sobs through the door, and her heart felt his pain, but his tears did not absolve her of her duty and responsibility.
“O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.”
The random Biblical passage from her subconscious surprised her, considering she hadn’t cracked open in a Bible since—she had to think—before Joro was born, though she remembered reciting passages during labor with her.
No wonder the midwife wanted to medicate me.
Shona steeled herself for the heavy task ahead and knocked on the door.
The sobs paused. “Yes?”
“Enrique, can we talk, please?”
“I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Thank you.” She returned to the front of her cabin and sat at her terminal to clear messages from her teachers and staff, all concerning matters that didn’t seem as important when looking at the big picture. The Head Teacher become more concerned about preparing her students for Landfall, and she expected chaos the moment the Engineer got around to making the formal announcement.
She couldn’t immediately remember if she ever thought Joro would be the Engineer when her daughter was running around the neighborhood, picking fights with the older kids in the area. When Shona wasn’t stopping nosebleeds and healing scratches, she was admonishing the girl about taking things apart and not putting them back together.
“But, Mother, I need to know how things work!”
“You’re good with machines, my love, but you’ve a thing or two to learn about people.”
Only Joro’s little brother, Bertie, could calm Joro when she became angry and impatient, and Shona’s heart broke again at the thought of her son’s death.
Enrique interrupted her thoughts when he emerged from Joro’s old bedroom with a clean face and red eyes.
Shona indicated the couch. “Would you like some tea?”
“Of course.”
Shona poured two cups and crossed the room to sit next to him. “Thank you.”
Enrique stared into the bottom of the cup. “Why do I think this will be one of those ‘come to Jesus’ talks Joro said she always got from you?”
“Because you would be right.”
He started, shaking the cup and sloshing the contents a little, then steeled himself to take a sip. “I never meant to hurt her.”
“And I don’t think you did. Joro has always been clear minded about you.” Shona nearly bit the inside of her mouth in telling the lie. “And I know you well enough to guess that you knew the same about her.”
Enrique set the cup down with a loud clink. “Maybe it would help us both if you tell me what you’re really trying to say.”
“Fine.” His rudeness helped center her. “What I’m about to propose was discussed before what happened. We were going to wait until after Flyaway Day, but since you cannot go back to your cabin, maybe now is better.”
He took a breath. “I’m leaving my school, aren’t I?”
“Yes.”
“Can I ask why?”
“Of course. Professionally, you’re topped out at your current position at Beverly Hills High School. There will be no vacancies in their administration anytime soon, and it’s our consensus that your passion and skills can better serve elsewhere.” She paused. “This is the opposite of a demotion. Your new school will give you larger quarters and improve your odds in the reproduction lottery, if you choose to participate. You’ve a much better chance of becoming a father if that is your goal.”
“That’s a lot to digest,” he said. “I’m assuming the decision is made.”
“Your new office is waiting for you when you’re ready, and your new Head Teacher is happy to have you whenever you’re ready. He says to call him anytime.”
“Who? Wait, you haven’t said where I’m going.”
“Warsaw Ghetto High School.”
Shona watched the waves of emotions cross Enrique’s face, and her heart broke all over again.
He took a deep breath. “Tank’s old school.”
“Yes. They will be honoring him with a plaque in the main passage there during the Flyaway Day celebrations. There will be a small ceremony. They are saving a place for you.”
“Thank you.” He shook his head. “Maybe you better say what you really want to say.”
“Joro knew about Tank, Enrique. She knew about your feelings for him all along.”
“She spied on me, you mean.”
Shona suppressed a wave of anger. “No, she would never do that. She saw your new happiness. Padmus knew too.”
“How did he know?” Enrique asked, horror in his voice.
“No idea, but you keep underestimating them. Padmus and Joro, I mean. They’re bright people, and they saw you were happy. Padmus asked me if we could make the transfer so you would be closer to Tank. Not to get rid of you, but for you to find the happiness you deserve. Now you will have that link for as long as you want.”
Enrique let a tear drop into his cup. “Thank you.”
“But if I can say this?” Shona asked. She waited until he nodded. “I feel you took advantage of their good will and good nature. Plus, you hurt yourself by trying to have your cake and eat it too. You split your love up among three people and cheated yourself out of valuable time that you could have spent with the one you love most.”
“That is harsh, Shona,” Enrique said.
She took his hand. “You would have come to that conclusion yourself one night, Enrique. You would have been reliving what you had and realized in the darkness that you could have had much more. Only then would you have started to heal. I’m saying this now, to your face, so you know that you are not alone. We are here for you, and we all want what’s best for you.”
“Thank you.” He squeezed her hand hard. “I still need time.”
“And you will have it. When you’re ready, we’ll set up your new home together.”
“Thank you,” he repeated before he set down his cup. He stood, nodded, and returned to Joro’s old room, closing the door soundlessly.
Shona wiped her eyes.
That was easier than I thought. Now to find Padmus.