Connecting
Part 2 of The Miss Jess Chronicles. Follows Meeting Miss Jess.
Chris Larabee entered the school looking for Vin, his seven-year-old adopted son. Usually the child was waiting for him when Vin knew Chris was coming to pick him up. Today there was no sign of the small boy.
Chris walked down the hall toward his son's classroom. What he found when he got there was not what he expected.
Young Vin Tanner sat at the table working diligently on his project, his reading teacher beside him offering encouragement.
Chris stood in the doorway watching the scene before him. Vin was sitting quietly working with a young woman sitting next to him her arm around his small waist as she leaned toward him talking softly.
"Vin?" Chris called.
"It's Dad!" Vin panicked, looking at his teacher worriedly.
"Finish your work and I'll distract him," she told him secretively.
"Okay," said the boy as he turned back to his work.
The young woman moved away from the table and approached Chris.
"Mr. Larabee," she said, smiling warmly as she extended her hand on approaching him at the door. "It's nice to see you again," she told him, shaking his hand.
"You too." He smiled, "Vin talks about you quite a bit at home." Chris could not help but like the woman.
"How is Vin doing at home with his reading?" she asked, drawing Chris into the hallway, giving Vin time to finish.
Chris smiled, thinking of Vin and his reading over the last month. "He seems to be doing a lot better. More comfortable with it. He still struggles but not as much."
"Good. I'm glad to hear that," Miss Jess said smiling. "Don't think I haven't forgotten about the homework I'll have for you." Her eyes glittered teasingly and he smiled.
"Can't wait," he commented somewhat sarcastically.
"Hi, Dad!" Vin's voice pulled their attention to him. He was standing in the doorway of the classroom with his backpack all ready to go.
"Hey, Cowboy. You ready to go?" Chris asked, putting a hand on the boys shoulder.
"Yeah."
"Did you finish everything, Vin?" Miss Jess asked with a smile.
"Yes, thank you for helpin' me," he said shyly.
"You are very welcome. I'll see you tomorrow." Turning her attention to the blonde man, she smiled, "It was nice to see you Mr. Larabee."
"Ma’am."The End
Continues in The Best Birthday Ever