Chapter 7 #2
“Have you consulted the district’s handbook? Surely, something like this has come up before.”
“That’s a great idea. I need to look it up on the website since they don’t provide hard copies anymore.
I know when two people are dating in the district, they have to report it to HR.
Sam and I did when we first started going out.
And last year when two teachers in the science department got married, the department chair stayed at the high school, while the new wife moved down to teach life science at the middle school.
That’s because department chairs have input into evaluations and can recommend whether or not an employee should be offered a new contract,” she explained.
“Well, don’t put the cart before the horse,” Cecily advised. “You might go out with Carson and find he’s not what you’re looking for. If you click, though, you are going to be in a pickle.” She hesitated. “You’d have to tell your dad.”
“I know,” Mila said worriedly. “That would totally suck. You’re right. I need to take baby steps. See if we actually do go on a date. If it goes well enough that we go out again. Then if we go out several times and decide we’d like to be in a relationship, then we’ll have to notify HR—and Dad.”
The doorbell rang, and Mila jumped to her feet.“
It’s him,” she said, butterflies exploding in her belly. “I’ll get it.” She took a few steps and turned. “Do I look okay?”
“You look perfect, Mila,” Cecily assured her.
She went to the front door and opened it. Immediately, her gaze connected with Carson’s, and her stomach felt as if she were riding a roller coaster.
“Hey,” she said casually and then glanced down, seeing he held Lily’s hand in his.
Kneeling, Mila looked Lily in the eye and smiled. “Hi, Lily. I’m a friend of your daddy’s. My name is Mila. I’m so glad you’ve moved to Driftwood Bay.” She looked around. “Did you bring Binky with you tonight?”
The little girl had stared at her cautiously, but with the mention of her dog, she seemed to relax.
“You know Binky?”
“Well, I haven’t met Binky, but your daddy told me all about him and you. I also work at the same school where your daddy will be coaching basketball.”
“Are you a coach?”
“I am. I coach volleyball. Have you ever been to a volleyball match?”
Lily shook her head solemnly, and Mila said, “You’ll have to come and see one of my games. If it’s okay with your daddy, you can sit on the bench next to me. We can watch the game together. Would you like that?”
The girl nodded and then turned her face into Carson’s leg.
“That would be a lot of fun, Lily,” father told daughter. “Why, you’ve never even sat on the bench with me and my basketball players.”
“You might play basketball one day, Lily. Or you might play volleyball. We have lots of sports in Driftwood Bay for you to try. There are other things to do, too. You could take dance lessons or learn how to play the piano. I was in Brownies and Girl Scouts, and I had a lot of fun doing that.”
Lily turned her face back to Mila. “I dance with my dolls,” she said softly.
“You have dance parties with your dolls? That must be so much fun. I have dance parties with my niece and nephew. They’re in the backyard now. Their names are Gina and Bobby. Would you like to go meet them?”
Lily nodded and Mila rose, holding out her hand. When Lily took it, warmth rushed through Mila.
“Let’s go find them,” she said. “Your daddy can come, too. My brother is here. He’s Bobby and Gina’s daddy, and their mommy is also here. They’ll be eating dinner with us. My mommy and daddy live here, and they’re making the food we’re going to eat.”
“That’s a lot of people,” Lily said worriedly as they reached the kitchen.
She saw Cecily had joined Mom and was stirring taco meat on the stove.
“Hello, Carson,” Mom greeted.
“Thank you for inviting us over for dinner this evening, Laura. Lily, this is Miss Laura. She’s cooking dinner for us tonight.”
“My daddy can’t cook,” Lily shared. “He can make cereal and grilled cheese. That’s it.”
Carson ruffled her hair. “Thanks for ratting me out, Peanut.”
Mom told the young child, “Any time you’d like to learn how to cook, Lily, you come and see me. We could start by learning how to bake cookies. Do you like cookies?”
The little girl nodded eagerly.
“Sugar cookies are always the best cookie to start with,” Mom continued. “That way, we can put sprinkles on them. We can also spoon icing onto them. I’ll work it out with your daddy, and you can come bake with me soon.”
“Thank you,” Lily said, shyness turning to eagerness.
Mila indicated Cecily. “This is my sister-in-law, Cecily Perry. Cec, this is Carson Andrews and Lily.”
Cecily shook hands with Carson and did the same with Lily. “My two kids are playing outside, Lily. You want to go outside with them?”
Mila felt Lily grip her hand more tightly, and she looked down at her. “I’ll go with you if you want me to. Daddy can come, too.”
“Okay,” Lily agreed.
They went into the backyard, and Mila took Lily over to the swings where her niece and nephew were. She introduced her to Bobby and Gina and told them, “This is Lily. She’s new in Driftwood Bay.” Glancing over to Carson, she asked, “Have you found a preschool for her yet?”
“My next-door neighbor recommended Happy Hearts. She said a little girl down the street goes there. I have an appointment with them tomorrow morning.”
Michael joined them. “That’s where our rug rats go. Michael Perry.” He offered his hand, and Carson introduced himself.
“Good to have you in town. Dad says you’ll be coaching basketball.”
“Yes, I will be.”
“I played basketball through the end of middle school and then gave it up to concentrate on track. I ran cross country in the fall and then ran hurdles and did high jump in the spring. We go to some of the Pirates’ basketball games, though.
Football and volleyball, too. Bobby is showing a real interest in sports. ”
By now, Lily had released Mila’s hand and gone over to Gina. Bobby ran and brought back a ball and asked if Lily wanted to kick it with him. She said she did, and the three kids began running around the yard, kicking the lightweight ball.
Carson’s eyes followed Lily. “She’s really warmed up fast. That’s unusual. She doesn’t always take to people so quickly.” Glancing back to Michael, he asked, “So, you like this preschool?”
“We do,” her brother said. “There are a few in town, but our kids have been at Happy Hearts ever since Cec went back to work. She’s a nurse in Corpus. I’m a fireman here in the Bay,” he added.
“Then I hope they’ll have an opening for Lily when we talk with them tomorrow,” Carson said.
Mila’s dad began removing the chicken and beef from the grill, saying, “Time to eat. Head inside. Good having you here, Carson. Lily, too.”
“Thank you, Dr. Perry.”
“That’s pretty darn formal. Sure you can’t call me Bill?”
“How about we compromise and I go with Dr. P?” Carson countered. “At least for now.”
“Sounds good to me,” Dad said, leading the parade inside.
Her mom had everything to be served spread out on the kitchen’s island.
“I changed the menu on you, Carson,” Mom said. “I thought tacos would be easier for the kids to eat than enchiladas. I decided to add fajitas to that. I have all the fixings here. Guac. Grilled onions and mushrooms. Cheese and tomatoes. Chips and queso. There’s also some Spanish rice.”
“Looks like a feast, Laura. This is a great welcome to Driftwood Bay.”
Carson fixed plates for both Lily and himself, and Mom pointed them outside, where they would eat. Mila retrieved pitchers of iced tea and lemonade and asked Carson if he would prefer a beer.
“Iced tea is good for me. I never drink when I’m out with Lily.”
They enjoyed a pleasant hour, talking and eating.
The kids finished their meal quickly and went back to kicking the ball and then playing in the sandbox.
Mila noticed Carson always kept a watchful eye on his daughter.
She couldn’t imagine being married and losing her spouse and knew Carson watched over Lily with extra care, playing the roles of both mother and father to his daughter.
Cecily said, “I hate to break up such a fun time, but we need to get the kids home for baths and bed.” She looked to Mila. “I’ll type up a list of everything you need to know.”
“I’ll be there by five-thirty Friday morning,” she promised.
Carson also rose. “I should get Lily home, too. This was a terrific meal, Laura, Dr. P. Thanks for your hospitality.”
Everyone brought their plates inside, and Mom nudged Mila. “Go ahead. You can leave. Dad and I will clean up everything.”
“If you’re sure.”
“Yes, sweetie.”
She retrieved her purse and walked out with Michael’s family and Carson and Lily. As her brother led his crew to their Suburban, Carson lingered, turning to her.
“Are we still on for pizza tomorrow night?” he asked hopefully.
“I’d like that. What time does Lily go to bed?”
“Usually by seven-thirty. She’s in PJs by seven, and we read a couple of stories before I put her down.”
“I could swing by Pizza Perfecto and pick up a pizza and bring it by once she’s asleep.”
Lily looked up. “Are you coming to our house, Miss Mila?”
She liked how Carson had instructed his daughter to call all the women by the polite title, and she nodded. “Yes. Since your daddy doesn’t cook and we need to talk about school stuff, I thought I could bring by a pizza.”
“School stuff is boring,” Lily declared, causing Mila to laugh.
“Yes, school stuff can be boring, but it’s our job.”
“Would you come read me a story?”
The small sprite’s request touched her heart. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Carson said, “Then come at seven. I can put the pizza in the oven on warm. I know enough to do that.”
She laughed. “Seven tomorrow. I’ll see you both then.”
Lily suddenly stepped toward her and threw her arms around Mila.
She hugged the little girl. Lily released her and ran to their car.
As Carson helped buckle his daughter into her car seat, Mila headed to her own car, a glow filling her.
She looked forward to tomorrow night, more than she had anything in a long time.
She reached her car and turned, seeing Carson close the door. Their gazes met, and they both smiled.
Mila knew that one smile of his would have her floating through the rest of tonight.