Page 45 of About Time You Noticed

Dad sure had made it enticing. He'd even installed a claw-foot bathtub which felt amazing to soak in after a hard day when her backside ached. But she had to gain her independence.

She could continue to lease the paddocks from Dad and manage her clients. But living elsewhere would create extra distance from him. He couldn't pop over whenever he wished, nosing into her personal life. Not that she had anything to hide, but at times, her reactions to his intensity made her seem guilty, like she was hiding something. Weird.

Sarah itemized the deposits that had come into her bank account, and listed expenses for the week. One of her clients, Maggie, paid a month in advance so she could put an extra six hundred into her account. If her business kept growing, in two months, she could move out.

A hard knock sounded on the door. Sarah jumped in her seat. She pressed save on her spreadsheet and closed her MacBook.

The doorknob turned, and in strode Dad. He dipped his head slightly as he passed under the door frame. Sarah ground her back molars. He didn't even wait to be invited in—precisely why she needed to move out.

"Hey, Dad. How are you doing?" She plastered on a grin.

Dad examined the room and zoned on the corner of the ceilings. "You need to spray those bugs. They're gonna stain the walls with their poop."

"Ooookay." Sarah rocked on her heels. "Would you like some coffee or something?"

Dad didn't answer but plopped himself onto the two-seater couch. "How's it going with lover boy?"

Sarah furrowed her brow. "Um. Not sure what you mean." He was fishing for information, for sure.

"What's his name again? Ed?"

Sarah sighed. "Not much is happening. We went on a second date, but it ended quickly."

Dad nodded. "Oh well. You’re only twenty-five. Plenty of time to meet someone. You need to establish your business first. Get some savings behind you."

"What if I marry someone who is established? Like how Becca married Paul."

Dad frowned. "Depends on if I like him enough."

She wouldn’t argue. He showed no regard for her opinion as usual—it was all about how Dad felt.

"What do you and Mom have planned for the week?"

Dad folded one leg over his knee. "I've got a committee meeting tonight. Mom's going to the craft group."

Hopefully, Mrs. Baxter didn't say anything to Mom about her and Tommy behind the tree. The woman took every opportunity to inflate anything into speculation.

Dad slapped his knee. "Well, that's all I came over for. Just making sure you weren't still seeing that young man without bringing him over to meet me."

No surprise there.

Dad stood, wiped his jeans, and headed for the door. "Don't forget the bug spray."

"Yes, Dad. I'll spray tomorrow." She closed the door after him and breathed a sigh of relief. Lucky for Edward that he wouldn’t have to pass the meet-the-parents test. Who would, though? Dad seemed to like Tommy, but would that change when he found out?

Sarah’s belly swirled with excitement. So many years, she dreamed of being with Tommy. She breathed in, imagining his strong arms around her waist, pressing her cheek to his chest. Finally. After all the years of thinking she wasn’t good enough, not pretty enough to catch his eye, but things had changed. Like overnight. It still hadn’t registered in her brain, but her heart was doing triple backflips.

***

TOMMY'S NIKES SLAPPED the corridor tiles as he approached Edward's science room. The two minutes left before the bell stretched to an eternity as Tommy peeked through the glass door. Edward had his back to the class, writing something on the whiteboard. Tommy stepped back and pressed his spine to the cold wall, taking a deep breath. If he didn't face Edward, it would be awkward when they crossed paths at school. Tommy had planned and rehearsed his words throughout a sleepless night, but was this a good idea? From what Sarah had said, Edward had ghosted her. The guy must be furious.

The bell screeched, and chairs scraped, echoing from nearby classrooms. The door burst open, and students flooded the hall like salmon swept by a current. When the teenagers emptied Edward's class, Tommy rounded the entrance and placed his hands behind his back. "Edward, can we talk?"

He glanced over his shoulder and frowned. "It's okay, Tom." Edward grabbed an eraser and attacked scrawled diagrams on the board. He didn't seem okay.

"You deserve an explanation." Tommy swallowed.

Edward spun on his brown Oxfords and crossed his arms. "I saw perfectly well what happened. No need for more details. Thank you very much."

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