Cynthia Thomason - High Country Christmas

“Wow. Tough,” Noah said.

“Yes, it is. I try to give him special attention when I can.” She started walking toward the tables where Sawyer had obviously decided that an overcooked hot dog was better than no lunch at all. Noah walked beside her.

“So this kid is actually an orphan?” Noah said.

Ava swallowed, looked straight ahead. “I told you we have children here from all walks of life and many different situations. Little Charlie is just one example of a resident who has no home to go back to.”

“I can see why you get wrapped up in their lives,” Noah said. “Every story is its own personal tragedy.”

She stared up at him with striking blue eyes that he somehow knew would be just as beautiful in the near darkness. In daylight they matched the sky on this beautiful fall afternoon. “You have no idea, but today we need to concentrate on Sawyer’s story.”

Slightly miffed, Noah said, “My daughter’s story is hardly a tragedy. We’re just having some temporary problems.”

“Perhaps,” she said vaguely. “Suit yourself about the hot dog, but I think I’ll have one before we continue the tour.”

She walked away from him, stopping often to speak to various people. Nearly every day Noah looked down upon the earth from two to five hundred feet in the air, perched on a narrow tower of steel and cables. He knew what it was like to feel dizzy, but never before had he experienced the kind of dizzy that Ava Cahill displayed.

She seemed to be everywhere, talking to kids, adults, staff members. She responded to folks calling her Miss Cahill, Ava, and from the younger ones, Miss Ava. She gave everyone time, a smile, a word. Her energy was impressive. He found himself wishing that some of it were directed at him. She didn’t seem nearly as concerned with convincing him of the benefits of living at Sawtooth as she was convincing Sawyer. Despite what Ava might believe, Noah knew his daughter, and they would both be a hard sell. After lunch, Noah, Sawyer and Ava climbed back into the golf cart and continued the tour. They saw a school building, an auditorium, a gymnasium and a science lab. Sawyer seemed observant enough, even interested, though she asked no questions. Noah, on the other hand, asked plenty. No way was he going to leave his daughter in a strange place until he knew everything that made this home tick. And even then, he wasn’t sure what decision he would make.

Ava answered each question in a crisp, concise, knowledgeable manner. Her voice was steady. She didn’t waste words.

They ended the tour at one of the cottages. This one was painted a soft gray with white trim. Walking inside, they found a lounge area with two television sets, comfortable seating, a game table and toddler toys tucked away in colorful crates. A few of the seats were occupied since hot dog time had ended.

“Let me show you what will be your room if you decide to stay, Sawyer,” Ava said, directing them to a stairway off the lounge.

Noah noticed that the doors leading to bedrooms were open. This fact alone should make Sawyer rethink her decision. At the house in Chapel Hill, one would have thought his daughter’s room was a field office for the CIA, as she not only kept her door closed, but locked as well. He’d assumed all teenage girls wanted their privacy, and he respected Sawyer’s, only gaining entry to her area when invited. Had that been a mistake on his part? Should he have been more of a snoop?

They entered a room with two twin beds, two dressers, two desks, two closets. Standard dorm room equipped. Both beds were made, but one bed had girlie pillows and a few stuffed animals on it. The other bed was obviously waiting for an occupant.

“You met Becky at lunch, didn’t you?” Ava asked Sawyer. Sawyer indicated she had. “If we all decide that you are going to stay here, you’ll be sharing this room with her.”

“How do you feel about that?” Noah asked his daughter. Not only had she never shared a room, he couldn’t recall when she’d ever had to share anything.

Sawyer managed to shrug one shoulder with indifference.

“How soon is all this going to take place?” Noah asked Ava, a tingle of panic snaking down his spine. He finally had to accept that this change of address might really be going to happen, and he would be faced with returning to Chapel Hill without her.

“We should get Sawyer settled in right away,” she said. “You can send her clothes and personal items from Chapel Hill. In the meantime, we can provide the bare essentials. Our kids wear jeans and Sawtooth School T-shirts to class, and we have plenty of those.”

A uniform? Noah watched Sawyer’s face for any signs of rebellion. If there was one thing he knew about his daughter, it was that she was not a uniform kind of kid. She hated regimentation of any type. Once again Sawyer’s face was unreadable. Did she think she was trading one Mrs. Filmore for another equally restrictive one? Was she planning to escape out the open window over the dressers and shimmy down a gutter? She had to recall that Ava said all the windows were protected by a security system.

“So, what do you think, Sawyer?” Ava asked. “Would you like to give Sawtooth Home a try?”

“Sure. I guess.”

Not a ringing endorsement , Noah thought. She had to be planning something.

“Let’s all go back to the administration building and start on the paperwork. I’ve arranged for one of our counselors to meet with you this afternoon, Sawyer. You’ll like Mrs. Marcos. While you’re talking with her, your father and I will fill out the necessary forms for a voluntary resident.”

Noah couldn’t hold his tongue. “That’s what you think she is, a voluntary resident?”

At last he knew what a sharp look from Ava was like. “Of course. All our residents are here because this home is preferable in one way or another to their previous environments. No one is forcing your daughter to stay here, Noah,” Ava said. “I believe she is willing to give this a try.”

Noah stared at his daughter’s face once again. She gave him an innocent smile—one he’d seen many times in the past. And one he didn’t believe for an instant. He figured she’d hop on the back of his motorcycle the minute he turned the key. “Sure,” he said, deciding to call her bluff. “Let’s go fill out those papers.”

When they returned to the administration building, Sawyer went to her appointment, and Ava led Noah into her office. “Have a seat, Noah,” she said. “This will take some time. We need to go over Sawyer’s medical history, her previous grades, her food preferences and allergies, anything you can think of to help us make the transition easier for her.”

He’d thought the Ava he preferred, the kind, all-children-are-important Ava might return when it came time to do paperwork. But no. This woman was disciplined, almost cold. She still didn’t seem able to look him in the eye. That bothered him more than a little. Was she hiding something about herself or this “perfect” school she claimed to run?

“Remember, right now this is only temporary, until we can evaluate Sawyer’s needs and the problems in the family. When we feel that Sawyer can return to a healthy home environment, we will discuss letting her go with you.”

“Gee, that would be terrific,” Noah said sarcastically. “How much is this going to cost me?”

“We’re funded by the state and private donations,” Ava said. “Certainly we appreciate every donation we get, large or small.”

“Message received,” he said. “Okay, then, ask whatever you need to. I’d like to get this finished and maybe have a nap this afternoon.”

Those beautiful and somehow unforgettable blue eyes shot him a perplexed look. “A nap? Aren’t you returning to Chapel Hill?”