enough to give her time.
“Mr Myers,” she began timidly, casting a quick glance up to his eyes. Ethan nodded encouragingly, and she looked down at the floor. “I’m thinking now is the time for me to sign up for some classes here,” she said in a rush. Ethan smiled in genuine happiness at the momentous decision.
“I’m glad you want to start classes.” He sat back in his chair. “I’ll let Maria know so she can sort out a schedule and figure out some day care for Beth.”
“I can read, you know…” Isabella said. “Well, I can kinda read, and I would try really hard.”
“You’re going to do well, Isabella. I promise you,” Ethan replied.
“Thank you, Mr Myers.” Isabella shot him a quick grin then left what the staff affectionately called Ethan’s Cave.
Isabella’s news had made his day. Ethan felt more connected to the world when he was able to care for others. Taking in Isabella and Beth, giving them a home when they’d had none, gave him the opportunity to feel like he was making a difference in someone’s life. By just being themselves and letting him do things like walk the floor with Beth until her fever broke, those things filled him with hope and confidence that he was doing the right thing.
He looked around the room, at the posters on the wall, the books on the shelves, at the paperwork in its neat and ordered stacks on his cabinet. The Cave was peaceful. He mentally allotted himself ten minutes to shut his eyes, and sank into the quiet. But his thoughts immediately centred on today’s meeting. Ethan hated