The Surprise

by Alice Ward

  She shook her head. “I’d love to. But I promised Henry we’d spend the holidays back in Atlanta with his family. Maybe next time?”

  “Definitely,” I agreed.

  A knock echoed through the room and we looked at the door.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Carver. Can I help you with something?” I greeted one of my student’s mothers. My question was pointless; the woman had a balloon bouquet in one hand and a giant bakery box in the other.

  “Today is Finn’s birthday,” she explained with a sheepish blush. “I spoke with Mary this morning and she said it would be okay for me to bring a few treats for the kids. I was hoping to pass out the cupcakes myself. Will the children be back soon?”

  “Yes,” I assured her. “They’re in art class at the moment. But I was just about to go get them. Why don’t you set things up here?”

  She thanked me, nodded, and started pulling birthday hats and colorful plates out of her huge tote bag.

  “Did Mary happen to mention which one of Finn’s classmates has severe food allergies?” I asked, moving to the door.

  “Oh, shoot. I knew I forgot something. I’m so sorry… but that’s no reason for all of the other kids to miss out, right?” she asked hopefully.

  “It’s fine,” I assured her. “I have allergy friendly snacks in my desk. I’ll be back in just a few minutes, Mrs. Carver.”

  Linda followed me into the hall. “Are you sure it’s a good idea to leave her in there alone?” she asked.

  “What’s she going to do, steal my dry erase markers?” I asked with a laugh. “I’m not worried about Mrs. Carver. Besides, someone must be looking out for me. I’ve forgotten to lock my door twice this week, but nothing’s turned up missing.”

  “That’s not like you.” She frowned, shaking her head.

  “Like I said, I’ve been busy,” I replied with a shrug. “Things will calm down after the first of the year. I’ll be able to relax and get into a real routine at Ethan’s.”

  “So you’re just moving in with him, then? Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “You sound like my uncle,” I replied with a laugh. We slowed to a stop outside the art room and I turned to her with an impatient smile.

  “To be honest, all I’m sure of at the moment is that I’m in no mood to corral a room full of sugared up kids. But I don’t have a choice about that at the moment, so I’d like to just get it over with. Can we discuss the wisdom of my relationship choices later? Maybe over a drink?”

  “Sure,” she agreed with an understanding nod. “Sorry about the cupcakes. Good call on keeping things on hand for Alfie, by the way. I’m going to do that for his sister.”

  I nodded and knocked on the classroom door as Linda turned toward the break room. I led my students in a single file back to the classroom and made them all sit at their own desks before Mrs. Carver passed out the cupcakes and juice boxes. I passed Alfie a bag of allergy friendly trail mix. I returned to my desk and noticed the blue message light flashing on my phone. I swiped the screen and read Ethan’s text.

  “Don’t panic, but call me ASAP.”

  I glanced out at the kids, who were all happily devouring their unexpected treats. Mrs. Carver moved about the room passing out napkins and making sure everyone was settled. I decided I could spare a few minutes to make sure Ethan was okay and turned my back to the class as I hit his speed dial.

  “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon. I told you not to panic,” he teased.

  “And I didn’t. You said ASAP. This was ASAP. What’s going on?”

  “I have terrible news,” he warned.

  The breath caught in my lungs. “Just tell me.”

  “I just got off the phone with my mother. Victor’s getting overwhelmed with questions about you and he’s tired of not knowing how to answer. They’ve invited us to dinner Friday night, so they can get to know you better.”

  “That’s far from a disaster,” I replied with a light laugh of relief.

  “It’s closer than you’d like to imagine,” he countered gravely.

  I was about to reply when chaos broke out in my room. The kids erupted with gasps and screams of panic and a weird thumping noise sent my heart racing. Ethan could hear the commotion on his side of the call.

  “Emily, what’s going on?”

  I turned back to the class, horrified by the scene before me. All of my students were in hysterical sobs, save Alfie Hollis. He appeared to be having a grand mal seizure in the middle of the room, while Mrs. Carver looked on, paralyzed in horror.

  “I have to go,” I told Ethan. I tossed my phone on the desk and rushed to little Alfie. His body stilled, but I realized hives were breaking out across his body. By the time I retrieved his Epi-pen and returned to him, his breaths were coming in short, wheezing spurts. I gave him his shot and pulled him into my lap.

  “Mrs. Carver, I need you to get the nurse right away. Her office is beside Principal Matthews. Call 911 on your way and tell them that we have a five-year-old boy who’s had a severe allergic reaction.”

  The traumatized mother nodded at me and took her son out of the room with her. I did my best to calm the other children while trying to understand what happened.

  “Boys and girls, I know this is scary. But we talked about this on our first day of class, remember? Sometimes, things Alfie eats make him sick. But I’ve given him his special medicine, and Nurse Birling is going to make sure he’s okay. Now, I need to know if anyone gave Alfie a bite of their cupcake.”

  The kids all shook their heads. Some muttered, “No, Miss Kinkaid,” while others were still too busy crying to form words.

  How the hell did this happen?

  Nurse Birling rushed into the room with Principal Matthews and Mary, the school secretary.

  “What happened, Emily?” the principal asked.

  “I’m not sure. Mrs. Carver brought in cupcakes. I gave Alfie a bag of trail mix that’s safe for him to eat, but I guess he gave in to the urge to taste what the other kids were eating. Where is Mrs. Carver?”

  “She told us what happened and then checked Finn out for the rest of the day,” Mary explained. “I called an ambulance, then Mrs. Hollis. Alfie’s parents are going to meet him at the hospital.”

  Nurse Birling took Alfie’s vital signs and stared up at me with a frown.

  “How much time passed between the start of the reaction and Alfie getting his shot?”

  “I’m not sure,” I confessed, my face flushing hot, and my fingers trembling as I pressed them to my throbbing temples.

  Less than a minute passed between when I realized what was happening and when I gave him the shot. But how long was he in trouble before anyone noticed? Why the hell didn’t I wait to check in with Ethan? Please God, don’t let this little boy suffer for my mistake.

  “What do you mean you’re not sure?” Principal Matthews pressed, a hint of accusation in his voice.

  “I mean everything happened so fast. It’s not like I hit a stopwatch. But I’d say it was less than sixty seconds.”

  Three paramedics bustled into the room and the kids started crying again.

  “Mary, why don’t you take the class to the auditorium?” Nurse Birling suggested. “They’ve seen more than they should have as it is.”

  “Of course,” Mary agreed.

  I helped her lead the kids to the auditorium and promised them all I’d be back soon with good news about Alfie. I raced back to my classroom, where the medics were loading him onto a stretcher.

  “Where are you taking him?” I demanded.

  “Children’s Presbyterian,” one of the men answered. “His father called dispatch and requested it. I need to take in samples of everything he ate.”

  “Why is that necessary?” I asked. “We know he’s allergic to dairy, and those cupcakes were covered with whipped cream.”

  Nurse Birling cleared her throat. “Alfie came to for a minute while you were gone. He said he didn’t eat anything but the special treat you g
ave him.”

  “People develop new allergies every day,” another medic explained. “My wife and I used the same laundry soap for nearly a decade, and then a month ago it started giving her a rash. It’s just one of those things that happens.”

  I nodded and retrieved the half eaten snack from Alfie’s desk. “This is what I gave him. I think there are a few untouched cupcakes left in that box. Just take the whole thing.”

  He nodded and grabbed the box on his way out the door. I squeezed Alfie’s hand and promised to visit him soon before the other two medics wheeled him out of the room.

  “I’m going to get back to the kids,” I announced, my hands still shaking. “They’re so terrified. I need to tell them that Alfie’s going to be okay.”

  Principal Matthews stepped into my path. “Mary has already called a substitute,” he informed me. “I’m sorry, Emily. I’m sure this incident wasn’t your fault, and as soon as the tests come back we’ll find out Alfie’s developed a new allergy. But until then, we have to follow protocols. We have to go back to my office and work through an incredibly thick stack of paperwork. And after that, I have no choice but to put you on paid suspension until we’re cleared by the school counsel.”

  “You’re kidding me?” I asked in disbelief, feeling lightheaded. “How long will that take?”

  “It depends on how long the hospital takes with the lab work. I know this is hard news to absorb, especially after such a traumatic incident. But if everything happened the way you described, you won’t be held at fault.”

  I cleared my throat and pushed my shoulders back. “Can I visit the hospital and check on Alfie?”

  “I don’t have a problem with that, as long as the Hollis family agrees.”

  I nodded and gathered my things from my desk. Linda stuck her head into the room and surveyed the remnants of the chaos.

  “I just heard. Amaya Hollis’s uncle picked her up to take her to her family. Is there anything I can do?”

  “I have to go on paid suspension, pending an inquiry into what just happened. Can you keep an eye on my kids and make sure they transition okay to the sub?”

  “Of course. Are you okay, Em?”

  “I’m fine,” I assured her but wasn’t even sure myself. “This is just a formality, Linda.”

  Principal Matthews nodded in agreement.

  “Okay… is there anything else I can do?”

  “Yes. Call Ethan and tell him what happened. Ask him to send the best pediatric allergist he can find to Children’s Presbyterian. And tell him I’ll be home as soon as I’m finished with Principal Matthews.”

  “It will probably be a few hours,” Matthews warned.

  “I’ll let him know,” Linda promised. “And I’ll call you later.”

  She returned to her class and I stepped into the hallway with no idea if and when I’d see my classroom again.

  ***

  Ethan looked up from a skillet of bacon as I padded barefoot into the kitchen.

  “Good morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?”

  “Okay, I guess,” I replied with a yawn. “Once I finally got to sleep, that is. I laid awake half the night thinking about that poor little boy lying there helpless. If he doesn’t pull through this—”

  “Stop,” Ethan insisted. “Linda called an hour ago. Alfie’s oxygen stats stabilized overnight. He’s breathing all on his own, he’s alert, and there are no signs that the reaction did any lasting damage.”

  I let out an enormous sigh of relief and nearly crumpled to the floor. “Thank God. Have they figured out what triggered it?”

  He shook his head. “Not yet, but they’re expecting the lab results in this afternoon. Would you like to hear the really good news?”

  “It gets better?”

  He nodded. “The Hollis family says you’re welcome to visit.”

  A rush of gratitude filled my body. “Now we just have to wait for the school council to clear me. But if the lab results are due today, I may be able to go back to work tomorrow.”

  “I’m so sorry you had to go through this, Emily. But everything’s going to be okay.”

  “Thank you, baby.”

  “Don’t thank me. Claudia’s the one who saved the day.”

  I nodded. “I can’t believe I forgot this was one of her specialties. I’m going to have to take her out to lunch and thank her for pushing the lab work through so fast.”

  “I think we can do better than lunch,” Ethan suggested with a grin. “But we’ll figure all of that out later. The Hollis’s are expecting us in about an hour. That gives you just enough time to go get dressed and have a quick breakfast before we need to leave.”

  “You’re coming with me? Don’t you have practice?”

  “I called Coach and told him I’d be late. I thought a visit from his favorite quarterback might make Alfie feel a little better.”

  I gave him a teasing smile. “Alfie’s family is from Florida. He wears a Rod Sherman jersey on free dress days. But I’m sure he’d appreciate a visit from you all the same.”

  Ethan laughed and gave me a playful wink. “I’ll have him converted to a Stallion’s fan before the visit is over.”

  I gave him a quick hug and kissed the side of his face. “Seriously baby, thank you for coming with me. It means more than you know.”

  “I’m happy to do it.”

  An hour later, Ethan and I walked into the hospital hand in hand. We rode an elevator to the eleventh floor, where a distracted nurse directed us to Alfie’s room without looking up from her tablet. When we approached his door, a uniformed security guard stepped into our path.

  “I’m sorry, but the family has requested that no visitors be allowed in Alfie’s room,” he explained.

  “What? There must be some sort of mistake. I’m Emily Kinkaid, Alfie’s teacher. The Hollis’s are expecting us.”

  “I’m sorry, ma’am. I know who you are. And I’m not allowed to let you into the room.”

  Ethan put a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Can we speak with Mr. or Mrs. Hollis? Or perhaps Dr. Verner?”

  “The family and the doctor are in a meeting at the moment,” the officer replied. “I’ve been instructed to ask you to wait in—”

  “There she is,” a voice screamed from the opposite hall. I turned to see Alfie’s mother charging at me.

  “We trusted you with our child, you miserable bitch. I can’t believe you did this. What kind of person does something like this?”

  I was at a complete loss for words. I loved my students. I’d have jumped in front of a bus to protect any of them. I’d certainly never hurt them. I had no idea what Mrs. Hollis was talking about and turned to Claudia with wide eyes. A man I didn’t recognize stood next to her, glaring at me with absolute disgust.

  “I’m sorry, Emily. We just got the lab work back. The results… the results show inconsistencies with your story.”

  Ethan cleared his throat. “What sort of inconsistencies?”

  “She knows,” Mrs. Hollis growled. “She knows exactly what she did.”

  “I didn’t do anything,” I stammered. “I gave him his shot… I did what I was supposed to do.”

  Mr. Hollis was much calmer than his wife, but his rage burned just as hot. He turned his nose up at me and pulled his wife toward Alfie’s door.

  “Come on, sweetheart. She isn’t worth our time. The police will deal with her. Our focus needs to be on the kids.”

  Police? What the fuck do they think I did? What the hell is happening?

  Claudia cleared her throat and looked nervously toward the stranger.

  “Go ahead,” he prompted. “Tell her what you found.”

  Claudia cringed and hesitated for a moment before continuing. “Emily, I ran a full allergy prick test on Alfie last night. We didn’t find anything new.”

  “You said the results just came in,” Ethan interrupted.

  “The results on the food samples just came in,” she corrected him. “The trail mix was coated wi
th powdered milk.”

  I shook my head and leaned back against the wall. “No. That’s not possible. If that’s what happened, it’s the manufacturer’s fault. I bought a whole case of that trail mix at Valley Health. Alfie never had a reaction to it before. And the package was sealed when I gave it to him.”

  The man cleared his throat. “We have ample evidence that the packaging was tampered with.”

  “Who are you?” Ethan growled.

  “I’m Detective Dickson. I’m here to take your pretty little girlfriend to jail. Miss Kinkaid, will you please put your hands behind your back?”

  “No, you’re not taking her. Emily didn’t do this,” Ethan insisted.

  “Emily, I’m so sorry. I had to follow protocol and alert the police. The moment you leave, I’ll call your uncle,” Claudia promised. “I know you didn’t do this, sweetheart. Something else is going on here and we’ll get to the bottom of it.”

  My entire body felt numb. I did as Detective Dickson instructed and felt the cold metal cuffs close over my wrists.

  “I didn’t do anything,” I said again, tears falling from my eyes.

  “You’re not walking her out of here like a criminal,” Ethan insisted. “I won’t have it. The hospital has a back entrance.”

  “I’ll walk her out of whichever exit I damn well please,” Dickson replied, apparently resentful that Ethan was trying to control the situation.

  “Emily Kinkaid, you’re under arrest for child endangerment and attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent. If you waive that right, anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, the court will appoint one at no cost. Do you understand these rights as I’ve explained them?”

  I nodded my head, unable to wipe the tears flowing freely down my face. Ethan brushed them away with his thumb and looked into my eyes.

  “I don’t understand what’s happening,” I sobbed. “I didn’t do anything. You have to believe me, Ethan. Why don’t they believe me?”

  “Shh… I know you’d never hurt anyone,” he assured me, his voice low and soothing. “I need you to listen to me, Emily. Detective Dickson is going to take you to the station and book you on these charges. They’re going to put you in a room, say terrible things to you, and ask you lots of questions. No matter what they say, you have to stay quiet. I don’t want you to utter so much as a yes or a no. I’m going to follow in my car, and I’ll have my lawyer at the station as soon as I can. His name is Noel Baxter. Not a word to anyone until he joins you. Do you understand?”