Rescue Nova

Jealous

Kimberly's time with Nova the first couple of days following Leila being denied bail were not easy. Nova couldn't wrap her mind around Kimberly giving her false information. Kimberly had said that Leila would be home the next day. Then, that next day, she told Nova that the judge needed to keep Leila for a while longer. All the distress kept Nova in headspace, teary, and clingy. Kimberly was having a hard time dealing with her and figuring out what to do about work if Nova wouldn't let her out of her sight.

With everything going on, Kimberly had missed Thursday and Friday. She'd hoped Nova would calm down after a couple of days of love and attention, but the girl showed no signs of improvement. Now, with Monday fast approaching, Kimberly had to come up with a plan. She couldn't take any more time off, especially with the blow their income was going to be taking with Leila not working. So on Saturday, while Nova was distracted with a movie they were watching, Kimberly left the room and made arrangements for Monday. Later, she sat Nova down to discuss them.

"Okay, sweetheart, I need to talk to you about me going back to work."

That was as far as Kimberly got before Nova burst into tears at the idea of Kimberly leaving her. Kimberly put the girl on her lap and hugged her.

"It's going to be all right, honey. I asked Beth and Ashleigh to take care of you if you're little when I have to be at work. You'll get to play with Emily all day! Won't that be fun?!"

Nova continued to cry with no indication that she'd be responding.

Kimberly just went on giving her the details of the plan. "On Monday morning, if you're little, you'll go to Emily's house before I leave for work, and I'll pick you up when I get back. If you're not little, you can stay here, but I'm going to be leaving you Leila's phone and teaching you how to use it so I can call to check on you. If you regress, I need you to go right to Emily's. Okay?"

"Nooo," Nova sobbed, "I wanna be with you!"

"I have to work, honey. We need the money."

Nova was simply too young and distressed to understand that she had to be reasonable about this. In five-year-old headspace, it seemed perfectly rational that Kimberly just stay home.

She doesn't understand this, Kimberly thought. How could she? I lied to her, and all she wants in return is for me to be around. That's not too much to ask. But I can't miss any more work. Maybe I can bring her with me. I'll call Gail.

Kimberly wasn't foolish enough to tell Nova yet another thing that she wasn't sure she could promise, so she didn't tell the girl about the idea of bringing her to school. Instead, Kimberly just consoled Nova with the assurance that Monday was still a couple of days away and then engaged her in play until she was calm. Later, when Nova took her evening shower, Kimberly called her boss - the school's principal.

"Can I start bringing Nova to work with me for a little while? I know it's unorthodox, but she can't tolerate being away from me right now."

The principal, Gail Watson, was aware of what had happened with Leila and why Kimberly was missing work, but this was still the last request she expected from Kimberly. "I don't want to seem unsympathetic to your situation, Kimberly, but Nova looks like she should be going into sixth grade. She won't pass for a second grader. What will you tell your students?"

"As little as possible and hope they don't ask too many questions. If they do, I'll simply have to politely tell them that her presence in our classroom is personal."

"That's hardly a bulletproof plan."

"I know, but it's the only one I've got. I have to bring her, Gail. Will you allow me to?"