“I need to make this quick,” she started. “I don’t want Cutter to know I’m in here.” Antonia cleared her throat and adjusted in the chair. “We’ve had some bad news; his mom is dying. She’s going to tell him tonight, and I suspect he’ll need someone to talk to that isn’t me. Miri said the two of you are close—”
“Wait, what?” I tried to process what Antonia had said but couldn’t, for the life of me, accept that Miriam was dying. She’d been a fixture in my life ever since I moved to Grove Hill and was one of my most dedicated parents, always first to volunteer.
My stomach dropped, the air in the room suddenly feeling too thick, too heavy to breathe. This community couldn’t afford to lose someone like Miriam. My chest tightened, a sharp, noticeable ache in my heart.
How could this world be so damn cruel?
My jaw clenched and my palms grew sweaty, a sure sign of impending tears. I refused to cry in front of Antonia. Not because I was afraid to express myself, but because she didn’t know me, and I had already imagined her as part of my future. Something told me crying might scare her off.
“Sorry, Miri said you’re close—”
“No, not that part, and I’m sorry for interrupting you. Ms. Vaughn is dying?”
Antonia looked away, but not before I saw her eyes fill with tears. She inhaled deeply and cleared her throat again. “Yes, cancer. I’ll betaking care of the kids for the time being. My name and number are on Cutter’s file if you need anything.” She stood and turned toward the door.
I stood as well. “If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call. I live a couple houses down from them. Please ...” I paused, needing to take a deep inhale to keep my emotions in check. “Whatever Cutter needs, I’m available.”
Antonia partially looked over her shoulder and gave me a half something. It wasn’t a smile or grimace, but more like acceptance. She opened the door and disappeared from my office. I sat back down and let what she’d told me run on repeat through my mind.
Jerome came in and sat in the previously occupied chair. “What was that about?”
I glanced at the open door and heard the boys coming out of the locker room. “I’ll have to tell you later, but it isn’t good.” I got up from my desk and went out to the hall. It was my job to make sure the boys didn’t do anything that would get them into trouble with the school.
Antonia stood in the hall with a few other parents. I tried not to look at her but failed. Last night at the game, I’d seen some life in her, especially when she’d interacted with Cutter and his sister. Tonight, I knew it had been an act. She was saving face for the benefit of the children.
Cutter came out of the locker room laughing, until he saw Antonia. I stepped back and watched their interaction.
“Hey,” she said as she pasted a smile across her lips. “How was practice?”
“Fine,” he said plainly. “You didn’t have to come in.”
“I didn’t know if you’d see my car outside.”
He stood there, with his teammates walking past him. “Where’s my mom?”
Miriam was such a strong presence in his life, and the way his shoulder stiffened, I could tell he knew something was wrong. I stepped forward, thinking I could help, but then I realized I had nothing to offer. This was something between them, and it didn’t involve me.
“Grandma’s in the car with Nova.”
Cutter stood there with his fist clenched around the strap of his bag. “Is my mom home?”
She smiled and gave him a slight nod. “Come on. It’s cold, and my car’s running.” She moved toward the door.
“Can I drive?”
I saw her shake her head and Cutter’s head fall back. He let out a loud groan. The trials and tribulations of a teenage boy were an ever-revolving story. I’d heard countless stories from the team and students about how they hadn’t gotten into driver’s ed and how private driving lessons were too expensive. I kindly reminded them of where they lived and how there wasn’t anywhere to drive. Not to mention, kids needed to slow down and not try to grow up so fast.
After the last boy had left, Jerome and I went back to my office. I filled him in and then sent an email to all of Cutter’s teachers, letting them know of the situation and promising to keep them apprised once I’d found out more information. It was important for his teachers to know and show him grace if he needed it.
Something told me he would.
Chapter 8
Cutter
As soon as I came out of the locker room and saw Toni standing there among the other parents, I knew something was wrong. It wasn’t like my aunt didn’t come to visit. She spent Christmas with us, along with some other holidays, and we went to her place in Boston during the summer. I liked going to visit her. Being in the city was nice, and Toni lived at the top of an apartment complex with a view overlooking the harbor and downtown.
Toni being here now was different, though. My mom always told Nova and me when Toni was coming to visit—mostly so we’d help her clean or make sure our rooms didn’t look like disaster pits. She was always worried about how Toni saw us, for some reason, which didn’t make much sense to me, considering they were best friends.
