“Wouldn’t taking out a part time job just be...more stress?” Hunter asked, her voice sounding whinier than she intended.
“Oh, not at all.” Helen said in a quiet, reassuring voice.She stood up, and waddled behind Hunter, putting a warm, comforting and very *soft* arm on Hunter’s shoulder.
“Hunter, how long have I known you?”
“You’ve always known me.” Hunter answered. It wasn’t strictly true, but Hunter couldn’t remember those early months. And Helen didn’t care to correct her. She liked the power that came with being an eternal object in the mind of a child.
“You are very smart, Hunter. You have always been smart. I remember when you were small enough that you could sit on my knee, and I’d read you your favorite picture book, and you could correct me when I got the dinosaurs names wrong.”
Hunter groaned at that particular trip down memory lane.
“My point is, there is no conflict between my letter of recommendation, and you deserving to be here.” She began to switch from cozy, maternal figure to a more strict, disciplined, professional tone of voice. Playing up that she was the kind of intellectual Hunter could see herself as, and emulate. “I didn’t give you a letter of recommendation simply because you were Piper’s sister. I wouldn’t give my word that Parker would be a good student. Or Piper. Only you, Hunter Black, meet my exacting standards of a ‘promising student’.”
“You really think I’m that bright?” Hunter asked, shifting from being frustrated that her uniqueness wasn’t given it’s due, to balking at the unfamiliar feeling of being singled out for praise like this.
“Of course you are!” Dr. Schwartz said enthusiastically. “You’re already smarter than the help they’ve given me with this job. Apparently they’ll let anyone practice medicine without a license these days.” Helen enjoyed an easy chuckle at that one. Hunter just looked uncomfortable. Right, it was kind of an inside joke. Hunter wasn’t there for that Summer in Nicaragua. McCarthy would have laughed. Helen held back a sigh in front of Hunter. She missed Evie.
“I promise, helping me out after hours will help calm your nerves. You are like your sisters in one important way. If you’re left with nothing to do, you make trouble. You just have the good sense to make anxious trouble, rather then the criminal kind.” She quipped.
“Maybe. I’ll have to think about it.” Hunter said, retreating back to the turmoil of her own thoughts.
“I think that’s for the best.” Dr. Schwartz said, holding the office door open for her. “And I’ll support you in whatever decision you come to.” She added with a smile. It was easy to, when she was certain that Hunter would come to the decision she wanted, once she made up her mind up for her.
“T-Thank you, Dr. Schwartz.” Hunter said, as she gathered up her bookbag.
“Hunter, we’re practically Family~. Call me Helen.”
“...Yes, Helen.”
***
Dr. Schwartz closed the door behind her, and checked her records. What kind of young woman was Hunter Black going to grow into?
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