Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
“How was your day?” Gram asked from under the quilt on the sofa. The TV was on the news, but she raised the remote and clicked it off before leaning heavily on her thighs to heave herself into a standing position.
“Rough.”
Nora hung her bag on a chair at the small dinette table that divided the kitchen and living spaces and rubbed her weary eyes. Her stomach rumbled. By the time she’d gotten back to the sandwich she’d packed for lunch, she’d worried the mayonnaise had spoiled, so she’d chucked it. She didn’t have much of an appetite after attempting to talk to Mrs. Sanderson either. Ivy had been right. The woman had already made up her mind about the girl.
“This job is draining you,” Gram said, folding the quilt into a perfect square of four quadrants before draping it on the back of the sofa.
“I got into school counseling with grand plans to help kids live better lives. I wanted to impart some kind of guidance for their future that would help them to learn themselves what they wanted to contribute to the world. What classes would light their fires? What jobs would be the perfect combination of passion and income? But there’s too much out of my control to really help them do anything.”
She kicked off her shoes and set them neatly by the door, the cool feel of the hardwoods an antidote to the confines of her work shoes. Summer couldn’t come quickly enough.
“The principal wants us to focus on career planning and time management, but my kids have real problems that have to be dealt with before we can get to the lighter things.”
“You’re thinking specifically of the… musician’s daughter?”
“Music producer,” Nora clarified as she went over to the sink and rinsed out her water bottle. “She’s got real control issues, and she consumes my time. I’m unable to get to any other student. I’ve had to cancel on three teachers this week when I was supposed to do career-guidance lessons to give them an extra planning period for the new grading system update so they can input their final grades.”
“What does the principal say about that?”
“He said he understands. Of course he does. He’d rather me deal with Ivy than have her sit in his office.”
Gram put her hands on her wide hips. “But should you be the one to deal with that behavior?”
Nora began her career as a professional counselor, holding a dual license in both private counseling and school counseling, a skill set she felt the school leaned on a little more than they should.
“No, but who else can? One of Ivy’s teachers told me in confidence that Ivy was the reason she’d take early retirement. She said they don’t pay her enough to deal with that behavior. Having a heart for kids is important, but we aren’t all therapists. That teacher is frustrated because she doesn’t have the skills to manage Ivy.”
“Just because you do doesn’t mean it’s your problem,” Gram said.
“I know. And I left private counseling, remember? I’d much rather focus on careers…” She shook her head, scrubbing her water bottle a bit too vigorously. “I feel as if I’m the only one who can still see her as something other than a troublemaker.”
She’d originally taken a job at a private counseling firm, but with her knowledge of assessment she’d been used mostly as a diagnostician when she really wanted to work directly with people. While she had been able to fit a few counseling clients into her schedule, the firm had filled her caseload to the brim, causing her to spend countless hours of her own time scoring forms and writing reports. She’d taken the high-school job with the hopes of getting some of that time back during the holidays and summer break. That was the answer she told most people when they asked why she left. It was mostly true, and a lot easier than the real reason: her fiancé had been running around with one of the other counselors.
Gram patted Nora’s shoulder lovingly. “I don’t blame her for being an angry child. She probably feels completely out of control, so she’s struggling to find that control anywhere she can.”
Nora set the bottle upside down on a towel by the sink and turned to face Gram. “That scared girl hides behind the shock of her clothing choices and the brunt force of her outward expression, and I just want to hug her and tell her everything will be okay.”
“You can’t carry her burden for her. It’ll suck your energy dry, and you’ll be no help to anyone.”
“Disconnecting is harder than it seems, though. I still think about her after I’ve left school. I can’t help it.”
“Have you spoken to her father? Where does he stand in all this?”
Nora shook her head. “I have to wonder if he, too, is just trying to survive. At least that’s what I hope is going on. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt until I’m proven wrong.”
In the silence that followed, the savory scent of spices and potatoes wafted toward her, pulling Nora from her daily strife. Her stomach rumbled again.
“Something smells amazing.”
Gram waggled a finger toward the corner of the counter. “I’ve been simmering chicken stew in the Crock-Pot. It’s ready when you are.”
“Have I mentioned how thankful I am to have you?”
Gram chuckled fondly.
Last September, when Gram had a fall and broke her ankle, Nora immediately convinced her to move in. She told her that having someone else around would be helpful. Her grandmother had always been her safe place, and while she hated that a fall and minor injury brought her here, she was grateful for their living arrangements. They split the bills, which gave Nora a little breathing room financially and Nora liked the company, but the problem was that Gram was alone at Nora’s most of the day.
She also felt guilty that she hadn’t been the best company these last seven months of her new job. She was adjusting well at the school, but her broken heart was so fresh she wasn’t doing well at masking that pain. And the entire last semester she’d been coming home more drained than usual.
Despite all this, her grandmother had been nothing but encouraging and supportive, telling her that, while Nora might not have been expecting a student like Ivy, Nora was probably the perfect person to enter the girl’s life right now.
“How was your day?” Nora asked Gram.
“Decent. I had a doctor’s appointment and then I got myself one of those big cinnamon rolls from the bakery in town.”
“You never splurge on things like that. Good for you.”
“I’ve been trying to do things I normally wouldn’t. I’d say it’s a midlife crisis, but I’m a bit old for that.”
Nora smiled.
“Other than that, I puttered around here.”
Nora lifted the lid off the Crock-Pot, the salty smells of stewed vegetables and chicken reminding her of her hunger once more. “What was the doctor’s appointment?”
“Just a checkup,” Gram said. “Have you thought any more about the beach trip?” Her tone was nonchalant, although the abrupt change in subject gave away her excitement about it. There had been many obvious signs she’d been wanting to go. She pulled two bowls from the cabinet, set them down, and rubbed her shoulder.
“You haven’t traveled in a while,” Nora said. “Do you remember how much energy it takes to do all the packing and then rushing around to get there?”
“I remember well enough.” She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. “The warm sun and crashing waves on the sand are worth all the aggravation.” Her eyes opened and landed on Nora. “I don’t know how many summers I’ve got. I’d like to spend time in paradise before I can’t anymore. I’ll even pay for it all.”
Nora ladled the stew into a bowl and handed it to Gram. “Vacations are expensive. I don’t have a lot of extra spending money, and I really don’t feel comfortable using yours.”
“I can’t take it with me in the end. What good is it if we don’t spend it?” Gram carried her bowl over to the table and sat down.
Nora followed suit. “All this talk of time and not taking things with you… Is there something you’re not sharing?”
“No, definitely not. I’m not wishing away my life; I simply want to live it. None of us know how long we have, but we act as if we have an eternity. What if we don’t?”
“This passion for living has come on suddenly.” Nora sunk her spoon into the stew, the steam rising into the air.
Gram tucked her short gray hair behind her ears as if to ensure the intention in her wise eyes could be seen. “My mention of it has come on suddenly. It’s been brewing for years, since Gramps died.”
That was when Nora saw it: the yearning in her grandmother’s face, the absolute need to get out of that apartment and do something new and exciting. And Nora couldn’t deny she could probably benefit from an escape from reality for a little while as well.
“Can we even get a cottage at this point? They’re probably all rented.”
Gram shook her head. “I already inquired about the one I sent you. As if we have divine intervention, they have a spot next month, due to a cancellation. I just have to make sure it’s still available.”
“If it’s available, let’s do it.”
Gram clapped her hands excitedly, more life in her than Nora had seen in months. “Yes! I’ll book everything. Don’t you worry about any of it. I’ll handle it all.”
“I suppose I’ll need a swimsuit and some beach necessities.”
“Definitely. Get yourself a beach bag, some large towels, sunscreen, and a cover-up.”
“As soon as plans are set, I’ll get everything we need.”
“That cottage is beachside, so you’ll be able to walk out the door and onto the sand. You can swim every morning if you’d like.” Gram’s eyes danced. “I’ll watch while I sip my coffee.” She put an elbow on the table and leaned forward, her spoon hanging above her stew. “All we have to do is get through the next few weeks and then everything will be better.”
Nora took in a deep breath, as if she could inhale Gram’s words. She knew her grandmother was right. If she could just hang on until the end of the school year, her summer break would be the time she needed to recharge.