21. Adam
Adam
“ H ey, buddy. How was school?”
With Dylan being out early I had to work my schedule around for him since Jenny is taking her final exam. My assistant general manager informed me she wouldn’t be returning following her maternity leave so I got to hiring a new assistant. He started a couple of weeks ago and with the holiday causing a lull, I know he’s more than capable of handling the restaurant.
His little legs scramble up to the barstool at our kitchen counter. “It was fun. Ms. Bailey asked us how much food we’re gonna eat and then she let us watch a movie.”
My heart skips a little at the mention of Emily. Dylan is still too young to understand anything about girls and crushes. At least I hope he is. When his Mom walked out, I did what I could to shield him from the abandonment. Chelsea and I may not have been written in the stars, but I always wanted my son to have his Mom around.
“Oh yeah? Well, what do you say we continue on with a movie marathon?”
“Really?”
Nodding my head to match his enthusiasm. “Mm-hmm. Why don’t you go get your comfy clothes on and we’ll pick a movie out.”
He’s gone up to his room before I get the last word out.
Me: I heard you guys watched a movie?
Emily: Pretty sure other parents would call that lazy teaching.
Me: I call it improvising.
Emily: I’ll make that my word of the day when the kids come back to school.
Me: So you have some days off?
Emily: You could say that.
Me: What are your plans for those days?
Emily: I’m really not sure yet. I could spend Thanksgiving with my best friend and her boyfriend. Or I could head back to my parent’s house. Not sure which seems more appealing.
Me: What’s wrong with those choices?
Emily: Kam and Mason are great. But they’re still in the honeymoon phase. Going to my parents means facing them alone. And I haven’t done that in a while.
Me: Spend it with me and Dylan. My parents are RVing somewhere in Oregon so it’s just us.
Shit! Why did I suggest that?
Emily: I can’t do that.
Me: I know. My fingers typed before my brain could catch up.
Me: What about coffee?
The bubbles appear and disappear multiple times. I think she’s going to leave me on read when she responds.
Emily: You’re Dylan’s Dad and I’m his teacher. Even texting you like this is grounds for an investigation…or even repercussions.
Emily: The truth is that you’re the first guy I’ve set eyes on since my fiancé passed and I don’t take that lightly.
Emily: If you were anyone else, I don’t think I’d be as cautious.
Me: If you need a friend, I can be one. But Emily, you won’t be Dylan’s teacher forever. And I’m not going anywhere.
Dylan running back down the stairs has me putting my phone away. He picks a Transformer movie and has his eyes glued to the screen the entire time. I find myself watching Dyl more than the movie. But that’s my right as a parent. I always wonder how this tiny human, that barely reaches my hip, can take up so much space in my heart.
It has me wondering when I can open my heart for someone else. I understand Emily’s resistance to crossing that solid parent-teacher line. And I would never jeopardize her career. But something about her has me wanting to know more.