She continued jogging and made her way into the periphery of the town center. She hadn’t explored this part of Langley Park and noticed several professional businesses lining the southeast side of Bellflower Street, their shingles hanging peacefully in the morning light. There was a dentist, an acupuncturist, a family medical practice, and past the hanging sign for an attorney, one M. MacCarron, was the office of Fisher Designs.
Jenna slowed her pace and walked down the sidewalk as her gaze remained transfixed on the sign’s black lettering. It was still early, and all the offices were quiet, their lights off and shutters closed. As she approached Fisher Designs, her pulse quickened in anticipation.
She’d always kept to herself and did her best to seem disinterested in other’s personal lives, but she couldn’t help wanting to look inside Ben’s office. She wanted a glimpse into his life, into who he was now. She chalked up this newfound curiosity to her disconcerting morning run.
She walked up to the window and saw before and after photos of different renovation projects artfully displayed along the glass. Jenna examined a picture of a once dilapidated bungalow now transformed into a charming, vibrant home. She went from picture to picture pressing her fingertips against the glass when she noticed a small desk lamp near the back of the office casting a dim glow.
She peered in to see Ben standing at a desk. His palms were pressed down on the table with a set of blueprints strewn across the surface. He was staring at her, his face unreadable.
How long had he been watching her?
Embarrassed, Jenna smiled and gave a small wave. He nodded. And then nothing else happened. He didn’t move a muscle, and she just stood there, her raised hand slowly falling back to her side.
Jenna waited a beat. A friendly person would at least come to the door and say hello, right? But Ben looked down at the drawings and returned to his work.
“That about wraps it up. The testing data you’ve submitted looks great. You should all be very proud of the work you’re doing. Does anyone have any questions?” Jenna asked, finishing her video conference with the Denver teachers.
“Jenna, if you don’t mind. I was wondering if you could talk a little more about that click thing.”
She took off her glasses and sat back in her chair. “Sure, but I have to warn you, it doesn’t have anything to do with data collection, test scores, or reading levels. I’m guessing that sounds like music to your ears right about now.”
The sounds of exhausted laughter came through loud and clear.
“You’re finishing up your first year implementing the reading program. This year is full of trying to remember how to teach this new skill or that new skill. You’re in your head a lot, and rightly so. There’s so much to learn, and it’s absolutely normal to feel a little overwhelmed. But as you settle in and become more familiar with the program, you’ll find yourself more observant of the subtle changes. You’ll find yourself noticing your students’ growing confidence in their ability to read and comprehend text. And that’s where the click comes in.”
Jenna tucked a few strands of loose hairs behind her ear. “This isn’t something that happens at a particular reading level or after mastery of a certain skill. Over the years, I’ve had students click at reading level 4 and then some at 24.”
“The click is more of a feeling. You feel the student’s confidence growing. You see a child go from anxious to interested when you introduce a new book. You feel the student’s growing sense that he’s achieving something important for himself. It’s kind of like a sixth sense. You’re waiting for that moment when it all comes together. When your student’s inner voice says, ‘I got this.’”
The teachers nodded.
“And with that, I wish you all a wonderful end to your school year. It was a privilege working with you in Denver. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to finish out the year, but it looks like you’ve all clicked with the program.”
The teachers laughed, and Jenna could see them moving around as they closed their notebooks and laptops. She was about to log off when she heard someone call out her name.
“Jenna, we wanted to ask about your aunt. How’s she doing?”
Jenna blinked, and then she remembered the lie. “She’s doing well and getting better every day. Thanks for asking.”
She logged off and sat back rubbing the heel of her hands against her eyes. In the short time she had been in Langley Park, she’d forgotten how heavy the weight of the lies could be.
An hour later, Jenna walked toward Langley Park’s town center. Her destination was The Pedal on Honeysuckle Way. She needed a distraction and decided it was time to meet the Yeti Beti.
As she went to open the shop’s door, she heard Zoe’s voice. “We meet again! The Pedal must be our place! Are you going inside? I’ve got some time. I’ll join you!”
Three tarnished bells made an off-kilter jingling noise as the door opened, and Jenna found herself doing something she never thought she’d enjoy—shopping with another woman. Two weeks ago, the thought of this would have driven her into a tailspin. She would have manufactured some reason to leave. But today, she just took a breath and followed Zoe inside.
The shop was empty except for the faint sounds of “What I Got” by Sublime playing in the background. The store had a pleasant rubbery smell and was filled from top to bottom with bikes, some hanging from hooks in the ceiling and others arranged in neat rows on the floor. Jenna spotted the red Yeti Beti, still in its place, calling to her from the back of the shop.
A young man, lean and lanky, sat cross-legged on the counter with his gaze glued to the phone in his hands. “You ladies looking for the kids’ bikes?”
“No, I’d like to see your Beti.”
“That’s a lot of bike,” he said, still not looking up from his phone. He reminded Jenna of the kind of guy who said dude a lot.
“I’m all about the SB5c frame, the switch infinity suspension, and, from what I’ve heard, the drivetrain is the bomb.”
“You’re serious?” Dropping his phone on the counter, the formerly lackluster sales associate jumped up and offered her a goofy smile.
“I am.”
“I haven’t sold anything but training wheels and cruisers in…” He paused to think, and the silence seemed to be stretching into minutes. Zoe and Jenna looked at each other, trying not to laugh.
“A long time,” Zoe offered.
“Yeah, a long time. Just give me a second, and I’ll get her down,” he replied, giving Zoe a grateful smile.
Zoe met Jenna’s gaze as the salesman went to retrieve the mountain bike. “Keanu Reeves. Point Break.”
Jenna glanced at the salesman. He did resemble Keanu Reeves, and his pseudo-surfer voice tied the whole thing together.
“You are so right!” Jenna answered, trying to whisper but unable to contain a hiccup of laughter.
The salesman wheeled the bike over. “You’re going to get so much air with this beauty, and she’s great on the skinnies.”
“And that means…what?” Zoe asked.
“It’s a light bike, good suspension, and handles well on narrow surfaces,” Jenna answered as Keanu nodded, agreeing with her translation.
“How’d you hear about the Beti? I don’t get many requests for her.” Keanu asked, adjusting the seat.
“I was in Colorado for a couple of years and saw quite a few on the trails.”
“Nice! I bet you saw some pretty sweet brown pow.”
Again, Zoe looked to Jenna as if they were having a conversation with an alien.
“Good trail riding in the mountains,” Jenna said to Zoe, who seemed to be getting quite a kick out of this whole exchange.
“You know, you’re not in the mountains anymore. But there are some pretty bomb trails not too far from here,” Keanu said as if he was letting Jenna in on a secret.
Jenna turned to translate, but Zoe waved her off. “Don’t worry. I got that one.”
Listening to Keanu tell them about the different
off-road trails in the area, Jenna couldn’t help thinking how nice it was sharing this moment with Zoe. But all too quickly, echoes of her past crept into her mind.
You have nothing to offer anyone.
Who would want you? You are unlovable.
“I’ll take it,” Jenna said, interrupting Keanu, needing to speak to silence the painful dialogue racing through her head. She reached into her purse and produced a credit card.
Keanu stopped talking and broke out into another goofy grin. He took her card and walked over to the register. “Killer! Let me just get her all tuned up. Can you come back in about an hour? It may be a little longer if I get swamped.” He looked around the store as if hordes of customers were about to start stampeding inside.
Jenna and Zoe glanced around the still very empty bike shop, biting back their laughter. This guy was a trip.
“Sure, that would be great,” Jenna replied, feeling herself relax, the disparaging soundtrack not quite so deafening.
“You should join me for ice cream. It’s just across the street,” Zoe said as Jenna signed the credit card slip.
Jenna looked out the bike shop’s window, and sure enough, there was an ice cream parlor. The Scoop was written on the glass in bold pink and white lettering.
“I better just head home. I really do have a lot of work to catch up on.”
“There’s always time for ice cream. That’s chick law 101.”
“Well, if it’s chick law,” Jenna said begrudgingly, but she couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
“Seriously, you’ve got at least an hour till Keanu Reeves has your bike ready. It doesn’t make sense to walk home and then come right back. What do you have to lose?”
“They better have cookies and cream,” Jenna said as they left the bike shop, resigning herself to the ice cream excursion.
As they crossed the street, a little girl dressed in a Darth Vader costume, sans helmet, ran toward them. Her long brown hair trailed behind her like a cape. The mini-Vader made contact with Zoe, and they both nearly fell over from the impact.
“My little monster niece! I missed you!” Zoe said, picking up the little girl and hoisting her on her hip.
Kathy walked toward them. “Why, Jenna! It’s so nice to see you. Kate and I were just going to get some ice cream. The Scoop’s got the best homemade ice cream in town—worth every last calorie.”
“Jenna’s going to join us while they tune-up her bike,” Zoe said, pressing a kiss to the little girl’s head.
So, this is Kate.
“Who’s that?” Kate whispered to her aunt, furrowing her brow.
“That’s Jenna. She’s the lady who’s going to be living in your carriage house this summer.”
Jenna smiled at the little girl. “You must be Kate. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“Oh,” Kate said, green eyes wide and unsure.
What Jenna lacked in her ability to maintain relationships with adults, she made up for in the way she connected with children. Jenna took in the little girl’s curious expression and remembered the first child she’d taught to read.
Just shy of her thirteenth birthday, Jenna was spending another afternoon in the peaceful safety of the public library when a little boy set the book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey in her lap.
“Do you like ducks?” she asked, a bit startled.
The boy nodded and met her gaze with inquisitive green eyes.
“Do you want me to read it to you?”
The little boy nodded again and sat down next to her.
Jenna read aloud, but, every so often, she’d point out a word and ask the little boy to try and sound it out.
After several minutes, she looked up to see an older woman watching with a curious look on her face. “I didn’t want to disturb you. I’m Barbara, Andy’s grandma.”
Jenna hadn’t even asked the little boy his name and her cheeks heated with embarrassment. She wasn’t even sure it was okay to read to a child she didn’t know.
“Don’t worry, dear! You’re not doing anything wrong. You see, Andy won’t do a lick of reading for his mother or me. And here he is, sounding out words for you.”
Jenna relaxed a fraction. “Andy’s very smart. He’s a good reader.”
“How would you like to tutor Andy? I take care of him while his mom’s working, and we’re at the library most days around this time. He seems to have taken a shine to you, and I’d pay you, of course.”
And that’s how it started. That chance encounter at the library changed the trajectory of her life.
Inside the ice cream parlor, Kate scrambled out of her aunt’s arms and stared at Jenna. Her gaze had changed from unsure to skeptical. She screwed her face into a scowl and then, as seriously as a six-year-old can, asked, “Empire or Rebels?”
Jenna crouched down so she could be at eye level with the little girl and considered the question. “The Empire has Darth Vader and Sith Lords, and they’re pretty powerful.”
Kate nodded as if she and Jenna were debating the laws of thermodynamics.
“But the Rebels have Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewy.” Jenna tipped her head weighing the options. “If I had to choose, I’d have to say the Rebels are my favorite.”
“Me, too! But Daddy said if I wore my Luke Skywalker costume for one more second his eyes would explode.”
Jenna chuckled but stopped when she heard a voice come from behind her.
“What’s this about my eyes?”
10
Kathy was right. The Scoop’s homemade ice cream was worth every last calorie. The group had eaten their treats at an outdoor table situated near a small fountain.
Streaks of strawberry ice cream ran down Kate’s chin as she sat perched on Ben’s lap delighting them with her sweet chatter. Jenna both loved and hated watching these kinds of family exchanges.
For as long as she could remember, her goal was to appear normal. If she studied the interactions of ordinary people, she could emulate their behaviors and, someday, maybe not feel so different. But that day had yet to come.
More often than not, watching these families made her wonder. Had she been brought up like Kate in a loving, safe home, would she have turned out differently? It was a pointless line of questioning, but one that looped over and over in her mind like a scratched record repeating the same string of lyrics, unable to move on to the next verse.
As they finished up their ice cream, Keanu propped open the door of the bike shop and wheeled her Yeti Beti mountain bike onto the sidewalk. He waved and walked the bike across the street. “Here she is! All tuned up and ready to shred.”
Ben met her gaze and raised an eyebrow. It was the first time he’d even glanced her way since he arrived at the ice cream parlor.
“Thank you so much. She looks great!” Jenna said, standing to take the bike from Keanu.
“No problemo,” he replied, then turned to Kathy. “Hey, Kath.”
“We missed you at Sunrise Vinyasa last week, Ted.”
Jenna met Zoe’s gaze. The fact that Keanu’s real name was Ted like Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, one of Keanu Reeves’ other films, was just too funny, and they both picked up on it immediately.
“I missed you guys, too. I was up all night studying and needed to catch a few Z’s before my exam.”
“Ted’s getting his doctorate in astrophysics. Did I get that right?”
“Totally, Kath. I’ll be there for class next week. Catch ya later.” Ted turned to leave but stopped in front of Jenna. “Did that guy find you?”
“What guy?”
“Some dude. He came in asking about you. I told him you were right across the street. I figured he was a friend of yours.”
A prickling sensation crept down Jenna’s spine. “I don’t really know anyone in Langley Park.”
Zoe pointed an ice cream filled spoon at her. “Jenna, you did go to school nearby. Maybe somebody just recognized you. You’re in the Midwest. People around here are friendly like that.
”
Jenna nodded, but she wasn’t convinced.
As Ted walked across the street, Zoe looked at her mother. “Are you serious? That guy’s getting his doctorate in astrophysics?”
“Yes, he’s such a sweet boy.”
Holding onto her bike, Jenna turned to Zoe and Kathy. “Thank you so much for letting me join you for ice cream. I’ll let you get back to your day together.”
“Are you heading out so soon?” Zoe asked, licking the last of the mint chip off her spoon.
Before Jenna could respond, Ben stood and reached for Kate’s sticky hand. “We’ll head back with you,” he said, his voice neutral, revealing nothing. Then, in a softer tone, added, “Say goodbye to Grandma and Aunt Zoe, Jellybean.”
“Are you all right? You look a little freaked out,” Zoe asked, touching Jenna’s arm.
“I’m fine, really,” Jenna said as much to herself as to Zoe.
But before Jenna could say anything else, she heard Kate calling, “Come on, Jenna! I’ll race you home.”
“Stop at the corner, Bean,” Ben directed as his daughter bounded up the street.
Jenna walked next to Ben, glad her bike was between them. She didn’t know what to say so she went to her default with this man—verbal overload.
“Kate seems like an amazing kid, but I’m sure you already know that. She has your smile. Your real smile, not the one you usually…” she trailed off, mentally cementing her lips together.
They continued walking in silence. Kate would run ahead, and then she’d stop and wait at the corner until Jenna and her father caught up. After the second block of walking in silence, Ben spoke, his gaze trained on his daughter. “You were up early.”
She heard his words, but it took a moment for her to understand. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“You didn’t disturb me.”
His words hung in the air as they strolled up the street. After a few steps, they both started speaking at the same time.
“I could start working with Kate today.”
The Complete Langley Park Series (Books 1-5) Page 8
