by Ann, Natalie
“He’d say yes,” his mother said.
“Of course he would, which is why I don’t ask. He’s got Kara now.”
“Which doesn’t mean you’ve been replaced. Give me a break.”
He snorted. He didn’t think that. Not really. “Do you need any help prepping before Aunt Diane gets here?”
She tilted her head and accepted the subject change. “You can chop some veggies for me. Diane is bringing some more snacks and pies. The turkey is in the oven. Payton is bringing a cookie tray so we are in for a treat today.”
Payton was his cousin Bryce’s fiancée and she owned a deli but baked like a dream.
He grabbed a knife and the carrots that his mother had already peeled, then started to slice them. “Were your kids as wild to have the break as mine were?”
They often talked about their jobs since they were the only ones in the family that understood what it meant to work in the school system.
“Always. It’s only been a few months and they were itching for the break worse than if we had a chickenpox outbreak. And when they are scratching themselves bloody I want them out of my room. How about you? Any nuisances this year?” she asked, stopping her prep of the sweet potatoes and watching him closer than he thought. That was odd.
“The usual. Upperclassman being dicks to the younger kids. Those skipping classes, being loud and rowdy. Then there are the new teachers not doing their lesson plans on time.”
She snorted. “This generation thinks they can take all the time in the world when the rest of us have done what we were given at the time it was assigned.”
“It drives me insane, but it is what it is. This particular teacher likes the attention when I walk into her room looking for them.”
“That’s nothing you haven’t dealt with before. You’ve never been one to date an employee. Are you interested?”
“No. She’s just being silly.”
The only woman he’d had on his mind lately was Paige Parker. He’d called her yesterday personally to let her know what happened to Sebastian when normally he’d leave it to someone else for something as simple as that incident when it was done.
Did he think it was blatant on Scott Wimple’s part? He did. Typical upperclassman behavior that he was trying to stop. What he wasn’t sure of was if it was retaliation from the earlier incident and he was thinking it might not be.
But he’d seen how concerned Paige was the last time they’d met and now that he knew a bit about Sebastian’s personal situation he felt some sympathy for the two of them.
And when Paige answered and he heard her voice, the nerves in it again, he rushed to tell her it wasn’t a big deal but wanted to personally let her know and that he was going to put a stop to it. He hoped she believed him.
“Any other things going on?” she asked.
“Remember how you talked to me about Sebastian Parker?”
“Yes,” she said, stopping what she was doing. “Everything okay with him?”
“Yeah. Just another small incident yesterday. Nothing major. Some of the upperclassman bull crap in gym class.”
“You know what it’s like,” she said, going back to her sweet potatoes. “Did you have to talk to Paige?”
“I did. Nice woman. Seems like she is trying but maybe unsure. I didn’t want her worried so I called her personally and told her I’d look into the matter more.”
“That was nice of you,” she said. When he was done with the carrots he reached for the peppers. “You’re turning into a regular old sous chef.”
He laughed. “I’m not sure about that, but my air fryer and crockpot have turned into my best friends. At least I’m eating well now. Thanks for getting them for me.”
His mother always sent him home with leftovers, but he’d expressed interest in learning to make some easy dishes on his own that he could have leftover too. She’d surprised him with both of them and a few cookbooks and he’d been doing well on his own since.
“I love when my kids are so self-sufficient.”
“Did she put you to work already?” his father asked when he walked in.
“I offered,” he said. “Why can’t Mom relax like the rest of us during these holidays?”
His mother started to laugh. “You should know that never happens, but I do have a lot more hands than I used to so I’m hoping not to do nearly as much work.”
And a few hours later when everyone was there, the house was loud and crazy like always. Ryder and Wyatt both looked like they were half awake but for different reasons.
“Late night in the OR,” Wyatt had said. “I was on call and there were more emergency surgeries than normal and I got called in. Thankfully I’m not on call today.”
“I had a date,” Ryder said.
“Of course you did,” Ryder’s older brother, Sam, said. “Was this one as crazy as the last several?”
Everyone laughed because Ryder seemed to attract the weirdo stalker types, if not the frivolous silly ones that got on everyone’s nerves.
“It was only one date so I’m not sure yet. Though she did start talking about her doll collection. I’m not sure I want a second date.”
His other cousin, Bryce, jumped in. “It’s those damn dating apps you use. Just stop it already.”
“If I did I’d never find anyone,” Ryder said.
“I didn’t use an app,” Drake said. “And look at the perfect woman I’ve got.”
“Same here,” Sam said.
“Three for three without an app,” Bryce said. “It’s called meeting someone face-to-face and learning about them before you go on a date.”
“You guys think you’ve got it hard,” Jade said. “You didn’t have six women watching your every move like I’ve got with my brothers and cousins sizing up the men I date.”
“You love it, Jade,” Noah said. “If there is attention to be sent your way, you are all over it like a pig in the mud.”
Jade grinned. “You think you know it all, Mr. Bossy.”
“Since I’m used to telling you all the way it is, I’m right.”
“You’re not bossy,” his mother said. “You’re a leader and everyone knows it.”
He supposed that was a good word for his personality, but if he was such a leader or bossy or whatever any other word his family used to describe him, why was he the only male in this room that seemed to be alone and wished he weren’t?
7
Luck Or Fate
A week after Thanksgiving, Noah was sitting at his desk looking at the list of kids he’d requested an update on. There were a handful that were barely passing, causing mischief, or just skipping class altogether. He wanted an update, just a brief one, from the teachers of those students.
For the heck of it, he added Sebastian Parker to the list on the software, hit send, and by the end of the day he’d have his report.
He was getting ready to stand up and make the rounds of the school, something he did at least once a day, when his cell phone rang and he noticed it was Drake. “Aren’t you working?”
“I’d ask the same thing since you answered on the first ring,” his twin said.
“I’m getting ready to walk the halls. You just caught me. I wouldn’t have answered it in the halls since I tell the kids they can’t use their phones.”
Drake laughed. “Follow what I do rather than what I say. You always get it wrong.”
“That works in your job and not always in mine. Kids don’t listen, but they sure the hell watch.”
“So you walk all big and tall down the halls so they know you are there always watching?”
“You know I do. It’s not just the kids.”
“That’s no different than working in an office. Everyone jerks off.”
“Not Kara,” he said, knowing Drake’s girlfriend was as straight-laced as they came when she was in the office. One of the things about her that was the complete opposite of Drake. Not that Drake wasn’t serious about his job, but he was laid back where Kara was
anything but.
“I’m working on her. Speaking of my lovely lady, she’s busy tonight and I thought I’d see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat.”
“So I’m only good when she isn’t around?” he asked with a laugh. He was joking even if there was a tiny part of him that wasn’t.
There was a pause on the other end. “You can come to dinner any time you want. Or you can treat Kara and me. Not to mention she’d be thrilled to kick me out of the house and get me out of her hair. I hope you don’t think you can’t call and ask anymore.”
“Just busting, Drake.”
“Or not,” he said back. “Don’t forget it. No one comes between our family. We end up with people who know and accept our dynamics or they just don’t fit or last. You know that.”
He did know that, which was why he struggled in the past. Half the time the women he dated were shocked he didn’t follow in the footsteps of his father or siblings and the other half couldn’t accept his closeness to his family.
“So what did you have in mind tonight? It’d save me from cooking.”
“I’m game for anything. Text me a time later and I’ll swing by and get you.”
“I’ll let you know,” he said and hung up. Since he and Drake lived in the same development less than a mile from each other they always rode together when they went out. It’s not like it was ever out of their way.
He put his phone in his pocket and then walked out, telling Trina, “I’m going to walk around a bit. When I come back I’ll give you a list of the teachers I plan on setting up a visit with if you can let me know what classes seem to have the biggest problems or lowest grades.”
“Will do.” He could get that information himself but who had time? That was what his secretary was for.
Thirty minutes later he was back in his office knowing that the day wasn’t going so bad. The halls were as quiet as they normally were. The kids he passed all held their passes up before he could ask. He nodded and didn’t bother to look at them. They could have been forged, but most wouldn’t do that knowing he would spot check them if they looked nervous or skittish. He was good enough to pick that out by now.
His mother always told him he was a great leader and he supposed he was. Part of that was being able to spot trouble before it happened.
When the last bell rang for the day, he’d planned on getting up and walking out to see kids leaving but reminded himself he had too much work to do. That was what his assistant principal could do and did along with the security in the building.
For the most part his school was pretty good and things ran as smoothly as they could.
He pulled up his email from the list Trina sent him and looked at his schedule for tomorrow and then the next week, trying to figure out when he’d pop into a class and sit to see what was going on, if anything. Most times the kids behaved when he was there, but he’d know if it was forced too. Especially since he’d walk in after class even started.
Then he signed into the school blackboard and started to look at the list of the kids he’d been waiting to see progress reports on. Sebastian’s all came through and he checked them out, noticing everything was fine but history. He was failing, not because his test scores were horrible, but his assignments weren’t handed in.
He’d have to figure out how to address this since it wasn’t unheard of for a kid to be failing one class and there was no reason for him to get the reports other than Sebastian had had some troubles this year and he was keeping an eye on things.
He realized the building was quiet now, glanced at the clock and saw it was well after four. Most of the teachers and his staff would be gone; the only ones on the property would be for sporting events, practice, or clubs.
Since he was meeting his brother for dinner a little after five, he figured he should take off himself. Rather than walk to the back where the staff parked, he went out the front door to check the grounds and make his way back there. It was a nice enough day for it anyway.
Halfway around he saw Sebastian sitting there on the curb. Luck or fate? He made his way closer, “Did you miss the bus?”
Sebastian turned his head quickly from the phone he was looking at. “Yeah.”
“Do you need a ride?” He’d done that once or twice but tried to avoid it. Something about Sebastian told him the kid would be sitting here a long time or walk miles to avoid it.
“No. My aunt is on her way now.”
He wasn’t sure if he believed it, but figured he had time to wait and could talk to the kid while he did. “Then I’ll stay with you and we can have a chat.”
Sebastian looked nervous for a minute but didn’t tell him not to stay or make excuses, so that told him his aunt most likely was on the way. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Your history grades.”
“Shit.” Noah laughed. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to swear.”
Sebastian stood up when he said it, again with the manners most kids didn’t seem to have. “I’ve been known to say that word myself. I’ve got a big family full of boys, and one of us was always swearing.”
“It’s just me and my aunt,” Sebastian said.
He didn’t want to say he knew some of his story, figuring the kid would clam up and he’d rather keep him chatting. “So what is going on with history since the rest of your grades are higher?”
“I just don’t like that class.”
“Are there problems in it? Or it’s not your thing.”
“It’s boring. The class is fine. Everyone keeps to themselves. Mr. Dent is a snooze but not as boring as the material we are learning.”
He laughed. Everyone always asked how he could stand being a history major because most fell asleep in that class.
“Do you know what I used to teach before I became a principal?”
“Let me guess—history?”
“Ding, ding, ding.”
“And you got sick of kids falling asleep in your class so you decided to move on?”
This kid was a riot. Most wouldn’t think to have this conversation with him. It wasn’t disrespectful in his eyes but maybe a gateway for the kid to open up. He’d take anything he could.
“No one fell asleep in my class. I’m not boring like Mr. Dent is.”
“Probably not,” Sebastian said.
They turned when a Honda Civic pulled into the parking lot toward them. “That’s my ride. You don’t have to babysit me now.”
Noah laughed at the smirk of Sebastian’s lips. “I haven’t babysat anyone a day in my life even though sometimes it might feel that way. And there is your aunt paling, seeing us together, so I should let her know you aren’t in trouble.”
“Shit,” Sebastian said again.
Yeah, this kid was protective of his aunt or worried about her being upset. Deep down, like his mother had said, a good kid with a family member that seemed to be trying.
8
My Priority
Paige pulled in and saw the curly hair of her nephew who was standing next to a man. The closer she got she realized it was Principal Fierce and her heart dropped into her stomach and felt like it was going to burst through the floor of her little sedan.
She should have realized there was more going on than Sebastian missing the bus and needing a ride home. She hated making him wait, but she couldn’t leave early either. Maybe it’d teach him not to miss the bus.
But now seeing him there with the principal made her realize she should have pushed some more.
She pulled to the curb. There was no smile on Sebastian’s face, but there was one on Noah’s and now her heart was racing for another reason.
It should be illegal for him to be that good looking.
He had tan pants on, a blue shirt with white pinstripes. If she wasn’t mistaken he had sneakers on his feet again, not white ones, but tan. She wondered if he had every color like a woman did shoes and wore them to match his clothes. Then she wondered why she was thinking about it other than her father’s words from
last week were still in her head telling her, “Paige, you need to put yourself first too.”
“Sebastian is my priority,” she argued.
“You’re doing a great job with him, but you’re thirty years old, not fifty. There is no reason you can’t have a life. If Sebastian sees you happy, maybe he will be too.”
“I’m happy,” she’d told her father. Thankfully Sebastian was in the other room while her father and she cleaned up Thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen.
“To an extent. Maybe I should take Sebastian. I know we talked about it four years ago and agreed you’d be the better fit for him, but now I’m thinking it’s not fair to you. And he’s older and can be alone more.”
Her father worked a lot of hours. He owned his own garage and tow truck service. He was called out in the middle of the night all the time and there was no way a ten-year-old could be left home alone.
“He was used to living with his mother and no father. The men that Cora brought home left much to be desired. I’d rather he get a good role model in a woman right now. Besides, he’s at the ripe age for mischief if left alone too.”
“But he needs a man,” her father said.
“Someday. You spend time with him on the weekends now and again and that helps, but for now, we’re making it work. Don’t worry about me.”
“I do worry about you and I always will. You’re my baby. Even as the baby you were more a mother to Cora than your own mother was.”
“Cora had problems. We all knew it. It’s just no one knew how bad her problems really were. I’m glad that for everything that has happened in Sebastian’s life he’s somewhat normal.”
“You’re doing a great job, but you still need your own life too.”
“I’ll take that into consideration,” she’d said back and then they’d left shortly after. She’d gone home that night and thought about how much she wouldn’t mind having a man in her life. One that could cook, per Sebastian.
But when would she have time to meet someone? Or even where? There was no way she was considering a dating app.
