Chapter 2
The next term came around too quickly.
Steph never got to talk to Tom about his strange behaviour after the meeting that night. He managed to keep evading her questioning and scheduling rehearsals for the youth centre's annual fundraiser play– though she was sure they were unnecessary if her preview last month was anything to go by. Not to mention she was too caught up with, and exhausted by, the reports and preparation to make sure her new student, one of those mentioned at the meeting, would be in a safe environment.
She'd had to relocate and redecorate her year 1 classroom only to be given a thick file of everything that needed to change to minimise and manage potential threats.
Her classroom had no decorations on any of floor-length bullet-proof windows and door to ensure there was a clear view of the surroundings. It was situated at the centre of the junior school, wedged between two other classes so intruders would have to make it past the several undercover security patrols. She even had several alerts in easy access at various points in the room should an intruder make it past the 'Queen's guards' as Gillian called them. Steph was, naturally, the Queen.
It was finally the day she was going to meet Jacob Abbott. One of the three Abbott children attending King's College.
Though she'd been informed otherwise, her mind still imagined a formation of guards around a young boy, possibly accompanied by a nanny. In reality, it couldn't have less conspicuous.
A slightly frazzled woman, around Steph's age, appeared in the doorway behind a small boy who the teacher instantly recognised as Jacob, or Jack as he preferred to be called. It took a moment to place the woman who appeared far more down-to-earth than the formal picture she'd been provided with.
'Hello,' the woman said warmly, reaching out her hand after shifting her purse and her son's backpack. 'I'm Kyra Abbott, and this is Jack,' she said smiling. Steph thought she detected a hint of an accent.
'Hello Mrs Abbott! It's lovely to meet you at last,' Steph said.
'Please, call me Kyra. What is it, Jackie?' she said squatting beside her son.
'Daddy promised he'd be here today,' the boy said.
His mum's face dropped a bit.
'I know honey, but he had to go deal with some bad guys this morning. He'll be back tomorrow, okay?'
Steph's heart sank for little Jacob. After seeing how ordinary Kyra was, she'd been hoping that the Abbotts weren't the stuffy upper-class people she'd imagined. But here was the classic example of a parent too busy for their child's first day at a new school.
'–you can tell him all about what you did today! He can't wait, and oh! Look at this!' Kyra pulled something out of her pocket.
'A cipher!' Jack said, eagerly grabbing the paper.
'I'm sure if you finish everything that Mrs Harris tells you she can help you do the cipher later, okay?'
'But I want to do it now!'
Steph braced herself for the tantrum, but it never came. Instead, Jack was taking deep breaths.
'There's a brave boy.'
'Like Daddy.'
Kyra smiled, 'Yes, just like Daddy. I have to go to work now, and Uncle W will pick you up at the end of the day okay?'
'Okay. Bye Mummy!'
'And remember-'
'Use the code when Wolfie comes.'
'Exactly, what a clever boy you are! Love you little cub,' Kyra said giving him a big hug.
'Love you too Mummy.'
And that was that. No crying. No pouting. Jack just asked where to put his bag and where to sit and then he found a picture book and started 'reading' it.
Steph was reminded that she had other students to take care of when one of them started crying after another boy stole his pencil. Nonetheless, Jacob Abbott and his mother were never far from her mind.