Chapter 3 #2
But Allie wasn’t like that at all. She longed for a husband and children of her own. The big green Victorian house on her parents’ land was just waiting for her to fill it up. But some days it felt like that would never happen.
When would she even have the time? Teaching took up all her energy. Most evenings and weekends melted away as she lost herself in lesson plans and progress reports.
She tried to say yes sometimes when Charlotte asked her out for coffee, or the other teachers decided to go to the diner after school.
But for the most part, choir practice was her only social outlet. And while it was a wonderful place to share her love of music with friends, it was no place to meet a man. The Sugarville Grove church choir was mostly made up of women, with just a handful of married men joining their wives.
She pulled the station wagon into the church lot and parked in a spot that was far from the building, leaving the better spaces for the older women in case it got slippery when the sun set.
“Allie,” a familiar voice called out.
It was Becca, who Allie had just been thinking of. The second-grade teacher was married to Allie’s quiet brother, Zane, and she also sang in the choir.
“We’re both early,” Allie said, catching up to her sister-in-law.
“I brought snacks,” Becca said, patting her backpack.
“Amazing,” Allie groaned appreciatively. “I missed breakfast and had a granola bar for lunch.”
“Why?” Becca asked, looking horrified.
“Well, I wanted to move the desks around in my classroom,” Allie explained, holding open the door. “And then I had to meet with Principal Chittenden at lunchtime.”
“Maya Tailor?” Becca asked as they stepped into the warmth of the church. There was a look of commiseration on her face.
“No,” Allie said. “Well, mostly no. We had another meeting about that after school. But I was proposing my greenhouse idea at lunch.”
Becca was one of the only people Allie had told about her dream for a greenhouse on school property.
“How did it go?” Becca asked, leading the way to the kitchen.
“Not well, actually,” Allie told her. “She pointed out that even if I raised all the funds, we can’t guarantee that we could afford to maintain it.”
“I guess that’s fair,” Becca said. “The school itself is barely maintained.”
“We had volunteers painting and doing landscaping last year,” Allie agreed, nodding. “This would only be an added burden.”
“I’m so sorry,” Becca told her. “I thought it was a great idea.”
“Thanks,” Allie said.
“So how was the meeting about Maya?” Becca asked, pulling a container from her bag and popping it in the microwave.
“It was actually really good,” Allie said, grabbing the pitcher of water from the fridge to pour them each a glass.
“Really?” Becca asked.
“Maya is energetic, but she’s a really good kid,” Allie said fondly. “She told the truth, and she even told Eloise she was sorry.”
“Eloise is in first grade,” Becca said.
“Well, bigger or smaller, Maya still can’t push her,” Allie said. “Though it came out that Eloise cut in line in front of Timmy Lanford. So Maya’s heart was in the right place, even if she could have handled it better.”
“Wow,” Becca said, nodding. “Yeah, that makes more sense.”
“Anyway, the dad was there,” Allie said, wondering how much she dared to tell Becca.
“Oh, he’s super handsome, isn’t he?” Becca said softly, as if someone might overhear her and tattle to Zane.
“Yes,” Allie laughed. “I guess he is.”
“You guess?” Becca laughed. “He’s single too, from what I hear.”
“Oh, Becca,” Allie said, shaking her head as her cheeks burned.
“What?” Becca asked. “Are you going to tell me it’s unethical to date a student’s father?”
Becca had been teaching Zane’s twin boys when they fell in love.
“Well, you dated two students’ father,” Allie teased her. “So it canceled itself out.”
“Is that how that works?” Becca teased.
“I don’t have time for dating anyway,” Allie said.
“But you do like him?” Becca asked.
“I like the way he is with Maya,” Allie said, thoughtfully. “He talks to her like she’s a person, gives her credit for being able to understand hard concepts. And he cuts her slack for falling short when she’s trying her best. A lot of parents could learn from him.”
Becca nodded, and looked like she was trying to hide her smile.
“What?” Allie asked.
“He sounds like a good man,” Becca said simply, pressing cancel on the microwave and pulling out something that smelled absolutely heavenly.
“Who sounds like a good man?” Angela Perrault’s voice boomed as she entered the kitchen. “And what’s on the menu? It smells great.”
“One of Allie’s students’ fathers,” Becca replied. “And leftover eggplant parmesan, with plenty to share if you’re interested.”
“Oh, yes,” Angela said, grabbing plates from the cupboard. “And you’re talking about the Tailor girl’s father, aren’t you? He’s a real hunk.”
Allie laughed, wondering if she was the only one who didn’t want to just gossip about how handsome Maya’s father was.
“He was at the school today,” Becca said. “And Allie had a meeting with him.”
“Was it about that little girl who cut in line in front of Timmy Lanford?” Angela asked.
Angela was the school nurse, and everyone loved her. Naturally, she knew everything that was going on.
“Sort of, yes,” Allie said. “Maya pushed Eloise when she wouldn’t give Timmy his place back.”
“On the record, that’s a shame,” Angela said. “But off the record? They should give that girl a medal. Timmy needs more friends like Maya.”
Allie smiled, glad she wasn’t the only one who felt the same.
“Next time Maya won’t push her,” Becca said. “That’s all.”
“I think she won her over,” Allie said. “They’re going to play tomorrow, and she decided she would ask Timmy to play too.”
“Wow,” Angela said. “Very nice.”
“Her dad encouraged it,” Allie said. “But she was excited about the idea. I’m really proud of her.”
“Okay, come and get it while it’s hot,” Becca said, peeling the lid off the container of eggplant parm.
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Angela said, heading over.
Allie grabbed a plate of her own and followed.
Maybe it was the cozy kitchen of the little church she had attended since childhood, or the smell of good food after a long day, but she felt better here with her friends than she had all day.
This is all I need, she told herself. This is better than flutters and tingles.
But in her mind’s eye she saw the big man bending down to talk with his daughter, and her heart gave a little squeeze.