Page 26 of Gifts

I stare off into the room, thinking back on that dark time at our school when he calls for me, “Keelie?”

“I’m here.”

“He’s just a drug dealer, it’s not like we’re dealing with the cartel. Someone’ll find him.”

“I'll speak with my principal tomorrow morning. Maybe he can put some extra measures into effect this coming week.”

“That’s good.” Asa’s voice is low and smooth, and it causes me to sink down into my spot in the sofa, settling into the low timbre of his voice when he changes the subject. “Is seven o’clock too late to pick you up tomorrow night?”

I close my eyes and allow my head to sink into the cushions. “That sounds an awful lot like a date.”

“I agree.”

“I thought you said you don’t date,” I chide with a smile in my voice.

“There’s something about you that made me make an exception to the rule.”

I try not to laugh when I respond, “That makes me feel kind of special, I guess.”

“The more you get to know me, the more you’ll learn that I like to bend the rules.”

I do laugh at that. “Well, now I don’t feel special at all. Do you do a lot of rule-bending with the ladies?”

His voice changes immediately and I’ve been around him enough to know he’s not smiling anymore. He’s serious as shit when he says, “There haven’t been any ladies worth bending the rules for, Keelie, let alone ladies to not bend the rules for. You can be certain about that.”

“Oh.” His tone sobers me.

His voice dips again. “I see myself bending a lot of rules when it comes to you. Just want you to know where I’m coming from.”

“You hardly know me,” I whisper. “And I’m a package deal. I come with two kids, a donkey, mutts, and a shitload of goats.”

“Took your kids to dinner. I’ve met your goats and your donkey. I’m still on the phone and I’m still picking you up tomorrow night. If the donkey didn’t scare me off, I’m not sure what will.” His voice is back to smooth, and even I admit, a little comforting.

But he doesn’t know about David, or the fact I’m not simply a single mom. “I’d imagine at some point there’s a rule you’ll stumble across that you’re not willing to bend.”

“I’m forty-three and you’re not even close to the scariest thing I’ve come across in all my days. Give me some credit.”

I open my eyes and look at a picture of Knox and Saylor with their dad. It was the last picture they have with him and I wasn’t even the one to take it.

“We’ll see.”

“You find someone to watch Knox and Saylor?” he asks.

I sigh into the phone. “My sister. She insisted.”

“Good, baby.” I can tell he’s smiling again. “Look who’s bending the rules now.”

“I guess,” I admit before adding, “but it’s only because you can change a tire.”

He chuckles into the phone. “I’ll let you go, even though I like the sound of your voice when you’re tired. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow,” I confirm, sealing the deal, at the same time wondering what the fuck I’m doing.

*****

It’s mid-morning, the students are in third period, and the entire school is on a Hold and Secure status.

All students are required to stay in their classrooms, but I’m in the commons with Tom Logan and Marcia Bradley with a walkie-talkie awaiting the results. I had no idea this was going to happen today, but the drug dogs have been brought in and are running the lockers.

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