“It was an online sale! If I didn’t bid on it, someone else would have!” She rolled her eyes. “Not that it matters. I don’t have a groom yet.” She glanced at my plate. “Hey, are you going to eat that cornbread?”
When my family finally left the church that afternoon, I felt strangely lighter, despite my talk with Amy. Oh, I hadn’t forgotten, and I would mull on that later until I went stark raving mad. But for now, as I glanced back at the white and red-brick church, I knew without a doubt that I’d found someone who without a doubt, understood. On many levels. And for just a few moments, I would bask in that glow.
18
Doubts
Jessie
Madison shook her head at me. “We’ve only been out of school for a month, and you look like you’re about to burst with excitement.”
“You know what the best part of these conferences is?” I asked, thanking another vendor as she handed me a book.
“It wouldn’t be the free stuff now, would it?” Sam laughed as I slid the book into my canvas bag. It hit the bottom with a satisfying thump.
“Please and thank you.” I grinned as we paused at another stall. This one had buckets full of plastic letters covered in foam dots. “And don’t make fun of me. You guys have been to these things before. This is my first time.”
“Neither of us is as cheap as you are, either.” Madison rolled her eyes as I happily snatched a packet of the letters from their sample table.
“Master’s degrees are expensive. Ooh! What’s that? Let’s go over there!”
The Back to the BASICS conference hadn’t been cheap. I wouldn’t have even bought a ticket if our school hadn’t sponsored the whole lower elementary team. But now that I was here, I swore to myself never to miss another conference again. I’d never seen so many free supplies in one place. Besides, as much as I was enjoying Derrick and Jade, (or rather, Jade, as Derrick wasn’t really an option) it felt weird to be away from my classroom for so long. Being here felt right.
Derrick had been great about letting me go for a few days, not that I doubted that he’d mind having his sister all to himself. His parting words had been,You might as well go. I’ve had to look at your face for the last nine days straight.I smiled to myself as we stopped at another booth. Things had already been better since the diamond mine. But after our conversation at church last Sunday, I felt like we finally had common ground.
How were they doing today?
“So,” Sam said, dragging me from my thoughts. “How’s your summer going with Jade?”
“I couldn’t be happier. She’s doing great. I think I’m going to be able to start her off with a lot of the general curriculum this year.” We weren’t supposed to talk about students’ IEP’s (also known asindividualized education plans), but since our school did a lot of shared time between teachers and classes among grade levels, Sam and Madison were both familiar with Jade’s particular needs.
“That’s fantastic.” He stopped and studied a table’s stack of multi-colored letter wheels before shrugging and throwing one into his bag. “I was sure her parents were going to work you to death when you first told me about how they made you nanny for the summer.” He glanced at me. “You know, if you wanted some help, I could come over sometime and help tutor her to give you a break. Since I got my math endorsement, I’m dying to try some new techniques that I’ve learned, and I think she might be the perfect guinea pig.”
“That’s really sweet of you,” I said. “But I think we’re good. She’s just starting to get the stuff I’m giving her now.”
“Well, just so you know, the offer stands.” He gave me a warm grin. “Oh, before I forget, what did you think of the book I gave you?”
“I’ve only just started it, but I think it’s fascinating,” I said, grateful to be talking about something else. The last thing I needed was for sweet Sam to show up at Jade’s house. Derrick would love that.
“You’re going to own this degree. And when the partiers,” he poked Madison, “rag on you for studying, you can tell them I said that.”
I laughed. “Well, thanks.”
He glanced over at the food court, where instead of educator booths, food stands had been set up. “I’m going to grab some nachos. Anyone want a pretzel or something?”
“I’m good,” I said, and Madison said the same. The moment he was gone, however, she turned to me and arched one perfect eyebrow.
“I told you he likes you.”
“He’s just being helpful.” I intently studied a table covered in building bricks arranged in patterns.
“Girl, he offered to come over and help you by working for free. No teacher just randomly offers to drive to a student that isn’t his own and work for free on his summer break.”
I hefted my bag to my other shoulder. “I don’t know—”
“You want a sure test?” She smirked. “Mention Derrick and just watch. You’ll know then what he thinks of you spending every day with a hot guy you’re not dating or married to.”
“How do you know he’s hot?”
