Chapter 19
Penelope
The bell rang and my students jammed through the door in their rush to get to lunch.
I finished collecting their sketching projects off the tables, noting that several had neglected to write their names on their work.
Again. I set those aside to be claimed next class and finished picking up my classroom.
After our sleuthing adventure over the weekend, real life had arrived bright and early Monday morning. There were classes to teach, assignments to grade, lesson plans to finalize, supplies to secure. As much as I would have loved to dedicate my time to being an amateur detective, I had a job to do.
Which meant we didn’t have any more information about the mysterious notes, or our suspicions about Michael and Amanda, by the time Friday rolled around.
I left the art room and shut the door. Students filled the wide hallway. Lockers clanged shut and conversations ebbed and flowed while I locked up for lunch.
When I turned, there was Theo, leaning against the doorframe outside his classroom, muscular arms crossed.
His posture was relaxed but alert as his eyes scanned the hallway.
He had such a way with our students, able to be both firm and supportive, friendly and tough when necessary.
The kids respected him, and I think they also knew how much he cared.
It was a priceless combination in a teacher.
His gaze moved over the crowd of kids heading to lunch and stopped on me. One corner of his mouth lifted in a subtle grin, and he tipped his chin.
I nodded back. I’d see him in the teachers’ lounge.
It took a lot of emotional energy to pretend I wasn’t devastated over his impending move. I completely understood why he wanted the job, and I was genuinely happy for him. But I couldn’t help but be sad for me.
I was going to miss him so much.
It was hard to decide if living with him made it better, or worse. On the one hand, living together felt so effortless. Navigating around each other in the kitchen each morning. Sharing meal-prep lunches. Chatting about our days or theorizing about the Morris mystery over dinner.
The tugs of longing I felt as we said good night were the biggest downside.
He’d pause in his bedroom doorway and look over his shoulder with a sleepy smile.
I’d wish him good night, and he’d say the same.
We’d close our doors, and every single time, I’d go to bed trying not to think about how much I wished he was with me.
Or what it would be like when I was shuffling down that hallway to my bedroom by myself, because Theo was on the other side of the country.
My plan was to make the best of it until he had to leave. Enjoy our brief time as roommates and be grateful he’d been such a good friend, especially when I’d needed him most.
Several of my coworkers were already in the lounge when I walked in.
Sharon sat in an armchair with a book, and Derek, who taught PE, was at a table looking at something on his phone while he ate.
Jeremy and Ashley sat at separate tables, and I wondered if that was to avoid suspicion, or if something had gone wrong between them.
I got our lunches out of the fridge and sat at the open table. My phone buzzed in my purse, so I dug it out to check. My heart skipped—and not in a good way—when I saw who’d texted.
Sean: Hey, Penelope. Could you call me? It’s important.
Pressing my lips together, I narrowed my eyes at his message. I did need to make arrangements to move the rest of my things out of his house. With a deep breath, I typed a reply.
Me: Not right now, but I do need to arrange to move the rest of my things.
Sean: Okay. And I have something for you to sign to take you off the lease. Can you come over tonight?
It was Friday and there was a home game. There was no way I was missing that to go sign paperwork.
Me: I’m not free tonight.
Sean: I need it ASAP.
I could practically feel his irritation. But if I was going to meet him face-to-face, I was doing it on my terms. Not his.
Strangely, I did want to meet him face-to-face. I wanted to get it over with. Maybe even prove to myself I could—that I was brave enough to handle it.
Me: I’ll meet you on Sunday, 6pm, at the Timberbeast.
Sean: Why don’t you just come here? You can pick up your stuff.
Me: I need to arrange movers for my stuff. If you need me to sign paperwork, we can do it at the Timberbeast on Sunday.
Sean: Fine.
With a smile, I dropped my phone in my purse, feeling a little bit proud of myself. We were doing things on my terms.
Theo came in, taking the seat next to me, and I slid his lunch to him—the last of our Polish sausage and veggie bowls.
“Thanks, Pentangle.” He snapped off the lid and dug in. “Man, this is good.”
“I’m glad you like it. It was super easy.”
He shoved another bite in his mouth and his gaze flicked to Ashley and Jeremy. Meeting my eyes, he lifted his eyebrows. I shrugged. I wasn’t sure what was going on between them.
“Did I tell you about Lindsay Mallahan?” Theo asked. “I have her for Algebra One.”
“No, what about her?”
“She got an A on her test yesterday.” He smiled, showcasing his dimples. “It’s her first A of the year. She’s one of those kids who thinks she can’t do math. Which isn’t true at all. She can, she just needed to get her basics down.”
“That’s great. Good for her.”
“Yeah, I’m proud of her.” He took another big bite and kept talking around his food. “She’s a good kid. Needed the win.”
We kept chatting about the goings-on at school while we finished our lunch, all the while keeping an eye on Ashley and Jeremy to see if they’d do anything interesting. Like try to whisper without anyone noticing or get up and leave together.
They didn’t.
Just as we were finishing up, Derek pulled a chair over to our table and straddled it backward. “Dude, Theo. Did you see the game?”
“Which game?”
“Buffalo. Man, they got killed. It was hard to watch.”
“Nah, I missed it.”
“You should have watched; it was a total train wreck. Their O-line was asleep or something. It was ridiculous. They couldn’t get a first down to save their lives.”
Theo shook his head. “That sucks.”
“Yeah.” Derek smacked Theo’s shoulder. “Too bad you don’t play for them anymore. You might have been able to get something done.”
Theo looked down at the table. “That was a long time ago.”
“Yeah, but you could have still been playing. You’re not that old.”
I watched the conversation in front of me with growing horror. Was Derek actually that clueless? Couldn’t he see this was an uncomfortable topic for Theo?
I stood abruptly. “So, Theo, if you could help me with, you know, that thing in my classroom, that would be great. Sorry, Derek, I just need to borrow Theo for a minute. He’s…taller than me.”
“Right.” Theo got up. “Yeah, let’s go take care of that now.”
“You guys need another set of hands?” Derek asked.
“No,” Theo and I said simultaneously. He handed me his dish and I slid it into my lunch bag along with mine.
“You sure?” Derek asked.
“I’ve got it.” Theo headed for the door. “Thanks, man.”
I followed close behind him. “Have a good afternoon!”
We went upstairs to my classroom, and I unlocked the door.
The art room smelled like crisp paper with a hint of graphite and the lingering scent of acrylic paint.
Student artwork decorated most of the wall space from ceiling to floor.
In the back was a large metal cabinet filled with art supplies, a stack of folding easels, and my desk, which probably dated from the 1960s.
Adjustable-height tables with tall stools provided workspace for my budding artists.
Theo leaned against a stool. “So, do you have any plans for the weekend?”
“Not really. Just the game tonight. You?”
He shook his head. “Not unless we decide to infiltrate the art gallery again.”
“I hope not. I don’t think we’ll get that lucky a second time.”
“Probably not.”
“Oh, actually, I do have one thing. I’m meeting Sean at the Timberbeast on Sunday to deal with some paperwork for the lease or something.”
His expression hardened. “Can’t he just email it?”
“Maybe. But to be honest, I think I need to do this. I’m going to see him in person eventually. This town is too small to avoid him forever. If I do it on my terms, then I won’t be worried about accidentally running into him.”
He nodded slowly. “I can respect that.”
“Thank you.”
“What time?”
“Six. I’m sure I’ll be in and out. It’s just some paperwork.”
“Noted.” He stood. “I should get to my classroom. I’m torturing them with a pop quiz.”
“Right after lunch? You’re so mean.”
He grinned. “It’s like three problems. They’ll be fine.”
“I probably won’t see you before the game, so good luck tonight.”
“Thanks, Pen. You’ll be there?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Awesome.” He grinned again before leaving, and the things that smile did to my insides could not be healthy.
With a deep breath, I set about prepping for my next class.
Theo stayed with the team after school, while I went home to change and grab something to eat. I put on a pair of jeans and a tank top, then reached for Theo’s hoodie. He hadn’t said anything the last time I’d worn it. That probably meant he didn’t mind.
Or he hadn’t noticed.
Either way, I pulled it on. It was going to be cold, so I made sure to grab my hat.
When I got to the stadium, an excited buzz of energy filled the air. The game hadn’t started, but the crowd was already loud, and the scent of popcorn wafted from the concession stand.
I walked up the steps and went straight to the railing in front of the stands.
Theo was on the sideline, talking to Coach Lewis.
A few seconds later, he looked up and a big grin stole over his face.
He reached out his fist and I did the same, long-distance fist-bumping him.
We spread our fingers wide and made a little explosion sound.
Good luck tonight, Theo.
With a flutter of happy tingles, I turned to find a seat.
“Penelope!”