Page 31 of Hidden Memories

Does he know we’re on a budget? I didn’t tell him. My heart sinks thinking my son feels the sting of what’s going on. But equally, I’ve always thought the excess of our lives was gaudy, garish, an excess nobody needs, especially in a world where the price of a Chanel bag could make a real difference to people.

Still, I don’t want my son to feel like he can’t have whipped cream.

Maybe he just doesn’t want it today.

We take our drinks to a table next to four people. Two couples, I assume, though only the redhead and the handsome one with glasses touch each other. There’s a cute Asian gal with a Roswell t-shirt, and the tall drink of water next to her wears an EVPD uniform. Police.

They laugh, and the rise and fall of the relaxed, joyful conversation tugs at a nostalgic place inside me. I haven’t had a group of friends since college.

I connect to the café Wi-Fi while Theo blows the top of his hot chocolate. I work on getting us up and running on Number Ninjas.

Finally, after going through three differentpasswords, I’m logged on to our very first math lesson. Fractions and decimals. “All right. This looks fun,” I lie.

Theo digs around in the backpack I brought and pulls out a spiral notebook and a pencil.

“Okay, T. Pencil at the ready?” I attempt enthusiasm, which isn’t easy over anything to do with numbers.

Theo wiggles his pencil at me, and the sarcastic excitement on his features is hard to miss. Like mother, like son.

The blind leading the blind.

Maybe Dad was right. What the hell do I think I’m doing?

I have to shake myself free of the stranglehold of my dad’s conditioning. He doesn’t determine my future. Nobody does. It’s me who decides now.

I rub my hands together. “All right, kid, we have numerators and denominators…”

Shit. Which is which again?

“Just a minute…” I need to expand the sidebar with information to recall.

As I do, I catch the feeling of being stared at, and the beautiful redhead at the table next door doesn’t even bother to look away when I catch her. Okay,someonewas never taught staring is rude.

My annoyance evaporates when she offers a bright, innocent smile.

I try to smile back, but it’s half-hearted.Great.Four total strangers get to bear witness to how crappy I am at math.

I read the explanation, but Theo jumps in before I finish. “The top is the numerator and the bottom is the denominator.”

“Exactly. Good job… now…”

I read through the topic again.

I am in over my head. I don’t even remember the basics. Am I really going to be Theo’s teacher? What if he falls behind? Should I just let him have at this website and leave him to it? Maybe he’s better off without my bumbling explanations…

Feeding into this crushing crisis of confidence is the silence between the four people next to me. I swear the redhead is eavesdropping.

“Are you two new in town?” her cheerful voice interrupts my negative self-talk. “Are you the one Julia hired?” she continues.

News travels fast. I’m taken aback, wondering how on earth only hours after being at Heritage she would know.

She smooths her long hair behind her ear. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt…”

Roswell chimes in. “Yes, she did. Our friend, Ava, doesn’t know how to mind her own business. It’s almost like a disease or something.”

Badge Boy’s body bounces up and down with silent laughter.

This Ava rolls her eyes at her but smiles like she doesn’t mind the teasing. The handsome one in glasses next to Ava wraps his arm around her shoulders, the only one not to talk, but he comes across mighty observant. Interested in my answer. Maybe he doesn’t like people crashing his small town.

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