Chapter 330: First Day
*I saw Miss Rye! She has the same lunch as me. Can I take her an apple? Teachers like apples. Why? – Alyssa*
Pagan loved the way that kid’s minds worked. Ashlyn was going on and on about what the kids were wearing. And how nice her teacher was dressed. Alyssa was going on and on about seeing Miss Rye and her baby Michael.
Both of them couldn’t wait to tell Miss Shiloh about the first day. He had told her that he left early to pick them up on the first and last day of school. She said that she always looked forward to eating at her favorite restaurant on school breaks.
At first, he thought she meant college.
“No.” She shook her head sadly as she explained. “I was not much older than Alyssa when I was sent to the first boarding school. St. Angela Merici School for girls was here in Massachusetts. Nonno or Nonna would take me and drop me off on Monday morning and pick me up Friday afternoon. I stayed with another family during the week.”
Pagan could not imagine doing that to his girls.
“Then I went to a boarding school in Connecticut for junior high, St. Dominic’s. I had fun at both of these, at the time my home life was not a good situation. I spent most of my time at home with my grandparents.” She smiled at him as memories danced across her eyes. “My sponsor families were great and very welcoming.”
“For high school,” she took a deep drink of the red wine and something haunting crossed her eyes just before her whole body seemed to shut down. She cleared her throat before continuing.
“I attended a school in Europe. Until my grandmother, Nonna, died. Then my grandfather brought me home against my mother’s wishes.”
He was surprised to see her shake herself from whatever was haunting her, and she smiled at him.
“After a few years here, I went and earned a business degree from Cambridge University.”
“Like Cambridge University in England?” as soon as he said it, he felt like an idiot.
“As far as I know, that’s the only one.”
She had said it with a smile and there was no malice in her voice. Only amusement.
The traffic light changed green, and he pulled himself out of his memories from the night before.
As the girls continued to talk about the first day, Pagan pulled up to Sophia’s. It was the Italian restaurant that Shiloh suggested. Her grandmother was also named Sophia and it always reminded her of the grandmother she lost.
He stopped in front, just as she said to do. The door to the SUV opened and the valet driver handed him a ticket. Ashlyn and Alyssa were giggling over how they felt like movie stars.
“Right this way, sir, madams.” The maître d said before leading them to a private dining room. It sat in the back of the building with a second door going directly into the kitchen. The wooden table with a pristine white cloth covering it could easily sit six. Currently only four chairs sat at it with two being on either side.
The light wood walls held smoky glass panes providing privacy from the main dining room. The gray slate tile floor had a bright emerald, green rug running the length of the room. Pagan assumed that the table could be expanded to accommodate a larger party.
Shiloh sat in a plush chair that matched the others that sat between the glass panes against the wooden panels. They were a wine red that complimented the green rug and cloth napkins folded into roses.
She wore a 1950s black cocktail dress with accents of blood red on the skirt and bodice. A black velvet choker was on her neck with a fine silver chain attached. When she moved to greet them, Christina could be seen at the other end of the chain on her shoulder.
Dom sat in a chair next to her speaking quietly with her. When Pagan entered the room with his girls, she stood up and whispered something in Shiloh’s ear. Shiloh nodded and Dom straightened as she gently caressed the other woman’s dark hair with red extensions.
Then she did something that shocked the hell out of Pagan. The woman with the electric blue mohawk, leaned over and kissed Shiloh on her temple. Very rarely did she ever show any type of emotion other than boredom. Even with her partners, Whip and Emily, it was rare. Usually only when she was leaving for a job.
“Dom!” Alyssa ran over and hugged the leather clad woman. “You know Miss Shiloh?”
The Dom that Pagan knew was back, and like always, was uncertain how to handle his daughter who adored the woman. In motions that declared ‘I have no idea what I’m doing’ she awkwardly patted Alyssa on the top of her head.
“I do.” Dom smiled down at the little girl. The smile was real and not the usual evil grin she gave. “I’ve known her for a long time.”
“That’s cool.” Alyssa said as Dom tried to pry the little girl off her legs.
Ashlyn hid behind her father’s legs. This was just another one of the ways that his daughters were completely different. Alyssa hero worshipped the assassin. Ashlyn feared her like most of the other club kids.
Finally free of the little girl, Dom walked out of the dining room with only a slight nod to Pagan. As soon as she was gone, Ashlyn rushed over to join her sister next to Shiloh. Pagan smiled at the woman as he sat down at the table across from her.
Patiently, Shiloh listened to the girls tell her about the first day of classes. She listened intently and asked questions. Pagan could not ask for anything better for his girls. When the waiter came in, she gently suggested that the girls sit down.
As the girls settled into their chairs, Shiloh spoke with the waiter in Italian and he disappeared. As they ate dinner, she continued to engage all three of them in easy conversation. When the fourth course was served, Pagan feared to see the total bill. Shiloh smiled at him and dismissed his concerns.
“Can I take Christina for show and tell?” Alyssa asked as dessert was served.
“I think we need to talk to Mrs. Phillips before making that decision.” Shiloh said diplomatically. “I’ll talk with her, and if she’s OK with it, maybe I’ll bring Christina up for your class to see.”
Satisfied with that answer, his youngest dug into her chocolate Panna cotta. Smiling across the table, Pagan mouthed thank you. She smiled back at him and gave a wink.
When they were done, and the table had been cleared, Shiloh gathered her sweater and purse. The manager came in and they spoke quietly for a moment, again in Italian. She hugged him and then he left.
“Ready?” Shiloh asked.
“What about the check?” Pagan asked again.
“My grandad is taking care of it.” She answered sadly. “He is trying to atone for mistakes made many years ago.”
Once again, shadows flickered across her eyes, but she shook them off and returned to her usual self.
