I think about it for a moment, and then I realize that the second his name comes out of my mouth, I’m going to cry. “No.” I lie.
“Really? Well, darlin’, a pretty girl like you, heck, I’m surprised you’re not beating the boys away with a stick.”
I paste on a smile but refrain from speaking. She sips her tea, letting me off the hook. We just smile back and forth, and one would think it would be awkward, but it’s not. Ms. Wellman is one of them types that you can just be in her presence and not say a word, and it’s okay. Her aura is enough for me. “Ms. Wellman? How come you never had kids?” I ask. Why, I don’t know, but it just occurred to me that she never spoke about any kids.
“Well, love, that’s because I never married. Never met the right one, so it never happened for me.”
“Did you ever date?”
She frowns. “Some. But I was always far too into the children to pay much mind.”
“Have you ever been in love?” I ask carefully.
After a beat, she nods once. “Yes. I was. I met a young man when I first started working at Blakely.” That’s the elementary school where I went, and where Ms. Wellman still works. “But he died suddenly.”
“Wait…Mr. Stringer?” I ask, remembering the memorial plaque that was always by the teacher’s lounge.
“Yes, that was him.” She remembers fondly, with a smile.
“Wow. He was always like a legend. For a while I thought that maybe he never existed.”
“He did, darlin’. But a car crash took him when he was just twenty-five years old.”
My hand goes to my mouth in shock. “Oh my gosh!”
She nods, but that fond smile is still on her face. “There will never be another man like him for me.”
Something in the pit of my stomach sinks. It’s guilt. Ms. Wellman just told me her love story, and it’s much more painful than mine, and I figure the least that I can do is be honest with her. “I’m in love right now.”
“Are you?” she grins whimsically.
“His name is Gunner. I met him at school. He’s from Clarkstown, too.”
“Oh yeah? Where’s he live?”
“He lives on a ranch called Halen Ranch.”
Recognition comes to her eyes. “I know that one. In fact, a couple of my students take riding lessons there.”
“Have you ever met Gunner?”
She shakes her head. “No, can’t say that I have. I’ve never been there. Driven by it a bunch of times.” She tilts her head. “Have your folks met Gunner yet?”
My eyes bulge. “Yes, but it was an accident.”
Her brows knit together. “What do you mean?”
“I...mama and daddy...uh...they came to the dorm, and...” I trail off.
Ms. Wellman’s eyes bulge slightly. “Did they catch you in bed together, darlin’?”
Now it’s time for my eyes to bulge. “No! Goodness, no! We were just studying together is all, but I got in a heap of trouble for Gunner being there.”
Her brows knit again. “How come?”
“Oh, mama and daddy made me promise that I wouldn’t get mixed up with any boy.”
She blinks.
