was just a little cold. Based on how he asked every night following that one if she was okay, he isn’t accustomed to sick kids.
I’m grading the last few practice essays for the high school regent exam in the small office at the school when a knock at the door has me picking my head up from the scratchy handwriting scribbled in front of me. I glance at the clock when I see Ainsley’s teacher. “Hi, Evie. Is everything okay? My friend was supposed to pick Ainsley up.”
She smiles. “Jenna already picked her up. I wanted to talk to you though, and Diana said I could find you here. May I come in?”
I gesture toward the little green chair in front of the makeshift desk. Nerves bubble in my stomach as I cap off my red pen and sit back as she takes a seat. Her friendly smile doesn’t fool me into thinking this is just her wanting to catch up or check in.
“Evie?”
Her hands go to her lap. “There’s been some talk about Ainsley’s education. Principal Harris has asked me to update her on Ainsley’s progress and I’m afraid she’s not satisfied enough with the results.”
I gape at her. “But Ainsley’s smart. She knows her alphabet and is learning to read—”
“We can’t test that for certain,” she replies apologetically. I know what she means, but that doesn’t stop me from fighting.
“She knows her words.”
“I know that, but Harris…”
“Is bitter,” I state against my better judgement. I sigh heavily and palm my face. “I can’t take her out of this school because Harris doesn’t think she should be here. I watch the way Ainsley goes through books at home. When we go over spelling words she knows them.”
“Does she voice them? Read aloud?”
My jaw locks.
She nods once. “Listen, I’ll fight for Ainsley because I know she’s a smart little girl. But you know how Harris can be. She doesn’t like putting the effort into students with certain learning disabilities.”
“Then she should get fired.”
Evie winces, but doesn’t argue.
Grinding my teeth, I push my ill feelings down and try to take a calming breath. “Isn’t this discrimination or something? There are plenty of students who don’t talk for one reason or another. Would she deny their right to an education?”
Evie’s face morphs with pity, a look I hate with all my being. “She brought up some schools that she feels Ainsley could flourish in.”
Now I’m mad. “She spoke to you about this without me? Me … Ainsley’s guardian. I can’t believe that woman. I’m going to—”
We both stand, me out of rage and Evie out of necessity. “Piper, I know this isn’t fair, but you can’t go to her office and make a scene. That won’t help either you or Ainsley.”
I close my eyes. “You’re right.” The words don’t ease any tension building in my body despite the truth in them.
It’s what she says next that has me cracking my eyes open. “Have you considered other options to keep her here? I think she should stay, and there are ways to get her to.”
My brows raise.
“What about learning sign language?”
Sign… “Oh my God.” I shake my head and slowly sit, blinking up at her. “How come I’ve never thought of that? None of the doctors even mentioned that as an option to explore.”
“Piper—”
“Does that make me terrible?”
“Piper—”
“Seriously, Evie. There’s no reason I shouldn’t have thought of something to get her to communicate.” I blow out a harsh breath and plant my face in my palms. “The doctors told me she’d talk when she was ready. I just took them for their word.”
“Piper,” she says softly, walking around the desk and brushing my shoulder. “You are doing the best you can. I only thought about this because I have a friend with a deaf son who she’s going to teach sign language.”
I wet my lips and look at her. “Did your friend teach herself?”
“She took classes.”
I perk up. “Would Ainsley and I be able to sign up for something like that? I want her to stay here. I don’t want to send her off because Harris is a … mean person.” There are plenty of other names I have for the elementary principal, but none of them are smart to voice here.
Her eyes brighten. “I can ask her and see if she knows of any open classes. If memory serves, she went to the Rec Center in the next town over to take them. I’ll get some details before getting your hopes up.”