Page 47 of Angels Are Falling

Everything will be okay.

Chapter

Fifteen

AMELIE

Stefan and I broke from our embrace at the sound of small feet thundering against the stairs. The children burst into view with Mrs. Bea trailing behind them, her hand skimming the banister. They looked adorable in their new uniforms—white polo shirts, scarlet ties, and mauve-colored sweater vests with the school logo—a Bengal tiger with orange and black stripes. Each of them carried a suitcase full of their belongings. The dorms were fully furnished, with all other essentials provided.

“Amelie!!”

“Stefan, you’re home. Finally!”

“Amelie, did you see my new lunchbox?”

The kids dragged us back to the dining table, where everyone else had settled in, bombarding us with greetings and questions. Stefan’s friends gushed over the children, especially Bella. She was too darn cute in her signature fez.

Mrs. Bea placed the children’s luggage by the front door before loading their plates with fruits and eggs. Brain food, she called it. As soon as they finished eating, Bella ran up to Stefan, like she normally did after breakfast.

“Stefan, give me a piggyback ride,” she whined, impatiently tugging at the material of his pants.

“Bella,” he chided gently. “You’re supposed to wash your hands after you eat.”

She looked down at her palm, which was sticky from the watermelon slice she had gobbled down. A mischievous giggle slipped from her lips, making Stefan smile as well.

Mrs. Bea was quick to whisk her away. “Bella, this is the second time you forgot to wash your hands after a meal. I’m afraid that’s a time-out, young lady.”

My nanny used to usher me away from my father the same way. Stefan was nowhere near as cold, but Bella still seemed deflated by Mrs. Bea’s stern disciplining.

I beckoned Mrs. Bea over after she helped Bella wash her hands. “Do we really need a time-out on the first day of school? It’s just fruit juice.”

“Bella must learn the consequences of her actions. Sir’s pants are ruined.”

I glanced at Stefan’s pants and the smudges Bella had left behind. Our home had always been a bit untidy, as were our clothes. So what? Life was messy.

“It’s fine, Mrs. Bea,” Stefan told her, brushing off the stain.

“With all due respect, I must insist on the time-out. She neglected to wash her hands for the second time. She won’t respect my authority if this goes unpunished.”

“We shouldn’t put her in a bad mood on her first day at a new school,” I argued. “Bella’s nervous enough about sleeping away from home. I don’t want her morale to be low, too.”

Her nose went up in the air. “Ma’am, I must ask you to allow me to do my job as I see fit. I know what’s expected of students at Evercrest. Bella’s current behavior won’t be well received.”

Kai made a substantial donation to secure the children’s admission to Evercrest Academy, as it was the most exclusive boarding school in the state. However, Stefan was worried about them fitting in. He had hoped Mrs. Bea would ease the transition with their wealthy classmates through her guidance. She came highly recommended by affluent families who also sent their kids to the fancy boarding school.

Mrs. Bea remained unconvinced that the kids were Evercrest material. “Discipline takes time, and Bella’s already behind,” she continued. “This morning, she wore a hat that wasn’t a part of the school uniform, and then she broke my rule for table manners. What type of message are we sending her if this behavior goes unpunished? If we don’t correct her, she won’t fit in with her better-adjusted peers. Is that what you want?”

“No. But⁠—”

“There’s a reason misbehaved children struggle at the academy.”

My chin lifted indignantly. Misbehaved? Bella was spirited at most. Were kids not allowed to be themselves after a certain tax bracket?

“Wait a minute⁠—”

“Can I talk to you?” Stefan interrupted, dragging me to the other side of the room. “I think we should let Mrs. Bea take the lead on this one,” he whispered.

“Seriously?” There was no easy solution for an energetic child, but it shouldn’t result in punishment at every turn. Not when her crime was expressing love for her brother and asking for a piggyback ride.