Christmas Daisy by Christine Bush

emotionally, Alexandra had not done as well.  She hadn’t spoken a word since that day.
    After an investigation to find any potential relatives failed, she had been put into the foster care system.  Interviews with former teachers had described her as a well adjusted, intelligent, social, and talented young girl. Her hobbies included playing basketball, singing, and reading. 
    She had spent more than a year in her first foster home, still with legs in casts, and with home tutoring.   Alexandra Baker showed no interest in anything, or anyone.  And though there was no medical reason for her lack of speech, Alexandra  would not talk.
      Finally, the initial foster mom, along with her social work er,  decided to have her reassigned to another home, where she might have more socialization available.  It was recommended that she return to school.
    So here she was at New Horizons, where her new and supportive foster mom hoped that exposure to peers, and small and personalized school environment might help.
    Had it helped?  Alexandra still didn’t talk.  But Daisy knew she paid attention to everything that went on around her.  She knew she was a great reader and learner, and had done well on her tests.
    The girls in the class had taken her under their wing, especially Maria, and for the most part, she seemed to have a pretty normal day.  Normal enough that Daisy hadn’t taken the file until now. 
    What would help?  Daisy felt a lump the size of a golf ball in her own throat at the thought of the pain Alexandra felt.  She knew the mind scrambling effect of such a loss.  She had been a few years older when she lost her own parents.  But by the grace of God, she sure could have been just like Alexandra, but the opportunity of teaching had taken her another direction.   
    Could she help this girl?  She let out a deep sigh as the bus arrived at her corner.  She’d try.  That’s all she could do.  But most of all, she understood.  Maybe that would be enough for a start. And it would keep her from thinking about her own unsettling ghosts and memories.

 
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
     
    Ben sensed the moment Daisy arrived at school that morning.  Another chilly and cloudy day, so he had come in early and had made another king sized pot of hot chocolate for everybody.  It would give a good start for the day, plus it gave him something to do with his very nervous hands as he awaited her arrival.  To see her.  To talk to her. 
    He had this fear the wall would be back up, that she would act as if nothing had happened between them the night before.  And he didn’t think he could stand it if that happened.
    From the moment he had met her, he had been attracted to her.  That feeling had grown exponentially, with each thing her learned about her, each conversation they had, each time he witnessed her care and respect for students, each time he heard her tinkling laugh echoing through the halls of New Horizons.  She had gotten under his skin.  No, worse than that. She had gotten into his heart. 
    This was a new occur rence.  His entire life had been one of being a “friendly loner”.  He had made friends and cohorts at every stage and place in his life.  He knew it was a natural reaction to the childhood he had experienced.  He had been an orphan, and had lived in a series of foster homes as a child. Ben had learned the hard way it was best to stay emotionally independent. He knew the heart break of change and loss in those early years.  Then, in high school, he was sent to a religiously based boarding school, receiving a scholarship for his grades and abilities. College and grad school had followed.   Hard work and job commitment had been his substitution for close personal relationships.
    His commitment to New Horizons had a lot to do with his own past.  His students came from a variety of family settings, and some from no family at all.  New Horizons School was a place of second chances for