Page 78 of Symphony of Salvation

Too late to retreat. Too obvious for excuses.

Besides, Constance was a smart girl who quickly deduced the unexpected plot twist in the story that was her life. Glancing beyond me down the hall and back, she seemed uncertain what to say or ask.

It wasn’t every day you caught your music teacher sneaking out of your father’s bedroom.Double damn.

My attempt at an explanation failed when the only words I managed to conjure were ones stating the obvious. “You’re up early.”

A nod.I’m always get up at five.

“Oh. Didn’t know that. I, um… was heading home.”

Another glance down the hall. When her hands moved, they conveyed hesitation.Were you… in Dad’s room?

My shoulders fell. Defeat and acceptance abated the urgency to flee. What was the point? Either I explained the truth, or she came to her own conclusions. Lying would be pointless. She knew.

“I didn’t intend to stay the night. I… fell asleep.” Cringing internally at the crass undertones, I motioned to the couch. “May I sit?”

She nodded and shuffled her feet out of the way, setting her book aside. My state of undress stirred discomfort. I’d put onpants, sure, but I hadn’t secured the belt. My rumpled shirt and sweater announced my urgency to flee. The elastic I’d used to tie my hair back was lost somewhere in August’s bedroom. I’d given up trying to locate it in the dark.

It was an odd turn of events. I, the guilty-looking adult, squaring off with the far more responsible teenager.

And like I’d done a thousand times in my youth to avoid facing upset parents, I diverted, motioning to the book she’d set aside. “What are you reading?”

She handed me the novel.Father and Sons.

“Ah yes. Ivan Turgenev.” I chuckled. “Koa shoved this one down my throat more than once. He goes on tangents, and the only way to appease the man is by giving in.”

Constance smiled.Dr. Burgard assigned it for class. An introduction to nihilism or something. I don’t know. He gave us a list of book options. We had to pick one and read it over the holiday. It’s not so bad.

“You want to win over Dr. Burgard and earn yourself an A? Read Dostoevsky. He’s his favorite.”

She shrugged.They were all super long. I picked a shorter one. I’m a slow reader when it comes to classics, and I’m still working through my first book report.

“What did you choose for that?”

Jane Eyre. My mom likes Charlotte Brontë, and I’d never read anything by her. Dr. Burgard suggested it.

“Jane Eyre. I’ve read that one too. That girl is a force to be reckoned with, isn’t she?”

Constance nodded.You’re friends with Dr. Burgard?

I considered the paperback in my hands, fanning the pages as I chose my words, knowing I couldn’t avoid the conversation forever. “Koa and I used to date.”

A long pause. Constance chewed her lip, then signed,I didn’t know you were gay.

I hitched a brow. “Really? How is that possible? Has the Timber Creek rumor mill broken down?”

She smiled and rolled her eyes.Okay, I heard, but when I asked if you had a girlfriend last night, you didn’t correct me, so I thought maybe my friends were wrong.

“Not wrong.”

Constance raised her hands more than once like she was going to speak but put them on her lap. Twice, her attention moved to the hallway.

“Just ask. I’ll be as honest as is appropriate.”

She pressed her lips together and signed,Are you and Dad… dating?

“Not exactly. Not officially.”

---