Hold on, now. That’s not needing to throw-up, you know what that is?” he asked.
“No, sir,” Darcie said, letting her eyes wander over everyone, kids and adults as they walked back and forth across the campus to where it was they belonged.
“It’s adrenalin. It’s excitement, kinda like stage fright. You’re excited but nervous at the same time. The idea of something new has you nervous, but it also has you excited, and you’re not sure what to expect so you’re a little antsy, too. But, I have a cure for that,” Roman said, smiling patiently at Darcie.
“What’s the cure?” she asked, giving him her undivided attention.
“You know you’re a princess, right? My princess and your mom’s. You straighten your invisible crown, and you remember who you are. You remember whose daughter you are. You remember who you will be when you grow up, and you go in there with your head held high and show those kids and those teachers how freaking amazing it is to be you. You smile at everyone you make eye contact with, you show kindness to everyone, and by the end of the day, you’ll know who to write off as not worth your time, and who is kind and smart and good like you are.”
“What if somebody is shy and I don’t know about them by the end of the day?” she asked.
“If they’re shy, they’re probably nervous, too. Be kind to them. Offer them one of the treats you have in your lunch box. If they don’t have a lunch, offer them one of yours — whichever you don’t want today. Invite them to sit with you if you see they don’t have anywhere to sit.”
Darcie nodded and swallowed as she looked out over the parking lot and the grassy areas in front of the buildings where kids laughed and talked as they went about their business.
A bell rang, signaling that everyone had three minutes to get to their classes and Roman reached out, brushing a stray piece of hair from her cheek. “You ready?” he asked.
Darcie paused, then she looked at him. “Yeah. Let’s do this,” she said, opening her door and gathering her backpack as she prepared to slide off the seat and get out of the vehicle.
Roman got out and was standing outside her door before she was fully out of the SUV.
“Remember whose daughter I am and hold my head up,” Darcie said.
“That’s it. That’s all you gotta do. And if some kid says something to try to embarrass you, smile to yourself and ignore him, because you know the truth, only you can be my daughter. Only you are your mother’s daughter. Nobody else can ever have what you do. Got it?” Roman asked.
“Yes, sir,” Darcie said.
“And if all else fails, find out where they live and I’ll pay their daddy a little visit,” he said under his breath as she took his hand and allowed him to lead her into the office to Mrs.