“See you Sunday?” she said, and he nodded. “That includes you.” She was looking directly at me, eyebrows raised. It was a statement, not a question.
“Um, yes,” I said. “See you Sunday,” and I smiled.
Maybe the ice was thawing, after all?
“Nervous?” Luke asked, as we pulled up to the Walcotts. “Don’t be.”
“I’m not,” I lied, unconvincingly. “How often are we expected at these brunches?”
“Once a month, give or take,” he said, “depending on everyone’s availability. Sometimes Lana is busy with Amber, but I’m guessing that will happen a lot less, now.”
“I still can’t believe Amber went through all of that…” I said, not finishing.
“Just for me?” he laughed.
“Seriously, right? If she only knew how much you hogged the entire bed.”
“Hey, I told you to just tap me. I’ll move. And you snore, by the way.” He poked me.
“I do tap you,” I said. “But if I snore, you can just continue to ignore me, okay?”
“Deal.”
Luke rang the doorbell and we could hear footsteps walking towards the door. Even though I was feeling uneasy about all of this, I was kind of looking forward to one of Rosa’s warm hugs.
“Come on in, y’all. Welcome,” Lana said, as she opened the door.
I was surprised to see her and not Rosa greeting us. She reached out and gave Luke a hug and a peck on the cheek. She then looked at me and we both mutually froze for a second, unsure of whether to shake hands or just nod and smile. She leaned over gingerly and gave me a half hug with one arm, not quite as listless as I imagined it would be, but not yet a full-fledged embrace. At this point I was happy to take what I could get. It was a start.
“Michael and Bammy are already here,” she said. “It’s such a lovely spring day, Daddy suggested we have lunch out on the gazebo. Why don’t y’all go out and join them and I’ll see if Rosa needs any help in the kitchen?”
“See you there,” said Luke, then he guided me through the long hallway towards the veranda. We stepped out onto the covered porch and immediately Red spotted us from the gazebo. He held his hand up, with a small wave hello. Bammy and Michael were seated opposite him, already enjoying a cocktail. We walked down the stairs and across the manicured lawn as the sun’s rays smiled down on us.
“Welcome, welcome,” said Red, not rising, but directing us to two empty chairs, instead. “Rosa has prepared a nice pitcher of sweet tea. Careful. She went a little heavy on the vodka for my taste, today. I think she’s planning on getting us all a little lubricated.”
“Vodka and sweet tea,” I said, happily. “Now you’re talking my language.”
“Well, then,” said Red, “I think you will fit in just fine ‘round here. Just fine.”
19
ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING
Everyone got the memo this time, and classes were in full swing on Monday.
It was a fantastic feeling to pull up to the school knowing that the CCCP would not be waiting to greet me with a morning tirade and fresh picket signs. Actually, I was going to miss the attention, just a little. Kidding. I was so grateful and relieved that the whole ordeal was over.
Well, almost over. There was still a small gaggle of local reporters trying to drag out the story. We didn’t want to feed the machine anymore, so we just walked past them without commenting.
Luke and I held hands as we approached the school entrance, then (bravely) gave each other a quick kiss on the cheek before we went our separate ways. If anyone noticed, they didn’t say anything, positive or negative. It felt so good to be just under the radar, again. For now. Here’s hoping we could continue this way, without any further drama.
“Good morning, Miss Mabel,” I said, as I entered the office. She barely looked up as I placed a fresh cup of coffee on her desk. I lingered for a moment, smiling.
“What are you expecting, Derek?” she asked. “A parade?”
“Nice to see some things haven’t changed,” I remarked. “I missed you, too, Miss Mabel. But you can’t fool everyone. I know there’s a story in there just dying to get out.”
“Well, you keep buttering me up and we’ll see about that someday,” she said, all the while typing away at her computer.
“Thanks for the assist,” I said to her, quietly. “You really saved our butts, you know that?”
“Well, somebody had to,” she sighed.
I walked down the hall to check on Bammy before heading to my first period class. She was on the phone as I stood in the doorframe to her office.
“Yes, Mrs. Carter. As long as Chip attends the rest of the year and passes English, there should be no problems. No, ma’am. No, ma’am. Nobody is being punished for the walkout. Yes, ma’am. Indeed. Yes, it was fair. Yes, I understand. Well, we’re all just respecting our differences. Yes, ma’am. Of course. I’ll have Miss Mabel send that transcript right off to you as soon as the last day of school has ended. Yes, ma’am. You, too. Good day.”
She put the phone receiver down and gave me that just shoot me look. “Please tell me you topped this coffee off with a healthy dosage from Miss Mabel’s secret stash?” she asked, as I handed her a cup.
“How’d you know about that?” I asked.
“Oh, please,” she said, taking her first careful sip. “That woman doesn’t say much, but when she does, you can smell when she’s happier than she ought to be.”
“How’s Mrs. Carter?” I joked, changing the subject. Mabel saved my ass. The last thing I wanted to do was cause her any grief.
“It’s been a pretty steady parade of calls this morning. We put out a bulletin that none of the students would be punished for missing classes last week, but the parents are still concerned. They just want to make sure their kids are still on their approved career trajectories.”
“If I ever have a kid I’ll just be happy if he or she gets out of high school alive. There’s way too much pressure in this place,” I said.
“Kids just need good role models and some motivation and they can do anything.”
“I guess good role models are in short supply these days?” I asked.
“Well, there are a few of us. You and Luke are good people. And there’s always someone you can help out. Take Jett, for example? He could definitely use some positive guidance. And if you two were to ever think about having kids, you could certainly practice on him. Just a thought.”
I glared at her, not because I disagreed, but because she was right. Deep inside, there was probably a decent kid hiding in there. But would Luke or I have the patience to help find him? And why was it up to us? It’s not Luke’s fault that Amber lost the Mother of the Year Award.
The warning bell rang for first period.
“Lunch later?” I asked. “Cochon’s?”
“You got it,” she said. “See you in the parking lot at 12. I’ll drive!”
I had five minutes to get to my own class, so I sped on out the door, past the swinging office gate and up the main stairwell.
As I entered the classroom, my students were still milling about, chatting and laughing. I closed the door behind me and they reacted to the sound by moving towards their seats and quieting down, until a serene silence took over the room. Jett was seated in his usual spot, blankly looking ahead and my theatre students were sitting on their side of the room, just like always. The great divide. One week ago seemed like an eternity, suddenly.
I did a quick roll call, and everyone was present. The mood was strangely tense. It was as if no one knew what to say or how to get back to where we were. Come on guys, it’s over! Someone had to crack the ice. It may as well be me, right?
“So,” I started, “did I miss anything interesting?”
There was a prolonged moment of silence, followed by a thunderous outburst of laughter from Jett. Pretty soon the other students joined in. We were off to a loud start, but I was pretty sure that Principal Talbot wouldn’t mind our noise level
today.
The next few weeks flew by. Because of the walkout, the school year had been extended one extra week in June, but most of the seniors only needed to pass English for that last necessary credit before they moved on to their new universities. Basically, everyone’s attention span was reset to zero, and even the teachers considered the end of this semester a wash. We were just trying to squeeze as much out of the last few weeks as we could, knowing that our only goal was to ensure that the doors stayed open, as they should. Keeping the school board happy meant keeping the kids in their seats, and we were all doing our part.
I was grateful that my Theatre Arts Club had worked on The Crucible on their own during their week off. It was easy enough for us to get right back on track again with rehearsals, and before we knew it, tech week was upon us. Having spent so many hours as a student toiling away on the stage under the direction of my predecessor, Miss B., it still felt a bit strange that I was now cast in the role of faculty advisor, myself. I was having a great time teaching, and my students were really like my own kids. Well, to be honest, they were the perfect kids, because I only had them from 8am to 3:30pm, and then someone else took over. Regardless, it had been an incredibly rewarding, albeit challenging, year, but as it was quickly coming to a close, I felt the need to analyze my choices, again. Was this really where I wanted to be? I didn’t mean Parkville, and I certainly wasn’t questioning my relationship with Luke, my family or my Scooby Gang. However, the struggles we had just endured over a simple kiss… well, I was starting to wonder if I really wanted to remain in a place that did not want me for who I truly am.
It was almost Opening Night, and I had spent four very long nights after school running lighting cues and rehearsing with the students in the auditorium. Tech weeks are always difficult, but our efforts were really starting to come together. They were definitely going to put on a good show.
“All right y’all, gather ‘round,” I called out to the cast and crew on Thursday night. “Listen, I just want to say how proud I am of all of you. You guys are the ones who pulled this together, and it wasn’t easy. I changed my mind about which play we were doing, then there was the walkout, all the drama. But y’all stayed focused, and it shows. You’re gonna do great tomorrow, no doubt about it. Okay!” I clapped my hands together. “Call time tomorrow is 6pm, and then curtain is at 8. Now go home tonight and get a good night’s rest! See you tomorrow.”
I could barely stay focused the next day at school. I knew the kids would do a great job, but I had the jitters, anyway. I always get a little nervous before a show, but my Spidey sense was in overdrive. Something was up, but at least I was certain that my ex-boyfriend David wasn’t going to show up tonight with flowers, like last semester. Right?
Mom asked me to swing by her house for a quick chat before the show. Luke was coaching track practice after school, so he planned on meeting me at the auditorium, later. I pulled Willie into the driveway, and Johnny’s car was there, as well as Uncle Barry’s. Hail, hail the gang’s all here!
I walked in the side door and threw my keys in the cigar box on the table, but the three of them barely registered my presence, they were so quiet. Mom and Johnny were seated together on the couch, staring ahead, and Barry was in his usual place in the overstuffed chair, legs up on the ottoman. But no one was smiling.
“What’s up?” I asked, slowly stepping towards them. “Did somebody die?” I asked, half jokingly. Nobody answered me.
“Wait. No, really?” I asked, again. “I was kidding. But, we don’t have anybody else. It’s just us. What’s going on?”
“Oh, sweetie,” my mom said, looking up at me, “it’s nothing bad, at all. It’s good, really. I think we’re all just trying to soak it in.”
“Y’all are scaring me,” I said, nervously.
“Sit down, honey,” she said. “Your dad and I want to talk to you.”
“Okay,” I mumbled, pulling up a chair from beside the couch. “Just go for it. No sugar coating, all right? Is it cancer?” I didn’t whisper it, like we do in the South. By now I was too scared to play any more of these silly games.
She smiled and reached out for Johnny’s hand. “No, Derek, nothing like that, at all! I told you it was good. It’s just a change, that’s all. It will take a bit of adjusting, for all of us.” She paused, then looked at Johnny, who was suddenly beaming. “It’s about your dad and me. We’ve decided to get back together. I’m moving to the farmhouse with him. We’re giving it another shot, sweetie.”
“Really?” I said. “That’s it?” They nodded. “That’s awesome! Why’s everybody so freaked out?”
“You’re okay with this?” asked Johnny. “Because I love her. I do. I’m not the same man I was years ago, and your mom can see that.” He was trying to convince me, but it was unnecessary. I had recognized the change in Mom since his return.
“I think our cupboards can see that,” I said. “They’ve never been filled with so many organic foods.”
“So, you’re cool with this? Well, that takes a load off my mind,” he said, relieved. “It took a bit to get everybody on board, but I want you both to know, we’re going to make this work, this time. Really.”
“You’d better,” said Barry, reaching his hand out for the cocktail that was sitting on the table by his side. “Because if you’re moving all these dusty treasures out of this house, then there’s no turning back, understand? I can finally make the bachelor palace of my dreams! I’m thinking I may need a hot tub in the back. I’m going to need to speak to your friend Tommy, Derek. He does renovations, right? It’s about time I found a little fun of my own, don’t you think?” He put the drink to his lips and I couldn’t help but notice the shiny bling on his wrist.
“Something new?” I asked, nodding towards the sparkling links.
“Oh, this?” he giggled, arm extended. “Just a little peace offering. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend after all, Dolly.”
The Crucible went off without a hitch. Fortunately, the parallels between the Salem witch trials of the 17th century and Parkville’s CCCP were lost on most of the parents and students who filled the auditorium, but I was actually relieved that I wasn’t singled out (again) for doing anything scandalous. It was nice not to be noticed, for a change.
Thankfully my ex did not show up with flowers tonight, however I was surrounded by all my friends and loved ones when I came out into the auditorium after the curtain call. We had really become an extended family after the ordeals of the last few months, and with the addition of Johnny and Michael, we were growing larger every day. Luke held my hand, subtly, as if nothing else mattered in the world, but there was still a bit of underlying tension in the room. It was hard to shake that feeling that we were “misbehaving” on school grounds, as we had promised not to do.
“Waddya say we get out of here and celebrate?” I asked, ready to move.
“The Firelight!” said Kit, gleefully, hands raised in the air. She was happier than a kid who had just been offered extra candy on Halloween. Shawn pulled her close and couldn’t suppress his laughter. Dating Kit was certainly going to keep him young.
Mom, Johnny and Barry bowed out, as expected. They were going to start packing up Mom’s things over the weekend. The rest of us took off in our various cars and made our way downtown towards the dive bar we liked to treat as our home away from home. We took over the big circular booth, filling the table top with beers and shots of whiskey. Kit had somehow convinced the bartender to make her a pitcher of Cosmopolitans, even though this really wasn’t that kind of a bar. She truly was magical. She held her martini glass high, the soft pink liquid reflecting the light from the dusty swinging lamp above us.
“To Derek!” she said. “You went through a shit storm, baby, but you came out shining like a star!”
We all laughed and clinked our glasses. “Well, the school year’s not over yet. Just two more weeks to go. No telling what will happen,” I said.
“Please don’t jinx us, babe,”
said Luke, lifting his arm and putting it around my shoulder, pulling me close. “I could use some down time with a little less drama, if you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, it must really suck getting a surprise new brother,” said Michael, smiling slyly.
“Oh, you have no idea,” said Luke, winking. They were growing closer by the day, bonding over sports and filling each other in on their childhoods and family dynamics. Michael was working closely with Red now, which freed Luke up from some of the obligations and guilt he had felt when he decided not to enter the family business.
And Bammy? She had her man, finally, and he was definitely the kind of guy she could bring home to her mom. “Well, not only did you get a new brother, but Derek and I now get Walcott family brunches every month, as a bonus.”
“Oooh! Do tell!” said Meredith, her eyes shining. “I’ve always wondered what the inside of that big house looks like.”
“Well, now that my job is done at Amber’s place, maybe Red has some carpentry work he’d like done?” asked Tommy, testing the waters. “Then we can take a look?”
“Y’all don’t need to do any work to come by the house,” said Luke. “I’ll tell Rosa we’d like to have a get together with all our friends. She’ll love it.”
“And you will all love Rosa’s drinks!” I assured them. “Her goal is to get everyone toasted, every time.”
“My. Kinda. Girl!” said Kit, smiling wildly.
“I hope I’m invited?” said a voice behind us, quietly. We all turned to look, but I knew who it was before I had even caught sight of her.
“If that’s okay, of course?” she asked again, defensively. Her arms were folded across her chest, one forearm looped through yet another enormous, expensive leather bag.
The Fire Went Wild (Home is a Fire Book 2) Page 17
