Ezra squeezes me. He and I . . . we’re on the same page.
“Ezra and I—” I search for the words in me. “We’ve loved each other for a long time and it’s increased now that we have you. Someone else to love. Someone else we can share it with.”
“We love you just the same,” Ezra assures.
“If anything, we’re complete now.”
“Thank you,” Atlas says in barely over a whisper.
The sun brightens and the outside buzzes with the promise of a new day. We touch, we feel, we keep close to one another—hearts beating, lungs breathing air. And we’re alive. So alive.
Chapter 66
Atlas
Sandra finds me bent over at the knees, pruning a vine of tomatoes with Ezra. I pinch the suckers with my nails and pull them clean off. Ezra nudges me. I stand at full height and find her holding a clipboard, exuding a fake sense of kindness. (I could see right through you from the beginning, bitch.)
“Can I have a word with you, Mr. MacPherson?” she says.
She’s never been informal with any of us since the moment we arrived.
“Sure,” I say, not knowing what to expect.
I feel Ezra’s gaze sear into me the farther Sandra and I go. Students run alongside the tracks, and elementary-aged kids play at the swing set. Ofa waves as she passes by the stalks of corn. Sandra taps her pen on the clipboard, which only makes the suspense worse. (God, I hate this woman!)
“How are things here?” she asks. “I see you and Mr. Gray are still working together nicely.”
She one hundred percent knows about us. Her disapproval rolls off her in waves, but I ignore the snipe and decide to play friendly.
“Things are fine here,” I answer.
I will not give her the satisfaction of small talk. (Absolutely not.)
“Good, good.” Sandra returns to inspecting her clipboard and the mysteries its pages must hold.
“Well, I came by to extend an offer. The school board here was impressed with your interview. They’re willing to offer the opportunity for you to teach middle grade math if you’re still interested.”
“Yes!” I blurt out. She startles and almost drops her pen (and I’m not about to apologize for it). “Absolutely. I would love to.” She fixes her face, then smiles fakely once again.
“Splendid. I’ll communicate your answer to the board.”
Sandra’s about to walk away and leave me to my devices when she stops in her tracks. She lifts a finger, hesitates briefly, but twists around to face me.
“Oh, and congratulations. I’m sure the news about your parents was wonderful to hear,” she says, then finally leaves.
I return to Ezra, who’s finished pruning the last of the tomatoes. He dusts off the light coat of dirt that’s stained his pants. I watch the particles rain into the grass. He shucks off his gloves and sidles alongside me, smiling as he notices the bright grin that sits on my face.
“You’re happy after an interaction withher?” he says, chuckling.
“Of course not. It’s what she said that I’m happy about,” I answer.
“I’m intrigued. Proceed.”
“I got the job.”
“You got the job?”
“I got the job!”
