“What I need to focus on is taking care of these projects before the storm hits.” I perused the sheet and tapped it with my pen, noting that my morning was free, but my afternoon was blocked for one client.
“Don’t get stuck in those back woods trying to make a dollar. I know you, man. Take off and go to the Christmas parade. A lot of fine honeys will be looking for somebody to snuggle up with during the storm.” Malcolm raised and lowered his eyes like he was sharing a big secret with me.
He wasn’t lying. Folks swore summer was the season for carnality, but something about winter weather had people wanting to nest. I was always prepared to make a quick exit as many of my female clients walked around their homes half-naked when I repaired their hot water heaters or unclogged a sink. Nothing in me was prepared for the freshly trimmed bushes that peeked through skimpy dresses or the pointy nipples that lingered dangerously close to my mouth when a woman leaned down to inspect my work beneath a sink. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day, one of those hot ass woman tried to unzip my pants and sit on my pole like she belonged there.
I hired Malcolm so I wouldn’t have to catch a case. A single brother could only endure so much temptation and not cut off a finger when he worked with power tools.
“I’m heading out to Ruby Starks’ place this afternoon. Her old house needs a lot of work.” I set her work order on my desk and thumbed down the page, noting that this would most likely be a multiday job.
“That woman is beautiful. Jittery and a little too standoffish for my taste, but really pretty with that sweet little smile.” Malcolm smiled widely and sucked his teeth before nodding.
“I can see that.”
I thought about Ruby and the numerous encounters we had over the years. Although she was Aspen’s first-grade teacher, each time she saw me, she’d pat her thick, dark brown hair before speaking quickly and scurrying away. I chalked it up to her not wanting to get too familiar with her students’ parents.
Maybe today I could have a real conversation with her and see what she was about outside of school. She had always been kind to my little girl, so I wanted to share with her how much I appreciated her. It took a village to support kids whose parents were divorced.
“Maybe you can figure out why she’s so weird.” Malcolm’s words cut through my thoughts.
“She’s not weird.” I felt the need to defend Ruby since Aspen adored her. “Aspen has nothing but good things to say about Ms. Starks. Maybe she communicates better with kids than people her age.”
“A woman that fine shouldn’t be so closed off. There are plenty of men out there willing to warm her bed. Maybe you can try.” Malcolm winked at me in the mischievous way he always did when he tried to hook me up with some random woman in the city.
He kidded about Ruby’s bed needing to be warmed, but mine did too. I wouldn’t mind the right woman’s thick thighs and wet honey pot satisfying me the right way.
Lise was the last woman I slept with. One thing she couldn’t complain about was how often I serviced her. I sexed Lise’s disrespectful ass senseless behind closed doors. Our worn-out king-sized Serta mattress and broken bed frame were my witnesses.
Instead of humoringMalcolm any more, I folded Ruby’s work order and placed it in the front pocket of my work shirt. I looked forward to having a private conversation with Aspen’s elusive, demure teacher.
Chapter
Two
RUBY
STIRRING SILENCE
Istared at the oversized round clock on the wall of my festive first-grade classroom. Outside my casement windows, gentle snow fell lightly, displaying the first signs of a winter wonderland that singers made millions of dollars of royalties singing about.
The subtle beauty of the landscape didn’t match the sense of dread creeping into my spirit. Every December, the ominous countdown to Christmas weighed on me like lead. Loneliness at the holidays was real, making me wish I could hibernate until it was time to return to school in the new year.
I tapped the sole of my brown leather ankle boots against the tile floor and checked my watch. I only had an hour left before my adorable students left for winter break. Most of them would be going to Farmerton’s annual Christmas parade immediately after our half-day session.
The school system might as well call me a babysitter, since our Georgia community was predicted to be the recipient of an unexpected snowstorm unlike one the region had ever seen. Our local meteorologist predicted a steady stream of light snow that was scheduled to end before a heavier front moved in from the north.
The excitement of many of the kids seeing snow for the first time had them distracted. From experience, I knew that not a lick of work was going to get done at Farmerton Elementary today. Even when I presented Christmas-themed math and reading worksheets, my students couldn’t concentrate.
I finally gave up and told them to sit on colorful little bean bag chairs and floor mats around the TV on the cart. They grazed like little cows enjoying their apple juice boxes, chips, and cookies asFrosty the Snowmanand Rudolph theRed-nosed Reindeerstreamed. I thumbed through arts and crafts catalogs in preparation for the beaded bracelets I’d make over the next few weeks.
“Is Santa coming to your house, Ms. Starks?” Esther Stallings, one of my most precocious students, ran up to me during a bathroom break and placed a small red gift bag with a candy cane poking out of it on the corner of my desk.
“Yes. I’ve been a good girl this year.” I spoke the words to my little gap-toothed student with confidence.
“Me too.” Aspen Snowden bounced her head around as the small, clear beads in her hair clinked.
I smiled at both girls as I imagined how adorable my little girl LaRue would have been. The Stallings and Snowdens were blessed to have such precious angels to spoil this Christmas.
The rest of the day was uneventful. The bell finally rang, pulling me from my pre-Christmas routine at Farmerton for the past five years. I was a pro at this.
