This got me an eye roll.
And a smile.
“Mom!” Darla bolted down the steps in front of her school. “Come on!”
The bell had rung and kids were running around everywhere, looking for buses and parents.
“Coach Drew, what are you doing here?”
Darla pivoted in her hot-pink sneakers, her hand on her hip, questioning me as if she was Oprah. I couldn’t help it; I fell deeper and deeper for her incredible sense of confidence and running commentary.
I was standing across from Jules with Darla in the middle as I watched Jules’s eyes cloud with hesitation. Her daughter might have been full of confidence, but Jules wasn’t.
I made the decision to ad-lib. “You know what?”
“What?” Darla turned to me, big blue eyes wide and her hair a wild mess.
“Your mom and I knew each other back when she played tennis. We both figured it out the other day after the lesson. You’re new to town, and lucky for you, I’m not ... so I get to show you around.”
“Really?” Her smile spread wide and she started jumping up and down. “But you’re still going to teach me tennis?”
“Yep. But first, I’m going to meet this turtle.”
“Why don’t you lead the way, Dar?” Jules took our daughter’s hand but not mine.
That’s okay. Baby steps.I was here, so it didn’t matter who held her hand.
We walked back into the building, and Jules turned and mouthedthank youas we went through the door.
“Hello there. I’m Ms. Green,” a short brunette said when we entered Darla’s classroom. “You must be Claire. And you are ...” Her gaze pinged between Darla and me, circling back and forth a few times as she waited for an introduction.
“I’m a friend. Drew.” I stuck out my hand and cut off Ms. Green before she said something Jules would regret.
“Well, let’s show your mom and her friend our turtle, Raphael.”
“Isn’t that like the movie?”
“It is.” Ms. Green laughed, sliding her glasses on top of her head and sticking her chest out. She was feeling a vibe I wasn’t giving.
“Mom, Mom, Coach Drew, look!” A medium-sized turtle crawled around inside the tank, miniature shrubbery flanking the perimeter. “Isn’t he cute?”
Jules chuckled and nodded. “He is.” She swiped Darla’s hair behind her neck and twisted it into a knot.
“Mom, leave it. Look at Raphael.” Darla swatted behind her at Jules’s hand. She was definitely my daughter. “I want one!”
“Dar, you know we discussed this.”
“I know.” Darla’s tiny body slumped, but she still glowed while watching the damn turtle.
Looks like I’ll be buying a pet. Wish she’d look at me like that.
Ms. Green leaned against the desk, the chalkboard behind her with a rainbow in the middle. “Darla has been a lovely addition to the class. I met most of the students at the end of last year, and they’re a nice group. I knew there wouldn’t be any problem introducing a new student.”
“Thank you so much for saying that. It hasn’t been too hard, the move ... and she’s young and resilient.”
“That she is,” Ms. Green said, looking at me.
Uncomfortable, I stared at the colorful carpet. Did Darla and I look that much alike?
