Read Online His-And-Hers Twins by Rita Herron - Free Book Online

her head in the treatment area.
    â€œCan you take a message?” he asked threading the needle with the synthetic suture thread.
    Clara frowned. “It’s from the day care.”
    Zeke’s heart paused, then began beating frantically against his chest. What if one of the girls were hurt? He instantly dropped the needle on the table and hurried across the room. “I’ll take it in here.”
    Clara shut the door and he picked up the phone in the lab area. “Dr. Blalock here.”
    The second it took for the woman on the other end to answer seemed like an excruciating eternity. “This is Edie Benson. I’m one of the four-year-olds’ teachers.”
    â€œYes, Ms. Benson, is something wrong with Summer or August?” he asked impatiently.
    â€œNo, oh, no, they’re fine.” She hesitated, the silence unnerving him. “But we’re having some problems at school with the girls.”
    â€œProblems? What kind of problems?”
    â€œWell, Summer seems to get upset over little things. She cries a lot.”
    Tell me something I don’t know.
    â€œAnd August has become quite volatile lately,” she continued. “The other day she hit another child.”
    Zeke relaxed, leaning against the whitewashed walls. “Yes, I know. She told me you’d be calling. Do you really think hitting someone is that abnormal for a four-year-old?”
    â€œNot really,” the woman said in a sympathetic voice. “Some children are naturally more aggressive than others. But lately August has been hitting a lot. And this morning she punched a little boy in the stomach. I thought it might help if you’d talk to her.”
    â€œNow?”
    â€œYes, she’s sitting right here.”
    Zeke sighed. “Put her on.”
    â€œDaddy, he’s a big fat meanie,” August argued.
    â€œSweetheart, if you’re upset or he’s bothering you, tell your teacher. You can’t go around hitting other children.”
    â€œBut it’s no fair, he called me a dummy.”
    â€œI’m sorry, honey. But you still can’t hit him.” He ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. “August, sweetie, put your teacher back on the phone. We’ll talk some more tonight.”
    â€œâ€™Kay, Daddy,” August said in a pouty voice.
    Zeke sighed when he heard the teacher’s voice. “Ms. Benson, August says this boy is being mean to her.”
    â€œI know, and we’ve reprimanded the boy and are also calling his parents.”
    â€œGood. I’ll talk to August again tonight.”
    â€œThank you.” Relief lightened the middle-aged woman’s voice. “She’s a precious little girl. I know being a single parent isn’t easy.”
    Zeke’s fingers encircled the handset so tightly his knuckles ached. “You think I’m not a good parent?”
    â€œOh, heavens, I didn’t mean that,” the woman said kindly. “But parenting is hard on everyone. And sometimes when there’s a change at home, children’s behavior is affected.” She hesitated, then spoke softly. “I don’t mean to pry, but have you considered counseling for the girls?”
    Zeke’s stomach clenched. “No.”
    â€œWell, it might be worthwhile. I’m afraid this mother-daughter tea we’re having may have triggered some emotions. Holidays are always difficult for kids from single parent homes, especially at first.”
    Zeke swallowed, his voice thick. “Did the girls tell you my neighbor’s coming today?”
    â€œYes, that’s great. But still, Dr. Blalock, consider counseling. Some of the local churches offer support groups, as well as seminars and counseling for divorced families.”
    â€œFine. I’ll think about it.” He rolled his shoulders to relieve the ache coiling in his neck. And he would consider counseling for the girls, he decided, as he hung up the phone.