She had two other children in school. Benjamin and Hunter. And while she was a well-intentioned mother, she struggled in her later years to find a balance between her own motherhood and running her company. She was the only heir to the throne of the pharmaceutical giant since she was the oldest of her own siblings, and the stress of keeping the company on the top dove her into substance abuse. Addictions to the medications and opioids her own company pumped out on a regular basis. In some ways, that was also a lesson to my kids. Getting to the top and being compassionate works, but once someone begins to compromise their own well-being for that continued success, it leads to failure.
And money is always at the root of those decisions.
I felt protective of Zoey. Close to her in a lot of ways. She frequently was the last one to be picked up from school, and more often than not I would bring her back into the classroom to read. Or build. Or simply talk to. She was a bright little girl with a beautiful smile who was intelligent beyond her years. Her home life wasn’t the easiest, especially being the youngest. Her brothers were fiercely protective but also acted out towards her in their own anger.
And there wasn’t a sober parent to referee anything.
Today was one of those days. I held the girl close to me as her older brothers stood at my side. We all waved off the busses for the afternoon, and someone hadn’t been by to pick them up yet. We all stood there for a few minutes before I escorted them back to my classroom, and the four of us drank juice boxes while we sat.
“Did you enjoy school today?” I asked.
“Yes, Miss Gentry. I like it when you talk about Mom at the end of the day. You do that a lot.”
“Where is Mom?” Hunter asked.
“Is she sick again?” Benjamin asked.
“I’m not sure, you guys. But your mother has accomplished a lot in her life. We can learn a lot from her, and that’s why I talk about her at the end of my classes,” I said.
“It makes her feel like she’s here,” Zoey said.
“Maybe you could come to our classes and talk about her, too,” Benjamin said.
My heart sank for the children in front of me. Hungry and thirsty for a mother that was constantly battling her demons.
“You know you can always talk to me, right?” I asked.
“I know,” the kids said.
“Is there anything you guys want to talk about?”
“Is that my family I hear?”
I turned my head towards the door and I found a man leaning against the doorway.
But not just any man.
Ryan Aaron was standing in my classroom doorway.
“Uncle Ryan!” Zoey exclaimed. “Where’s Mom?”
“Is she in the hospital again?” Benjamin asked.
“Is that where we’re going?” Hunter asked.
“Your mother simply needs a break. And who better to take a break with than me?” Ryan asked.
The man held out his arms and flashed his million-dollar smile as the kids began to stand from their seats.
He was tall. Cocky. His teeth shone with a white glare and his dark brown eyes were deceptive, at best. He had raven black hair that was swooped back, and his skin was tanned from lazy days on the beach. Or maybe he was the type to run with his shirt off.
Oh, yeah. With that type of cocky attitude? He definitely ran with his shirt off.
His body wasn’t bulky, but the muscles underneath his tailored suit were unassuming. I could see the money dripping from the fabrics he wore as the navy suit clung to his body. His long legs held him steady on his feet as he pushed off the doorframe and his large hands slid into his pockets. Everything was long on him.
And his gaze was unnerving.
“I’m here to take you guys back to my place,” Ryan said.