Chapter 16- Tucked in and the First Day
Charles made his way through the school, Moira by his side. It was a habit since the school had opened for Charles to go around and make sure the children were in their rooms for the night. The very young ones missed their mothers and fathers tucking them in and many saw Charles as a replacement father. "So, did you and David come to an understanding, dear?" Moira asked her husband as they made their way back to their private quarters.
"I think we did. He actually thought we would stop loving him because Amanda was back. I told him that I love both my son and daughter equally and Amanda needs our help," Charles said.
"Yes, she does. Charles, she is afraid," Moira said.
"I know. It doesn't take what I have to see that," Charles said as they stopped at Amanda's door. The light was peeking out through the bottom of the door and Moira knocked on the door.
"Come in," Amanda called. Charles opened the door. Amanda was in her bed, a book open.
"Sweets, it's bedtime. You can finish that tomorrow," Charles said, pleased to see the book was the one he had assigned to her for his class.
"It's okay, Dad. I read fast and I only have a chapter left," Amanda said as Charles took the book away from her and stuck a bookmark in it.
"You can finish it tomorrow, love," Charles said, stroking her face tenderly.
"Your father is right, sweetheart. You need your rest. You're a growing girl," Moira said as she leaned over and kissed Amanda's forehead. Charles followed Moira's gesture.
"Dad, I still don't remember everything," Amanda said as Charles and Moira laid her back among her pillows and Moira pulled the quilts on her.
"It's all right. We don't expect you to remember everything right away. That will take time. But we have that," Charles said, stroking her forehead and moving strands of her hair out of her face.
"Can't we use Cerebro for that, Dad?" Amanda asked. Charles gave a faint smile.
"I wish I could, my love. But I can only unlock so much of your mind. The rest has to come back on it's own," Charles said.
"Oh. Dad, can you and Mama stay until I fall asleep?" Amanda asked.
"Of course we can," Moira said.
"Your mother is right. Close your eyes, Amanda," Charles said, running his hand over her eyelids. Amanda took a deep breath and when Charles removed his hand, her eyes were closed. Charles leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Her breathing then became even as she fell asleep.
Amanda dressed carefully. It was her first day as a student at her father's school and her Jewish upbringing had drummed into her the importance of dressing nicely and making first impressions count. Amanda licked her lips and picked up her algebra, science, history and "King Arthur and His Knights." Amanda had finished the book early yesterday and it was still fresh in her mind. She found herself wondering what her father's English Lit classes were like; did he just have them read or did he do literary analysis or did they just write a bunch of essays?
Amanda heard a knock on the door. "Come in," Amanda said.
Charles rolled his wheelchair in, followed by Moira. "Are you ready, love?" Charles asked.
"I guess. I was just thinking about your lit class, Dad," Amanda said as she followed her father and mother out of her bedroom.
"From what Jackson and Naomi told us, you should do well in your father's class. They told us you like books," Moira said, brushing a lock of Amanda's hair behind her ear.
"They aren't far wrong, Mama. I love book. Especially British lit. I read "Wuthering Heights" and "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" by Agatha Christie last summer," Amanda said.
"Those are good choices. I read those when I was about your age," Charles said.
"Hmmm. I can see you liking Agatha Christie, Dad, but isn't "Wuthering Heights" for girls?" Amanda asked, furrowing her forehead.
"You aren't too far wrong, sweets, but I went to school and it was assigned," Charles said.
"Oh. I guess if it was assigned, there was nothing you could say about it. Sort of like when I read "A Separate Peace" at the start of this school year. Me and all the girls in my class hated it as it was a boy's novel," Amanda said, rolling her eyes. (A/N: Actually true. I read this book my Sophomore year in high school and all of the girls in my class really thought that. We hated it.)
"But no one is learning anything without breakfast, love," Charles said with finality as they went into the dining room and the school day started.