Page 23 of When You Left Me Speechless

“Oh, that sounds like fun. Have you ever had Hattie’s? It’s the best for brunch,” Beth says.

“That’s where we went. It was so good. Probably one of my favorites in the city. How was your weekend?”

“It was fine. I worked all weekend. I’m so bogged down with these progress reports, and I don’t know if I will ever finish.”

I walk around the room collecting the items I need for my first couple of groups. “If I can help with reports, please let me know.”

She smiles and then goes back to typing on her computer.

My conversation with Andrea and Nicole has not left my head since I hugged them goodbye yesterday. After I filled them in on the drama that is working with Logan over bottomless mimosas, they agreed with Lacey that I shouldconfront him about knowing one another. Their encouragement is just what I needed. I’m not sure when I will say something, but I am supposed to be in his room this morning for Freddie, so maybe the opportunity will present itself.

As we walk through the door, he is sitting at his desk. He looks up, and his eyes are solely on me. I force a smile as I walk over to Freddie, who is sitting at his desk. “Hey, bud,” I say.

Freddie looks up at me and rolls his eyes. I can tell I’m the last person he wants to see, and I can’t really blame him. None of the other kids have the speech therapist sitting right next to their desks, and poor Freddie has to put up with me and Beth. If you asked the ten-year-old sitting next to me, I’m sure he would say I am the least cool person in the room.

To my surprise, being in Logan’s room feels way more natural than the meeting with him and Beth last week. Once I get into a good groove, we work together nicely, bouncing ideas off each other. Freddie even seems to warm up to me being there. For the most part, Beth fades into the background, letting me do my own thing. I spend most of the class sitting next to Freddie and helping him complete a worksheet. Every now and then, I feel Logan’s gaze on me, but when I look up, he diverts it elsewhere.

Why is he staring at me?

I’m still unsure if he knows who I am or what it all means, but at least today solidified that we can work together and be professional. By the end of the class, Freddie seems a little more confident, and it feels good to see a kid who usually struggles have some small wins.

“See you Thursday,” Beth says as we leave his classroom. “Good job today. That was great.” She pats me on the arm.

On Tuesday,Beth and I wander down the hall to the teacher's break room. A couple teachers are sitting around the table eating their lunches. They stop talking when we walk in.

“Poppy, this is Ruth Dalton and Mary Jenkins. Ladies, this is my new student.”

“Welcome to Pecan Grove,” Mary says.

“Yes, welcome, welcome, come join us,” Ruth chimes, tapping the table in front of an empty chair. “So, anyway, I was saying I heard he’s single.” Ruth is a loud woman, and I can tell she likes being the center of attention. She is short and curvy. Her blonde hair frames her round face and is highlighted pink. Her outfit is full of mismatched patterns and colors, but she is somehow pulling it off.

Beth sticks her lunch in the microwave and turns around. “Are you all talking about who I think you’re talking about?”

Ruth nods her head, and both women at the table begin to laugh again.

“Who are we talking about?” I’m completely lost and not sure if I should ask.

“Oh, forgive us. This is so inappropriate,” Beth says.

“Don’t be such a bore, Beth. She’s an adult. She can recognize a handsome man when she sees one.”

Beth rolls her eyes and then turns back around as the microwave beeps.

Ruth continues, “We are talking about the very dreamy Logan Peterson.”

I sit there stunned, trying to process the words that just came out of this woman’s mouth.

“He’s cute, right?” Mary asks. I can feel all of their eyes on me, waiting for my response.

“Don’t feel like you have to answer her,” Beth says.

I smile and take a bite of my sandwich. “Mr. Peterson seems really nice,” I say.

“Yeah, nice on the eyes,” Ruth adds, and then they alllaugh. I immediately want to leave the table and eat by myself.

“Did y’all get the email about the mandatory staff meeting tomorrow afternoon?” Beth asks. “Does anyone know what it’s about?”

“I heard Calloway’s husband got a job out of state. Maybe they are announcing she is leaving at the end of the year and the assistant principal job is open,” Mary says.

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