Mom huffed. “We are the business.” She folded her manicured hands over her blazer jacket.
I nodded. “Yes, but I’m hoping there might be another option.” The anxiety in my stomach started to swirl and rise up my throat. “That you might just be my parents.”
“What do you mean? You’re staying here and working for LUXE. Right?”
I shook my head no.
Mom slapped her hands on her toned legs. “Great!” Her hands flew up in the air. “I already told them to print in the paper that you were.”
I flinched. “That is unfortunate.” I reminded myself that this wasn’t my fault. I never told her I was coming to stay.
“So why are you here then?” Dad leaned forward and studied me.
I took a shuddering breath. “I meant when I said I wanted to retry our relationship, but honestly, there is more as well.”
Mom huffed, and Dad gestured for me to continue. I had thought of this conversation a hundred times and never found the right way to share my whole life in Hillsdale. My parents sat on chairs on the other side of the coffee table. I stood and walked over to them. “I want to show you something first.” I squatted between them and opened my photos and scrolled back.
“These are my best friends.” I showed them a picture of Marissa and Rose. “This is Marissa.” I pointed at her. “She is married now and running a B&B slash community center slash law office.” I chuckled as Dad’s eyebrows shot up. “It’s a super tiny town, so often people do multiple things to pick up the slack.” I shrugged. “There isn’t a large box grocery store, movie theater, mall, or even hospital nearby for over an hour.”
His forehead creased as I’m sure he tried to picture a world so foreign, and I looked at Mom. Her arms stayed folded and her leg was crossed, pointing her body to the opposite corner of the room.She ignored me and my phone, but I caught her quick glances, so I decided to just continue.
“This is Rose. She is my roommate and, honestly, she’s the best, and a little feisty.” I smiled.
I scrolled through my pictures from Hillsdale Trunk or Treats, pumpkin weigh-ins, Easter egg hunts, Fourth of July parades, and so many other community events. I briefly explained the events and different people in the pictures.
Then I showed them my second-grade classes over the past three years, each child’s face bringing with it distinct memories of happiness and learning. Was I willing to never teach again? I cleared my throat and my tears. “I teach second grade.” I sighed and raised my right shoulder. “I honestly love it so much.” I grinned. “I love the kids and helping them learn and grow. I love the things they say and the moment their eyes light up when they learn something new.” The tears pricked my eyes as I thought of all of my past and current students and the hardships they were currently facing.
I scrolled through the pictures until I got to one of Adam, Danny, and me getting Christmas trees.
“Who’s that?” Mom’s voice was icy and her lips pinched in a frown.
I wasn’t sure how much to share, but if we were starting over, the truth would probably be best. “That is Adam and his son is Danny.”
Dad’s eyes shot to me, looking puzzled.
“In these we were getting Christmas trees. It was pure magic up in those mountains.” I felt a warmth and peace spread through my chest.
There were pictures of my class as reindeers, desserts I’d made, my decorated Christmas tree from Adam and Danny, pictures of the dance I went to with Adam, and the last one was of the basketball game.
“Is that the same guy?” Dad squinted at the picture.
“Yeah.” I grinned. “He is the coach of the basketball team. He loves those kids, and honestly, they love and respect him too. And they are kind to Danny.”
Dad gave a sad smile. “He is crazy about you.” It wasn’t a question. “You can see it in his eyes.”
I smiled. “I’m a little crazy about him too.”
He nodded again.
“Oh, please.” Mom waved her hand. “You mean you would rather live on a teacher’s salary in some tiny town, with a bunch of nobodies, than be here, with us, and the successful life we have built for you?”
I gazed into her eyes and hoped for kindness.
There was none.
“Yes.” I sighed. “But I’d love for you guys to come visit and see it. And I’d like to visit here more too. But the town is truly amazing!” My smile faltered. “Well, it was amazing.”
Dad tilted his head. “What happened?”
