Page 7 of Single Teddy
“All my life, really. But I gave it all up when Josie… When my sister died.”
I glanced at him, the pain visible in his face, and I felt, not for the first time, like giving him a hug.
“That was a great thing to do,” I said.
He shrugged.
“It’s not like I had a choice. I couldn’t leave him with my parents. They…”
“Suck?” I raised an eyebrow.
He nodded. “Not very nice people.”
“Well, I know I haven’t properly met you yet, but I think he’s very lucky to have you,” I told him.
“I don’t know about that. I don’t know what I’m doing half the time.”
I chuckled.
“Welcome to parenthood. No one knows what they’re doingmostof the time.”
He sighed and turned to me.
“You’ve got kids?”
“Oh no. Well, you could say my students are my kids, but no. None of my own. But I deal with enough parents to know everyone is on the same rocky boat.”
“I don’t know. It feels like I’ve gone overboard and I’m in desperate need of a lifejacket.”
“How long have you had him?” I asked.
“I was granted temporary guardianship a week ago.”
“Whoa! No wonder you feel like that. You were thrown off the deep end from the word go.”
“Told ya.” He smirked, and something tightened in my chest at the sight. It might have been a sad smile, but it still made me feel some kind of way.
“I’m surprised the judge let you take him out of town. Where are you from?”
“West Virginia. And yeah. Extenuating circumstances and all. I have a support network here, and they thought it’d be best for Bear and me to be here.”
Those must have been some very extenuating circumstances if a judge allowed him to not only leave the town but an entire state. I wondered what else had happened in young Bear’s life, but I’d probably never know.
“Wait, I just got it. Teddy and Bear. Please tell me that wasn’t a coincidence!” I looked from Bear to his uncle, and I couldn’t stop smiling.
Teddy rolled his eyes and sighed.
“It wasn’t. My sister thought she was being funny, and then she liked the sound of Bear, so it stuck.”
“Brilliant!” I said, but before I could add anything else, the door opened and my students started walking in.
“I better go,” Teddy said, and I nodded.
I followed him to where Bear had settled and stood back while he said bye to his nephew, who suddenly remembered he didn’t want to be left alone and hugged Teddy tight.
Hmm…interesting.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be here to pick you up when you’re finished, and if you need me for anything, Mr. Crawford can help you call me from the principal’s office, okay?”
