picked the lint off the bite-size chocolate candy, and popped it in my mouth. My teeth sunk into the chocolate, my taste buds singing the Hallelujah chorus as the caramel filling tumbled over my tongue.
Twelve seconds later, the sugar Valium was a memory, but it left me empowered enough to end world hunger. Good thing I didn’t need to feed billions of starving people. I simply had to find a way to save Jack from ruin.
Under the contents of my red bag, I spied the stack of papers needing to be graded. Those could wait. First, I’d get organized. Attacking each folded paper, mostly receipts, I realized I had spent way too much on Christmas this year to make up for Jack’s absence. But paying my credit cards off wouldn’t be a problem if I got the job at KTXL. That was a big if I couldn’t worry about right now. I coaxed the thoughts from my mind, wishing I had another piece of chocolate.
After I organized the receipts and threw the rest of the stray papers in the trash, I picked up the last piece of gooey paper stuck to the Rolo foil, and opened it. Staring at the numbers, I tried to remember why I’d scribbled them down. 32, 24, 36. Those were definitely not my measurements. Never were. They weren’t my daughter’s either. I turned the paper over; realizing the number on the back wasn’t my handwriting. 328.
Maybe one of the kids dropped it in my bag. Their locker combination? The intercom beep startled me.
“Yes?”
“Mari, someone’s here to see you.”
“Can you tell them to make an appointment for tomorrow? I’m almost ready to leave.”
“It’s Danny. That handsome tenant of yours.”
I threw the Rolo foil in the trash, then dumped everything else in my tote bag, including the half- eaten protein bar and Henderson’s letters. My stomach roiled. I had to call Lopez before the day ended. “Sure, send him right in.”
Danny entered, his smile dim like an Osmond out of toothpaste. He swung his army green backpack off his shoulder and set it by the door. “Hi, Mrs. D. Sorry to bother you.”
I waved him to the chair in front of my desk. “You know you’re always welcome. Thanks again for coming to my rescue earlier.” I eased back in my leather chair, thankful for the comfort it provided my aching lower back.
“No problem. Like I said, I was headed to the university after lunch. It was on the way.”
“So what can I do for you?”
He sat, legs spread, his lanky form slumped deep in the chair. With his head hung low, I couldn’t see his almond brown eyes, but I could tell all wasn’t well.
“Classes going okay?”
He shrugged. “I’m almost done with mid-terms. Just two more.”
“That’s great. But I bet you didn’t come here to talk about something we could have discussed at dinner tonight.”
His leg began to shake. “I can’t put one over on you, can I Mrs. D.?”
“Not many can. What’s on your mind? I’m not a counselor, but I’ve got two good ears.”
He lifted his gaze. “It’s about Cherilyn. I really care about her, but she’s going through a hard time. I don’t know what to do.”
I remembered my first blinding crush. Thankfully I had grown up and seen the light. “Flowers and chocolate usually heal any female trouble.” At least chocolate did for me.
“Nah, that wouldn’t work. Have you seen her figure? Not an ounce of fat, and she works at a flower shop.”
“The best thing to do is stop trying. What she needs now is a friend, someone to talk to.”
His leg bobbed, shaking his upper body. “That’s just it. I wish she’d talk to me, but she won’t open up.”
“I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I found Professor Henderson.”
“I think it’s more than Henderson. There’s been rumors. Stuff I don’t want to repeat. I know it’s mostly locker room bravado, but how can I be sure if she won’t talk to me?”
I leaned across my desk and folded my hands. “She’s probably been hurt in a relationship and doesn’t want to get too
Twelve seconds later, the sugar Valium was a memory, but it left me empowered enough to end world hunger. Good thing I didn’t need to feed billions of starving people. I simply had to find a way to save Jack from ruin.
Under the contents of my red bag, I spied the stack of papers needing to be graded. Those could wait. First, I’d get organized. Attacking each folded paper, mostly receipts, I realized I had spent way too much on Christmas this year to make up for Jack’s absence. But paying my credit cards off wouldn’t be a problem if I got the job at KTXL. That was a big if I couldn’t worry about right now. I coaxed the thoughts from my mind, wishing I had another piece of chocolate.
After I organized the receipts and threw the rest of the stray papers in the trash, I picked up the last piece of gooey paper stuck to the Rolo foil, and opened it. Staring at the numbers, I tried to remember why I’d scribbled them down. 32, 24, 36. Those were definitely not my measurements. Never were. They weren’t my daughter’s either. I turned the paper over; realizing the number on the back wasn’t my handwriting. 328.
Maybe one of the kids dropped it in my bag. Their locker combination? The intercom beep startled me.
“Yes?”
“Mari, someone’s here to see you.”
“Can you tell them to make an appointment for tomorrow? I’m almost ready to leave.”
“It’s Danny. That handsome tenant of yours.”
I threw the Rolo foil in the trash, then dumped everything else in my tote bag, including the half- eaten protein bar and Henderson’s letters. My stomach roiled. I had to call Lopez before the day ended. “Sure, send him right in.”
Danny entered, his smile dim like an Osmond out of toothpaste. He swung his army green backpack off his shoulder and set it by the door. “Hi, Mrs. D. Sorry to bother you.”
I waved him to the chair in front of my desk. “You know you’re always welcome. Thanks again for coming to my rescue earlier.” I eased back in my leather chair, thankful for the comfort it provided my aching lower back.
“No problem. Like I said, I was headed to the university after lunch. It was on the way.”
“So what can I do for you?”
He sat, legs spread, his lanky form slumped deep in the chair. With his head hung low, I couldn’t see his almond brown eyes, but I could tell all wasn’t well.
“Classes going okay?”
He shrugged. “I’m almost done with mid-terms. Just two more.”
“That’s great. But I bet you didn’t come here to talk about something we could have discussed at dinner tonight.”
His leg began to shake. “I can’t put one over on you, can I Mrs. D.?”
“Not many can. What’s on your mind? I’m not a counselor, but I’ve got two good ears.”
He lifted his gaze. “It’s about Cherilyn. I really care about her, but she’s going through a hard time. I don’t know what to do.”
I remembered my first blinding crush. Thankfully I had grown up and seen the light. “Flowers and chocolate usually heal any female trouble.” At least chocolate did for me.
“Nah, that wouldn’t work. Have you seen her figure? Not an ounce of fat, and she works at a flower shop.”
“The best thing to do is stop trying. What she needs now is a friend, someone to talk to.”
His leg bobbed, shaking his upper body. “That’s just it. I wish she’d talk to me, but she won’t open up.”
“I can’t imagine how I’d feel if I found Professor Henderson.”
“I think it’s more than Henderson. There’s been rumors. Stuff I don’t want to repeat. I know it’s mostly locker room bravado, but how can I be sure if she won’t talk to me?”
I leaned across my desk and folded my hands. “She’s probably been hurt in a relationship and doesn’t want to get too
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