When the Wind Chimes - Mary Ting Page 0,30
to the ceiling. “I’m going to the back room so I can fix something.” She directed her words at me with an accusing squint.
She meant the hot mess called Mr. Medici’s Shirt.
I shrugged sheepishly and plopped down on the sofa. “I told you I was sorry.” I pouted.
When I had told Abby I had painted the huge canvas, she’d thought I’d painted something worth selling. Little did she know I had made a mess. When she’d seen the masterpiece, she’d scolded me over the phone.
She rolled her eyes. “It’s fine. Actually, you should come with me and fix it.” She pulled me up from my seat.
I pointed at my chest. “You want me to fix Mr. Medici’s Shirt?”
“Yes. You made the mess. You fix it. And you actually gave that monstrosity a name?”
I raised my hands, palms up, as if to say who cares?
We sounded like two kids in a fight. It reminded me of the days when we argued over clothes, makeup, and art supplies. She was right though. I did make that mess and no painting was set in stone.
“Fine.” I frowned.
“Awww. You two are so cute. I wish I had a sister,” Stella said. She swiveled her rolling chair to face us.
“Are you sure you’d want what I have to deal with?” I said. I grabbed my tea and dragged my feet. “You might want to take that back, though we are cute.”
Abby shook her head and wrapped her arms around my shoulder. “She’s not as cute as me.”
We laughed like little girls as we entered the painting room.
Chapter Thirteen — After School
Abby and I decided to surprise Tyler by picking him up together after work. Abby had already signed him out and we were waiting by the bulletin board for Mrs. Fong to excuse him.
“Mom! Auntie Kate!” Tyler rushed out from this classroom and tackled his mom first and then me.
I squeezed him tight, and he made a gruff sound. “How was your day?”
“Good. We made a Christmas ornament with our picture on it, but I can’t take it home yet. We can go home now.” Tyler clutched Abby’s shirt, practically dragging her out.
“Hold on. Let me ask a question.” Abby spun to her right, leaving Tyler with me, and stopped at the front desk. “Mrs. Hall, is there a student name Roselyn Banks at this preschool?”
I shoved my fists on my hips and snarled at Abby. I didn’t care if anyone saw me act childish. She couldn’t leave it alone.
Mrs. Hall adjusted her glasses and blinked. “Mrs. Fuller. Let me take a look, but the name doesn’t sound familiar. Is she new?” She thumbed through the files and then scrolled on her computer. “No. We don’t have a student named Roselyn Banks. Are you sure you have the right name?”
Abby flashed a glance my way, schooling her face into an I told you so expression before she shifted her attention back to Mrs. Hall. “Perhaps I got the name wrong. Thanks for checking.”
“You’re welcome. Is there anything else I could help you with?”
“No, but thank you. Have a good evening. And thank you for all you do for our children and this school.”
“Kiss-butt,” I whispered to Abby when she joined us back at the bulletin board.
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Call me whatever you like. Something doesn’t feel right.”
I furrowed my brow. My sister might be older, but no way would she tell me what to do.
“I’m going there Monday because I made a commitment. If anything feels strange, I’ll back out. Maybe Mrs. Hall didn’t check the records well, or maybe people who live in a house like that require more privacy. I’m just saying people make mistakes.”
“I’m just looking after you, but fine, go get yourself killed.” She stabbed me hard with her gaze.
“Mom.” Tyler pointed at a poster on the bulletin board. “Can we go to Movie and Popcorn night? Oh, please, please. They’re playing The Littlest Christmas Tree, and Jace and Bridget are going. They want me to go too.”
Abby lowered to her knees as she did when she wanted his full attention. “Ty, would it be okay if Auntie Kate took you instead of me?”
“I don’t mind. Does that mean I can go?”
Abby had been stressing, but Tyler wanted to go so badly he probably didn’t care who took him. Sometimes we gave kids no credit.
“Yes,” Abby said and kissed his forehead.
“Yah! It’s going to be fun.” His brown eyes gleamed. “I’ve never been to one before.”
Abby rose and looked at me.