Chapter Twenty-Six

PARKER

 

If she’d had an alibi, she might have killed Nathan for intruding on her conversation with Lily. She’d taken the very brief moment alone with her to basically put it all out there—yet again—and just as she thought she might be getting somewhere, Nathan had intruded. She wondered if that was because he was now dating Lily’s housemate. She’d only found out the night before—it had been top secret. She wondered if Lily knew about it or whether Scott was playing around with Nathan just as secretively as Lily had with Parker. The whole thing seemed so crazy, and so complex. Not for the first time, Parker wished she’d had an opportunity to meet Megan who was apparently so amazing she had such a hold on both Lily and Scott.

It was actually Scott and Nathan’s burgeoning relationship that had inspired her to raise the matter again with Lily. Sure, Parker had said that if she couldn’t be more to Lily than she was, then she didn’t want to be her partner in any way. But, spending time away from her, and perhaps more so, dating other women, had really made her realise the special connection she had with Lily. Maybe Lily would change her mind if Scott was coupled up, but even if not, Parker wanted Lily in her life in some capacity, and not just as teacher and parent.

She didn’t have time to focus on it, though, because the school bell rang, and suddenly she was dealing with twenty-two energetic eight- and nine-year-olds. Luckily they managed to get her mind off things—she didn’t like living in the doldrums for long although she would remain hopeful until they could finish their conversation.

*

WHEN SHE FINALLY caught up with Nathan in the staff room, she asked him for more about him and Scott.

“I’m besotted,” he said in such a way that Parker couldn’t tell if he was seriously sharing his feelings or having a joke with her. Nathan struggled to really open up, especially about relationships. She sighed and then asked him if he saw a future with Scott. He thought for a moment as if he hadn’t given the idea any consideration before the question. “I think so. I really do like him.”

She was surprised, not because Scott didn’t seem like a great guy but because Nathan didn’t tend to plunge in. “Can you see yourself as Bodhi’s stepdad?”

Nathan looked amused. “I suppose a relationship with Scott would mean that would be on the cards. I’d have to sign up for it. But he has two committed parents in Lily and Scott, so I’d just be another parental figure there.”

“Do you know whether you’d live with Lily or…”

Nathan put his hands in the air and gestured frantically. “Hang on a second. We’ve been together, what, a month? Six weeks? None of this planning to live together. We aren’t lesbians,” he scoffed with a note of laughter in his voice.

Parker couldn’t believe he was standing here saying on the one hand he was besotted and wanted a future with the guy, but on the other hand they hadn’t discussed the logistics of making that work. Surely that had to be discussed, given the unique circumstances Scott lived in. “I’d be talking about that soon enough. What if he wants you to live with Lily and Bodhi if you move in together?”

“What if?”

“And what if Lily has a girlfriend? Do you really want a group house? You need to think these things through.”

“You should date Lily. Then the four of us could live together with Bodhi.” He had a cheeky grin on his face, and it made Parker blush.

“Believe me, if I could make it happen, I would.”

“What about CatInTheHat? Aren’t you still seeing her?”

It must have been the day for interruptions because, next thing, Kelly appeared. “Hey, grade three folk! How are things?”

They got talking about school and soon the whole discussion of Nathan and Scott, and Parker, Lily, and CatInTheHat was long forgotten.

*

RETURNING HOME TO her empty house was normally a joy at the end of a long day, but now Parker felt lonely, especially because it was a Tuesday evening. She’d gotten to a point of really looking forward to Tuesday evenings, and now, yet another lonely Tuesday night loomed ahead of her. What she would have done to have Lily breeze in and embrace her. What she would have done to wonder how long she would have the pleasure of her company—it had changed each week, from an hour on busy Tuesdays through to many hours on amazing Tuesdays. Seeing Lily that morning had been a bright spot in the long day that followed, but they never did have the conversation she’d intended to have. She’d tried hard not to dwell on it and get busy, but it was hard.

Deciding to at least make use of her time, she made a big lasagna, music playing on the stereo in the background. As she bopped away to the music while she prepped the lasanga, she tried to focus on anything but Lily, and eventually her mind wandered to Cat. Could she see herself with Cat? Would she be this excited to see Cat?

There was nothing wrong with Cat. She seemed to be a great girl—very confident and self-assured. There was some chemistry there. Nothing like the connection she had with Lily, but Lily was no longer an option. Or was she? Parker really wanted to understand what Lily’s main reason was for them not dating—Scott, Bodhi, or Megan? It was complex.

The lasagna was sizzling in her oven. At least something in her life sizzled. Her romantic life certainly did not.