The Unknown

Couldn't have said it better

Julie's pov

"Hi, Mrs. Curtis. I'd like to make an appointment to speak with your husband please."

"Hello, sweetheart." She smiles warmly at me as she comes out from behind her desk. "Let's sit and have a spot of tea while you tell me what you want to speak to Dr. Curtis about."

God bless her, Dr. Curtis's wife is possibly the sweetest woman on earth. I don't understand how she ended up with one of the scariest people I've ever met. She has always been the only adult who's treated my sisters and I as equals, instead of patronizing us like we're dumb little kids. I take a seat and in just a few minutes Mrs. Curtis joins me, setting out two cups of tea and some petit fours. 

"Thank you, Mrs. Curtis, these look delicious." I pop one of the scrumptious treats in my mouth.

"Tell me what's on your mind, honey." Mrs. Curtis is loving and caring, like the grandma I always wished to have.

I explained to her the entire situation with Mr. Kemp, Shane, Mike, and the forbidden basketball game while displaying my best manners as we sipped tea. She listened attentively without passing judgment as I prattled on, using her as a sounding board in hopes of garnering some inspiration as to how I should handle my current predicament.

Patting my hand and squeezing it in the most reassuring and comforting way, she replies, "Even though your situation appears bleak now, you'll get through this, sweetheart, I promise. It's always darkest before the dawn."

Somehow, coming from this sweet woman, those words are actually inspiring, not trite.

"Thank you, Mrs. Curtis," I reply politely.

"No need to thank me, darling, and there's never any need to make an appointment with Dr. Curtis. He loves you kids and always has time for you. Promise me you'll never forget that and you won't hesitate to come to him whenever something's on your mind," she says ever so sweetly, pretending to scold me as she wags her finger at me before entering her husband's office.

"I promise, ma'am." I smiled back at her, somehow feeling at ease, despite the fact that I'm in for a world of pain.

Liz's pov

Entering my husband's office and shutting the door behind me, I ask him, "Did you hear everything?" knowing he most likely had since I purposely left the intercom on.

Neil has previously accused me of sugar coating situations with the children in hopes of lessening the severity of his disciplinary course of action. I've found this method of having the children open up to me and allowing him to hear their plight straight out of the horse's mouth to be the most effective way of proving him wrong.

I can't possibly convey to him the sincerity in their words and voice without him hearing it for himself. Hopefully the children don't ever feel that I'm deceiving them by allowing my husband to eavesdrop on my conversations with them as I only have their best interests at heart. I know how strict and intimidating my husband can seem to the children, which makes it difficult for them to be forthright.

"I did, luv, thank you," my sweet husband responds, patting his lap as an invitation for me to sit.

That bright sparkle in his eyes and deceptively charming smile, first won me over so many years ago before I even realized I was falling madly in love with this amazing beautiful man and I have loved him every day since. He hugs me from behind, wrapping his muscular arms around me as I sit on his lap breathing in the familiar intoxicating scent of his masculinity and cologne, the combination of which still makes me weak in the knees after thirty years of marriage. God how I love this man.