Patricia

“Bye, baby.”

"Bye, Aunt Ricia,” Ray says, kissing my cheeks before storming off to class with her friends.

She is so excited to resume school. The summer holiday was indeed a lengthy one. Daniel rushes to open the door of the car as I approach it.

“Daniel, this is embarrassing,” I say, looking at the parents currently staring at us.

“I'm just being a gentleman,” he says, chuckling.

"Thanks, but I can get the door myself. I don't want to steer up unnecessary talks.”

“Regardless, whatever you do or don't do, people will always have something to say. Besides, you dropped Ray off today, and that's going to have people talking already. Aside from family and Miss Charity, no one picks her up or drops her off.”

“Maybe I should print Ray’s nanny, the Bakers’ housekeeper, on a placard to keep everyone’s mouth shut."

“That's quite extreme,” Daniel says, shaking off the thought.

I notice Jordan’s GLK sitting in the carport, which is strange because it wasn't there this morning.

“Is Jordan home?”