“Sounds more like he’s hurting, even self-destructive. Like someone else I know when they’re too hard on themselves.”
Teddy smiled. For how opposite he and Finn could be, they did have a striking amount in common.
“Teddy Bear,” she said, bringing out a rarely used nickname—at least since Teddy had grown beyond single-digits, “I’ve never heard you speak of a boy you liked with so much passion. I know how difficult it’s been for you to find a good man, to trust the right ones, to trust anyone. You’re at a crossroads, and that can be a good thing, the chance to do some things differently than you’ve ever allowed before. Finn sounds like someone worth taking a chance on.”
“But what if—”
“If he rejects you again, that’s his choice, but it doesn’t sound like he’s pulling away because of you. Give him another chance. Don’t you owe that to yourself? I’ll answer for you: you do. Don’t hold back now just because things got difficult.”
Once, that would have been an exact phrase he’d use on his students. Teddy Scofield was not a coward, not any more than his mother had ever been.
“You’re right.”
“Of course I am. Now, you head right next door and—”
“Mother, I need to think this through. But I’m not giving up.”
“That’s my boy.”
Storming next door was not the way. Teddy had to be calculating, careful, tackle this problem like a difficult dance move, with patience and precision. He just had no idea how yet.
Later, he was so up in his head, thinking of his options, that he wasn’t paying nearly enough attention to what he was doing—while chopping vegetables for dinner.
“Fuck,” he hissed when he took out a chunk of his thumb. “Shit,shit….”
Smudge squeaked at him plaintively, since it was his dinnertime, too, but Teddy had to ignore him, hurrying to the sink to rinse his stinging wound and wrap it as best he could. The chunk was still attached but not by much.
“Sorry, buddy, I think dinner requires a detour.” And talking to Finn in any capacity would have to wait.
He dumped the vegetables in the trash, put away everything else, and gave Smudge dry food to tide him over. He could have his wet food later. Teddy had to drive himself to the hospital.
At least there he wouldn’t have to worry about running into Finn or any of his friends before he was ready—he thought foolishly until a familiar voice called his name.
“I was about to clock out for the day, but for you, Teddy, I figured I could make an exception.”
Rose—thenurse—in scrubs a deep burgundy instead of the seafoam green from the health center. Teddy should have known.
“Before you ask,” he said once they were back in the exam room, “it was sheer distraction and stupidity while making dinner.”
“No judgment here. Let’s take a look.”
Teddy needed stitches, only four, but that would still make everyday chores a pain for a while, which was difficult enough with his hip. At least it was his left hand.
“No knife work or operating heavy machinery while distracted and stupid,” Rose chided good-naturedly as she wrapped his thumb. “Would the cause of either of those things have anything to do with what had Finn moping all weekend?”
“He was moping?”
“Vegging around the house pathetic. I expect that this time of year, but with you, I hoped he might get out of his funk a little sooner. Did he get the chance to tell you about any of it?”
“More like word-vomited all over me. Thankfully, despite how trashed he was running around on the beach that night, no actual vomit followed.”
“Oh God, seriously? Is that why you didn’t go on your date? He wouldn’t give me a straight answer. I should have known he’d get weird like this given the time of year, but that’s all it is—bad timing. You know what”—she stood abruptly after securing his gauze—“you’re coming home with me.”
“Uh… little old to be adopted, don’t you think?”
“Finn is coming over for dinner.” She grabbed Teddy’s wrist to tug him off the exam table. “And so are you.”
“Oh, I’m not sure ambushing him—”
