Tim’s antique wooden desk contained a couple more Chia Pets and a small collection of cliché coffee cups that said, “World’s Greatest Teacher.”
“I see that. Is that another sloth?”
“It is. If you were to look out on the back porch, you’d find two statues of sloths doing yoga and the rest of my Chia Pet collection.”
Gemma opened and closed her mouth.
“I have a Yoda, a Darth Vader, Thing fromThe Addams Family, an Oscar the Grouch, a llama, and Baby Groot fromGuardians of the Galaxy.”
“Those are all from your students?”
“Most of them.” He shrugged. “The sloth and Baby Groot I bought on my own.”
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her eyes squeezed shut for a moment as a sharp twinge jolted her leg.
“Gemma?”
Her eyes fluttered open. “I’m okay. The pain comes and goes. It’s usually worst first thing in the morning and late at night.”
“And I bet sitting on the plane for a couple hours didn’t do you any favors either.” Tim’s forehead was creased with worry.
“No.”
“Why don’t you have a seat and pop the bottom of the couch up? Stretching out might feel good.”
He led her over to the sofa and pointed to the buttons built into the arm. With a whoosh, the foot of the couch flipped up. “Do you like using a heating pad? I have one I use on my shoulder when I’m having one of my bad days.”
Gemma hesitated. “Er?.?.?. are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”
“I’m not using it. You might as well if you’re achy.”
“In that case, yes please.”
He walked over to the cabinet below the entertainment system. “While we’re at it, maybe we should crack open some of the goodies from the Box of Awesome? I’m thinking about the donuts?”
“Aren’t we going to dinner soon?”
“Yes, but it’s a whole twenty-minute drive. I don’t know about you, but I could definitely use a little pick-me-up.” He winked and plugged the heating pad into the outlet in the wall.
“They’reyourgoodies. Do what you want with them,” she teased.
“Don’t mind if I do.” He rubbed his hands together, then plucked out the donuts from the box, the plastic wrapping of the package crinkling as he ripped it open. “These smell so good. I haven’t had a donut in a long time.”
“Oh.” Her face fell. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know what type of desserts you liked besides pie. I just picked up what was available at the airport.”
“No, I love donuts! I’d eat them for every meal given the chance, but I try really hard to limit sugary treats to once or twice a week. Type 2 diabetes runs in my family. I have a higher risk than the average person of developing it in the future, so I try to eat clean as much as possible.” He took a bite. “Oh, these are so good. Have one.”
Taking the soft treat for herself, she popped it into her mouth. She could taste the sugary sweetness melting on her tongue. “Mmm?.?.?. brilliant,” she agreed. She couldn’t remember the last donut she’d eaten either.
“Can I get you anything to drink? I have diet soda, water, coffee, tea, juice, and a couple protein shakes.”
“Just water, please. I’d love a coffee, but it’s a little too late in the day for me.”
“I swear we’re on the same wavelength. I was just thinking about coffee too, but it’s not that late if you want one.” Moving around his kitchen, Tim picked out two glasses and turned on the sink’s tap. “On school days, I usually have my last coffee of the day around four.”
“That late?”
“Uh-huh. I need that little jolt of caffeine to be able to grade papers. Some of my kids have horrible handwriting and it’s a mental workout trying to decipher what they’ve written.”
