Page 57 of A Scoring Chance

She cups both my cheeks, her eyes scanning my face as a warm smile spreads across hers. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, too. Darius and Alise wouldn’t stop talking about you on the ride here.”

“All good things, I hope?”

“The best,” she responds, patting my cheek softly before stepping around me to address her sons. “Time to stop playing those video games. You two need to get going or you’ll be late. Darius, grab your backpack and get started on your math homework. I can help with any problems you have while Ramona and Alise eat.”

“Yes, ma’am,” all three boys answer in unison, following her directions to a T.

“I’ll see you both when you get to the arena.” Cooper plants a kiss on Ms. Melanie’s cheek and then mine, leaning in close towhisper in my ear. “I’ll have a jersey waiting for you at the will-call window.”

I don’t say a word, only nod my head as he walks past us. I should follow behind them and chat with Darius, but I don’t move a muscle. My mind is still trying to process everything that has happened in the last ten minutes.

“I made some sandwiches to go with the soup I brought from home for lunch. I wasn’t sure if you were hungry, but I heated a few servings on the stove. Eat as much as you want.” Ms. Melanie grabs my hand and gives it a squeeze before heading out of the room after the boys

“What the heck just happened?” I ask no one in particular, but Alise immediately answers.

“Auntie Mel happened. She knows a thing or two about keeping a group of boys in line.”

That’s an understatement. I can’t get Darius to move that quickly on a good day. Getting him to do his math homework before Sunday night? That’s damn near impossible. “What magical power does she have, and where can I get it?”

“Practice, my dear. Practice,” Ms. Melanie says from in the kitchen as she fills up a bowl with soup.

I spin around and head out of the study, my eyes flicking to Darius to make sure he is doing his math homework as instructed. He’s a good kid. We never have issues with him doing his homework for other subjects, but math isn’t his best, and he avoids doing it until the last minute. To say I’m surprised that he is willingly doing any homework on a Friday would be an understatement.

I smile warmly at her, grabbing the bowl of soup she offers me before taking a seat at the small table in the breakfast nook. “Thank you for helping him do his math homework. I really need to get him a tutor.”

“No need for that, Ramona. I’ll tutor him.”

“Ummm…”

“Before you say no, I offered to tutor him on the ride up here, and he graciously accepted. I used to teach math at the high school before I retired. It will give me something to do with my time. We can talk about a schedule and everything later.”

I open my mouth to make an excuse, but Alise interrupts me. “Give it up. When Ms. Melanie sets her mind on something, she won’t rest until she gets it. Just accept the help and be thankful.”

This really is a win-win situation for me. Darius will hopefully have an easier time in class, and I’ll no longer have to fight with him to get his work done. “Thank you, Ms. Melanie. I appreciate it.” I raise my voice slightly so Darius can hear me from his place in the dining room. “What do you say to Ms. Melanie, Darius?”

“Thank you, Auntie Mel.”

“Auntie Mel?” I question.

“That’s what she told me to call her. Is that okay?”

“Of course it is, sweet boy. If it’s okay with Ms. Melanie, it’s alright with me.”

“It’s perfectly fine.” Ms. Melanie smiles down at me as she places a perfectly toasted grilled cheese sandwich and plate beside my bowl. “Now, I heard from Alise that you’re a fan ofMormon Wives.”

“A fan? That’s an understatement.” I giggle, finally taking a bite of the soup Ms. Melanie made.

I bite back a moan as the sweet but tart taste of the tomato soup hits my tongue. My fingers itch to get a hold of my notebook and start jotting down ideas, but I resist. Few people know about my notebook, and I’d like to keep it that way. My emotions are still a little raw from everything that happened yesterday, and the moment Ms. Melanie sees me jotting down ideas, she’s going to ask me questions I’m not ready to answer.

“Good. I’ve been rewatching season one with Cooper. I’m on episode five, ‘The Book of Truth.’ Ms. Melanie heads toward the study, leaving no confusion that Alise and I are supposed to follow her.

Alise doesn’t miss a beat, grabbing her bowl off the table. “Oh, that’s one of our favorites! We hate Whitney and are 100 percent team Demi for sure.”

“For sure,” I respond, grabbing my bowl and plate to follow them when something Ms. Melanie said catches my attention. “Wait. Cooper watchesMormon Wives?”

“Oh, dear,” Ms. Melanie says in mock horror, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “He’s going to be so angry that I told you. Can we keep this our little secret?”

I stride into the study, placing my bowl and plate on the small table in front of the couch before turning toward her. “Only if you never tell my ma that we watched the show without her.”

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