3 Months Ago

Henderson Farm

Emma’s brow furrowed as she concentrated on her math sheet. The problems seemed a little more elementary than Aiko was used to dealing with. As the daughter of a neuroscientist, she was used to seeing all sorts of equations on her mother’s whiteboard in the den. Her father, a financier and investment banker, was also good at numbers, but not the kind her mother wielded.

“Do you need help with any of that?” Aiko asked.

“You know math?” Emma asked, eyes wide.

“I’ve been known to hold my own with it.”

Aiko glanced at the paper, which littered the page with a series of algebraic equations. Emma had attempted to answer many of the questions strangely. Instead of working both sides of the equation, she worked half and got the answer right. Aiko wondered what her thought process was.

“These are right, but how did you get the right answer?” Aiko said.

Emma frowned in concentration, as if trying to solve all the problems in the world.

“I don’t know. It just feels like the right way to do it.”

Emma has the gift for numbers.

“Maybe if you try to break each part into a story,” Aiko said.

“This is math, not English,” Emma said.

“Yes, but think of it this way. What if you have already read 20 books, and Annabelle has read 15. And you both plan to read more books each week. And if you read two more and Annabelle reads three more, how many weeks will it be until you both read the same number of books?” Aiko asked.

Emma’s brow furrowed in concentration, and then she started writing some numbers on scratch paper.

“Is it fifteen?”

“That’s not quite right. You are close, but I think I added instead of subtracted. Let’s break it down.”

“Okay, but I’m not good at math,” Emma said.

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“Let’s set up the equation,” Aiko said as she wrote it on a new piece of paper.

Emma watched, and Aiko scrawled the linear equations on the paper.

Emma = 20 + 2x

Annabelle = 15 + 3x

“Since you have already read twenty books and Annabelle has read fifteen, I’m setting up the equations for the books you both plan to read. Now watch this.”

Aiko continued writing the equations.

20 + 2x = 15 + 3x

“Now, let’s solve for x.”

20 + 2x = 15 + 3x

20 - 15 = 3x - 2x

5 = x

“Do you see what I just did?”

“Yeah, I think so. Did you just calculate the books that me and Annabelle read?”

“Yes, I set up the linear equation, and you solved it.”

“I had no idea that you can convert math into a story. This is kind of cool. Where did you learn how to do that?

A pang of heartache rumbled through Aiko’s chest. This happened every time she thought of her mother.

“Mother taught me,” Aiko said.

Mrs. Henderson sauntered into the family room and gave Aiko a warm smile.

“What are you girls up to?” Mrs. Henderson asked.

“Aiko was just helping me with some homework,” Emma said.

The older woman gave Aiko a thoughtful look. “I think it’s time Aiko gets enrolled in middle school.”

An unfamiliar, insecure feeling overcame Aiko. Just weeks ago, she fought Paige for the very privilege of attending classes. Now, she wasn’t so sure. It wasn’t like Aiko not to embrace the rigor of classes. The more complex, the better. Aiko constantly pushed the envelope of what she considered greatness. Since her mother died, she has become an overachiever. She didn’t know if it was in honor of her mother or to prove that she could do it. If someone had asked Aiko, she would have admitted it was a little of both.

“What’s wrong Aiko? Don’t you want to go to school?”

“I’m… not sure that I’m ready?”

Mrs. Henderson’s expression changed to a steely resolve. “I think you are. Tell you what, why don’t you come with me. I volunteer in Emma’s class a couple of times a week.”

“I haven’t seen you go to—”

“I stopped when you became a member of the family,” Mrs. Henderson said.

Aiko felt a wave of shame overcome her. She had no idea the sacrifices the Henderson family was making to keep her safe.

“Yay, it will be fun. Please say yes, Aiko,” Emma interjected.

A vision of Auntie Paige dressed in black, with a whip in one hand and a Bible in the other, appeared in her mind’s eye. She closed her eyes and wished the vision away. It faded like a nightmare before the rising sun.

“Okay, let’s give it a try.”

“Wonderful. I think you’ll like getting back into a routine. I think it’s time for you girls to get to bed.”

“No, Mom, it’s only eight.”

“And that’s way past your bedtime, little one,” Mrs. Henderson said in a firm voice.

“Yeah, I’m getting tired. Good night, little one,” Aiko said.

“I’m not little. I’m just a couple of years younger than you.”

Aiko laughed. “Yes, little one.”

Moments later, Aiko made her way to her room. She was about to enter when Liam emerged from the bathroom. Her breath caught as she took in the sight of his young, muscular form.

“I’ve been watching you train. You did well today. Did you want to spar tomorrow after school?”

Aiko felt lightheaded; it was like all the blood in her body had rushed into her head.

“Sure, I would like that.”

Liam smiled. “Then it’s a date.”