Thou Shalt Not(28)

“That’s really so nice of you, April. Thank you.”

This time I was the one initiating the hug and she didn’t back away.

“I don’t even know what to say,” I said after the second hug ended.

“You don’t have to say anything. Just promise you will eat it and pretend to like it.”

“I most certainly will be eating it,” I said. “And I highly doubt I will have to pretend to like it.”

“Let’s hope not,” she said as she handed me the bowl.

It dawned on me at that moment that she had said that we would probably be working together, and I wondered if she had been approached about it. I didn’t want to bring it up if she hadn’t, but my mouth wasn’t heeding my warning.

“Has anyone talked to you about maybe taking over full-time?”

I paused for a second, and when she hadn’t said anything, I added, “I mean, I know it’s a delicate topic. You don’t have to say anything.”

“Actually, they’ve asked me if it’s something I would be interested in. I told them yes. I think it could be really good for me to get back into the classroom full-time.”

“So, is it official?”

“No, nothing is official yet. I did some paperwork, and I guess they will go to the school board to get everything approved. Guess we will see...”

God, I hope she gets the job.

“Well, I really hope you get it. You’d be great for the job.”

“Thank you, Luke. That’s means a lot.”

We stood there in silence for a moment, and then I said, “I should probably get inside and say hi to some people. It’s always weird mingling at things like this.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

“You said you were going to stop in for a few minutes?”

“Yeah, probably. I mean, I don’t know anybody, but I want to pay my respects.”

“Well, let’s get inside then. I’ll introduce you to Walt, Robin’s husband. He’s a saint. I am just going to put this bowl in the car or people inside might devour it before I get a chance to. Thanks again, April. It was really kind of you to do this.”

“It was my pleasure, really. Who knows, maybe you’ll like it and I’ll be able to add a new dish to my culinary résumé.”

I put the bowl in Holly’s car and walked inside the church with April. I hadn’t expected to have someone take my mind off my own grief, but to my surprise, April was doing it. I don’t think she even knew she was. When we got to the room holding the reception, I found myself feeling better than I had in a long time.





The reception was a far more refreshing experience than I had anticipated. Walt was surprisingly peaceful and greeted April even more warmly than I had hoped. Of course, I didn’t tell him that she was the one currently occupying Robin’s old room, and was probably the one who would take her position at the school. Even if I had, I think he would have been okay with it.

I was able to take April around to different groups and introduce her to the staff that she probably hadn’t had the chance to meet. Everyone was swapping Robin stories, and more than once did the Dum-Dum story circulate from a source other than myself.

My phone vibrated against my leg halfway through the reception. It was a text from Holly.

Hope you are doing okay, it read.

Thanks. I really am.

Then I sent, Did you end things with K?

Yeah, I did.

How’d he take it?

He really didn’t seem all that surprised. A little angry though.

Are you okay?

Yeah. I’m relieved.

Good. I’ll be back to the house in about an hour. Maybe we can go out to eat tonight?

Okay :-)

I had moments where I would entertain the idea of my schoolboy crush on April, but the better half of my mind (or at least the more responsible half) would quickly push those thoughts away. Then they would replace them with thoughts of Holly. Maybe we were too young when we first dated. Maybe we were at bad emotional places in our life. Maybe trying again would be worth it. No marriage would be wrecked, for one thing. This was becoming the constant ping-pong battle in my brain.

I decided to head home, and so I slipped out, but not before saying goodbye to Walt and thanking April once again for the posole. To my surprise, she had stayed much longer than I had thought she would, and seemed to hit it off well with quite a few of the teachers. She was apparently going to stay longer than I was. This made me happy.

The walk from the driveway to my front door was excruciatingly hot. I was growing more and more thankful for Holly, and for her car. I needed to take her somewhere to show my gratitude.

When I got inside, I walked to the kitchen to place the large Tupperware bowl in the fridge. I didn’t see Holly and assumed she was in the bedroom. It took me a second or two to remember what she had promised me for the end of the day, and I was praying she hadn’t forgotten. But I didn’t see her or hear a peep.