Chapter 8 #2
She attempts to maintain a stern facade, but I watch it melt away as the seconds tick by.
“They’re beautiful,” She admits, taking in it’s scent.
“But flowers aren’t going to get you off the hook that easily!”
Kerry snatches the bouquet and turns to walk into her house.
I can’t help but watch, captivated by her grace, until she pivots to face me with a composed expression.
“You comin’ in or not?”
I smirk.
“I don’t know. May I?”
She nods, a suppressed smile playing at the corners of her mouth as I follow her inside.
Her home is warm an inviting, and the air rich with the smell of freshly baked sweet potato pies.
As I wander through, I take in the walls adorned with photographs chronicling Kerry’s life—from her childhood through her school years.
From snapshots capturing her at Sunday school, in beauty pageants, dance competitions, and piano recitals to spelling bee competitions, prom, graduation, and town festivals, I’m given a visual journey through her life.
Each frame tells a story, and she shines through as a true Southern belle, roots clearly planted deeply in this small town.
It feels warm and comforting, yet, nothing showcases her joy quite like the pictures with her students.
Her face lights up in those pictures, radiating a love and dedication that seem to transcend the simple frames they’re in.
Through these captured moments, her compassionate spirit seems to reach out and touch me.
“Oh, God! I look awful in those photos,” Kerry suddenly interrupts, her laughter breaking through my thoughts.
“My parents have practically documented every moment of my entire life, even my career.”
She gently takes a framed photo from my hands, our fingers brushing momentarily, sending a jolt of electricity through me that I can’t ignore.
She holds the photo toward me, pointing out a vibrant, albeit slightly messy, classroom.
“This picture was my first day as a teacher. Look at my classroom. I swear my decorating skills have gotten much better since then!” Her giggle is infectious and pulls a smile from me .
I watch Kerry as she fondly reminisces about her early days of teaching, her voice filled with nostalgia and longing.
The passion in her tone is unmistakable, and it draws me in further, deepening my understanding of who she is.
“How much do you miss it?” I find myself asking, genuinely curious.
Her smile fades a bit as she contemplates my question.
“More than anything in the world,” she admits, her voice tinged with a sadness that suggests the depth of her lost dreams.
She continues, revealing more about her past, “I was going to transition into administration a few years ago, but my ex-husband begged me to wait, to let him lead the way. So, I did. He became an assistant principal and then principal, with the promise of me following shortly after. Husband and wife running a school together—a power couple, he’d say.” Her chuckle is hollow, and I detect a hint of regret in her eyes.
“So, what happened?” I gently probe, sensing there’s more to her story.
“I found myself at a crossroads—either remain a wife clinging to empty promises or become a divorcee brave enough to leave a marriage that threatened to break me.” She confides with a hint of something unsaid, an undercurrent of memories she’s not quite ready to share.
She quickly shifts the topic, distancing herself away from her raw emotions.
“Nevertheless, it was for the best. His promotions only proved that he never wanted us to succeed together. He wanted me to watch him rise, not join him at the top.” Her voice hardens with the recount of betrayal.
As she delves into her past, my disdain for her ex-husband deepens with each word, fueling a protective anger inside.
“Anyway…that’s neither here nor there,” She says in a more gleeful tone.
“Are you gonna tell me why you’re here, or are you just gonna keep prying into my past?”
Regaining my focus, I guide her to sit beside me on her couch, but the unexpected softness of the cushions catches me off guard and sinks in deep.
“Damn, what is this made of? Air?” I blurt out, a little more discomposed than I’d like to admit.
She bursts into laughter, retorting, “Shut up, rich boy! My parents have had this couch since I was a baby. It isn’t as firm as it used to be, but it’s comfy, and that’s all that matters. ”
“Comfy, huh? You like to sit on waterbeds. Noted,” I tease back.
“At any rate, you were amazing with my daughters last week, and I loved what you did to their classroom.” I begin, trying to steer the conversation toward my purpose.
Kerry’s expression remains composed, unmoved by my compliment.
“Well, Mr. Grimes, I am a teacher. It’s what I do.” She replies, her demeanor still.
“But you did more than teach; you were attentive. You made Ari feel like a nine-year-old girl, which isn’t easy given her disability,” I admit, my voice softening since I rarely discuss my daughters’ struggles.
“It made them feel good, not to be pitied or stared at. Seeing them for who they are came naturally to you. They appreciated that. I appreciated that.”
A warm smile spreads across her face.
“Well, you’ve done a great job raising them. They’re pretty amazing. Ari is so thoughtful and sweet. And Syd? She’s a firecracker. They have so much personality. Surely, they didn’t get that from you.” She teases, looking up at me with a challenging smile.
“You think you’re funny, huh?” I playfully scoff.
“For your information, I was voted ‘most wittiest’ in high school.”
“Were you voted the biggest liar, too? ‘Cause there’s no way you made anyone laugh, Mr. Grey Beard.”
She laughs, and I can’t help but join in.
“See, now you’re distracting me. I had a whole speech prepared,” I say, dramatically clearing my throat.
“Ms. Kind, I want to apologize for my brash, immature behavior. My actions weren’t a true reflection of my heart. And I’d be so honored and eternally grateful if you’d accept the job opportunity to teach my children. You’re funny, intelligent, creative, you’re excited about what you do; you are exactly who they need in their lives. And...” I nervously rub the back of my neck, “I need you to come home with me, home to your new place of residence as my in-house educator.”
Her eyes widen with surprise followed by a moment of silence until she suddenly bursts into laughter.
“Hold on, what? First of all, “in-house educator?
” Did you just randomly come up with that title?
”
I pause, slightly embarrassed.
“I did. But that’s not the point! Look,” I gently squeeze her hand.
“I was a fool for not hiring you on the spot. A damn fool. And I won’t go home empty-handed. So, will you accept the offer?”
She sighs, her expression teasing as she contemplates, making me wait in suspense.
“And you want me to move in today? Will I at least have my own space? How far away would my room be from the girls? You don’t have secret cameras planted around the house, do you? Who am I kidding, I’ve known you for a few days and can already tell you’re a control freak. Of course, you have cameras everywhere!” She hysterically rolls her eyes.
“Correction, I only have cameras in the kitchen, classroom, great room, and perimeter of the house. But why does that matter?”
“Because I don’t need you stalking me, especially when I’m wearing next to nothing.” She nonchalantly quips.
“Okay,” I nod, licking my lips, a little flustered.
“So, you like to be naked. Noted.” The words slip out before I can stop them.
“Mr. Grimes!” She gasps and playfully hits my arm.
“My bad,” I rush to apologize.
“Really, Kerry, you’ve got nothing to worry about. I respect your privacy, and as your employer, our relationship will be strictly professional. Nothing more. As a matter of fact, I’ll be at my office for most of the day. Therefore, you’ll barely see me. So, do we have a deal? $150,000 salary for one year?”
I extend my hand, hoping she’ll accept my apology, my offer, and my intent to make things right.
Kerry pauses, eyeing my hand before looking up to meet my gaze.
Then finally, with a soft sigh, she places her hand in mine.
“Okay, we have a deal.” A smile widens across her face accompanied by a squeal.
“Oh, my goodness, I’m a teacher again!”
In a burst of spontaneous joy, she wraps me in a hug.
Surprised, I hug back, feeling an unexpected surge of heat between us that goes beyond excitement.
Fuck, why does she always smell so good!
Our hug lingers longer than it should, and as we finally pull apart, our eyes lock, silently questioning if we really want to let go.
I clear my throat a bit awkwardly.
“You need help packing anything?”
Kerry raises an eyebrow, a mischievous sparkle in her eye.
“You wanna see my bedroom, huh?” She teases.
“Uh, no! That’s not what I meant.” I stammer.
Kerry laughs.
“I’m just kidding, Mr. Grimes. Lighten up!”
I attempt to regain my composure, shifting slightly to appear more at ease.
“Alright, you got me there. But you should lighten up, too. Call me Vic. ”
She nods.
“Very well then, Vic. I’ll pack a few days’ worth of clothes and gather all my instructional material. Make yourself comfy on my ‘airy’ couch.” She giggles while walking away.
As I settle uneasily on the couch, the sound of keys jingling at the front door interrupts my scattered thoughts.
The door abruptly swings open, and a middle-aged couple bursts in.
The woman lets out a small yelp while the man loudly yells, “Grace, go grab my gun!”
I shoot up from the couch, my heart pounding as I rush to diffuse the situation.
“No, please, there’s no need for that. My name is Victor Grimes. I’m—” I start, but the woman cuts me off with a gasp.
“Our daughter’s boyfriend!” She exclaims.
I mentally kick myself, having forgotten the little white lie Kerry and I concocted.
“Oh yeah...her boyfriend. That’s me,” I say, my voice faltering slightly in the awkward silence that follows.
I attempt a recovery, adding a sheepish smile.
“I’m sorry, I’m extremely nervous. I haven’t met the parents in a long time and definitely never like this.”
The man, sturdy and imposing, extends a hand that’s as firm as his gaze.
“Well, ain’t that right. I admit I didn’t appreciate hearing about you before I met you. We don’t get down like that down here, rich boy. My name is James Kind. It’s nice to meet you, Son.”
Mr.
Kind and I shake hands, but Kerry’s mom, vibrant and overflowing with energy, pulls me into a warm, enthusiastic hug.
“Ooh, you are one handsome man. A cute little Denzel Washington.” She comments with a playful wink.
“Grace!” Mr.
James chides, though there’s a hint of amusement in his tone.
“What? Our daughter’s boyfriend is quite the looker,” Grace continues, undeterred.
“Now, where’s our girl? Y’all didn’t just do the nasty in our house, did you?”
From the hallway, Kerry’s voice rings out, laden with mortification.
“Mom! What the heck?”
“Sorry, I’m just so excited!” Grace replies, her laughter filling the room just as Kerry emerges, struggling with a heavy suitcase and a furball cradled in her arms.
I quickly rush to her side to offload her luggage .
“Here, just carry Tum Tum.” She insists, thrusting the furry creature into my arms before I can protest.
“But I don’t like animals.” I manage to say, my discomfort clear.
“Oh, you’ll love mine.” Kerry dismisses with a chuckle.
I roll my eyes.
“That’s what all cat lovers say.”
I look down at the furry creature now snuggling into my arms, and despite myself, a smile tugs at my lips.
“Aww, you two are hitting it off already.” She teases.
Mrs.
Grace jumps back into the conversation, her tone laced with excitement and a hint of mischief.
“And where are you two lovebirds goin’? On a vacation? Are you whisking my daughter away on a jet?”
Internally, I panic.
How do we explain this?
I guess with the truth, sort of.
“Well, not only are we dating, but Kerry’s also working —”
“As a homeschool teacher! I’m working at one of Greer’s homeschool collectives, teaching dozens of students in the area.” Kerry swiftly intercepts, her voice bright and convincing.
I look at her in shock as her parents beam with pride and surprise.
Grace claps her hands, exclaiming, “See, I told you great things were right around the corner for you!”
“I’m so proud of you, Kerry! Take that, Cory! I knew his antics wouldn’t work.” Mr.
James rejoices.
Struggling to maintain the facade, I muster a sarcastic enthusiasm, “Yeah, babe, I’m just so happy for you.”
Kerry immediately elbows me, forcing a chuckle from her parents as she beams from cheek to cheek.
“Thanks, Mom. You were so right! Everything’s finally falling into place. And since the school is a whopping 45-minute drive on Vic’s side of town, it just makes sense for us to take the next step.”
Her father’s eyebrows shoot up, his skepticism sharp enough to slice through the room.
“ Next step? ” He echoes, his voice laced with suspicion.
I’m looking at her crazy, too, but Kerry slides her hand into mine, her fingers warm and steady despite the tension brewing.
“Yes, Dad. Next step. We’re moving in together.” She says it with calm authority, her voice unwavering .
Meanwhile, a long, slow gulp travels down my throat.
This woman is nuts!
Is she trying to get me killed?
“The hell you are!” Mr.
James explodes, stepping forward, his protective instincts radiating off him like heat from an open flame.
His face twists anger and disbelief.
“Skipping meeting the parents is one thing, but shacking up already? No, sir. I won’t stand by and watch you rush my daughter into something she isn’t ready for. I don’t like this one bit. Kerry may be a fool in love, but I ain’t, and I see right through you. The way you move isn’t cool, son. You ain’t no good.”
I blink, trying not to flinch under the verbal onslaught.
Mrs.
Grace gently lays a hand on his arm, her voice a soothing balm against his fiery temper.
“Kerry, what your father is tryin’ to say is, it’s a bit too soon for moving in, don’t you think? We just met the man, for goodness’ sake. We’re worried, is all. We don’t want you—” She pauses, searching for the right words, her eyes soft with concern.
Mr.
James doesn’t miss a beat.
“To be in a dangerous situation, like before.” His gaze hardens.
“You gotta stop leading with your heart, baby girl.”
The tension in the room thickens with the unspoken fears and past pains hanging heavily between them and filling every corner of the room.
Kerry straightens her stance, her voice steady but filled with emotion.
“With all due respect, Mom and Dad, I’m not the same Kerry that got married at twenty-one. And I’m certainly not the same Kerry from two years ago. I’ll never be that version of myself again.” She turns to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but beneath the vulnerability is a steel-hard resolve.
“And you’re right, Dad. Victor isn’t a good man; he’s a great man. And though we haven’t known one another long, I know he’s right for me.”
I squeeze her hand, feeling something real settle between us, something that transcends our ruse.
It’s in the way she speaks with conviction, not just about us, but about herself—about who she’s become.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Kind exchange a look, their rigid expressions softening ever so slightly.
There’s no full acceptance, but there’s a reluctant nod, a silent acknowledgment of Kerry’s strength.
Mrs.
Grace sighs then her lips curve into a small, wry smile.
“You’re as impulsive as I am, that’s for sure. I was lovin’ on your daddy when everybody told me not to. Your grandpa still says, ‘Stay away from him.’” She says, waving her hand dismissively, embarrassing nearly everyone in the room .
So, this is who Kerry gets her personality from.
“Grace , ” Mr.
James huffs, shaking his head.
“Oh, hush, James! We just gotta trust these two silly lovebirds to shack up in front of the good Lord’s eyes and hopefully not get struck by lightning while we’re off on our empty nesters’ cruise.”
Kerry’s face twists in confusion.
“Hold on, what? When did you book an empty nesters’ cruise? Is that even a thing?”
“I booked it as soon as I found out you had a man,” Grace says matter-of-factly, crossing her arms.
“We’ll be gone for a month. Now, Son, ” she adds, turning to me with narrowed eyes, “give James your information so we can call you every day. We’ve got the whole town on our side. And they’ll beat you down if you hurt our baby, ya hear?”
I nod, swallowing hard, and shake Mr.
James’s hand—a handshake so firm I’m certain he’s trying to crush my bones.
Message received.
After we bid her parents goodbye, I help Kerry load her belongings into the car.
We exchange flirtatious glances, but they’re tinged with exhaustion, at least from my end.
The moment her parents retreat from the window, I sharply exhale.
“Kerry,” I mutter under my breath, dragging my hand down my face.
“Why the hell did you lie to your parents? I haven’t done something like that since I was a teenager.”
She rolls her eyes, still in semi-acting mode, as she adjusts her stance for any nosy neighbors peeking out.
“I’m sorry, okay? But what was I supposed to do? Tell my parents I’m working for my fake boyfriend as his nanny for his two kids ? You should be thanking me for lying and possibly saving your life from my dad.”
She steps closer, swaying her hips with exaggerated charm, her smile mesmerizing.
“Did you see how happy the town was to see me happy the other night? Did you see how happy my parents were to hear I got my career back?”
I nod reluctantly, rubbing the back of my neck, trying not to fall deep into her spell.
“I did. But imagine how disappointed everyone’s going to be when they find out the truth.”
“Well,” she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief, “that just means we’ll have to make our lies become truths, won’t we?”
I arch a brow.
“Explain. ”
She flirtatiously wraps her arms around my neck.
Her touch is light, but her words are layered with something more.
“Simple. We carry on with our whirlwind romance, then gracefully break up right around the time school starts. Lie one, done. Afterward, I’ll just tell everyone I decided to accept an exclusive homeschooling offer with one family. Lie two, done. Then I remain the girls’ teacher. Voila! Turning my lie into the truth, Mr. Grimes.”
She finishes with a dramatic flair, her grin wide and unapologetic.
I laugh, pulling her a little closer, fully embracing the absurdity.
“Kerry Kind, you’re quite the schemer. Looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us,” I say, gently stroking her cheek.
“You know, convincing the town we actually like each other.”
She leans into my touch, a soft, almost involuntary sound escaping her lips.
“Mmm-hmm. So much work.”
Just then, a group of older ladies stroll by, whispering loud enough for the whole block to hear.
“Oh my! Look at Kerry and her new man!”
Kerry laughs, resting her head against my chest, her body molding into mine like it’s always belonged here.
Strangely, it feels like it does.
I run my fingers through her smooth, pressed hair as a surprising warmth spreads through me.
I grab her and then lead her to the car to begin our journey into the unknown.
“Come on, Ms. Kind. Let’s go home.”