Spies&Thieves

flashbacks

-BEX-

Headmistress Morgan had always been a mother to me.

She was the only one I had growing up, due to the fact that my parents spent so much of their time on missions and always unable to take a call. Not only this, but she was Cammie’s mom, which was why, naturally, I had seen her more than most students would in their life. Adding to that, she was there for me, Liz, and Macey when Cammie ran away. When her own daughter went missing and not one person could find her. I guess that’s a good thing though; impressive, even, when you go to a school where that could earn you straight A’s for the rest of your life.

But It then occurred to me then that I couldn’t really call her Mrs. Morgan now. So many years we were accustomed to Cam’s mom grieving over the death and disappearance of her husband, but it wasn’t until recently she agreed to re-marry. All of us were ecstatic, including Cammie. The man she was marrying was our old Cove. Ops teacher, Mr. Solomon, and Zach’s only fatherly figure. It was going to take a while to get used to saying Mrs. Solomon.

“Didn’t think I’d be back here for a while,” Zach breathed.

My head snapped up and took in the surrounding area. Yes, I thought to myself, I didn’t think I would ever really see this place again either.

The town of Roseville was busy when we arrived. Thickets of teenagers strolled down the square with their heads thrown back in laughter, gazing into expensive stores and walking in and out of the diner across the street. Only one person stood inside the gazebo at the center of the open square. Her hair hung down in soft brown waves as she leaned on the white wooden structure. Lips pulled into a small smile.

I practically started running. On the other side of me, Macey looked the same way. Zach, on the other hand, held a darkened look. My hand reached up to tug on his sleeve. “Hey, everything okay?”

A small nod and a bittersweet smile was returned to me. Macey let out a small laugh as we approached, and said, “Is it bad I keep hoping Cam is going to somehow show up?”

“The thought crossed my mind.”

Finally, Zach smirked, and said, “Too bad none of us would be able to find her even if she was here. Cammie could literally be sitting on one of the benches by the sidewalk and we would never see her.”

“Is that a challenge, Zachary?” I teased.

“Fine. If she’s here and you don’t see her, you have to make me breakfast every morning.”

I threw my head back in laughter, “You’re on.”

Kat and Hale caught up to us then, after lagging behind for so long. I didn’t realize how fast the three of us were walking until we reached the steps of the gazebo and I heard an amused, “Where’s the fire?”

Mrs. Mor— Solomon smiled at the three of us. It was a smile that could move an entire nation, bring someone to tears because of the plain beauty of it. And in that moment, I wanted nothing else except to be in my best friend’s mother’s arms.

Her strong body folded into mine, and she crooned, “Oh, Rebecca. Is it possible you’ve aged ten years since the last time I saw you? Oh, you look just like your mother.” Her steady hands brushed down my hair.

When she released me, I took my place beside Zach and wiped away any signs of emotion in my eyes. In my lifetime, I had only seen Macey hug about five people, but she clung to Rachel Morgan like her life depended on it.

“I’ve missed you girls so much,” she chuckled as she parted with Macey.

Zach smiled curtly and said, “It’s good to see you, Mrs. Morgan—er, I mean, Solomon.”