Not her first educational trip. When she was younger—only slightly older than the twins—she went with her mother. One of the few memories she had. It brought neither joy nor reprieve.
The bus line moved forward one vehicle at a time, engines running while teachers directed the children toward their assigned buses. A staff member checked each child's name against a printed list.
Arianne felt a slight tug on her sleeve, pulling her thoughts back to the present. She turned to her right and saw Leo looking up at her with a worried expression. They stood in line near the curb of the school parking lot, waiting to board the bus that would take them to their first destination.
Leo pointed at the bus.
"You're okay," Arianne said quietly. "I'm here."
Arianne lifted Leo from the ground and held him against her side. With her free hand, she kept a steady hold on Lily's forearm as the line advanced.
Lily looked up. "The bus is big."
"Yes."
"Bigger than our car."
"Yes."
