Chapter 99

As the day goes on, the girls grow tired of planting trees and want to start playing in the nearby wide open field with other kids their age.

“Is it okay?” Violet asks me. Iris stands nearby, glaring at the ground like I’m about to say no.

“Just stay where I can see you,” I tell them.

They agree and rush out to play tag with the others.

With this new moment of quiet, Miles comes to stand beside me.

“They really are great girls,” he says, as we both watch them run across the field with the other children. “You must be proud.”

“I am,” I tell him, meaning it with all my heart.

Even with Iris’s recent dislike of me, she is still evolving into a capable, independent woman. I could only be more proud if she didn’t also feel the need to cut me out of her life like she is. But with Garnar filling her head with lies, I guess I can’t blame her.

“I miss how close I was with Iris,” I say, opening up to him a bit. “I know every teenage goes through a phase where they hate their parents and the world, but… with the divorce, I sometimes feel like this is all my fault.”

“She’ll come around,” Miles says. “It might take a while. But if you keep being you, and keep being patient, she’ll open her heart to you again, Esther. It’s impossible not to, after all.”

His words make me smile, even if I think he’s kidding. “Thank you, Miles.”

“I’m not telling you anything new,” he says.

His handlers call him away for photos, but he keeps coming back to stand near me and talk to me. Out in the field, the girls must be wearing themselves out, running all around. They seem like they are having fun though – until one of the boys takes things too far and shoves Violet.

Violet stumbles and falls to the ground.

“Stop crying!” the boy snaps at her.

I start moving, darting forward.

The boy pulls his hand back like he’s going to slap my little girl!

I’m running at a full clip, but it doesn’t seem like I’m going to make it in time.

Beside me, moving faster, Miles springs. He skids to a stop between Violet and the boy and then shouts, “What are you doing, trying to slap someone?”

I reach the scene a few seconds later and scoop Violet into my arms. She buries her head against my shoulder and starts crying in earnest.

“What happened?” I ask her.

“He tripped me,” Violet sniffs. “I hurt my knee. When I told him that, he… he…” A sob wracks her small body and I hold her closer.

“I didn’t… I wasn’t…” The little boy was stuttering. I couldn’t see him with Miles standing before us, valiantly shielding Violet from her potential attacker.

“What’s your name?” Miles asked. “I’m going to be speaking to your parents about this.”

“Oh, please. No, sir!”

“You’ll think twice before hitting anyone again, especially little girls already on the ground,” Miles snaps. He’s furious. I can tell from the harsh tone of his voice and the tense straight line of his back. “Does anyone know this kid’s name? Or where his parents are?”

The other kids must be as angry about this boy’s behavior as Miles is, because they immediately start spilling the beans, saying his name is Jimmy and his parents are watching the baby goat competition.

Iris rushes over to Violet and me. “Are you okay, Violet?”

Violet, trying to be brave in front of her sister, nods.

That seems to satisfy Iris, who turns her attention to Miles. She looks up at him like he’s a superhero. Honestly, in this instance, I can’t help but agree with her.

Violet may have skinned knees, but if Miles wasn’t as fast as he is, she would also have a red face from a slap. I would have done my own screaming if he didn’t intervene when he did.

“Let’s get you to first aid,” I say, lifting Violet up. She’s a bit heavy for me, but after what just nearly happened, I would carry her to the next county before I let her down.

Miles turns to us. “Allow me,” he says, holding out his arms. “Once you are all safe, I’m going to speak with Jimmy’s parents.”

“I should,” I say.

“Trust me,” Miles says. “If I do it, there will be bigger hell to pay. Especially if I bring my cameras.”

I can’t argue with that so I don’t.

Miles straightens his arms to accept Violet.

I look at Violet to see what she wants to do. Miles is still somewhat of a stranger after all.

But no, she’s already reaching out to him. I pass her over into Miles’s arms and immediately by body sags in relief. It would have been a tough walk to first aid. I would have done it of course, I would do anything for my girls. But it would have been exhausting and straining.

Miles makes it look easy, carrying Violet as if she weighs nothing. Iris and I follow along behind. In the field, the games seems to have finished and the kids disbursed. Miles will have to hurry to catch Jimmy’s parents before Jimmy can speak to them alone.

Although maybe Miles wants that to happen. If Jimmy lies, he would be digging himself a worse hole, before Miles shows up with the proof.

At the first aid tent, Miles lowers Violet down onto one of the gurneys. A nurse comes right away to clean out Violet’s wounds. I hold one of her hands, but she clings to Miles’s with the other. He stays put through the worst of it. The liquid the nurse uses to clean stings like hell, I know.

Iris watches from the doorway. She’s only a step inside of the tent, almost like she’s afraid to come farther in. She doesn’t have to be. I wave her closer a few times, but she ignores me each time. Eventually I stop, but I keep an eye on her just in case.

“What kind of pizza should we get tonight?” Miles asks Violet, likely to keep her mind off the pain.

She’s wincing a lot, crying still, but biting back any noise. She’s a good girl, so brave. I’m going to tell her later how proud I am of her, when we can speak privately.

“I want pineapple,” Violet says, sniffling.

“And ham?” I ask. It’s a battle in our house between those who like Hawaiian style pizza and those who hate it. As Garnar is firmly against it, we rarely have it as a family. If Violet and I are alone, we indulge.

Without Garnar, there’s nothing holding her back from her favorite.

“And ham,” Violet confirms.

Miles laughs, and it’s a warm sound that lights up everyone’s attitude.

“Iris?” I ask, looking to her. “What do you… Iris?”

I only looked away for a fraction of a moment.

How could Iris be gone?

“Stay here,” I tell Violet and letting go of her hand, I walk toward the opening of the tent. Stepping outside, I glance to the right and to the left, searching for Iris.

My heart starts racing out of control. I feel like I’m going to throw up.

Glancing back to Miles in a panic, I feel like I’m standing outside of my own body when I say, “Iris is gone.”