Chapter 5

Bernie gave Pip a kind look. “How are you liking the new school so far?” she asked.

Pip didn’t answer her, but Rain forced himself not to intervene or to speak for his son. He couldn’t keep doing that. What message would he be sending Pip if he never trusted him to interact socially, even if it was awkward?

Bernie looked at Pip a moment longer and then winked at Rain. “A man of a few words. I can appreciate that.”

Rain was grateful to her for not pushing Pip to say more. He let his guard down a little. “It was great meeting you,” he said, keeping an eye on his son, who was walking away towards the park. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

Bernie grabbed her daughters’ bags from off the ground. “Sure thing. You live close by?”

“Just across the park.” Rain noticed that Pip was staring at a squirrel, obviously scared to walk past it. “I gotta go.” He turned away and hurried to Pip, touching his shoulder lightly as he reached him. “He won’t bite you.”