A Story-Book Romance
by Nancy Massand
By the time Marian reached home she was actually scowling. "Bad day, Sis?" Her younger brother Bob sprawled on the sofa flicking through sit-com reruns. Marian sighed and perched on the wing chair.
"There's a new kid in my three-year-old group who really puzzles me," she said. "Benny started this morning and didn't say a word all day. He did whatever I asked and he never cried, but he looked so sad. And during free play he went to the art corner and did this really disturbing painting, all black and red, full of jabs and angles. Something's up with him that I just can't figure out."
"You talk to his parents?"
"I haven't even seen them yet. Lisa did the entrance paperwork, and I wasn't on duty for the morning drop-offs. His housekeeper picked him up in the afternoon."
"I'd ask some questions, Mare. If the kid's in trouble you really should find out what's going on. Then again, maybe he just likes black and red." Bob grinned. "Listen, I got a date tonight. You don't need the car, do you?" He reached out for the keys as he passed her on his way to the door.
"No, I don't have any plans. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" The door slammed before she finished. She mused about Benny while microwaving Sunday leftovers, then snuggled into the easy chair with dinner and a book. Within minutes she was lost in a medieval romance.
The next morning Marian opened the school, since Lisa, the director, had a doctor's appointment. They had an easy relationship and often covered for each other. Marian's impressive title of head teacher actually meant "only teacher," and although she loved the job her hours were sometimes long.
Benny's painting on the easel was the first thing she saw. It didn't look as angry now that the paint had dried, and Marian laid it on the table to file in his portfolio.
"Maybe I'm just an alarmist," she thought. "But still, you can't be too careful."
The buzzer startled her and she glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes early! She took her time pulling Benny's portfolio from the files. The buzzer sounded again, louder this time. Putting the folder aside, Marian peered out the peephole into the most amazing grey eyes she'd ever seen. The eyes retreated back a bit to reveal an attractive face, all angles and shadows, framed by shaggy brown hair that the owner shook out of his eyes.
"Hello? Are you open yet?" The voice resonated.
Marian smiled, amused at the way her heartbeat quickened. "I've been reading too many novels," she thought. Aloud, she said crisply, "Early morning drop off is at 8:30, sir."
"Could you make an exception? I'll pay extra; it's just this one day. Please?" The eyes looked tormented.
Marian sighed and opened the door. Little Benny gazed up at her, unblinking, unsmiling, unexpectant.
"You must be Benny's dad," said Marian, offering her hand. "I'm Miss Marian." It sounded so prudish. Why couldn't she have been a professional Ms. Adler, or a confident Marian Adler, or even just a chummy Marian? Too late; Miss Marian she would remain. "I've been meaning to contact you regarding Benny. He's a lovely boy, Mr. Barnes…"
"It's Doctor. I'm an English professor at Montclair." He tried to glance at his watch without indicating his obvious impatience.
"Sorry. Dr. Barnes, could you and Mrs. Barnes meet with us for a few minutes this afternoon? We like to schedule conferences with new families."
"Is there a problem with Benny?" His eyes shifted to the watch again, and this time he didn't try to hide it.
"No, Benny's no trouble at all," she assured him. "It's just routine. We're a small school and we like to know our families."
She did her best to look disarming and succeeded. Mouse-brown, wispy hair, wire rimmed glasses that kept sliding down her nose, a demure cotton dress-she was the most unthreatening presence imaginable.
"Are you and Benny's mom free at 4:15?" she asked.
I'll be there," he answered tersely. He squatted to Benny's level and held his son's chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Bye, kid. I'll pick you up this afternoon." Benny avoided his eyes as Dr. Barnes kissed him on the cheek and ruffled his hair. "Good day, Miss Marian," he intoned.
Marian smiled weakly and took Benny's hand, closing the door behind them.
"Would you like to help me fold up your picture?" she asked. "We can save it in your folder." Benny nodded. "It's a really good painting, Benny. I like the colors. Can you tell me about it?"
His shoulders hunched and he averted his eyes. "It's my mommy," he said softly.
Further conversation was halted by the arrival of four of the other morning children, and Marian was busy with the class until Lisa arrived at ten. She mentioned the Barnes conference briefly during rest time, but there was no time to go into detail about the painting and Marian's suspicions of abuse. Although she was unnerved by the hurt in Benny's eyes, to her dismay she found herself thinking more of the tortured gaze she'd observed in his father. What was going on in that family? She steeled herself for a confrontation and asked Lisa to be there, just in case her fears were not unfounded.
The last of the children left at 4:05, and at precisely 4:15 Dr. Barnes arrived, alone, clutching an overstuffed briefcase and stealing a glimpse at his watch.
"Will Mrs. Barnes be joining us?" asked Marian after seating him in the office. Lisa shot her a warning look.
"My wife passed away a year ago," replied Dr. Barnes. "I thought you were both aware of that."
"I'm so sorry, Dr. Barnes." Lisa came to Marian's rescue before she could compose herself. "Of course I recall our admissions interview, and the information is all in Benny's file. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to go over it with Marian." An awkward silence followed. "Marian, why don't I pull Benny's portfolio so you can show it to Dr. Barnes," said Lisa as she flipped through the files and handed them a folder. "Come on, Benny, we'll play with the bunny while Daddy talks to Miss Marian."
"I'm so embarrassed," fumbled Marian. "I should have checked his records before bringing this up. It's just that morning when I asked him to tell me about this painting and he said, 'It's my mommy,' I jumped to awful conclusions and…"
"He said that?" Dr. Barnes had put on his glasses and was holding the picture on his lap. He abruptly brushed away a tear. "He never talks about her, you know. Since the accident he rarely talks at all. It seems that you've penetrated a barrier that I haven't been able to budge."
"I just happened to be there at the right time." Marian was blushing. "I'm not a miracle worker, Dr. Barnes, just a school marm."
"It's Jack. And you do look the part." He realized his gaffe as her face fell. "But you know what they say about school marms; they always get the hero."
"I don't want to get the hero. I want to be the hero." It was a snappy comeback and Marian felt proud of herself, but to her astonishment she found that there was nothing she wanted more than to be swept off her feet by Jack Barnes. "Here's my card." She scribbled her home phone number across the top. "Any time you need rescuing, you give me a call."
"Touche, Maid Marian. Thy wit is as sharp as thy sword." His eyes did something between a twinkle and a wink. Not quite calculated enough to be a wink, but Marian had the feeling it was not entirely involuntary, either. "Thank you for everything you're doing for Benny."
He offered his hand and held her eyes in a gaze that would have been uncomfortable had it occurred at the beginning of their meeting. Apparently Benny's barrier was not the only one crumbling. He cocked his head to one side and scrutinized her, then looked again at her business card. "That's your home number, isn't it?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Will you be there tonight?"
"Yes, I've told all my suitors I need a night to myself."
"All except one, I hope." He squeezed her hand as he released her. "I'd do the Galahad thing and come for you on my white charger, but my housekeeper leaves at six and I can't get a sitter on short notice. Would you like to come over for dinner? I could send a cab for you." He read her hesitation and continued. "I'm a perfect gentleman, I promise. I'll even let Benny stay up late and chaperone us. If you insist." There was that almost wink again. "So is seven o'clock OK? What address should I tell the cab?"
"I'll drive," Marian said. "I have your address on file. Shall I bring anything?"
"A safety net, since you're so hell-bent on rescuing people. I'm on the top floor."
"I never work with a net." Marian felt a blush rising from her collar and turned away to slip Benny's folder back in the files. In twenty-eight years her face still hadn't learned to keep up with her mouth. Jack flashed a knock-out grin and called his son, who trotted into the office with a rabbit draped over his shoulder.
"Can we take the bunny home for the night, Daddy? He's really tame."
"Sorry, pal. We have to pick up some groceries on the way home and we can't leave him alone in the car."
"I could bring him over later," offered Marian.
"Now I feel really safe. I'm being rescued by a nursery school teacher and a rabbit. Without a net." He swung Benny up on his shoulders. "Seven o'clock, Maid Marian? Bring the bunny."
She walked them to the door and closed it behind them, noticing too late that he'd forgotten his briefcase. Stooping to pick it up, she thought better of it and scooped up the rabbit instead.
Bob leaped from the sofa when he heard Marian's key in the lock. Hey, sis. Good day?" His hand was out for the car keys.
"Don't even think about it, little brother," she smiled as she shoved the keys in her pocket.
"What. Marian the librarian has a date?"
"Let's just say I have to go rescue a knight in shining armor."
"Isn't it usually the other way around?"
"Not any more." Marian's eyes were shining behind those wire rimmed glasses. "Not any more."
