Song of Solomon by Kendra Norman-Bellamy Read Free Book Online Page B

marker and connect the dots. Miss Berkshire’s underdeveloped body mirrored that of a twelve-year-old girl, but with the assistance of makeup, and with her red hair pinned into a neat up-do, her face looked closer to nineteen or twenty. As she neared Shaylynn, the teacher’s expression became an apologetic billboard.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Mrs. Ford. We’re running just a little bit behind schedule. The other parent that was supposed to help chaperone hasn’t arrived yet.” She looked at her watch, and her face fell even more. “I have a full classroom of twenty-five today. Even the daughter of the parent who is supposed to go on the trip with us is here, so I don’t know where her mother is. My assistant had a death in her family and had to take some days off. It’s against Kingdom Builders’ policy for me to take the children away from the school with more than a ten-to-one student/adult ratio. If Ms. Garrison doesn’t arrive soon—”
    â€œHey, Dr. Taylor!” a chorus of children’s voices sang all at once.
    Shaylynn turned to see several of the children, her son included, rush to the door, where Neil had barely had the chance to enter before he was bombarded. If she didn’t know any better, she would have guessed that the new arrival was some sort of superstar. Barney, the beloved purple dinosaur, didn’t get this kind of reception from the children on the television show that Chase watched occasionally. Shaylynn watched the scene in awe as Neil took the time to greet each one of the excited kids, either with high fives, handshakes, head rubs, or hugs before asking them to excuse him while he spoke to their teacher. Obediently, the children scattered and freed Neil to walk in the direction of the other adults.
    â€œHi, Dr. Taylor,” Miss Berkshire said. Suddenly her actions mirrored her adolescent appearance. The woman shifted her feet, tucked a non-existent strand of stray hair behind her ear, and then timidly straightened the jacket of her tailored navy blue pants suit. Her already rosy cheeks deepened in an obvious blush.
    â€œUmph.” The sound escaped before Shaylynn could suppress it, and she hoped that no one else had heard.
    Neil grinned at the teacher, concurrently ducking his head. “Miss Berkshire,” he acknowledged. “How’s it going today?”
    â€œGood, Dr. Taylor.” Her distinct green eyes batted in quick motions before she turned in Shaylynn’s direction. “Oh.” Miss Berkshire uttered the single word like she had forgotten a parent was even standing there. Like Neil’s entrance had totally erased her short-term memory. It only took her a second to regroup and say, “By the way, Dr. Taylor, this is Mrs. Ford. She’s Chase’s mother.”
    Shaylynn watched a smile snake its way across Neil’s lips as he extended his hand toward her. “I know,” he admitted. “I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Ford last week.”
    His hand was warm, just like it had been when he shook her hand at their first meeting. “Good to see you again, Dr. Taylor,” Shaylynn said, only meeting his dark brown eyes briefly before looking away. There was something about this guy that she really didn’t like . . . or really did like. She hadn’t yet decided.
    â€œLikewise,” Neil replied. Then, turning to Miss Berkshire, he said, “I was coming by to check on the class trip. The bus has been waiting outside for a while, and I believe you were scheduled to leave nearly fifteen minutes ago. Is everything all right?” He looked back toward Shaylynn as though he thought her presence was the reason for the delay.
    The teacher caught his concern and swiftly said, “Oh, no. Mrs. Ford is here to ride along as a chaperone. Unfortunately, my other parent volunteer hasn’t shown up yet, and I have too many children for just the two of us to monitor.”
    â€œI