Page 24 of Hot Four Teacher
“Can I just get out what I need to say, and then, you can be mad about whatever you want?”
“Fine,” I concede.
“Mom told me that you said that you’re completely giving up on love.”
I roll my eyes. Her words last night are making more sense. “Okay, Ididsay that, but in my defense, I was halfway through my second piece of cake, and I may have been on a bit of a sugar high.”
“Sugar high or not, it was something that took Mom by surprise.” She pauses a moment to sip her coffee. “You have always believed in love. You thought Prince Charming would show up on a white horse and carry you off into the sunset. When did you stop believing in that?”
“How about when reality set in? I got a pretty big wake up call when that pregnancy test turned positive. And an even bigger one when the father who promised to be my Prince Charming ran away as fast as he could.”
She shakes her head back and forth. “You still believed in happily-ever-after more recently than that.”
“Maybe. But the two relationships I had after Danny both ended in failure.”
“So what?” She asks. “Most people have to date more than a few to find the one.”
“But I don’t want to have a parade of men in and out of Eve’s life.”
She pats me on the leg again. “You’re a great mom for that. But we all worry when Eve leaves, you’ll be all alone.”
“Good grief. You sound like Eve.”
“She gets all of her wisdom from her favorite aunt.” She winks.
“Yeah, she really does take after Liz.”
She pokes me. “Not funny. Look, I know you said you don’t want a big thing like we had last night, but maybe just beopento the idea of something more…even if it’s something small.”
“Okay, okay.” I concede, not sure if I really mean it.
We sit in silence for a minute or so before I say, “Remember when you used to travel the world and were never home?”
“Yeah.”
“Good times. I miss that.”
Chapter nine
Animal House
Dane
Ihate the smell of this place.
That’s the number one thought I have every time I walk into the assisted living facility that my dad now calls home.
A couple years ago, my father had a widow-maker heart attack. At that point, he was checked into the rehabilitation side of this facility. He loved it here so much that he decided to move into the other side.
I wouldn’t consider this place a nursing home per se. Everyone has quite a bit of freedom, and most are still active. But I’d still rather my dad be living life on his own away from here.
As I walk through the halls, making my way to his room, I pass the nurse that’s on-call for the floor.
“Morning, Darlene,” I greet.
With a warm smile, she says, “Good morning, sugar.”
“How’s he doing today?”
