Kelly took a sip of her drink before adding, “I find that so strange that you both lived in the same town for such long periods of time without ever running into eachother.”
“Just sort of kept missing each other, it seems. We both moved away for college. I went to the University of Illinois while Wes was at UT. By the time Wes and Becca had moved back to Winebourne to raise you and Mike, I was teaching in Illinois for nearly two decades. Wes and Becca then moved out to Los Angeles, and when I went back, Mike was around, but Wes didn’t return until I was already living atHeathrow.”
The memory of Mike returned, and with that, regrets about how Wes had acted toward him when Mike had returned toWinebourne.
Kelly moved the conversation along, keeping his thoughts from settling there. “I have a friend who went to the University of Illinois. Can I ask what made you want to gothere?”
“It was a free ride, and I needed the scholarship money. I wasn’t in a good situation with my family, and we didn’t have much, so that was my only chance. After school, there were more prospects there at the time I took my first jobtoo.”
“And what brought you back toWinebourne?”
“Is this an interrogation, Kelly? You’re not in court,” Wes teased, though really wanting to point out how much she wasprodding.
She shook her head. “Sorry, he’s right. I do thatsometimes.”
“Oh, that’s alright,” Art said. “My mother needed someone to help care for her. My sister and I worked together, and by sheer luck, the job market was perfect for teachers, so I got set up pretty nicely. Never had a reason to leave after that. My sister and I got along, but after she passed away—nearly seven years ago—that’s when I checked out thisplace.”
“I’m sorry about yourfamily.”
He shrugged. “It’s what happens when you’re our age. Hard to dwell on it when you’re surrounded by people with far more tragicstories.”
“And what did you think when Dad came here? As you said, it’s been a longtime.”
Wes could detect in her mischievous smirk the nature of her interest, as though she was trying to read Art. And since they’d chatted about how they felt about one another when they were younger, he found himself equally curious about Art’s reply and less judgmental of her line ofquestioning.
“I was pleasantly surprised,” he answered. “We didn’t have much time to chat growing up, but it’s nice to be around someone who’s somewhat familiar with the details of your life…and with whom you have things incommon.”
Art made eye contact with Wes, and his smile expanded. Kelly must’ve taken that to mean something because she glanced between them, giddy the way she might have been when she was a little girl, and truly, a part of him could never see her without thinking of that girl, his beautiful littleangel.
“You’ve been catching up a lot, have you?” she pressed further, which was when Wes felt he needed tointervene.
“Yes, Art has been great about helping me find my way around Heathrow. I’ve told you about all the classes he’s gotten me involved in. I’m in his book clubtoo.”
“That sounds nice,” she said. “Oh, and, Art, I about died when I heard aboutZumba.”
“Fair enough,” Wes said, “because it about killedme.”
“He’s been making the rounds. And he’s joining some of us in our annual Field Day in a few months. It’s a big deal, and you are more than welcome to comewatch.”
“Wait, wait,” Wes insisted. “No one said anything about family coming andwatching.”
“I said it was a big deal,” Artadded.
“Just give me the date, and I’ll make sure I’m there,” Kelly offered with a sneaky expression, like she and Art suddenly had a secret alliance betweenthem.
“Oh, I’m gonna have to be careful about you two ganging up on me,” Wessaid.
“I’m just glad you’re getting involved, Dad. I was worried you’d squirrel away and hide in yourtownhouse.”
“No. He’s been very active, and he came at a great time. There have been some upgrades in the community. When I first arrived, there were only the apartments and a few of the restaurants. It was maybe its third year in use, but they already had plans to add the townhouses and the other gyms and restaurants, so it’s been interesting watching it grow. They plan to keep expandingtoo.”
“I’ve already been impressed with everything Dad’s showed me. I’m glad there’s so much to do. It’s a hell of a lot more than you could do in Winebourne withJustin.”
“Speaking of Justin,” Wes chimed in. “What’s this I hear about you giving a D to mygrandson?”
Kelly laughed, and despite the playfulness in Wes’s tone, Art pursed his lips like he was thinking hard, trying to conjure up thememory.
“Oh, yes,” Art replied with a nod. “I remember that D well. What’s his side of thestory?”
