The first few years were brutal. You struggled. You cursed the universe. And then, about four years after you moved, you took a walk. You brought North along with you, but he was angry about it. He’d already started pulling away from you. On one of your outings, when you were feeling particularly alone, you passed a statue of an angel, her wings outstretched. Her eyes searched you out and drew you in.

Only after you stared at the angel for what felt like hours did you look around. You were sitting not on the steps of a church but at a daycare. And there was a sign in the window: Director Wanted. Inquire Within.

You heard children squealing from somewhere inside. You watched the vehicles pull in for pickup time. Well-dressed little kids spilled out to greet their better-dressed mothers. It was only mothers in the cars, holding lattes, offering a thank-you to the school helpers.

One of the mothers turned her head and looked straight at you. You could only imagine how you looked that day: greasy, unwashed hair, tear-streaked face.

Her lips pursed. You lowered your eyes, only partly understanding her admonition. You’d never felt so ashamed. So low. So judged.

You felt called to Glory Be, but it wasn’t out of benevolence, not totally. It was ambition. You were going to show that mother who you really were. You were going to show everyone.

Which you did. You made this place fucking perfect.

And you aim to keep it that way.

From The Raisin Beach Chronicle

INCIDENT AT PRESCHOOL ACADEMY LEAVES ONE INJURED

Midmorning on September 26, EMTs and police were summoned to the Silver Swans Nursery Academy on Reyes Avenue in Raisin Beach in response to a 911 call of a potential assault in the facility’s lower floor. Authorities found four women, three parents and a staff member, in a staff hallway unconnected to the school. All three witnesses seemed confused and very disturbed by the fourth individual in the basement, who was unconscious, struggling to breathe, and bleeding from a suspected head injury. This fourth individual has been identified as PIPER JOVAN, the school’s director.

The parents found on the scene insisted they didn’t hurt Jovan, but they could not offer any explanation of why they were in the hallway, which was only accessible by keycode security. All three were brought in for more questioning. Ms. Jovan was taken by ambulance to Ventura Memorial, condition pending.

This is a developing story.

Fourteen

Watch your head, Ms. Vaughan.” Andrea felt a hand on the small of her back as a police officer guided her into a squad car. “There you go.”

Andrea was on her way home. She was being released from this mess—for now. As they drove down the clean, quaint streets of Raisin Beach, she slumped down as far as she could go, afraid someone might recognize her.