Page 3 of Taught By the Mountain Man

So when I take Barrow’s payment, I do so cooly. I thank him in a crisp, professional tone when he tucks a bill and some change into the tip jar, then turn to the espresso machine to make his latte.

Ruby reappears as if by magic, making me jump.

“All ready for the new school year?” she asks Barrow.

He gives a crooked smile that makes my heart flip-flop. Stupid hearts.

“I think so. You know, for as long as I’ve been teaching, I never quite feel ready at the start of the new year.”

Ruby waves him off. “I’m sure you’ll be great. I don’t have kids myself, but I hear only good things about you.”

I steal a glance at Barrow and am both surprised and pleased to see his cheeks flush.Flip-flop, flip-flop.

“I appreciate that,” he’s saying. “I do my best. Besides, I love teaching and love Heartwood, so that helps.”

Ruby leans her head to one side. “Remind me how long you’ve been here?”

“In Heartwood? This is my seventh school year, so just a little longer than that.”

“You moved here from Baltimore, right?” Ruby asks.

“Boston,” he corrects. “Yes.”

“Boston seems so cool,” I blurt as the coffee steams. “I bet city people really have their shit together extra.” God, why am I talking? I sound like an idiot.

To my surprise, Barrow laughs gently. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”

“I mean,” I press on even though my brain is screamingAbort, abort!I never said I was smart. “Folks must be more sensitive there, since there are so many different types of people squeezed in together, right? There’s got to be more kindness, less bullying.”

Now he’s shaking his head. “I wish that was true. And maybe there is some truth in that — exposure to diversity can help increase tolerance. But also, people are people, no matter where they are. And sometimes, people are unkind.”

“Oh.” I try to wipe the disappointment I’m feeling from my face. Is that really true? I’ve been longing to get the hell out of Heartwood as soon as I can scrape together enough money to go, thinking that life in a big city might be kinder to me.

But what if I’m wrong?

What if people are awful everywhere?

My stomach sours with sadness as I pour frothy milk over hot espresso and lavender essence.

I hear Ruby speaking as if from far away. “You looking forward to this year’s Meet ’n’ Mingle at this school, Barrow?”

He laughs, shaking his head. “Not really. I can’t ever find a date, much to Principal Bird’s disappointment.”

I pause as I’m fitting a lid over the cup of coffee. “You’re required to bring a date to a work event?”

“No,” he shrugs. “But also kind of yes.”

“Well, Star’s free that night,” Ruby says.

I must be hearing voices.

Maybe it’s sudden-onset schizophrenia.

Because my bossabsolutely.did. not.just volunteer me to be Barrow’s Meet ’n’ Mingle date.

My face is hot. No, not just hot. It feels like it’s on fire. Which is fine, because suddenly spontaneous combustion is sounding pretty great.

I turn to Barrow, ready to apologize for Ruby, to laugh it off,anything.

---