Around 2:00 in the morning, Alex was awoken by a scream and then muffled sobbing coming from the children's room. She ran in and saw Rhea sitting up in bed, crying. She looked up as Alex entered the room and immediately said, "I'm s-sorry I w-woke you."
Alex perched on the side of her bed. "Another nightmare?"
Rhea nodded, sniffling.
"Do you want me to lie down with you?"
Rhea nodded again so Alex lay down next to her, holding the child and stroking her hair until the little girl fell back into a fitful sleep.
* * *
The next morning, the kids were up and ready by 8:00 and Alex drove them to school. She signed in at the office and walked Benjamin to his classroom, then turned to Rhea. "Do you want me to take you to your classroom?"
Rhea hesitated, so Alex reasoned, "It's early, so your classmates won't see you coming in. You won't need to make a huge entrance."
Rhea took Alex's hand. "Please come with me."
"All right, sweetheart."
The two of them walked hand in hand toward Rhea's sixth grade classroom.
"Ready?" Alex asked the child.
She nodded and pushed open the door.
Ms. Bradley, sitting at her desk marking papers, looked up and her face lit up when she saw Rhea. "Hi, sweetie. We missed you."
Rhea let go of Alex's hand and ran to hug her teacher. Ms. Bradley smiled as she hugged the child back.
"I missed you, too," whispered Rhea.
"Would you mind helping me with something before school starts?"
Rhea nodded eagerly. "What do you need?"
Ms. Bradley handed her an eraser. "Could you erase the whiteboard?"
Rhea nodded and obediently started to erase the board.
Ms. Bradley noticed Alex. "Hello again, Ms. Cabot."
"Hi, Ms. Bradley. Rhea, you'll be okay?"
Rhea nodded comfortably. "Bye, Alex. See you after school. Say hi to Olivia and Elliot for me."
Alex left with a smile. Rhea was going to be just fine.