Page 50 of Half Blind

Colette sniffled and asked, “You brought me goodies?”

“Nothing major; a few hair ties, mascara, age-appropriate lip blusher, and a few learning materials,” Helen said. “You're so sharp, I know it won't take long to get your reading on point. Any word on the home schooling with Doc Myrtle?”

“We started yesterday, but she's used to teaching really smart kids science and chemistry, not a dumb kid like me about how to change the word jump or how to make jump into jumping.”

“Conjugating verbs,” Helen corrected.

“Conjugate,” Colette repeated, looking at her feet again. “The man came back.”

“I heard.”

“He's sleeping in the house now, on the couch most times,” Colette said.

“Is that a concern for you?”

“No. Not really,” she said.

“Have you spoken to him?”

“No. Not really,” she spoke softly. “Life has been hard for me. I want to have a simple life, so I won't make any waves. Doc Myrtle said no bullshit from me, so I stay out of the way.”

“This is your home too. You don't have to stay out of the way. You're a part of her family,” Helen said.

“Can I be a part of yours instead? I mean, do you have kids? A husband? A house?”

“I do, but your place is here. While I'm here, I will help you ease into your role in this house,” Helen said.

“Not sure if I want to,” Colette stated. “The other two, they are friends, almost like sisters. I'm not like them. I feel...weird. It feels weird to be here.”

“Do you feel safe?”

“Yeah.”

“Let's start there. Come on; help me with this stuff,” Helen said. They walked quietly to the porch and entered the home. The morning’s coolness required a small fire in the fireplace. Jared Bane stood at the mantle, a cup of coffee in hand, deep in thought. “Morning.”

“Oh morning,” he replied. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks,” she told him. “Let me get settled, Colette, and we can get started on your daily lessons. Also, I guess I'm making meatloaf for dinner, by request.”

“Is that Helen I hear?” Lemon called out, coming from the bedroom. She looked like the epitome of the black college professor. A smile covered her face at seeing Helen. “Welcome back. I can't wait to hear about your weekend. I take it everything went well?”

“The weekend went well,” she said, winking at Lemon. “I'll put my things away and start the lessons with Colette. Anything on my schedule today?”

“Yes, Chemistry 101,” Lemon said. “We will start when I return from classes this afternoon.”

Jared looked over at Lemon and told her, “Don't forget your paperwork.”

Helen couldn't tell what the look between them meant. It wasn't her place to ask either; if Lemon wanted her to know, she would tell her. Jared, however, seemed a bit out of sorts.

“My things will be arriving this week,” he told her. “The work trailer should be here today. Any preference on where it shouldn't be placed?”

“It should be out of the line of sight behind the barn,” she told him. “You have my cell and here's my office information.”

“Okay, have an amazing day,” he told her.

“You as well,” she told him. “When do you officially start work?”

“Next Monday,” he said.

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