My belongings filled the back seat. I’d thrown out a lot of stuff before I went away to Houston. But aside from a couple bags of clothes and a box of childhood memories, I have nothing to show for my life so far. Living in poverty, outside of the metropolis that I’d always dreamed of living in, all I have is a couple of arm loads of things. And all I can think about as we drive to Felicia’s house, is how all that is about to change. I’m not sure what the fallout is going to be when my folks figure out that I’ve run away. I did leave a note, just so that they won’t call the police and report me missing. It wasn’t a difficult note to write, either. Not sure what that means.
Leaving my family behind feels wrong in a lot of ways, but right in more ways, if that makes sense. I know that what they’ve been doing to me over the years is wrong, and deep down, I always did know, but now that I’m a grown adult, I feel like I can finally do something about it. It’s time to be free of it all. It’s time to leave all that behind. It’s time to be that person that I’ve always wanted to be. Felicia never had kids. To be truthful, it sounds like she always wanted to. She’s helped other kids at other points in the past. Maybe because she’s been hurt, too? I guess that, because I get this feeling deep inside that I want to help people, too. I suppose that’s why I’ve chosen a career in psychology.
Her house is great. The room she’s given me is so nice. I try to be as helpful as I can with chores, dishes, everything. I wasn’t able to transfer to Dallas so far into the semester as I had guessed, so instead, I got a job working full-time, at a local restaurant, where I know my folks will never find me. Daddy hates restaurants. The pay is great, since it’s a high-end establishment in Dallas. Tips are fantastic. I’ve submitted my application for a scholarship, with a notarized letter from Felicia, explaining my situation, and got accepted. But despite all that, I know that I’m going to need more money, with a post-secondary education that’s going to span likely ten years.
“What’s wrong, sugar?” Felicia asks me, as she grades papers at the kitchen table. It’s Saturday morning, and I’m looking at my online bank account, realizing that even though I’m making decent money at the restaurant, that I’ll need a second job if I’m going to make it.
“I was thinking of getting a second job. While I can, that is. If the scholarship falls through, I’m sunk.”
“A friend of mine that owns the gift shop in the hospital is looking to hire someone with your availability. You were thinking of working in the mornings, right? Since y’all don’t work at the restaurant until mid-morning?”
“Yeah. I usually work until eleven at the restaurant. I could probably manage working six until ten. And then I have at least a day or two off in the weekdays. It’s just not enough.”
“She’s a parent at the school. I’ll put in a good word for you when I see her today.” Felicia smiles. “And thanks for cleaning up for me last night. I baked those dang cookies and fell asleep before I had the chance.”
“It’s no problem. It’s the least I can do for all that you’re doing for me.”
“Sugar, you do enough. Never feel like you owe me anything. Believe me, just the company alone is thanks enough.”
I sit at the table next to her and glance at the papers that she’s grading. I hesitate, but I have to ask. “You still miss him?”
“Who, Nathan?”
“Is that what his first name was? Mr. Stringer’s?”
She grins warmly. “Yes. Yes, it was. He hated being called ‘Nate’. I called him it when we were playing around here and there, just to goof off. He didn’t mind the joke, especially from me, but he hated it whenever anyone else called him that.” She recalls fondly.
“You still think about him?”
“Goodness, yes. He was wonderful.”
“Would you have married him if he’d asked?”
“Oh, yes. There would be no hesitation.” She says, resting her chin on her hand, leaning on her elbow, almost in a trance.
“How long were you together?”
“About a year. We started off just as friends, you know, trading notes, helping each other out. I was brand new at the school, and he’d been there a couple of years ahead of me. He was very smart. He was a science teacher, but y’all knew that, of course. I’d catch him in the science lab, working on a lesson plan, and he’d have such a smile on his face.”
I smile, mirroring her. “Who asked who out?”
“Nobody, actually.” She chuckles. “We just…ended up together, I suppose. It just happened. We were staying late in the faculty office, working on, well, work, and I don’t know who kissed who first, but it just happened.”
“And then you fell in love?”
“Honey, I think we were already in love, if I’m being honest. Nathan had that look in his eyes long before we kissed. He was a good man. Kind-hearted. Loved kids.”
“Y’all think you would have had a load of kids if he’d lived?”
“There is no doubt in my mind.” She grips my hand. “But I think that the Lord works in strange ways. I’ve taken in children over the years. I think God felt it was best that way.”
“Where are these other children now?”
“They found permanent homes. One girl, Jade, her aunt adopted her. And a boy, Brent, well, he’s all grown up now. Married with kids of his own. Brent was staying with me shortly before Nathan died.”
“And Nathan was okay with you having him?”
“He was the one who told me about him. He was attending the high school where Nathan taught before coming to Blakely.”
