Chapter Twenty

Susan was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off. She blinked and stared at the clock, almost forgetting why she’d set it. Then suddenly she was wide awake. My first day on the job! She jumped out of bed as she shut off the radio, tossed on some khaki pants with a solid navy blue t-shirt she’d laid out the night before, and hoped she looked appropriate for this first day of new teacher orientation.

Mrs. Renfrow had emailed an agenda for the day and attached a list of items Susan would most likely need in order to set up her classroom. Susan had groaned at the unexpected expense, but printed out the list and went to a discount store to purchase the items.

“It’s too bad I have to use my limited funds to buy school supplies,” she confided to Megan as they stood in the long checkout line, “but I guess I’d better get used to it. I’ve heard teachers sometimes have to spend their own money to stock their classrooms.” She texted her bank for her balance, and then frowned when the reply came back.

Megan thumbed through a fashion magazine and tossed it in the shopping cart. “You mean you haven’t even gotten a paycheck yet, and you’re already in the hole?”

Susan calmly put the magazine back on the rack. “Unfortunately, my first paycheck won’t come for about three weeks, so we’re going to be on a tight budget until then.”

“Tighter you mean.”

Susan had bought the bare minimum and had to put it on her credit card instead of the bank debit card, but now as she glanced at the numerous plastic bags sitting on her bedroom floor, she wondered if she’d bought enough supplies. But until Megan’s child-support check came next week, this would have to do.

Susan adjusted the straps on her sandals and glanced at the clock again: six-thirty a.m. She was trying to estimate how much time she needed for driving since the school was only two miles away. She was nervous, could hardly sit or stand still, and food was the last thing on her mind, but she went to the kitchen anyway to try to drink some orange juice. Honey came bounding in from Megan’s room, so Susan reached down and patted her on the head.

“Hey, girl, you need out?” Honey wagged her tail, and Susan opened the backdoor to let the dog out into the yard.

“Hi, Mom. Want some coffee?” Caroline stretched and stumbled into the kitchen as she headed straight for the cabinet to retrieve a mug. “I made extra last night when I set the timer.”

“It smells heavenly, Car, but I think I’m nervous enough as it is. Besides, Mrs. Renfrow said there was a continental breakfast this morning.”

“Nervous, huh?” Caroline stifled a grin as she absent-mindedly fingered the Meadows Advertising logo on the coffee mug.

Susan got up and opened the fridge, forgot what she wanted, closed it, and then opened it again when she remembered the juice. “Yes, a little. I’ll be even more nervous next week when the kids come back to school.”

“You’ll do fine.” Caroline poured herself a steaming mug of coffee and stirred in some sweetener.

Susan poked her pencil at the newspaper crossword, but couldn’t concentrate on it. Finally she tossed the pencil aside and said, “You’re up early, Caroline.”

Caroline blew on her coffee and took a sip. “I’m going to work early this morning so I can take a long lunch. I’ve got a couple of appointments to look at apartments today. Hopefully I’ll be out of your hair in the next two weeks.”

Susan closed up her paper in surprise. “You’re not in my hair, Car. Not at all. And I don’t know what I would have done without you while Allie was in the hospital.”

“That’s what families do, Mom. No matter where I live, I’ll always be around if you need me.” Caroline gave her mom a quick hug, and then topped off her coffee mug so it was brimming full. “You have a nice first day at work, and I’ll talk to you this evening.” Caroline headed toward the bathroom, balancing the hot coffee gingerly.

Susan put her empty juice glass in the sink, opened the backdoor to let Honey in, and went to her room to gather her supplies. It seemed like such a normal day for everyone else. So why is my stomach doing gymnastics?

****

Okay, it only takes seven minutes to get here. Susan couldn’t decide whether to sit in the parking lot and listen to the radio for fifteen more minutes, or just go ahead into the building early. Just as she was turning off the ignition, her cell phone rang. She answered without glancing at the caller ID.

“Good morning, Teach!” a cheerful voice said.

Susan laughed. “Good morning, Patrick.”

“I’m just calling to wish you luck on your first day, even though I know you don’t need it. Are you nervous?”

“A little. Well, all right, a lot! This school is so big, and I don’t know my way around, and I don’t know any of the other teachers.”

“Everyone feels that way the first day on a new job. How about I meet you for coffee this afternoon and you can tell me how well it went?”

“I’d like that.” Susan smiled at his encouragement. She got out of the car, gathered her belongings and her courage, and headed for the school building.

****

Caroline heard her phone ping with a text, but she was driving and couldn’t look at it. She pulled up in front of the apartment complex where she was scheduled to tour an available unit and surveyed the building. It was a small complex, probably less than one hundred apartments, but the grounds were well-maintained with flower beds attractively arranged around the perimeter, and trees neatly trimmed. The building itself was all brick with a wood roof, probably built in the 1980s. She glanced at the dashboard clock and knew she’d be late for her appointment if she didn’t get out of the car right then, but she wanted to check her text first. It was from Megan.

—Car, Sharlene wants me to meet her at the mall for a dress fitting for that stupid bridesmaid dress. Can you come get me?—

Caroline rolled her eyes. She replied—Ask Allie.—

Megan typed back—She’s going to Brandon’s and she’s being a b…about Honey.—

Caroline narrowed her eyes. She’d have to speak to her sister about her cyber language. Honey? What’s up?

Megan sent a frowny face and said—Honey chewed up one of Allie’s sandals.—

Caroline made a mental note to explain to Megan, again, that Honey was her responsibility and that she’d have to keep the dog out of Allie’s belongings.—I’m looking at apartments and then back to work. Call Sharlene?—

A minute or so elapsed, and then Megan replied—I’ll get Allie to take me. NOT Sharlene.—

Caroline smiled, stashed her phone in her pocket, and went inside the apartment’s leasing office.

****

Susan and Patrick met at Peterson’s Coffee Emporium. Since it was an easy one-block walk from Rosslyn High School, she didn’t even bother moving her car from the school’s faculty parking lot. Patrick gave Susan a quick kiss on the forehead as they walked in the door together.

“What’ll you have, ma’am?” Patrick asked in his best Texas drawl.

Susan loved that they were from roughly the same part of the country, giving them all the more in common. “The usual, sir,” Susan drawled back with a wink. But then more seriously she added, “But I’d prefer my latte frozen today. It’s really hot outside.”

“One frozen mocha latte coming up.” Patrick winked back as he went to place their orders.

Susan watched him walk up to the counter and marveled at how she’d gotten so lucky. She now had the exciting teaching job she had waited her whole adult life for, three wonderful and talented daughters, and three years after an ugly divorce, a nice man who wanted to be with her.

“So tell me how your first day went.” Patrick set their frosted cups on the table and held Susan’s chair for her. “Better or worse than expected?”

“Much better.” Susan was charmed with his chivalry. “After I got over being nervous, my only problem was getting lost in the halls, which I did several times. I very nearly missed a meeting because I couldn’t find the room.”

He squeezed her hand and smiled. “One thing at a time. You’re going to be a great teacher.”

Susan felt completely safe and happy for the first time in years. They chatted, sipped their lattes, and enjoyed each other’s company, but eventually they had to part.

“I don’t want to let you go,” Patrick said as he walked her out into the late afternoon heat.

Susan felt the same, but she had so many demands on her time. “Thanks again for meeting me, Patrick, for bolstering my spirits…”

He gave her a sweet kiss. “Go home and take care of your girls. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Susan arrived home both tired and exhilarated, and went straight to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and stared into it. “What’s for dinner?” she asked herself as she perused its contents.

“Mom!” Allie called as she came in the front door. “You home?”

“In here,” Susan called back. She decided the heat called for a cold dinner. Caesar salad would be perfect. She pulled some leftover grilled chicken out of the fridge, grabbed some lettuce and grated cheese,

Allie bounced into the kitchen, grinning.

“I thought you were at Brandon’s,” Susan said, “practicing.” She pulled some croutons out of the pantry, got a large salad bowl out of the cabinet, and set all her ingredients next to it.

“She was.”

Susan flipped around to see Brandon standing behind Allie, also grinning and exchanging glances with Allie. “What’s up, you two?”

Brandon smiled adoringly at Allie and took her hand. “I spoke to my friend in the Admissions Office at Bradley this morning.”

Susan held her breath, eager to hear the results of Allie’s audition. But the two of them just stood there grinning at one another. She tapped her foot impatiently. “And?”

Allie threw her arms around her mother. “And… I’m in!”

“You’re in?” Susan wasn’t sure she heard right. “You mean…?”

“It means,” Brandon told her, “that Allie really impressed both the Dean and the music committee.”

“I’ve been accepted for the fall semester, and they awarded me the full ride scholarship!” Allie said. “Can you believe it, Mom? I’m in the Music School at Bradley University!”

“As soon as you go over to Admissions and sign the paperwork,” Brandon reminded her, squeezing her hand.

Susan felt light as a feather. Her daughter had been accepted to a prestigious private university, with a music school that rivaled Bryce, and all with no added expense that Daniel could balk at. Susan pulled Allie in for another hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

Allie stepped back from her mom and turned to Brandon, giving him a big hug, too. They stood in a silent embrace for a moment, Susan watching with a critical eye. “I can’t thank you enough,” Allie said.

“I’ll consider myself thanked when I hear you play a solo in Central Hall.”

“Can I talk you into staying for dinner?” Susan asked him. “It’s the least I can do.

Allie shook her head. “No, thanks, Mom, we’re on our way out. I lost track of time practicing at Brandon’s and skipped lunch, so we’re headed out for a sandwich now.” Hand in hand, Allie and Brandon walked to the front door.

Susan almost called out for Brandon to take care of Allie, but she stopped. Of course he would. Allie was safe with Brandon.

****

Caroline fairly danced into the house, a folder full of papers under her arm. “Mom!” she shouted gleefully. No answer. She went through the house, eventually locating Susan and Megan in the backyard playing with Honey on what had turned out to be an unusually warm late-summer evening.

“Mom! Guess what!” Caroline announced. “I signed the lease on an apartment!”

Susan dropped the stick she was about to throw for Honey to fetch. “I knew you had some showings lined up, but I thought you were just looking.” Honey danced in circles until Susan threw the stick, and the dog took off after it.

Caroline walked to the picnic table and poured herself a tumbler of iced tea. “It’s a small two bedroom/one bath, about three miles south of here, affordable, really clean. And it’s right on the Monon Trail! There were some other people interested, so I hurried up and put down the security deposit. I plan to move Labor Day weekend. Of course, I need to think about furniture and…”

“Labor Day weekend?” Susan interrupted her. “That’s the weekend Richard’s getting married, isn’t it?”

Caroline took a big gulp of tea and looked down at Honey, dancing playfully around Megan’s ankles. She would miss being with family, but it was time she got out on her own. And moving September first worked for several reasons. “I’ve been thinking about maybe skipping the whole wedding thing.”

“Caroline, you have to go,” Megan insisted. “I’ll never be able to show my face in public wearing that hideous bridesmaid dress Sharlene picked out if you’re not there.”

“I know Richard wants you there,” Susan said. “But I understand if you feel you can’t go.”

“Hey, tell me about your first day at work,” Caroline said to her mother.

Megan threw the stick for Honey to chase. “Back off, Mom. That’s Caroline-code for she doesn’t want to talk about Richard’s wedding.”

Caroline opened her mouth to contradict Megan, but she couldn’t get a sound out, and anyway Megan was right. Tears came to her eyes. “Oh, I just remembered a call I needed to return for work.” It wasn’t true of course, but she didn’t want her mother and sister to see her crying. She hurried to her bedroom, shut the door, and let the tears flow.

“Car, I’ve got great news!” Allie stopped in her tracks. “You look miserable,” she said, coming the rest of the way into their bedroom.

Caroline looked up. She hadn’t even heard Allie enter. “How long have you been standing there?”

Allie took the box of tissues off the dresser and handed it to her. “Long enough. Is this about Richard?”

Caroline took a tissue and dabbed at her eyes. “No. I just told Mom I’m moving out and…”

“You’re moving?”

Caroline nodded and sniffled. “Labor Day weekend. It’s perfect timing, really. I get my own place…”

“And you get to duck out on Richard’s wedding.” Allie shook her head. “So it is about Richard. Why don’t you just tell him how you feel?”

Caroline lifted an eyebrow. “If you mean tell him I hope he’s going to be happy, he already knows.”

“You want him to be happy?” Allie looked puzzled. “With Misty?”

“Well, of course.” Caroline swallowed the lie and went to the mirror to wipe mascara from under her eyes.

“Caroline! Are you listening to yourself? You can’t even look me in the face and spout that nonsense.” Allie came up behind Caroline and looked at their reflections in the mirror. “Be honest, Caroline, you’re in love with him!”

Caroline closed her eyes to blot out that thought. “Love? Impossible. He’s my boss, and he’s about to be married.” The last part got stuck in her throat, causing her a coughing fit.

“Yeah, and if you don’t speak up, he’s going to marry the wrong woman.” Allie patted Caroline’s back till she quit coughing. “Richard doesn’t know he has options.”

Caroline sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “It hurts too much, but it wouldn’t matter anyway. He’s determined to marry the woman his dead mother handpicked for him.” She stifled a sob. “I want Richard to be happy, I really do. I guess I could even watch him get married if I thought he was marrying the right woman. But Misty is not the right woman for him! Even his grandmother told him so.”

“I agree with Adele.” Allie gave her sister’s shoulder a squeeze. “Did you ever tell Richard about seeing Misty in Chicago?”

Caroline began reapplying her smeared makeup. “I tried, but I just couldn’t get the words out.”

Allie sat down on the side of her own bed, her feet propped on the edge, elbows on her knees. “Try again. Before it’s too late.”

Caroline gave up on her makeup when the tears started falling down her cheeks again. She grabbed a fresh tissue and blew her nose. “It’s already too late, Allie.” She didn’t want to hear I told you so from her sister or anyone else, but she was beginning to second-guess herself about taking the job at Meadows. “Alienating the boss’s new wife would make my life miserable.”

“If you can’t tell Richard about your feelings, you at least need to tell him the truth about Misty and Mark. Let him decide what to do with the information.”

That was good advice, but Caroline doubted she had the courage to go through with it. She dabbed at her eyes and let out a huge sigh. “I guess I’m stuck. I’ll have to go to the wedding, and once he gets back from his”—she nearly gagged—“honeymoon, I’ll have to deal with the new Mrs. Meadows.”

Allie brightened up. “Hey, you know the wedding invitation said we could bring a plus one, right? Why don’t you invite some hot guy to be your date?”

Caroline sat with that a minute. “Well, I guess I could ask Jared at the realty office. Lucy thinks he likes me.”

“See? There you go.”

Caroline finally smiled through her tears, feeling like there might be hope after all. “I guess if I have to go, I could do worse than go with a hunky guy who’s got a crush on me.”

“And you could double with us,” Allie said.

“Us?”

Allie grinned. “Mom and I have dates—Patrick and Brandon!”

This time Caroline raised her eyebrow. “Brandon?”

“Yeah, Brandon. He’s been such a good friend to me. That’s my good news. He helped speed up the paperwork and got me admitted to Bradley for the fall semester, full ride and all.”

Caroline was happy for her sister, but wary of this new friendship, especially on the heels of her disastrous relationship with Mark. “Well, that’s great, but did you ask Brandon out of gratitude, or is there something else going on?”

“Yes and no,” Allie said. “Yes, I’m grateful, and no, we’re just friends right now, but…” she stopped and looked at her sister.

“But…?”

Allie sighed. “I thought I’d found the love of my life when I met Mark. He was everything I thought I wanted in a boyfriend, but he turned out to be so shallow. At first I thought Brandon was just an old guy with a piano, but as I’ve gotten to know him, I’ve seen what a decent man he really is. He was there for me the whole time I was sick. So I’m taking my time getting to know him, which I didn’t with Mark.”

“Wow, near-death has given you all kinds of insight,” Caroline said with a wry grin.

“So how ’bout it, Car? Ask Jared to be your date?”

Caroline thought about it, but she couldn’t go through with it. An idea came to her. “Hey! I know the perfect ‘date’: Emily and Sara!”

Allie laughed out loud. “Well, I guess you can’t invite one without the other!”

The more she thought about it, the more she knew that asking two close family friends to the wedding would give her the moral support she needed. “Richard won’t mind, and it’ll drive Sharlene nuts to have to add one more to the seating arrangement!” Caroline and Allie high-fived.