Chapter Seventeen
On Wednesday afternoon, Avila made a checklist of the remaining items that needed to be completed. Ebony had been asking her
whether the theater had called about The Piano Lesson . They hadn’t. Avila wanted to call the theater and check, but she also didn’t want to seem too eager.
Avila went outside to take out the trash when Terence pulled into his driveway.
He waved. “Be right over.”
By the time Terence appeared, Avila had finished with the trash.
“You’ve been doing a lot today?” His tone was curious.
“Yes.”
“You look busy... and messy,” he said.
The storm had left a soggy yard, and she had gotten mud on her shoes and pants while walking across the lawn.
She removed her shoes and stepped back into the house. Terence’s shirt and shorts were streaked with dried gray paint. “Yeah,
well you didn’t look so hot yourself.”
“I never said you didn’t look fine, just dirty.”
Avila smiled for the first time that day, her spirits rising. Feeling playful, she turned and gently punched Terence’s shoulder.
He jumped back. “Hey!”
Laughter bubbled up in her. “That’s what you get for being critical.”
“How am I being critical if I said you were fine?”
He gave her a sarcastic look, but Avila wasn’t having it. “Your tone says everything that needs to be said.” It was her mom
voice. It worked on Ebony, but she realized it might not have any effect on Terence.
Terence, smart, matched her steps. “You’re reading too much into things.”
She held her hands up, palms out. “I disagree.” There was a playfulness in her tone.
“Are you laughing at me?”
She shook her head, her lips betraying her. Avila’s body shook with suppressed laughter.
“Man, you really know how to make a guy feel some type of way.”
Avila shrugged. “Don’t be so sensitive. We have work to do.”
Behind her somewhere was a bucket that had been filled with rainwater. She backed up in its general direction, nearly tripping
over it. “I still have to take care of some things here. And I do need your help. You’ve been so great at providing me with
your help.”
“Oh, so now you want to be nice, huh? Flattery will get you nowhere.”
He took a few steps toward her, nearing the spot where the bucket of water was located. She giggled at the playfulness in
his tone.
Just then, a blue Toyota pulled up to the front curb, and a man stepped out from the driver’s side. “Hope I’m not interrupting
anything?”
“Nothing at all. Hey, Bryan,” Terence said.
Bryan walked across her yard. He stood a few inches shorter than Terence, and he was trim, except for a little paunch under
his tucked-in shirt.
“Avila, this is my coworker Bryan. We teach at the university together.”
“Nice to finally meet you.” Bryan extended his hand to shake hers. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
That was telling. “Good things, I hope.” Avila shook his hand, trying to keep the curiosity from her voice.
“Oh yes, all good things.”
Bryan appeared to be studying her, looking at her closely. Then Bryan turned his focus to Terence. “I brought those jazz CDs
I promised you,” he said, holding them out for Terence.
Terence took them, stepping slightly in front of Avila, as if to guard her. “Thanks.”
Avila looked from one man to the other, feeling an awkward silence fall into place.
“What’s going on?” Ebony came out of the house and looked at Avila and Terence.
“Bryan, this is Avila’s daughter, Ebony.”
“Nice to meet you, young lady,” Bryan said. “I’ve heard so much about you too. All good things, I assure you.”
Now Avila was very curious. What did Bryan and Terence talk about? She wanted to know every detail. That feeling made her
carry a sense of awkwardness within her, and she didn’t know what to do with that either. If she probed, then she’d probably
cement the fact that perhaps the feelings she held inside were mutual.