Page 77 of Mommy

Shelly is already there when I come into the staff room to take off my jacket and put my lunch into the fridge.

She greets me with a warm smile.

“You look happier, dear.” Her voice is soft, and her words make me smile too.

Happier.

Not better. Not healthier. Happier.

“Thank you.” I murmur into the fridge before closing the door.

“Sooo… who are they?”

“What?” Looking up, I feel the blush creeping into my cheeks, but I try to hide it behind a wrinkled nose. “Why do you think there is someone?”

I wouldn’t have taken Shelly to be one to just assume you have a new partner when you start to look happier. She is single, and she is happy. I wouldn’t have thought she weaves a relationship into the same tapestry as happiness. After all, there are loads of people who have a relationship and are still unhappy.

Propping one hand into her hip, Shelly rolls her eyes at me.

“I saw them drop you off and pick you up at least a dozen times, Sweety, don’t play coy with me.”

The blush returns with full force, and this time I can’t hide it.

I thought I was being careful. I honestly thought we had done a good job sneaking around. Apparently not.

Laughing, Shelly reaches behind her and after a second hands me a steaming cup of tea.

I’m almost certain, I’m off the hook when we reach the kennels and prepare breakfast and let the dogs out into the yard one after another, when Shelly’s elbow bumps into mine.

“Who is it?” she asks, without looking at me. Her eyes trail after Walter who’s painfully slowly making his way over the small yard.

“He’s… really great.” I say, trying to avoid the answer to her question. I feel like I know what Shelly will reply if I tell her who it is.

She’s seventeen years older than me, and sometimes I can see the motherly concern in her face that I’ve never truly seen in my own mother.

“I don’t doubt that. Do I know him?”

I nod without looking up.

“Is it Derek?”

My head snaps sideways and I stare at her.

Her soft laugh paints a white cloud into the air before us.

“Ivy, Sweety, I was once your age too, you know? And I’ve seen you both.” Her expression relaxes, seriousness creeping into the line between her brows. “You know what I’m about to tell you.”

I sigh, and nod, my gaze dropping to my pristine white sneakers. New sneakers that Derek got me a few days ago.

He’s too old.

I don’t want her to say it, but I know she feels a need to remind me. As if I’m not aware that there’s an age gap between us.

“It’s not like that.” I say, and mean it. We don’t really have a relationship. Even though I’m not sure my heart got that memo.

“Of course not.” Shelly chuckles. “He’s a good man.”

For the second time, my head snaps to the side, and I end up staring at Shelly.