She yawned and set her mug down on the counter as she poured the hot coffee in, scooping in some sugar and adding caramel flavored creamer before stirring the liquid around with a spoon. The steam rose from the tan-colored liquid in her mug. She moved to the outside porch, carrying her coffee and phone. One of her favorite things to do was sit on the outside swing and just enjoy the air. North Carolina had the best weather, aside from the occasional hurricane. She was forty-five minutes away from the water so she wasn’t worried about flooding. Her morning had started out nicely, she prayed her afternoon went just as well.
She spent the morning cleaning up, showering, beginning dinner and waiting for her appointment with Mr. Bennett. By the time one o’clock came, she was done with dinner and turned the burners off. She knew she’d have to leave soon as her meeting was at one-forty-five. Checking her watch one last time before taking her apron off and hanging it back up, she licked the sauce from her fingers and closed her eyes. Heavenly. She’d made Sophia’s favorite meal--spaghetti with meatballs. Heading for her closet to pick out an outfit, she sang the song that had been stuck in her head all day. Finally she decided on a pair of black slacks and a nice blouse paired with her black flats. She palmed the front of her shirt and looked at it in the floor-length mirror. And then there was her hair. Her frizzy, unmanageable hair. No body whatsoever, just there. It took a bit of time but she was able to get it up into a French braid. Applying light makeup and her jewelry, she took a step back and checked herself out. Smiling and nodding, she was pleased with the final product. “Professional. Casual. Perfect,” she said to herself. Grabbing her keys and phone, without having to search the house this time, she locked up and headed out.
“I’m here to see Mr. Bennett,” she told his secretary.
The woman smiled and nodded. “Yes, he’s expecting you. You can go right in.”
Marissa thanked her and opened the door to his office.
“Marissa Hayes! How great it is to see you again. You look fantastic!” he said as he gave her a small hug before moving back behind his desk. The plump, balding man with a heart of gold was the one who had originally told her to come back anytime once she was ready. “How are you feeling?” he asked as he unbuttoned his suit jacket before taking a seat and placing his elbows on his desk, leaning forward.
“Better. Lots better. Now that there is an actual diagnosis, my doctor was able to prescribe me something to help, and so far it has. Last week I went see him for a checkup and things are looking good. I just miss the kids. I miss my job,” she said, almost feeling tears well in her eyes. She always became emotional when they talked about her passion for teaching. She couldn’t help it, she loved it.
“Well, the current school year is ending but I’m sure we’d be delighted to have you back with us next year when school starts in August. If you’re still feeling up to it by then, that is.”
“Oh, I’d love to, Mr. Bennett. Really. I’m sure if I feel healthy in August you can count me in.”
“The next school year starts August nineteenth, so if you can give me a definite answer by the first, we can get all the paperwork processed.”
“I will be sure to do that, Mr. Bennett. Thank you so much. I’ll have all summer to get lesson plans done. Sophia will be thrilled!”
He chuckled and nodded. “That she will, the fourth graders are disappointed they missed you. But the new third graders have heard of you from the older kids and they can’t wait to get to know you. You’re one of our best teachers, Ms. Hayes.”
She looked down at her hands and blushed. “Thank you, Mr. Bennett.”
He stood and buttoned his jacket as she stood and stepped away from the chair, heading for the door. He opened the door for her and offered his hand to shake. She shook it with a smile.
“Talk to you in August,” she said before turning and heading out of his office feeling relieved. If she wanted it, if she felt well enough, she could go back to work in August. Her short and long term care insurance had helped her to pay bills the last year, with extra help from her parents here and there. At first she was too proud to have them help her, but realized she needed the help and it wouldn’t be permanent. Checking her watch as she left the office, heading for the parking lot, she saw that it was almost time for school to let out. She figured she might as well wait for Sophia and drive her home since she was already at the school, plus, she couldn’t wait to tell her the good news.
She pulled into the horseshoe drive where the parents waited to pick up their kids and got out of the car to make sure Sophia knew not to take the bus. The bell rang and the kids began to run out in a sea of children. Sophia spotted her and smiled, running over to her mother.
“Did you get it?” she asked excitedly.
Marissa faked a frown and shook her head. Sophia looked down and Marissa threw her hands up, smiling and letting out a giggle. “I got it!” Sophia started to jump up and down and gave her mother a high-five.
“If I’m still feeling better in August I get to come back.” Marissa explained to her daughter.
“You will, Momma. You will. I just know it!”
Marissa smiled and nodded. “We need to get going before I block everyone in.”
Sophia climbed into the backseat as Marissa slid into the driver’s side and buckled up. The cars began to slowly move down the horseshoe drive. Marissa looked into the rearview mirror and smiled.
“Guess what’s for dinner?”
Sophia tapped her chin and thought about it for a bit. “Hmm, I don’t know,” she said with a smile. “I give up, what are we having?”
“Spaghetti and meatballs, your favorite.” Marissa turned the car right, out of the drive, and headed for home.
“Oh Momma, really? Mmm, I can taste it already!” Sophia licked her lips playfully. Marissa nodded with a smile.
“Yep, and it smells so good. So tell me. How was your day at school?” Sophia began to tell her mom the various happenings in all of her classes and the things she’d done. She even told her mom about the things she’d learned and expressed how excited she was that summer vacation was right around the corner. They went to the beach house for two weeks every summer and she was counting down the days to when they would leave. Marissa’s parents hosted them and sometimes Lyndsay and her family would come spend a night or two so that Sophia could play with her friends. Marissa loved the beach, too. The way the sand felt between her bare toes and the warmth of the water as it splashed her legs when the waves rolled in.
Once they arrived home, Sophia ran up the stairs and waited by the door for her mother who unlocked the door and opened it. Sophia went inside and set her book sack down on the chaise lounge. The little girl skipped over to the kitchen and took an exaggerated whiff.
“Mmm, Momma, smells so good! I can’t wait till dinner,” she said as she grabbed a water bottle from the refrigerator and took a seat on the couch. Marissa dropped her things on the counter and checked the messages on the answering machine. Her mother had called to see how the appointment with the superintendent went and Lynsday had called to plan a get-together with their kids soon. Marissa grabbed the phone from the cradle, moved to the living room to be with Sophia and took a seat on the couch. Sophia watched some cartoons. Dialing her mother first, Marissa waited for her to pick up.
Her father answered, “Hello?”
“Dad, hey. Mom had called earlier. She around?”
“Yep, one second--oh hey, did you get it?”
She smiled and nodded. “Yes, but don’t tell Mom. I want to.”
“Ah, right. Hang on, here she is.” She could hear the transfer of the phone between them, then her mother’s voice.
“Marissa?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” Before her mom could ask the same question her father did, she answered. “I am welcome to come back in August, provided I’m still feeling well. So cross your fingers that this medicine continues to work.”
“Oh, sweetheart. That’s wonderful! I’m sure you will,
you need to just stay positive.” Her father said something in the background as her mother chuckled.
“Your father said congratulations now that I know.” Marissa smiled and shook her head. “Thanks Dad!” she said as her mother repeated it to him.
“How have you been?” It had only been a few days since her mother had seen her, but she was a worrywart. She worried enough for the both of them.
“I’ve been good, Mom. Feeling better and getting my energy back slowly. But, you know I have my days. Most have been good though. How are you? And Dad? How is his collection coming?”
“That’s good, honey. You will have some bad days but the more good you have, the better. Everyone has bad days. I thought you looked so well and healthy when we saw you last week. We enjoyed your and Sophia’s visit so much. Your father? Oh, he just got his newest shipment of stamps from England which he bought from another collector. They look real nice, too.”
“Oh that’s good. At least he’s staying busy. Thank you Mom. I felt much better. We will try to make it over again soon.”
“Okay sweetheart, we love you and give Sophia kisses from Gramma and Grampa. We’ll see you soon. Take care and if you need us, just call.”
“Thanks Mom, we love you, too. I will.”
“Love you Gramma!” Sophia yelled out as her eyes continued to focus on the television.
“She said she loves you, too, Soph. Okay Mom. I’m gonna let you go now. Have a good night.”
“Okay, you, too. Bye-bye.”
Marissa pressed the off button on the phone and dialed Lyndsay’s number to return her call. She should be home from work right about now. The phone rang a few times before she heard the receiver being picked up.
“Hello?” Lyndsay’s daughter Samantha, who was Sophia’s age, answered the phone.
“Hello Samantha. It’s Marissa, Sophia’s mom. Is your mom around?”
“Hi Miss Marissa. Yeah, hang on just one second. Mooooom!” She heard Samantha yell out. “Telephone!” She could hear Lyndsay answer. “Coming!”
“Hello, this is Lyndsay.”
“Lyndsay. It’s Marissa, I was returning your call. Did I catch you at a bad time?”
Lyndsay chuckled. “Oh, no, you didn’t. I was just getting dinner on and washing the dishes. Got home not too long ago. How are you feeling?”
“Pretty much the same, but still good and getting better. I’ve gotten my energy back which is good. And it looks like, if I feel this way in August, I can go back to teaching full-time again.”
“Oh honey, that’s wonderful! So glad to hear it went well. I’m sure you will, Dr. Martinez knows what he’s doing. He asked about you today. Asked if I’d talked to you lately. When are you two just gonna go out already?” Her friend teased as Marissa smiled broadly and shook her head.
“Oh Lyndsay! He’s my doctor! And he hasn’t asked me yet,” she said in a shy tone.
“Mar, this is the twenty-first century! Women ask men on dates all the time.”
“But not their doctors.” She protested as they both laughed.
“Sure. You’re just chicken.” Lyndsay teased.
“Uh-huh. What is it you called about Lyndsay?” Marissa said as she laughed.
“Well, I wanted to know if you were free this weekend to take the kids to the water park. It’s getting warmer and there’s only a week left of school. Sam wanted to know if Soph wanted to come, and of course you. The boys are bringing a friend, so Sam chose Soph. It’ll be good for you guys.”
“Hmm, I guess it would be fun. Why not? Which day are you wanting to go?”
“I’m guessing Saturday. Bill is off this weekend so we’re taking full advantage.”
“Okay, Saturday it is.”
“What’s Saturday?” Sophia asked as she entered the living room from the bathroom.
“Mrs. Lyndsay invited us to go to the water park on Saturday with Sam and the rest. You wanna go?”
Sophia jumped up and down, squealing with delight. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, Momma, please!”
“I already told her we’d go, silly girl.”
Sophia hugged her mother tightly and smiled. “Awesome, I can’t wait.” The excited little girl kissed her mother’s cheek and sat back down on the sofa, continuing to watch her cartoons.
“I guess we’ll see you Saturday.”
“Sounds like a plan. Talk to you later, my dinner is burning!”
Marissa chuckled. “Okay, bye Lyndsay.”
“Bye!” She heard the click and the dial tone of the phone before pushing the off button and shaking her head.
“That woman,” she mumbled. Her dear friend Lyndsay. She’d met her two years ago when she started to see Dr. Martinez after a referral by her family doctor. Lyndsay was always smiling and in a good mood, and always so nice to Sophia and Marissa. After a few months of Sophia tagging along to some of her appointments, Lyndsay had suggested a day at the park with their kids. Marissa needed another mommy friend so she’d agreed. Since that day their girls had been inseparable and the best of friends.
Lyndsay was a kind woman, with a heart of gold. She’d give her shirt off her back to anyone in need. Since meeting her and talking to her, they’d become good friends who talked and got together often. Lyndsay frequently teased her about Dr. Martinez. He’d been divorced for three years now, and from Lyndsay she’d learned his previous wife was not the nicest of people. The woman had cheated on him and then left him for a younger man. Marissa couldn’t fathom that idea.
Dr. Martinez was a good-looking man, and he didn’t look old, to say the least. She admired him in so many ways. He was always dressed nice, he smelled so good, he was polite, and he loved children but didn’t have any of his own. His smile was simply gorgeous, especially when his smile lines were visible. Lyndsay claimed he asked about her “friend” Marissa a lot, but always concerning her health. His question was always, “How’s Marissa? I know you two are close.” But Lyndsay claimed he’d say that just in case Marissa wasn’t interested, that way he could cover himself to say he was just a concerned doctor. Not a man interested in a single woman. Lyndsay said Marissa didn’t give herself enough credit. She dismissed her long wavy brown hair, the lightest hazel eyes. She had a nice body, and she was fairly tall for a woman. Not supermodel tall, but more than average. She had dimples on each side of her chin when she smiled. Her skin was a creamy white, not too pale, not too tan. Sophia was the spitting image of her mother. Pink full lips surrounding the brightest white teeth with a smile that was flawless. Marissa was a humble woman. She wasn’t vain or reliant on vanity. She was just a down-to-earth mom.
She checked the clock and stood from the sofa as she stretched and yawned. “I think I’m going to go get comfy, okay?” she told Sophia who nodded.
“Okay Momma,” she answered as Marissa made her way to her bedroom to throw on some loose shorts and a tank top. It was spring, almost summertime. Although there was a breeze out, it was still warmer than usual. Taking off her jewelry and tucking it away, she washed her face free of the makeup she’d applied earlier and started to unwind from what seemed like such a long day. She undressed and tossed the clothes into the dirty clothes hamper, removing her bra and replacing it with a tank top that had a built-in bra.
A small pain twinged in her lower back as she winced. Taking a seat on her bed, she waited for the pain to subside. Sometimes the pain came and went. Sometimes she had a whole day of no pain. Other days she stayed in pain. The majority of the time the medicine helped. Medicine. Right. She’d forgotten to take her medicine this morning. Of course. Grabbing the bottle from her bedside table she took the dosage and washed it down with water from the bathroom sink. Setting the glass down on the counter and turning out the lights, she headed for the living room to be with Sophia.
“You okay, Momma? Sophia asked.
“Yeah, baby. I’m fine. Just a little pain that’s all. I forgot my medicine this morning, it’ll be okay.” Sophia nodded and snuggled against her mother after she s
at down. Marissa watched the cartoons with her and enjoyed the time with her daughter.
It was dinnertime and Sophia stood there with her plate, anxiously waiting for her mom to serve her. As Marissa scooped spaghetti and a few meatballs onto her plate Sophia licked her lips and giggled.
“Mmm, I’m gonna eat you all up!” she said to her food. Marissa laughed and began to serve her own plate. Sophia took a sip of her Kool-Aid as Marissa grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. They sat at the table across from one another. In between bites they chatted more.
“So Momma, I had a question. Why don’t you date your doctor?”
Marissa chuckled as she chewed, swallowed, then thought about the answer and how to word it. “Well, I mean, he’s my doctor, and it may not be right.”
“But, you like him, right?”
“Well, I don’t know. I only know him as my doctor, not who he is when he’s not being professional.”
“If you like him, and you think he likes you…why don’t you just go on a date?”
Marissa cocked a brow. “Why are we talking about this exactly?”
Sophia giggled. “Because I think you deserve a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend, hmm. Deserve one? Wow, I must be such a good mom.” They both laughed.
“You know what I mean.” Marissa thought about it and although she was lonely, she’d never admit that to her daughter. The precocious child was only nine, but oh so smart. She had been invited to be in the gifted program twice, but Sophia asked to stay in regular classes with her friends.
“I don’t know, I guess when the time is right, I’ll know.”
“Did you love my daddy?” she asked out of the blue.
“Of course I did.”
“If he loved us, why did he leave?”
Marissa almost had no words. Such a tough delicate question. This was the first time Sophia had actually asked and she was unsure of how she would or should answer that.
Circle of Secrets Page 5
