Chapter Eighteen
"Please place your papers in the tray here on my desk.
" I call the same message to the students as they walk into the classroom.
It's Monday morning, the first of our final four classes together.
Technically three, because the last class will be the final exam.
I'll have this week to grade the papers and then next Monday we'll do a class study session.
Final grades will be put in by Sunday evening.
There is only one student failing this class, which hasn't surprised me since they've missed half the classes and haven't scored over a seventy-five on any of the quizzes.
I'm hoping to be able to talk to them today after class.
I look up from my laptop to check who hasn't arrived yet.
Winnie and Joey have since made new friends in the class and are sitting on opposite ends of the room.
I know that they still drive in together since they live at home.
They've been fun to have here together, usually getting a laugh out of the class with their bickering.
Rebel and Xavier seem to have gotten close since I paired them up for that project a few weeks ago.
I don't know if they knew each other before, but I see him waiting for her at the end of each class.
Nelson is sitting with his head down, reading a book that I know is not part of my curriculum.
I loaned it to him yesterday morning when he dropped me off at my apartment.
He seems to be halfway through it already.
The rest of the students trickle in slowly.
I close my laptop and start the class right at eight.
I start explaining the last chapter of the book.
As usual, some are taking notes, others are typing on their laptops.
I go through the prepared slides, stopping to give examples or answer questions as needed.
I can see some confusion on a few faces, but no one else speaks up with questions.
I finish out the last slide and shut down the projector before dismissing the class.
"We'll have one final quiz on Thursday, so don't be late.
Reminder that the final will be next week and we'll have a study session on Monday.
Please attend." Everyone is packed up by the time I'm finished talking.
I scan the classroom for the student I'm looking for.
"Yvonne, do you mind staying here for a second? I have a favor to ask you."
Yvonne immediately looks worried, but I hope that I phrased it in a way for her friends to not be suspicious.
I don't know if she's told them she's failing the class.
I give a nod to Nelson as he walks by my desk.
We've already made plans to get lunch after class so I know he'll be waiting in his truck.
I make sure that the door to the classroom stays open before I move back to my desk and sit on the edge of it.
"I wanted to talk to you about your grade," I start. Yvonne's expression is hard to read. "Did you turn in your paper today?"
"I did," she says. "And I know I haven't been doing great in this class."
"You've missed five of the now thirteen classes we've had." I wait for her to give an explanation. Either an excuse or a reason. She doesn't say anything, though which sends up a little flag in my head. "Is everything okay?"
"I've just had a lot come up this summer," she says. "I didn't expect to have to balance so much."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Find a reliable babysitter?" She laughs like it's meant to be a joke, but I can see that she means it too.
She sighs when I don't break my expression.
"I had a baby a couple months ago. I got through high school and graduated, and I was hoping to do some summer classes to help speed up getting my degree here, but the dad left for another college and the agreement I made with my mom to watch him during class hours hasn't been held up.
So, unless you can find a babysitter for a five month old or let me take the Final virtually, I don't know what I'm going to do. "
"Bring the baby with you," I say without hesitation. "Yvonne, I thought I made it clear the first day that I'm a pretty relaxed teacher when my students are honest with me. I commend what you're doing, trying to stay in school while raising a kid. Bring them with you and we'll make it work, okay?"
"Seriously? He's fussy at this age and I don't want to distract everyone else."
"We'll make it work." I repeat the words, this time with a smile.
I can see the relief on her face. "As for your grade, I can't change anything for that.
You'll need to get at least an eighty-five on this paper and a low A on the Final, so make sure you study.
I have my office hours as well if you need some extra time.
If you can show up for at least one office hour session this week or next, I can give you partial credit for your attendance. "
"I'll do my best," Yvonne says. "Thank you so much, Bennett."
I nod and let her walk out of the classroom first. I pack up my things and pull my phone out of my pocket to see a text from Nelson.
As expected, he's waiting in his truck for me.
The parking lot is empty except for our cars.
I drop my things off in my car and lock it before walking the few spaces to Nelson's truck.
My phone starts ringing in my hand before I can get in his truck. It's my brother.
"Hello?"
We haven't spoken since the night he called me. I got a text that everyone was home safe that night, but that was it. No other texts from him or my sister in the week since.
"Hey, Bennett." He sounds a lot more oriented this time, at least. Which is good because it's even earlier in the morning in Chicago. "We're coming to see you."
"What?" I glance to Nelson and back. "Like, now?"
"This weekend," he says. "Mom booked the suite in your city. We'll fly in Friday morning."
"Mom is coming too?"
"Mom, Dad, Veronica, myself, and Charlotte." Wow, the whole family. "I'm planning on proposing while I'm there with all of us around."
"Where?" I climb into the truck and buckle up while balancing the phone to my ear. Nelson raises an eyebrow, but I shake my head and motion for him to go ahead and drive. "As I said, there's not much here."
"I don't know, just at dinner or something."
I'm not about to have this argument again with him. He dropped that bomb on me last time while he was drunk and I don't want to bring that back up now that he's sober. I sigh and rub a hand over my forehead. "Just send me flight details and I'll make sure to pick you up."
"Will do," he says. He ends the call before I can say anything else. I hear someone start talking right before he hangs up.
"Everything okay?" Nelson glances over at me.
We're heading to the same restaurant Vishal and I met Nelson and his friends at.
He was originally meeting Paul there for lunch, but the guy was all too happy for me to tag along, according to Nelson.
They're supposed to be doing some onboarding paperwork or something today.
I know that changing jobs while also trying to buy a house isn't the smartest move, but he has deadlines looming that don't give him much of a choice.
"Apparently my entire family is coming to town this weekend."
"Really?" Nelson seems more surprised about this than I expected.
Then he starts laughing as he turns into the parking lot of the restaurant.
"Because my Mom just called and said they're coming down too.
Apparently Charlie hasn't broken the news to them yet but asked if they wanted to do a summer cookout.
My guess is he's going to talk to them about the farm. "
"Looks like we're going to be busy doing our own things this weekend," I say. I'm bummed about that. We made things official two days ago, spent all of Sunday together until he dropped me off at my apartment. I don't want to go days without seeing him. Or touching him.
"Or you could bring your family to the cookout?" Nelson suggests. "I'm sure Charlie will wait until afterward to talk to our parents about the farm."
The idea is intriguing, if only just for the excuse to spend the weekend with Nelson.
"Where are your parents staying while they're in town?" I ask. Nelson holds the restaurant door open for me and I step through.
"I'll give them my place while they're in," he says.
"I'll use the guest bedroom in Charlie's house.
" He doesn't sound excited about that. I know that he's barely spoken to his brother in the last two months.
I get that he's upset about loosing the house and his livelihood.
Maybe them being forced to stay in the same house for a few days will help them talk things out.
Nelson seems to have a different idea, though.
"Unless someone was kind enough to let me crash at their place. "
As much as I would love to see Nelson and Charlie make up, I like the idea of us together more. I nod and Nelson laughs quietly behind me. We spot Paul waving us over and head that way. "We'll talk about it more later."
We all order a drink and meal when the waitress comes by the table.
Paul doesn't even talk about work, but instead drills us for details on why we're hanging out outside of the classroom.
I'm about to question why he's so interested, but he offers that information on his own.
"I told my wife about the last time we were here and she's requested updates on you two if there ever were any.
It's not weird, I swear. She has become known as the matchmaker in our family.
She has an uncanny ability to know when two people will work out.
Did it for Miss Jo and Geoff at work. They've been married for a year now, despite hating each other when Geoff started working for me. "
They do eventually start talking about the job.
Paul gives Nelson a folder of forms and such to fill out.
He's set to start his training at the end of August, in time to take over in October when the current manager retires.
I can't remember his name from the one time we met.
I can see the excitement in Nelson's eyes as they talk about the aspects of the job.
I haven't seen this look before, but I'm happy for him.
He's spent his entire life working for someone else, first for his dad and then his older brother.
I think him having the chance to run his own team will be a great experience for him. He'll thrive, I know that much.
By the time lunch is over, it's nearly one in the afternoon. I'm planning on staying with Nelson tonight at least. We all walk outside together. Paul shakes Nelson's hand and then mine. "We'll have to make this a regular thing," he says.
"We're having a cookout at the farm this weekend," Nelson offers. "Why don't you bring your wife and kid around? I can text you times once we narrow that down."
"Sounds perfect," Paul says. I'm surprised he's inviting him. He's already invited my family. "Put us down for bringing a fruit tray."
"I'll let Joyce know," Nelson says. We say a final goodbye and head to the truck. I wait until we're in the truck to speak.
"Is it normal to just invite a bunch of people to a cookout or are you just overly nice?"
Nelson smiles widely, pure excitement in his eyes.
"You've never been to a Hargraves cookout.
Oh, it's a whole thing. There will be people from neighboring farms, extended family, friends of all of ours, even friends of friends will show up.
Our cookouts usually gather about sixty people or so by the end of the day.
Everyone brings a dish with them and we set up a few picnic tables outside.
We'll do a bonfire for those that hang out past sunset. "
I smile at the excitement in his voice. I know he loves his family and seeing him excited about being around that many people makes me happy. I reach over and rest my hand on his leg. It's a bit of a stretch across the console, but I manage. He drops his hand to cover mine and squeezes.
"Do you mind stopping by my place so I can grab some more clothes?" He nods. I press my luck. "Then, can we get some ice cream on the way back your place?"
"So needy," Nelson says, but he's smiling. I beam back at him, knowing he's already going to stop.