349 Settling In, or Not

(Winona)

This place is stunning. Truly. But it’s not made for kids. Not in the slightest.

Everywhere I look, staff are bustling around, preparing everything as if royalty are about to arrive. I glance at Jayden, watching as someone pours him a drink.

He’s trying to hide it, but I can see a bit of embarrassment on his face. Not enough to stop it, though. He’s sitting in an armchair, with a staff member standing by waiting for the next instruction.

“This is... a lot,” I murmur as I lean in closer.

He shrugs. “It’s their job, Winona. I can’t just sack them.”

“I get that,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “But they’re doing everything. How are the kids supposed to learn anything here if someone’s doing every little thing for them?”

“They can still learn. Just... we’ll work it out,” Jayden tries to reassure me. “Look, I know it’s overwhelming right now, but let’s just give it a few days, okay? We’ll figure out a routine that works for everyone.”

I’m not convinced. I can already tell