Bonus Epilogue
LOLA
“Ireally appreciate your help with this Lola.” I can hear the exhaustion in Patrick’s voice, quickly followed by the sound of my poor older sister gagging in the background. Elle came down with a bug yesterday and it sounds like Patrick was going to be the virus’ next victim.
“No problems at all.” I try my best to sound reassuring and nothing like extremely overworked and overstressed that I was actually feeling.
The phone call doesn’t last much longer, it’s pretty evident Patrick’s stomach was fighting him. After holding Mabel’s hair back at the beginning of her pregnancy, I had my fill of listening to others vomit.
I turn off my truck after finally getting Patrick off the phone and hop down, looking at the elementary school I’ve parked at.
Patrick had originally booked a meeting at the school to discuss possibly starting some field trip tours and, unfortunately, it couldn’t be rescheduled.
I’d done my fair share of networking but it had been awhile and I’d never done it with a broken heart before.
Well, not really a broken heart. More of a ‘tired of the male population and resigned to the fact that my twin brother and my sister’s significant others were the only good guys left in the world so I better get used to being alone’ kind of heart.
I give myself a shake, pushing personal gripes down and fortifying myself with my boss-face.
Thankfully, the visitor parking is close to the front entrance to the school. Stepping up to the doors, I press the button to request entrance.
The doors swing open, allowing my entrance.
There’s a tall woman waiting for me outside of the front office.
“You don’t look like a Patrick.” There’s obvious trepidation in her voice as she looks me up and down.
My hackles rise slightly as I feel her gaze stutter as it lands on my round stomach and thick thighs.
“I mean, it is Utah, we are known for our unique names.” I say, a sad attempt at a joke.
It does not land.
I cough, doing what I can to break the awkward silence, before pulling a business card out of the back pocket of my jeans.
“Uh, yeah, no. My name’s Lola. Patrick’s sick so I’m filling in for him.
” The woman hums, studying my card like it might be a counterfeit hundred dollar bill or something.
“Yes, well. Mr. Hale is waiting.” She turns without another word and leads me into the office of the principal.
Mr. Hale is an older man with a sunny disposition that’s the complete opposite of his snooty receptionist. The meeting goes well and I’m ready to make my exit but Mr. Hale gets the wonderful idea to introduce me to the teachers of the grades that he thinks would most benefit from our tours.
I do my best to decline but he won’t hear it and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize this possible contract so, I do my best to channel the enthusiasm of my brother-in-law, “Lead the way. I’m excited to meet them.
” My smile may be fake but Mr. Hale is just so excited to take me out and introduce me to his teaching staff, I doubt he notices.
Of course, Mr. Hale has no idea where his staff happen to be, the classrooms he takes me to are both empty.
“Oh my word. I completely forgot! We have visitors today. Come along, dear.” Mr. Hale lets out another jolly chuckle, that’s honestly starting to get on my nerves, and leads me outside to the back of the school.
To say I’m surprised to see a firetruck with its lights flashing would be a gross understatement.
Groups of kids are rotating through different groups of firefighters giving different presentations. A small bit of the tension in my shoulders releases as I remember a similar experience as a kid in school.
“Mr. Parks!” Mr. Hale’s voice pulls me out of my brief blast to the past as I spot what I assume to be Mr. Parks turns his head and offers a small wave, albeit a slightly confused one. Mr. Hale waves him over, “I want to introduce you, can you spare a moment?”
His boisterous voice catches the attention of almost every adult out of the field, thankfully most of the children are too engrossed in the firefighters to look my way but that doesn’t stop the grown men and women leading the demonstrations from searching out the loud voice.
I wonder if that’s part of the job, always ready to jump to an emergency.
How exhausting.
I don’t get much time to think about that as the handsome teacher makes his way over to us, a tentative smile on his face.
“Hi, I’m Evan Parks.” He sticks his hand out and I quickly grasp it, giving it a quick shake.
“Lola Warren of Warren Honey. Nice to meet you.” Evan, Mr. Parks, is nice and we end up chatting for long enough that the demonstration wraps up and Mr. Hale pulls the two of us over to join in the conversation of the poor firefighters.
There are five of them in total, four men and one woman.
My eyes catch on one firefighter who’s smile is wide as the three of us walk up to the group. He’s tall, lean with ears that are just a little too big for his close cropped haircut. It’s annoyingly endearing.
My steps falter, embarrassment rooting me to the spot.
“Mr. Hale, I’m so sorry, I have another meeting I need to get to.
” The disappointment on the principal’s face is clear as day but there is no way in hell I’m walking over and joining in with that firefighter.
I could probably have been a little nicer with my departure but getting any closer to that man was not something I wanted to do.
That man had a front row seat to one of the worst days of my life and I was not about to relive those memories.