Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 71843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
JUNE 2020
Welcome to my June 2020 newsletter. I hope that you all are staying both safe and healthy. I know it’s been difficult to maintain our morale and positivity in the face of such devastating events. My family has been affected, my friends, my neighbors, and we are all left with taking steps to further change, focusing on inclusion and striving for belonging. This is what I stressed to my kids. If I can put two good people out into the world with an unshakeable belief in equality for everyone, then that will be the best thing I can do.
It has been an interesting time in the Kage-Harcourt household, as Kola was supposed to graduate back at the end of May, but since the ceremony was canceled, he decided to work with the school to do a message and give his speech with his co-valedictorian. They did it together and decided to film the whole thing so they could remember what they said. But what ended up happening was that the outtakes of them talking, arguing, and taking a break to sing along with something Hannah was playing in the background was what went up on the school’s website. I will admit to having watched it at least ten times at this point. I have also very much enjoyed receiving comments and emails from other parents telling me how great my kid is. Nothing like having people praise your kids.
Lucy’s father came to town to take custody of her, and though I will miss her, it’s nice to have my home back. I’m thrilled that she’s with her dad and that they can start the next part of their lives. Of course, because that’s how it goes, the following day, her mother called looking for her because she was ready to talk. I apologized instead of letting my husband get on the phone with her. Whenever he says, “it’s fine, gimme the phone,” I know better. That’s when he’s ready to unload on someone with both barrels.
Kola is deciding whether to go to California, live on campus, and take online classes or stay home and take online classes. Since Harper and Jake are already staying home, I’m thinking I may have my kid home another year. I’m trying REALLY hard not to be happy about this in front of him.
With everything going on, I know that lots of organizations and different agencies have been affected. Things, and people, have fallen through the cracks. Because of this, some of us have had to take steps to help more often than normal. So I wasn’t really surprised to see three police detectives on my doorstep last Friday.
I’m sorry to say that I can always tell them, because inevitably, they have bad ties and bad shoes and just look basically disheveled. I was there before they rang the doorbell.
“Hello, Detective Ames,” I greeted him cheerfully.
He was scowling at me.
“What happened to Detective Wilson?” I asked, tipping my head, trying to be sympathetic. “Did you run him off too?”
“You see,” he growled, turning his head to the man on his left, then the one on his right, and finally back to me. “I told you he was a wiseass.”
I smiled; the one that made my eyes big that Sam always instantly asked what I had done. “How may I help you?”
“These are Detectives Vega and Beatty, and they’re working a case with a missing mother and son.”
“Oh,” I said sadly, “missing. I’m so sorry.”
“You are not!” Ames barked at me, charging up close to me.
I put my hand over my mouth. “Social distancing please, Detective.”
He backed off, went to the porch railing, hit it hard and then turned, perched on it, and faced me. “Where were you three nights ago?”
“Here,” I assured him.
“Can anyone verify that?”
“My husband, my children,” I told him.
“Well, we’re gonna need his number,” Detective Vega told me.
“Wait,” Ames said snidely.
“I’m sorry?”
Ames tipped his head at Vega. “Go ahead, Mr. Harcourt, tell the detective who your husband is.”
“Sam Kage.”
He was processing that, I could tell from how thoughtful he looked. “Sam…wait. Sam Kage the Chief Deputy of the Northern District of Illinois?”
“Yes,” I said sweetly.
“Are you kidding?” Beatty groaned like he was dying.
“I’m not,” Ames told him.
Vega cleared his throat. “Would it be all right with you both if I had a private word with Mr. Harcourt?”
“Sure,” Ames said but didn’t move.
Vega walked down the steps from my front porch to the cobblestone path, and I followed him, stopping when he did, and standing there halfway between my house and my front gate.
He turned to face me, smiling, giving me a little nod. It was smooth, this thing he was doing, using his dark eyes, his perfect smile, and the subtle gesture all to convey his warmth. It was smart of him; it just wasn’t working. My kids were better at this than he was.