He mentally patted himself on the back. He hadn’t lost his mojo. Even if True seemed hesitant, she’d said yes.
“Okay, I can show you a little bit of Moose Falls.” She grinned at him. “It’s changed a bit over the last twenty years.”
“I’m looking forward to it already,” he said. And he was. True was not what he had expected to find in his little Alaskan hometown. Matter of fact, Xavier hadn’t anticipated that he would feel any romantic stirrings at all while he was in Alaska. Life had taught him that the best things happened when a person wasn’t looking for them. Serendipity. His mother’s favorite word. Perhaps he needed to embrace more serendipitous moments in life. Perhaps this was the big lesson he needed to learn in Moose Falls.
If so, he was excited that True Everett would be his teacher.
True left the Yukon Cider offices feeling upbeat. When Hattie had called True in for this impromptu meeting, she had been full of trepidation. After Red’s unexpected appearance at Northern Exposure, she’d been questioning her role as theestablishment’s manager. With so much up in the air with Hattie’s illness and the future of her holdings, True’s confidence had been shaky.
But things had gone smoothly. Red did not give her the vibe of someone who was planning to usurp her authority or try to take over her position at the tavern. Honestly, he’d given her the impression that he just wanted a seat at the table after being away for so long. His position was understandable, considering there were so many things at play—Hattie’s illness and his sons returning after such a long absence from Moose Falls.
Seeing Xavier earlier had been a shock to her system. For the past week, she had thought of nothing else but the blazing kiss they had shared. She had relived that moment countless times, relishing their chemistry and the way he’d made her feel. She wasn’t used to being desired. Wanted. Pursued. Growing up she had chased salamanders, worked on cars with her dad, and built forts in the woods. None of the boys had lined up to ask her out on dates. She hadn’t gone to prom. Her first kiss had been at eighteen. Being a stand-in parent in her early twenties had made romance out of the question. And then, when she had been ready for a partner, True discovered that her taste in men was pitiful. Selfish, narcissistic, gaslighting men who were less mature than her baby brother.
Until now. Xavier didn’t present as any of those things, which worried her. Was he too good to be true? No pun intended. Hadn’t that been one of the reasons that she hadn’t contacted him? On some level she didn’t feel good enough to be with a man like Xavier. Although she talked a good game, the men in her past had done a number on her self-esteem.
Why had all her relationships crashed and burned? Was she the common denominator?
True checked the time on her dashboard. She had ameeting at Jaylen’s school with the principal. Her thoughts whirled as she parked in front of Moose Falls Elementary. She didn’t want to let her imagination go wild, but over the phone, Principal Dandridge had sounded somber. Jaylen was a great student who had perfect attendance, so she couldn’t imagine he was in any trouble.He better not be!Raising him right meant a lot to True. She had tried her best to be nurturing and loving, all the while teaching him to respect others and himself. Her pulse quickened at the thought that maybe he was being bullied by a fellow student.
When she entered the school, True was ushered into the principal’s office with her heart beating wildly in her chest.Why was this so nerve-racking?
“Good afternoon, Principal Dandridge,” True said upon entering her office. With high cheekbones, a dramatic widow’s peak, and onyx-colored eyes, Priscilla Dandridge had striking looks. She was a member of the Yupik tribe, who were among the first Alaskan inhabitants.
“True, we’ve known each other a long time. Call me Priscilla.”
She was right. Priscilla had been Jaylen’s principal ever since he’d started school.
“Okay, Priscilla. Thanks for making time for me today,” True said, smiling despite her nervousness. True had always known Priscilla to be a kind and wise woman, which lessened her anxiety.
Priscilla gestured toward one of the chairs in front of her desk. “Please take a seat.”
True sat down and placed her purse in the chair next to her. Although she tried to read Priscilla’s face, she wasn’t giving off any cues.
“So, the reason I asked you to come is because Jaylen is exhibiting signs of being academically gifted.”
True gulped, then leaned forward in her seat. “Excuse me. What did you say?”Gifted?
“Although he goes to great pains to conceal the fact that’s he’s advanced, Jaylen is testing way past his grade level. He’s not just bright, True. He’s exceptional.”
“B-but I’ve never heard this before from any of his teachers. How could I have missed something like this? I help him with his homework all the time.” True slapped her palm to her forehead. “But of course he doesn’t really need my help.” Guilt crept in like a thief, immediately causing her to question herself rather than celebrate this amazing news. How could she not have wondered about the fast rate at which Jaylen finished his work, breezed through books, and learned the scientific element tables? She had been so thrilled that he had been well-adjusted and content that she hadn’t seen the obvious. She’d been complicit in holding him back. And it gutted her.
“Don’t beat yourself up, True,” Priscilla said. “We all knew he was smart, but it’s my belief that Jaylen hasn’t wanted to stand out. Instead, he’s done well, but not too well.”
“And why would he do that?” True asked, knitting her brows together.
“So he can fit in,” Priscilla explained. “That’s my guess.”
“But he’s always fit in. Hasn’t he?” True asked. Jaylen had loads of friends, was always invited to birthdays and sleepovers, and had been tight with his bestie, Tai, since nursery school. For a nine-year-old, what else was there?
“Jaylen has always been very popular.” Priscilla laid her hands on the desk. “I don’t want to overanalyze the situation, since I’m not a therapist, but as a child who’s suffered major losses in his life, he probably feels different than other kids. Why would he want to make himself stand out even more by being super smart?”
True sucked in a deep breath. She felt as if this information was a sucker punch. All this time she’d been of the belief that her brother was well-adjusted. She had even given herself pats on the back for doing a great job as a stand-in parent. But the truth was, Jaylen was hiding his light under a bushel. That was the last thing she wanted for him.
“True, I can tell you’re internalizing this. And that’s the last thing any of us wants. We want to make sure we do everything possible to support and guide Jaylen and meet all his educational needs.”
“What does that mean?” True asked. She had never felt so completely in over her head in a situation before. She wasn’t used to feeling like a complete and utter failure.
Priscilla stood and went over to her mini fridge, taking out two bottled waters. She slid one across the desk toward True. “It may or may not appeal to you, but promoting him to a higher grade is a viable option. There’s also an academy in Homer that teaches gifted students. They offer scholarships, and I think Jaylen would be a great candidate.”
