Chapter 46

Ms. Beale shuffled nervously and Charles looks at her.

"I apologize, Ms. Beale. I don't for a moment think you had anything to do with this or blame you. Elena will tell you I sometimes get emotional and hearing this is one of those times."

"It is hard to hear, and thank you for being brave enough to talk about it," I offered to Ms. Beale. "I think the public would react with similar outrage if they knew."

Ms. Beale nodded at us. Having felt the full effect of Charles' power, I felt sympathy with her unease. I reached over and squeezed her arm.

She inhaled, relaxed and then looked at me, her eyes quizzical. "Is it you that’s producing that divine fragrance?"

Charles and I started in surprise and looked at each other.

"You can smell me?"

Ms. Beale hesitated. "I don't know. It's not something I can pinpoint as far as smell, but there's something there." She smiled at me and nodded. "And it's very comforting."

Charles smiled and focused on organizing the crackers in front of him in a straight line, not making eye contact with me.

"I've sometimes heard that," I said. "But I've also heard I smell like empty space so..." I laughed. "The jury is still out."

Ms. Beale's perceptive eyes flickered to Charles and then back to me. "Oh, I'm pretty sure the people who count have a firm opinion about it."

I felt myself blushing and busied myself with the peanut butter.

"I was going to say," Ms. Beale continued. "In the past we could absolutely trace the children to everyplace and every hand that had a part of their experience. But that data base went away with the fingerprinting."

She shook her head. "I feel like a crazy conspiracy theorist but it really feels like someone is trying to damage our children. I have no idea why that would be, or what the goal is. But the neglect is so obvious that it’s the only logical conclusion I can draw."

Charles looked at her and nodded. "Then I think it's important Elena and her department follow up on this."

I smiled, my heart warming. He had always been strangely supportive of me despite the bet and his own wishes. This, however, was a public acknowledgement of me and my abilities.

"Yes," I said. "We for sure will, if I can get Matilda away from taking photos of playing kids."

Charles laughed. "I understand her now. It's fun to be out with them."

"I didn't know you liked kids," I said.

"I didn't either," he shrugged.

"Well you're a natural," Ms. Beale said, giving me a sideways look. "Most Alphas are good with controlling kids but not all are good in a way that creates fun and enjoyment."

She stood up straight and wiggled her eyebrows at him. "You'll be a great father, too."

Charles, to my jaw-dropping surprise, suddenly looked embarrassed.

"Are you blushing?" I demanded, putting my knife down.

"Of course not, woman," he said gruffly, but he also looked mildly pleased with her suggestion.

"Hey," came a new male voice from the doorway and we all look up. It was the music teacher from our last visit.

He had a pleasant, kind smile and brown, and long hair that fell into his eyes. He stopped quickly when he saw Charles and shyly offered his hand and a submissive but strong tilt to expose his neck.

"I'm Todd," he said, shaking Charles' hand. "I think I know who you are."

"Charles Rafe," Charles said, smiling and firmly shaking Todd's hand. He practically towered over the other man.

"Todd is one of our angels," Ms. Beale said to Charles. "Volunteers to give the kids music time every week."

Charles nodded at him. "That's good work you do. The kids enjoy it, I'm sure."

Todd flushed with pleasure at the Alpha's praise and smiled. "It's a blast. They're so enthusiastic."

"Note he didn't say 'talented'," Ms. Beale joked and we all laughed.

Todd looked at me and his eyes light up in recognition. "Is your friend here today with you? Cathy, right?"

Charles looked at Todd with renewed interest and I too was surprised. "No, but she enjoyed the music time you did last time."

He smiled and nodded. "I hope she'll come back."

We finish edputting together the food and Ms. Beale nodded to Charles. "I think you know what to do."

He smiled. "Todd? Some assistance?"

The other man stepped up and Charles handed him a tray of crackers. They both went outside and Ms. Beale and I followed.

Charles drew himself up to his full height, a pillar of strength. Without having to say anything the kids' eyes began to go to him and soon a hush fell across the play yard.

"Impressive," Ms. Beale murmured. "I wish I had a tenth of his presence."

"I know, right?"

"It is snack time," he bellowed and the walls seemed to vibrate with his booming voice. "Please line up in front of Todd, who has crackers and then move on to my tray with your juice boxes."

The idea that Charles Rafe, millionaire and one of the most powerful people in the city was talking about miniature juice boxes made me giggle.

"If you'll please hush behind me," he said, throwing a look back that made me quickly cover my mouth. "When you are finished, throw your boxes in the trash bag provided by Ms. Beale. I don't want to see a single piece of trash on the ground. Is this clear?"

"Yes!" came a loud chorus of high voices.

"Okay. Then line up!"

There was a mad scramble, and in the blink of an eye a line had formed in front of Todd.

Charles looked at them appraisingly and then nodded at the quivering first boy in line.

He sprang immediately into action, taking his cracker, saying thank you, taking his juice box and thanking Charles with reverence and a slight bow of his head before he scurried off.

They filed through at a speed that would have made Mrs. Addison envious, and when they were finished not a scrap of trash lay on the ground.

Matilda and Todd were enjoying the last juice boxes while Charles and I helped Ms. Beale clean up.

"I sure would appreciate you attending the next city hall meeting, Elena," Ms. Beale said, wiping a knife clean and putting it in a drawer that she locked when she was finished.

I made a note of her careful security and knew this woman probably hated that the children were anything less than one hundred percent safe.

"Mrs. Addison and I are going to try to form a unified front and plead with the council for more funding. Your reporting on the topic might help us get the results we need."

I nodded. "I believe my boss is behind me attending."

"I'll make sure she is there," Charles nodded.

"Thank you," Ms. Beale said, and turned away to wipe at her eyes.

Charles, Matilda and I watched the kids file into the music room where Todd was already sitting at the piano playing a march. The kids raised their little legs and marched around the chairs until the music stopped and they scrambled to sit.

We waved in farewell to him and kids, and as we went to go, he hurried over to me, handing me a piece of paper.

"For your friend," he said, smiling shyly. I looked down and saw a phone number on it.

I grinned and nodded. "She'll get it, I promise."

Ms. Beale shook our hands once more at the door, bowing slightly to Charles. "Thank you again for coming Mr. Rafe. Please come again."

Matilda walked with us a block before heading off to another assignment, and we were alone.

While we were in the orphanage clouds had gathered, and a light rain was beginning to fall, turning the pavement fragrant and fresh.

I turned my face to feel the rain, momentarily closing my eyes.

I heard Charles huff and looked at him. He was starting at me, his eyes full of softness. He reached for my face, but then something snapped and his eyes focused on something at the end of the block.

He grabbed my body, pulling me toward him, blocking me from that direction.

I couldn't see past his large torso but I could hear a rumbling deep inside him.

"Charles," I asked, fear flooding my body. "What is it?"