“Ah, I see. Charlie is too small for that now.”
“How does he handle it when you take him on the weekends?”
Michael picked up a few stray needles from the floor. “He likes it. We go for walks around the neighborhood and I take him to the playground across the street from the townhouse.”
“Does your brother mind?”
“Nah, he likes it. Last weekend he made spaghetti. I think it takes his mind off his job and stuff.”
“Right, Maggie said they let him go when he was recovering from surgery. That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen, Michael.”
“Yeah, I know. And he knows it too, but they couldn’t wait around. His position needed someone. Good news is he’s waiting to hear about another one he interviewed for.”
“That’s great. I hope he gets it.”
“Me, too.”
I adjusted the blanket on the back of the sofa. “Well, I guess I’ll clean up the kitchen and get ready for bed. Morning comes quickly. And you’ve got a drive back to the city awaiting you.”
“Yeah, I guess I do.”
“Unless you’re going back to Maggie’s. Which is technically yours too.” I pushed my hair behind my ear. “Not to get into your business.”
“No, it’s perfectly okay. We’re not back together. I’m not sure that’s the direction it’s going in anyway.”
“I thought there was therapy. And with the baby…”
“This time it’s different. The therapy…I think we’re just going through the motions. We feel we have to give it the college try, you know? For Charlie, for us.”
“Not really. You go to therapy because usually you want results. As in moving toward reconciliation.”
“She’s different, Sarah. I’m different. I think spending the summer apart was good for us. We got to see each other, and be there for Charlie for things like his birthday, but it was great not being berated on a daily basis. And I guess without that for a while, when I came back and there was a lot of memories, it caught up with us. And…well, you know. We’re here trying to do the right thing.”
“Okay.” I was still trying to process it.
“Any update on Sam? Maggie said he was nice. I can tell Rose is crazy about him.”
“Yeah, she is. And no, no update. Turns out he met up with a woman he’s been seeing and asked her to marry him. I watched Sophie while they went skiing the rest of the Thanksgiving break.”
His head dropped forward. “Say what?”
“Yep. I haven’t told Rose yet. Sam is going to tell her when she goes out next week for winter break. His choice, not mine. I’m not too pressed. It isn’t like she sees him on a regular basis. A few times throughout the year is what we’ve agreed to. And from what Sophie tells me, the new woman is not the mom type. I can’t imagine her trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to how I’m raising Rose. She’ll probably hike up some travel miles during those times Rose visits.”
“Yikes. That maternal, huh?”
“Yeah, that maternal.”
I edged toward the door, hoping Michael would follow.
Slowly, he put one foot in front of the other and took his coat from the back of the chair. “Well, I guess I better get going. It’s getting late. If you and Rose need any help in putting that star up, make sure and give me a call.”
“I will.”
He stopped and looked at me standing next to the door. It was as though he wanted to say something. Do something.
I reached out and pulled it open. Cold air escaped through the crack. “Drive safely, Michael.”
“I will.” A tiny smile appeared and he walked out into the darkness.
I closed the door and thought for a second how kissing him this past summer had changed things for us.
The last day of school before winter break. Kids, the ones who didn’t skip and actually came, polluted the hallways, rambunctious and goofing off. Teachers were all in a daze, just waiting for three o’clock to roll around. A few had pizzas delivered at lunch, and I noticed one faculty member who kept coming through to the lounge carrying five-gallon containers of ice cream. Mr. Wright would make any time an occasion for an ice cream party. When Russell Capshaw returned to school after mono, he had a party with all the fixings. There were sprinkles for weeks by the sink in the kitchen. And a few gummies had strayed and gotten smashed on the floor.
“Sarah, I’ve got someone who wants to meet you. He’s coming to the party.”
I shook my finger at Liz. “Liz, don’t ruin a perfectly good party that I’m looking forward to coming to with a threat of someone new.”
She palmed her chest. “Threat? Trust me, Sarah, you’ll thank me for this one. It’s Rick’s coworker. I’d date him if I could.”
I threw a mint and hit her in the leg. “When are you going to come to realize your brain is off the market. Your body is off the market, your mind is off the market…Liz, you’re with who you’re going to be with. You’ve got a baby coming! Make this work. Make it work, or I’ll…or I’ll…break in your house and sell your album collection.”
“Bite your tongue. They’re safely in the spare room at Rick’s.”
“Oh really? Rick’s? You’ve moved them from your townhouse?”
She looked down. “He sort of coerced me into subletting it out.”
“What?”
“Yeah, he didn’t want to freak me out too much by asking me to breach the lease, and it wasn’t making money just being a home to my albums and furniture, so I rented it.”
“Already?”
“Well, he had movers go and take my stuff and he listed it. Someone is supposed to take occupancy the first of the year.”
“Huh. Times are a-changing! I don’t think I would’ve ever believed it if I didn’t live to see it. Liz committing.”
“Yeah, well, you’ve all but pushed me.”
“Are you going to marry him?”
“Well, I can’t have a baby and not be married to the poor child’s father, can I? I mean I may be a lot of things, Sarah, but I’m civilized.”
I grabbed and hugged her.
“You’re crushing my fetus, Sarah!”
I patted her stomach and bent over to talk to it. “You hear that, baby? Your mommy is taking the plunge! This is huge.”
“Okay, okay.” She pushed me away. “Control yourself. It’s just a contract, not a resolution to climate warming.”
I gave her a big grin. “I’m so happy for you, Liz. You may talk and sometimes dress like a floosy, but deep inside you have a soft heart.”
“Okay, okay, whatever. Let’s not make a big deal, shall we? I have a reputation to keep up.”
“Absolutely, you hussy. Now what time’s your party Saturday?”
“Six…or seven. Whenever. Shockingly, I don’t have to lift a finger this year. Rick is having it catered, hiring a deejay, and all I have to do is find a pretty dress that doesn’t make me look like a sumo wrestler and mingle.”
“Okay, well, Rose is leaving Thursday for Sam’s. She’ll fly back Sunday for the Christmas Eve dinner at Aunt Heidi’s. It’s going to be so different this year without her for a couple days. I’m going to be lost.”
“That must suck.”
“Yeah, so try to stay with Rick. It makes it so much easier for the kids if the parents actually live in the same house.”
“But think of all the extra presents!”
I shook my head. “Uh, huh. I heard from Maggie finally.”
“How is she handling the holidays?”
“She doesn’t know, I don’t think. You know they’ve been going to therapy, right?”
“Yeah. I mean, you told me. I don’t talk to her as much as you. Especially since she’s going through all this stuff. It’s like she’s stressed out and I don’t know if she’s coming or going. This is so not like her. I mean, doesn’t she usually have something for all of us to come to during Christmas week?”
“Yeah, that is right. We usually go over and do a present ex
change.”
“That’s when I got you the edible undies, isn’t it? Yeah! I remember now. And Carter tried his best to talk you out of them so he could take and give them to…” She put her finger to her mouth. “Who was he going to give them to?”
“I don’t know. But now that you’ve said something, I wondered what was disintegrating in my underwear drawer. I thought moths were eating through the wood.”
She busted out laughing.
“Hey, that reminds me, I’ve got to go see Carter. I’ve got Rose’s gift for him.”
“Why would you give it to him? Rose isn’t sick, is she? You never told me that.”
“No, she isn’t sick. It’s just it wasn’t a good time for him to come over and I told him I’d bring it to school. He said he’s got one for us, too.”
“You all are so weird now. I mean, why wasn’t it a good time for him to come over? I remember when he wouldn’t even call. I’d drop by and you two would just be hanging out. Now it’s like I never even see you in here eating together. It’s gotten weird.”
“I know. It has.” If only she knew the whole story. If only I didn’t and it was the way it used to be. “Well, let me go before the final bell so I can catch him.”
“Okay, see you Saturday.”
“You bet.”
“And wear something provocative. I’ve got that coworker.”
The door shut and I jogged to my office to get the gift bag. Rose had colored him an awesome picture and picked out a pair of socks. They were striped like candy. He’d love them. And I got him a scarf. A nice cashmere scarf. I imagined how good it would look on him.
“Stephanie, is Carter in?” I asked the receptionist in the main office.
“Nope, you just missed him. He went to a late lunch.”
“Lunch? But school is going to dismiss in ten minutes. Doesn’t he need to be here? I mean, it’s going to be crazy being the last day before break.”
Phillip Cooper walked up at that time. “Is there something I can do for you? I’m in charge of dismissal today.”
Phillip was the vice principal. He was vying for Carter’s job since he placed his black leather shoes on the halls of the school. It wasn’t like Carter to leave early on such a busy day. And to let the duty go to Phillip’s head?
“No, I just wanted to give him a gift.”
“Well, I can take it and give it to him later. We have a meeting at the main building in an hour.”
“Nah, I’ll just catch up with him later. Thanks.”
I turned to see the guidance secretary pop her head in. Marsha was wearing her traditional ugly sweater today. However, I don’t think she referred to it like that in her mind. But seriously. It had a moose tangled in lights on it. And the lights lit. It wouldn’t be so bad if the colors weren’t lime green and pink. She must’ve gotten it at half price for the thread mix-up. It reminded me of spring more than Christmas.
“Ms. Keller, there is someone in the guidance office looking for you.”
“Me? Okay. Is it a student?”
“No. I’m not sure. I’ve never seen her. She said she was here representing the Morgans.”
“The Morgans?” And here to see me? “Okay, I’m coming now. Thanks, Marsha.”
I went the back way, racking my brain who was there to see me. I hadn’t put anything on anyone’s school record in the past month; I hadn’t had to call for a meeting of anyone’s parents recently. Who the heck was here to see me?
I walked in to the little lobby and saw a petite woman about five feet in height, wearing a simple black skirt and white blouse, and carrying a black coat. It looked wool; the belt dangled loosely from it. She also had a portfolio clutched in her hand.
“Hello, I’m Sarah Keller. Were you here to see me?”
“Yes, I’m Sabrina McClintok. May I speak with you in private?”
“Sure, my office is back here.” I guided her to my little cove, last door on the left. I had a nice large window; heat poured from the register beneath it. A student had just brought me in a fruit cake. It laid in the middle of the chair. Her mom was a lovely lady. We had a time getting her son to apply for colleges and I’ve been one of her favorites ever since.
“Let me move this so you can have a seat.” I moved the large tin to the top of the file cabinet.
“It’s warm in here.” She pulled at her collar and looked around.
“Yes, I like it like that.”
She pushed her coat to the side and held the black leather portfolio on her lap.
“I’m sorry, I don’t recognize your last name. Am I your son or daughter’s counselor?”
“Oh, no. I’m actually here on personal business. I’m Pricilla and Stephen Morgan’s assistant. Actually, Pricilla’s.”
Pricilla Morgan, of course. My nasty grandmother. The one who I pretty much assumed would wash her hands after shaking mine and Alex’s the night we met at Nordstrom’s. I’d just gotten to the point of not thinking about her.
“I’m at a loss. Why would you want to see me?”
“Forgive me for coming to your place of work. Mrs. Morgan said you worked at the high school in Calvert and that’s all she knew. I would’ve waited until later to meet you at home but I didn’t have your address. And she had no way of calling you.”
Mmhmm, sure. If she had an assistant, I’m sure she could find that phone number. It’s not as though I’m in the witness protection program.
“Okay.” I fidgeted with my sweater and tried not to get distracted by the buses loading the children outside.
“She said she met you for the first time the other week.”
“Yes, we did.”
“And she told Mr. Morgan this bit of information.”
“Okay.”
“I’m sure you’re not aware of Mr. Morgan’s state of health.”
“I’m aware I couldn’t pick him out in a lineup, Ms. McClintok, let alone know his state of health.”
She smiled politely. “Yes, well, we traveled here to Denver from California to put the home his sister has lived in on the market. It’s of substantial value.”
“Uh, huh.” I shook my head and became aware of my leg shaking.
“Upon hearing of his wife meeting you and your family, Mr. Morgan has put the sale of the estate on hold.”
“Why?”
“Back to his health. Mr. Morgan was diagnosed with lymphoma two years ago. He was treated with chemotherapy and it went into remission. In July, it returned.”
As bad as that sounded, I wondered how this impacted me. Oh right, when you face mortality, maybe you also face the mirror and suddenly realize what a shmuck you’ve been all your life. Maybe he wanted to apologize. Fine with me. I didn’t particularly think I was ever going to nominate him for grandfather of the year, but I couldn’t deny forgiving him. He was, after all, my mother’s dad. I’m sure she would want me to.
“Is he taking treatments again?”
“He did…he is. But nothing is certain this time. It’s turned up in more of his lymph nodes than last time.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Yes, well, he would like to meet you and your family. He is interested in your well-being and hopes you will agree to come to his home in Denver.”
Now he’s interested? Looking down the barrel of death did that to him? “It’s just me and Rose.”
She opened her notebook. Using her forefinger, she swiped it down the first white page. “Mrs. Morgan states that you have a husband and second child. He…” She tried to read. “He is a surgeon. And you are a counselor to the feeble-minded. Do you hold a doctorate in your field?” She looked up, waiting for my answer.
“I’m a guidance counselor, Ms. McClintok. This is a high school. Didn’t you see the students?” Feeble-minded? She sounded feeble-minded.
She looked past me to the window. “Yes…yes, I did. However, she described your occupation to Mr. Morgan as general psychiatry.”
“Well, I’m not a doctor. I’m jus
t a counselor.”
She pulled out a pen from her leather bag and jotted something down.
“And I don’t have a husband. That was my friend who was with me. And his daughter. I have one child…Rose.”
“Yes, the namesake for her own daughter.”
“Okay. Yes.”
She bit the finger that had just run the length of the paper. “Well, I’ll go back and let Mrs. Morgan know this.”
“I think Mrs. Morgan does know this. I was pretty clear when she confused it that night.”
“Mrs. Morgan is sometimes forgetful.”
“Or delusional. She almost seemed ashamed to learn he wasn’t my husband.”
“This might not be good, then, for you to meet Mr. Morgan. He assumes something very different.”
“How would that change meeting me?”
She shut her book and stood. “I’m not sure. I’ve taken enough of your time. Please excuse me.” Grabbing her coat off the chair, she opened the door of my office and turned to shake my hand before leaving. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“You, too.”
I felt like I’d just dozed off for ten minutes while watching a silent movie. Nothing made sense of what just happened. An assistant? An estate? What?
I waited until the last kid was off the front stoop of the school before leaving. I was hoping Carter would come back and I could give him Rose’s and my gift. She would be so disappointed to still find it on the seat of my car when I picked her up.
My phone rang on the way to pick her up from Aunt Heidi’s. I didn’t recognize the number but answered it anyway. “Hello.”
“Sarah?”
I thought I recognized the voice. “Yes.”
“This is Pricilla Morgan.”
Oh. “Hello.”
“Ms. McClintok has just gotten off the phone with me and said you will not be coming to dinner tomorrow night.”
Tomorrow night? She didn’t even ask. “She didn’t extend the invitation.”
“Yes, well, she assumed Mr. Morgan wouldn’t be pleased with the outcome.”
Who calls their husband Mr. Anything? Isn’t this the guy you French-kissed at one time or other and held hands with? He wasn’t some server at your local restaurant.
Falling For Sarah (Sarah Series Book 3) Page 17