All Over Again (Sequel to Wanted Man)

Chapter Seventeen

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Loki carefully eased into a parking space in the crowded lot at the Harmony Hills Preschool. He didn't understand the Midgardian tradition of preschool, and when he suggested a tutor for Selig, McKenna looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. So, preschool it was.

He locked the car, set the alarm, and made his way to the front doors. The building was laid out like a small elementary school, and judging from the number of cars in the lot, there were enough kids attending to need a building so big.

At the front doors, to his left, there was a small gray box with a speaker and a button. He pushed it, tucking his sunglasses into the neck of his shirt as he waited for the doors to open.

"May I help you?"

He jumped at the unexpected voice emerging from the little gray box, and frowned at it. "I am here to retrieve my son."

"His name?"

"Selig Laufeyson."

"And your name?"

"Loki Laufeyson."

"Come in to the office, please, Mr. Laufeyson." The door buzzed and Loki tugged it open.

"Hold the door, please!"

Loki looked out to see a tall brunette hurrying toward him. He held the door and she flashed a smile at him as she ducked into the building. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome. Do you happen to know where the office is?"

"It's right there." She pointed to the first door on the left.

"Thank you."

"Sure."

Maybe it was his imagination (and maybe McKenna rubbed off on him more than he realized) but he was fairly sure the brunette winked at him. But then she dashed off, around the corner, and he headed toward the first door on the left.

Inside, two secretaries looked up. "Can I help you?" the one closest to the counter asked.

"I'm supposed to pick up my son. Normally, my wife does, so I'm not certain which room he's in."

"Your son's name?"

He bit back an impatient sigh. Didn't he already answer this question? "Selig Laufeyson. He's in Miss Pritchard's class."

The secretary nodded. "And do you have some identification, Mr. Laufeyson?"

For a moment, he toyed with the idea of making her desk disappear, but figured McKenna would kill him if he did, so he opted to tug his wallet from his back pocket and took out his license. "I do."

The secretary looked at it and nodded again. "Pickup for Miss Pritchard's class is down that hallway-" she pointed to the hallway leading away from the main one-"Room 2."

"So I just walk down there and get him?"

"Parents wait in the hallway until the teacher dismisses them."

Loki tucked his license back into his wallet, his wallet back into his pocket, thanked the secretary, and turned to make his way to Miss Pritchard's classroom. As he drew near, he slowed. The same brunette was outside Room 2, and she smiled at he resumed his stride and came to a stop outside the door.

"Let me guess," she said, a smile playing at her lips. "You're Selig's dad, aren't you?"

"How did you guess?"

"He looks just like you."

Loki nodded. "That he does, although I don't seem to see it as much as everyone else does."