My jaw clenched and I fought back the tide of anger growing in my chest. I didn’t need to be told how to parent. If I hadn’t had practice choosing my words carefully, I would have given her a piece of my mind. “It’s time for me to leave.”
Letting myself out, I cursed my weakness. I’d let my guard down, let Melody into our family, and now she was telling me how to run it. The neighbor watched when I slammed the door to my truck. They could add lover’s quarrel to their gossip topics, and I didn’t give a shit. I’d been perfect long enough. A couple weeks of indiscretion were forgivable.
What was a big city girl doing teaching high school choir in our small town anyway? I browsed through my mental record of our conversations and realized I’d been so enamored by her, I hadn’t questioned why she was in Hopeful. If that was her idea of making it as a vocalist, she was the wrong role model for Hailey.
Chapter Six
MELODY
My first day of the teaching should have filled me with excitement, but without meeting most of my students, I’d already pissed off my star student’s dad.
I’d only heard from Brandt once since he stormed out when I overstepped and gave him parenting advice. The one communication was a text message where he told me he was calling our relationship off.
I’d gotten too attached to him in the weeks I’d been in Hopeful. Spending Christmas morning in his arms watching the snowfall had been the best Christmas ever.
My attachment to Brandt was the problem. It snuck up on me, blindsided me that I’d fallen hard and fast. When we had a few days of playing house, I’d felt like we had something real. I learned about cows, horses, types of hay, and all the different ways we innately read each other intimately. But the package deal of his life revolved around Hailey. Our heartfelt conversations had given me a sense of ownership that I didn’t actually have.
I saw myself in her and I’d kind of gone Mama Bear with her, wanting to protect her from all the naysayers. Something no one had done for me.
Brandt reminded me he was the alpha. I had no claim to Hailey other than being her teacher, one of many.
The bell rang and students began filtering into the classroom. Taking a moment to greet each student, the implications of getting a bad reputation in a small town hit me hard. With any luck, the kids would be more worried about who was having sex in their own age group and not who their teacher was banging.
Nothing changed as the school year resumed. I’d hoped I’d get to see Brandt at Meet the Teacher night, but he didn’t show. A national contest, Teen Voices, was coming up and I wanted to talk to him about it. The kids had to send in an audition tape with their parent’s permission and if selected, they’d be asked for another submission of diverse material, and if they passed that level, they got to audition in person. Scholarship money and visibility were on the line.
Other than Brandt, the parents must have been curious about the new teacher because over half the parents stopped by. My mind was a blur of faces and names, many of which I’d seen and heard around town, and could finally start piecing together.
When the evening wrapped up, I called the one parent I’d been eager to see, feeling a touch desperate for hoping he’d be the next on to walk through the door all evening. Why couldn’t I be more grateful for everyone who showed up?
My call went to voicemail. I hung up.
The likelihood I wouldn’t run into Brandt in a month had to be pretty slim, but it happened.
Hailey had been heartbroken when she told me her dad didn’t want her to enter the contest. Was there really any harm in sending an audition tape? If nothing else, she would learn the process.
Other than Brandt’s cold shoulder, adjusting to the school teacher routine came pretty naturally. I liked teaching a lot more than I’d expected. There were a couple of dedicated students in every class and it helped me overlook the kids who were in choir because they didn’t know what else to take for an elective.
Life continued without Brandt, and being the new single girl in town made me popular with the men, but I turned down their offers. Untangling whether I more was hung up on Brandt or worried about getting a reputation left my mind in turmoil.
A month of school passed when Hailey ran into my classroom before the first bell. She was talking so fast her words were jumbled. “I can’t believe it. Guess what I got!”
She didn’t have her books, only her phone which she was flailing in front of me. I took her hands attempting to calm her down. “Take a breath. What’s going on?”
With her hands contained, her energy had to find a way out and she started bouncing. “I got an email. I made it to the second round. You have to help me pick the types of music they requested.”
“Wait? You entered the contest? I thought your dad wouldn’t let you. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He signed the form on the last day. But don’t tell him about this, I haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet. I literally just got the email while I was in the hall waiting for the first bell.”
“Your dad’s not talking to me.”
Her head dropped. “Yeah. He doesn’t even want me to talk about you.”
I put an arm around her. “Hey, not your fault. Don’t worry about what’s going on between your dad and me. Go tell your friends the exciting news and come in during your lunch break if you want to get started selecting music.”
“I’ll be here. Thanks.”
“No need to thank me, you made it through round one all on your own.”
“The lessons helped. I understand the intention of the pieces a lot better the way you teach.” She was halfway out the door as she finished then darted down the hallway.
Chapter Seven
BRANDT
Avoiding Melody had been stupidly difficult. I’d left the grocery store on two occasions when she walked in, and one trip to get my hair cut was a near miss. If I hadn’t seen her through the window I would have parked and walked in.
Telling myself I could handle being in the same room with her was one thing, but I couldn’t look her in the eyes without dredging up all the feelings I had for her. I was too raw.
I’d tried to create an environment where she and Hailey could have their thing and I wouldn’t be a distraction. It didn’t prevent me from thinking of her non-stop.
Because my latest grocery shopping trip had been cut short, the cupboard and fridge were bare. Instead of grabbing a quick sandwich, I had to run into town for lunch. I phoned my order in to the deli so I wouldn’t have to wait.
At the stoplight, I noticed there were a lot of teenagers out of school then it hit me, it was the last day before Spring Break and the school gave the kids a half day.
I was glad I’d called ahead because the deli was packed. I went straight to the front, able to avoid the line.
Peaking around the corner for an empty table, I saw Hailey. Starting her direction, I realized she was eating with Melody. Running into her had been inevitable, but I wasn’t ready.
They spied me before I could retreat. Melody smiled and diverted her eyes. They were in the middle of their lunch and I figured it would be rude to walk away.
We exchanged pleasantries and I couldn’t deny the happiness of seeing them together. I wanted that in my life, even if it was short-lived. Hailey seemed nervous, but who could blame her with the way I’d been acting.
I asked to sit with them, as if they might turn me down, and they welcomed me. The damage of my idiocy wasn’t irreparable.
My farce of protecting Hailey had been ridiculous. She was sitting there having lunch with Melody instead of with her friends. That choice spoke volumes.
Lately I’d felt that Hailey wasn’t talking to me about as much as she used. Seeing her with Melody, it became painfully clear why. She had Melody. A mother figure. Isn’t that what every girl needed. Her mom sure wasn’t up for the role.
There was no adult reason I couldn’t keep Hailey’s trust and be friends with Melody. There was also no possib
le way I could forget the things Melody and I had done in private. My guilty conscious told me everyone knew, but no one had said anything. I needed to let it go no matter how much my heart and other parts yearned for her.
The two of them finished their conversation with happiness in both of their voices and eyes. Something had to give. I had to get over myself.
Hailey excused herself to get another napkin.
Melody glanced my direction and I could practically see a glow creep over her face.
“I’ve missed you,” rolled off my tongue before I could stop it.
She patted my hand. “I’ve missed you too.”
“Do you have any plans for spring break? You could come over for dinner.”
Melody sat back, pulling her hand away. “I’m leaving for the airport in about an hour. I scheduled some gigs back home, re-establishing myself before I go back.”
“Of course.” I had no right to feel hurt, but she might as well have stabbed me in the heart. Her words broke something inside of me. I suspected it was my heart. Trying to avoid that line of thinking, I changed my thoughts to Hailey and felt like Melody was betraying her. Why? We all went into this knowing she’d be here one semester.
Melody leaned forward again and grabbed my hand. I hadn’t been able to move from where she’d last touched me. “Anyway, I’m really proud of Hailey. We’re set to video chat two lessons while I’m gone since she’s nervous, but I assured her there’s plenty of time when I get back to polish her performance. She’s such a natural.”
Hailey had never been nervous about choir performances. I racked my brain for the date of her next concert. Had she cut me out of that conversation too or had I been too busy getting cattle from their winter grazing to their spring pasture to keep up? I pulled out my phone and opened the calendar. “Remind me when the concert is.”
Melody laughed. “Not the concert. Her trip to New York. For the contest.” Melody’s words got slower and slower. She seemed to pick up on my confusion.
Hailey walked up to the table and froze as Melody finished.
“I’m sorry, Dad. I was going to tell you.” Her eyes started to glisten and my mind raced back to the only contest I remembered her mentioning. Wasn’t it online? What was Melody saying about New York? A couple bizarre conversations with Hailey popped into my mind. She had a lot of explaining to do.
My chest tightened. “Get three doggie bags.”
Hailey rushed to the counter and returned with the three bags.
Based on Melody’s surprise, it was unlikely she knew I was out of the loop.
“We’re discussing this at home.”
Hailey stood by her seat and folded the paper around her sandwich and chips without sitting.
I became aware of the prying eyes from other tables and left while Hailey and Melody exchanged worried glances, but heard them follow behind me.
They’d walked from the school since Melody walked everywhere and agreed to ride with me to Melody’s house to make the best use of the small window of time we had before she left. It was the most silent two-minute car ride I’d ever experienced other than Hailey crying.
“I thought getting this far in the contest would be enough to make mom proud of me,” she said as we entered Melody’s house.
My heart stung that she was worried about making her mom proud. “I have no idea what she’ll think. But you have a lot of explaining to do. Is this part of the online contest you mentioned a couple of months ago?”
“Yes. Melody said I should enter but you wouldn’t sign the form.”
“The one I said we needed to talk about more?” I glared at Hailey then Melody. If she wanted to meddle in parenting, she needed to see the side that sucked.
Melody’s expression showed true regret. “This is all new to me. I assumed you knew. Hailey, did you forge his signature?”
Hailey addressed me first. “When you say we need to talk, it usually means no.”
“It means I’m not convinced and you have a chance to win me over, but you never brought it up again. And I’m with Melody, how did you get my signature?”
“I’m sorry. I thought you wouldn’t let me, I waited until the last day. I was going to ask but a storm was coming and you had to get the horses in…I handed you a folded paper and said it was a school field trip. You signed the bottom without reading it.”
I remembered the day. I addressed Melody as I stood. “Guess you’re off the hook. We’ll head home and you can get to the airport.”
Melody reached out fruitlessly. “I can’t believe you tricked your dad, Hailey. But Brandt, let me explain what it means for her to have gotten this far.”
“It’s a little late for explanations.” I opened the door. “Hailey, walk back to the school to get your truck and head straight home.”
I left the door open so Hailey would know I wasn’t tolerating a delay. Another troubled departure, and the same neighbor was outside watching.
Arriving home a few minutes before Hailey gave me a chance to get my head straight. It was times like these I wished I had a spouse to collaborate with. Trish was useless in that department. When Hailey was a baby, Trish told me she didn’t have a mothering bone in her body. She needed to make a difference in the world, and left for New York. She put herself through law school and worked at some big firm as a lawyer.
If only she’d been as devoted to making things right with her daughter as with making things right in the world. She couldn’t see the irony.
That left me on my own. Melody had looked as shocked as I’d felt about Hailey’s deception. If I hadn’t alienated Melody, we might have caught on to Hailey’s game sooner.
Hailey slammed the door as she entered and stormed straight to her room. A reminder we shouldn’t talk about this until we both had a chance to cool off.
Dinner wasn’t enough to pull her out of her room even though I’d gone to the store and gotten frozen pizza along with the rest of the groceries we needed. I gave her another hour to get her case ready and meet me in the living room.
The details had pretty much been divulged earlier, but Hailey’s remorse touched me. Her curled posture and soft voice were beyond her normal, ‘got caught’ frustration.
“I’m really sorry, Dad. I’ve never wanted anything this bad.”
“Bad enough to stay with your mom? I should have known something was up when you arranged a visit to see her. It didn’t make sense that you fought the Christmas visit and suddenly wanted to go again in June. How were you going to get her to take you to the event?”
“I thought she might realize I was serious about singing, and that I was talented. Maybe she’d take me. But if she wouldn’t, I figured it’s New York, I could hop on the bus and take myself.”
I sat on the couch next to Hailey and put an arm around her. “I looked up the Teen Voices contest. You’re right. It is a really big deal. I still have to figure out what to do about dishonesty, but I can’t even begin to explain how proud I am of you. The semi-finals? How’d you get this good?”
“You always told me to work hard for what I want because good things don’t come easy. How did you remember the name of the contest?” She snuggled in. All the piss and vinegar in that girl couldn’t take away her need for approval.
“I talked to Melody about it.”
“Don’t be mad at her, she didn’t know I tricked you.”
I had a lot to figure out. Hailey made a compelling case for finishing the contest since scholarship money was on the line, and making it to the finals garnered recognition from some prestigious schools. “Let’s talk about this more tomorrow.”
“Are you going to let me go?”
“Most likely.”
“Thank you, Dad. I can’t wait to tell Melody,” Hailey hugged me, and I knew someday she’d make a heck of a life for herself. Or maybe she already was.
I couldn’t wait to talk to Melody either because my idea involved her. After all none of this would have happened without her guidance. �
��Nothing for sure, but since you’re good at keeping secrets, don’t tell her I might be getting soft. I need to talk to her.”
Hailey rolled her eyes. “Talk to her soon. She’ll explain how big of a deal this is.” She kissed me on the cheek. “Please?” She ran to the piano and the sounds of her standard vocal warm-up filled the house.
Sleep was impossible as every thought went back to Melody. In the weeks we’d had together, she’d become my lover. My best friend. Hailey’s mentor. The person we both wanted to talk to. And the one who was spending her vacation back in the city she wanted to live in.
Had my own insecurities forced me to push her away? I wanted someone close to share every good and bad moment with, but the first time she’d disagreed with me, I’d shut her out. How could I show Hailey the give and take of a relationship if it was my way or the highway? I had work to do.
I wasn’t going to wake everyone up to reveal my epiphany, but one relationship was definitely salvageable, mine and Hailey’s. It was the most important. If her mother attended the contest, great, but I was sure as hell going to be by Hailey’s side. My brain hadn’t quite processed how talented my little girl was, or that she wasn’t a little girl anymore. She’d gone from star shower singer, to local sweetheart who always got offered the chance to sing the National Anthem at events, to a national contest semi-finalist.
I remembered the day she’d tossed a coin in the wishing well and told me she was going to be a star. In standard Hailey fashion, she’d added a song, Hall of Fame. A ten-year-old belting out the line about being King Kong and banging on her chest had everyone in earshot laughing, but she’d been onto something.
The darkness also tossed my own words back at me in Hailey’s voice from our chat: ‘work hard for what you want because good things don’t come easy’.
I’d worked hard for everything in my life. Why not work hard for Melody? I’d heard the kids respected her and admittedly the choir sounded better than ever. It wouldn’t have mattered except it increased the likelihood the school would extend her contract. Insider gossip from Betty told me the choir teacher position was going to be open when she left. How would I know if she was willing to stay if I didn’t ask?
Country Wishes Page 69
