Page 140 of Engulfing Emma

“It’s been wonderful to meet you, Grace. Please come by our booth, and I’ll give you one of my famous cinnamon rolls.”

“I think I’ll do just that, Emma. Thank you.”

~ ~ ~

“Jordan tells me you’ve taught first grade for six years.”

“I have,” Dan says.

“It’s pretty unusual for a man to teach first grade,” I say.

“I guess so, but I like it. The kids respond to me well. I didn’t go into it intending to teach six-year-olds, but it was the only job I could get that first year. It kind of grew on me, so I stayed.”

It’s nice that he likes kids. Points for that.

The waitress brings our food.

“Do you have any children of your own?” I ask.

He chokes on his sip of beer. “God, no. Teaching first grade is the best form of birth control.”

Becca and Jordan stare him down from across the table, and he backtracks. “Uh, but I do like them, though. Do you have any?”

“I have a twelve-year-old daughter,” I say, shooting Jordan a punishing glance. “I’m surprised Jordan didn’t tell you.”

“That’s cool,” Dan says. “I’ll bet she’s a handful at that age, all those hormones going wild.” He studies me. “Twelve? Exactly how old are you, Emma?”

“I’m twenty-seven.”

He does the math in his head.

“Evelyn is anything but a handful,” I add. “She’s a godsend.”

“Okay, well, that’s … brave of you, I guess.”

I guess?Who the hell is this guy? I give Becca a disapproving stare over my glass of wine. She just shrugs at me.

“What do you like to do in your spare time?” he asks.

“I don’t know. Lots of things. Go into tall buildings. Fly. Hang out in storage closets.”

Becca spits out her drink, and Jordan offers her a napkin. She kicks me under the table.

“Those sound like … uh, interesting hobbies,” he says. “Do you like music?”

“I listen to it from time to time.”

“Who do you like?”

“Elton John.”

“Isn’t he dead?”

I wonder how soon I can dump this guy and go home.

“Dan,” Jordan says, trying to ease the insurmountable tension. “Why don’t you tell Emma about your collection?”

“You’re a collector?” I ask. “Of what?”

---