Davis, P.O. V.
"I swear to God if she's got the teacher on her side too, I'm setting this school on fire," Lisa said with a rage in her eyes as we approached the school's front doors.
I loved seeing how protective she is of our daughter. Our daughter. I loved being able to say that. To know that Lisa and I now had a child together. Yes, it wasn't the conventional way, but it was even better than that. If only this school could see our daughter for how amazing she is.
Her teacher had called us this morning, asking us to come in and speak to her about Calliope. She wasn't specific about the why, just that it was important. She has concerns apparently, although about what she wouldn't say over the phone.
"I'll bring the matches."
Lisa smirked that wicked little smirk of hers as we entered the building. She's grown so strong and wild now. Her warrior was always out on the surface unless she was caring for Calliope. Now she has a beast that she unleashes whenever it comes to defending our daughter. I quite like it.
"Thank you for meeting with me today on such short notice." Mrs. Lyle greeted us with a warm smile when we stepped into her room.
"What's this about?" Lisa got right to the point, skipping pleasantries, obviously annoyed.
"As you know, I teach the students that need a little extra help in instruction to get where they need to be. Mrs. Vinx placed Calliope in my class, obviously by mistake. I knew she was intelligent, but I suspected she may even be genius level. Throughout last week and this week I gave her different assignments than the other students. I started with work from the 2nd grade and moved up every day. Today she was on 12th grade work."
I was listening so intently wondering how our Calliope did. It wouldn't surprise me. I noticed how bright she was when she could fully read and understand the manual to Lisa's BMW in her car.
"She needed very little guidance to understand the material. Here it is. As you can see, she got most everything correct." She showed us the papers with very few pen marks on her part. Calliope had answered questions on a variety of topics, from Math to English, from Science to Reading. Hell, she even answered some Spanish questions.
"That's our girl." Lisa smiled proudly as she poured over the papers.
"What do we do?" I asked her, unsure of what exactly you do with a genius child. I mean, Izzy was smart, but not this level smart. Izzy got top grades and always thought outside of the box, but she never skipped a grade or anything.
"Honestly, this school can't provide her with what she needs, even if Mrs. Vinx wasn't such a bitch. Pardon my language."
"Oh no, go right ahead." Lisa nodded, obviously feeling the same way.
"You should switch her to the school for gifted children. They just opened up. Spots are hard to get, but I'll write a great letter of recommendation. I would pull on any connections you may have to get her in. They will help her flourish and meet her needs academically. They will challenge her and work outside of the standard curriculum that public schools must enforce. She will also be offered fine arts, and extracurriculars that will help her become well rounded. Who knows, maybe she's a musical genius as well. At home I would speak to her using larger vocabulary, but honestly treat her like the beautiful little girl she is. Just bear in mind, she knows more than she lets on." Mrs. Lyle laughed at that. "You guys have a beautiful daughter, and I will miss having her in my class, but she needs more than I can give her, sadly."
"Thank you so much for letting us know, and for doing this for her. You are an amazing teacher and Calliope is very lucky to have had you," I said, extending my hand for her to shake.
With a firm shake we left, ready to enroll our little prodigy into this new school.
My little genius.
__________________________________
"Thank you for your help, Gerald." I shook his hand, thankful I kept in touch with the old DA. He had great connections still and was able to help us get Calliope enrolled in the school for the gifted.
"It was my pleasure, Davis. You know we could really use a man like you again. If you ever want your old job back, just say the word." He gripped my hand tightly with his political smile back.
"That ship's long gone. After Grace, I won't be going back into that world. Sorry to disappoint."
"I understand. I'm still terribly sorry about what happened to her." He shook his head at the memory. The one that still kills me inside when I think about it for too long.
"Well, thank you again for your help. I really appreciate it and I'll be sure to keep in touch." I let his hand go, pushing past the memory before it swallowed me whole.
"Of course."
I hurried home to my girls, seeing them curled up on the couch together with a large wedding binder across their laps. Calliope has been helping Lisa plan the ceremony. We had decided on Lamb's Hill as our venue, but these two were having fun picking out cakes and flowers and pulling me along for the ride. I loved watching them bond and their love grow.
Calliope and I would have our own bonding sessions when I'd teach her to throw a punch. She's never going to be defenseless again. She's not one for violence, so it took a while to get her to want to learn, but she warmed up to the idea when I told her it would make me feel better. This sweet girl is willing to do a lot for Lisa and I if she thinks it will make us happy. We really were blessed with a little angel.
"What are my girls up to?" I asked, closing the door behind me.
"Trying to decide if we really want to stick with blue and gold for our wedding. Calli here thinks we should add pink." Lisa laughed, but Calliope suddenly went still, cutting her laughter short. "What's the matter?"
"Daddy used to call me Calli. I don't like it." Calliope frowned, seeming ready to cry.
"Oh, sweetheart. I am so sorry, I will never call you that again." Lisa wrapped her arms around her so fast, pulling her into her bosom. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.
"It's okay, Mommy, you didn't know."
"We'll think of a better nickname," I told her. "Although, to me, you' ll always just be princess."
She giggled, making Lisa feel a million times better already. I took my spot on the couch beside my little princess, stretching my arm over the back of it so that my fingers grazed the top of Lisa's shoulder. She smiled at me, beamed really, before she looked back down at that binder.
"I say add some pink. I would rock a salmon pink." They both laughed at my comment, making me smile, because who doesn't love to hear their loved ones be happy?
"I could see that," Lisa winked.
"Yay! We'll have pink flowers and do white accents. I think that would look pretty." Calliope nodded her little head as she pointed to some flowers in the book.
"I agree."
This moment was perfect.
____________________________________
"Um, where's my little sister? You realize half the reason I said yes to coming is because I thought I would see her," Izzy complained when she realized I hadn't Calliope with me. I just rolled my eyes at her, giving her a hug that she did not deny.
"I half expected to see Jared. You two seem attached at the hip."
"Whatever, we are not." She blushed, which I never really see her do.
"Sure,"
"What are we doing here, anyway?" she asked, looking around the place she had clearly forgotten.
This was the spot I would take her and her mother to get ice cream from. It was close to her favorite park, but both things were gone now. The ice cream cart was long gone and the park had been torn down and made anew a few years back. No wonder she doesn't remember it.
"I wanted to ask you a question, and that I'd take you to our favorite spot."
I pulled out the small pint of her favorite ice cream from the bag. I made sure to get it on the way here so it wouldn't melt. Her favorite ice cream was still the same as her mother's, salted caramel. She smirked real big at me as she took the pint from my hand.
"Ask away, pops."
She dug right in, not waiting for me to hand her the spoon, licking the lid like she was a kid. I let out a small laugh as I handed her the utensil.
"Maybe use a spoon."
"That might be helpful."
"It's probably odd, or maybe stupid, but I wanted to ask you to be my best man. I need you up there with me, Izzy, right by my side. I need to know that you really do accept Lisa and Calliope and not just-" She jabbed me right in the stomach, stopping my sentence short.
"Didn't I already tell you I accept them both? They aren't just words. I mean what I say." She took a bite of her ice cream, pulling the spoon out of her mouth and pointing it at me like a weapon. "Besides, what about Carter?"
"He's a groomsman. I want you to be my best man, but I get it if that's too weird for you."
"Are you kidding? I would much rather wear a suit than a dress, anyway. I'll be up there with you." She nodded, taking another bite of her ice cream. "You can stop worrying now."
"Thanks, Iz."
I felt great in this moment, knowing she really did accept Lisa and Calliope. I had worried that she would think I was replacing her or something, but she seemed just fine. She kept eating her ice cream quietly, making me see her as my little girl again. That sweet 10-year-old I once knew, only now she's almost 20, and she's falling in love. I can tell by the way she walks and talks now. She's gotten nicer.
My little Izzy stopped being little, long ago.