We.
I closed the door. I should’ve taken care of the food situation this morning.
I checked the time. I had to go. Autumn had said there was plenty of seating, but I planned to sneak in and sit in the back.
When I arrived at the school, I parked and thought of what Dad had said. I hated the spotlight. But as I gotout and walked toward the front double doors of the school with the other parents, more memories assaulted me.
I was growing used to it in the four days since I’d been in town. I remembered Mom and Dad dropping me off at the front. I’d run in and they’d park. When it was time to sing, I’d look for them in the crowd. Mom would always give me a little wave and Dad would have that twinkle in his eyes and a secret smile playing on his lips. I could never tell if he was laughing at me or if he was proud.
I remember the answer being important, but I’d never asked.
In the gymnasium, a ton of plastic folding chairs were positioned in rows, an empty aisle running down the middle. They were already filling in.
I put my head down, wishing I’d put on my new, clean ball cap. I could use the shade of the brim. People glanced at me, then murmured to each other as I made my way to the far back corner of the gym.
Autumn was nowhere to be seen.
A man with a sweater over a collared shirt was talking with parents and grandparents. I tried to scoot by, but he cut me off. “Good evening. Thanks for coming.”
“Evening.” I tried to take another step.
“I’m sorry, I thought I was getting to know everyone’s family. Which student is yours?”
While I was glad the school watched over the kids, I didn’t like being stopped or questioned. “I’m here for a teacher.”
Realization dawned and his professional politeness died. “Are you Autumn’s husband?”
This must be Mark. He was maybe in his midthirties, dressed in the slacks I had bypassed, but overall, he was a decent-looking guy. I could see why Autumn would date him.
I disliked this man. “Mrs. James? Yes.”
Annoyance flickered in his gaze. He didn’t care for how I’d phrased my answer. Good. “Right, Mrs. James. Congrats on that. The name change is taking us all some getting used to. Welcome.” His smile was forced.
I nodded, squeezed his hand harder than I should’ve, and left him behind, grateful I’d made time for the performance if Mark was lurking around.
People filed in. An older couple I’d guess were grandparents took the chairs next to me.
“Our grandson is so nervous for this.” The woman beamed at me. The apples of her cheeks glowed under the fluorescent lights. “Do you have one performing?”
A beat of longing tugged at my heart. No. I had no one. I was forty-four and had no performances to go to. “No. My wife’s the teacher.”
She blinked at me. “What teacher?”
“Autumn.” Her expression remained blank. “Autumn Kerrigan, now James.”
The man looked over from the other side of his wife, squinting his pale-blue eyes my way. “You the James boy?”
I hadn’t been the James boy for a long time. “I am.”
“Oh!” The woman brightened. “It’s been forever since I’ve seen Hank around. How is he?”
Stubborn. Frustrating. Happy, and I didn’t know why. Content, which irritated the hell out of me. “He’s well.”
She patted my arm. “Good, good. I like hearing that. He’s been through so much.”
I ground my teeth together.He’dbeen through a lot? And he had these people’s sympathy?
“Congratulations on the wedding,” she gushed. “Autumn is such a nice young girl.”
