Chapter Thirteen

Zara

It seems impossible that Tanner and I can have fallen in love at practically the same time, or that we've both fallen so hard, but it's true. He feels this just as much as I do. The look in his eyes is unmistakable, just like the words on his lips and the feeling of his arms around me, his body against mine.

The thought of it makes me tremble even now, but I need to focus.

I'm at work, and daydreaming about my night with Tanner isn't helping, although it's hard not to think about him. Not just because last night was so special, but because when he left this morning, he reminded me he was going to see Sabrina some time today. He didn't know when, though.

"I'll call her and find out when she's free," he said, holding me in his arms. He was dressed, even though I wasn't, and he had his hands on my ass, which was a little distracting.

"Do you think she'll see you? You said she slammed the door in your face yesterday, so…" I let my voice fade, wondering if Sabrina might get in the way of our newfound happiness.

"I'll do my best not to give her too many options," he said, kissing me, and silencing my fears… or at least trying to.

They've been playing on my mind ever since, but somehow I've made it through the morning… probably helped by the fact that Alexander isn't here today. His mom called and said he'd been sick over the weekend and she was keeping him at home for the day. I hate to say I was relieved to hear that, but I was, and I make my way to the teachers' lounge at lunchtime, hoping that Tanner might have left a message.

Fortunately, there aren't too many other people in here, and they're all busy either eating or talking. None of them are paying any attention to me, so I pull out my phone from my locker and smile, seeing I've had a text from him, timed at eleven-thirty, which I open straight away.

— Hey, sexy. I've been thinking about you all morning, which has led to some interesting questions. Anyway, I finally got through to Sabrina just now. She's agreed to see me at three-fifteen this afternoon, at her place. Love you xxxxx

I sit in the corner, holding my phone close, and type out my reply.

— What kind of questions? I've been thinking about you, too… just so you know. How is Sabrina going to see you at three-fifteen? Shouldn't she be collecting Nash then? Love you, too xxxxxx

I turn the sound down on my phone, in case he replies, wary of disturbing my colleagues, or attracting too much attention, and look up just as Russ comes into the room. He smiles over at me, grabbing himself a coffee before he wanders in my direction.

"How was your weekend?" he asks, sitting beside me.

"It was good."

That's the biggest understatement in history, and he tilts his head, frowning.

"You look different."

"Do I?"

"Yes. I…"

My phone vibrates in my hand, and I glance down at it. "Sorry. I just need to…"

He nods, and I focus on Tanner's message.

— Mostly inquiries about why I can't stop smiling. Because I can't. You have that effect on me. Sabrina was the one who set the time, and I imagine she's gonna get Dean to collect Nash again. T xxxxxxx

I smile as I quickly type a response.

— That's a very sweet thing to say. I'll watch out for Nash later and make sure he gets to Dean's car safely. Z xxxxxxxx

"Can I assume your weekend was spent with the parent we were talking about?" Russ says, breaking into my thoughts.

"Some of it."

"Would it be easier if we just called him your boyfriend from now on?" He's grinning and I have to smile back.

"It might be, but how did you know?"

"The look on your face," he says, getting to his feet and leaning over slightly, so he can whisper, "It's a dead giveaway."

I'm sure I must be blushing, but I ignore his chuckle as he walks away, because my phone vibrates again, and I flip it over, reading…

— Come to my place later. You can make me smile in person. And thanks for watching Nash. I appreciate it. xxxxxxxxx

I chuckle at the number of kisses.

— I'll come by around six. x

— Only one kiss? xxxxxxxxxx

— You can collect the rest later. xx

— I intend to. Love you xxx

— Love you, too xxxx

I suck in a breath, letting my phone fall into my lap. Okay, so I'm still anxious about his meeting with Sabrina, but at least I know when it is now, and I can go to his place later to talk it through.

It'll be fine.

Some of the teachers have their lunch with the kids, and while that's convenient, I discovered last week that the food they serve here isn't as healthy as I might like it to be, so today I brought in a salad from home, and I get up, grabbing it from the fridge before I sit again, and eat, keeping an eye on the time.

I threw my lunch together after Tanner had left this morning, but it's surprisingly good, and I browse the news online, rather than getting involved in the conversation between the other members of staff. They seem to be talking about someone called Karen, whose mom works at the library. I haven't caught her mom's name, but I don't think she's the woman they were discussing during the workshops. She'd only just come back from her honeymoon, and that doesn't fit with what they're saying. I can't work out why Karen is such a hot topic of conversation, either, but they all seem very interested, and that suits me fine. It means they're not paying any attention to me. In fact, they don't even look up when my phone vibrates again, letting me know I've got a call this time, not a text message.

I put down my fork, surprised to see the word ‘Mom' at the top of the screen, and as I've nearly finished my lunch, I connect the call.

"Hey, Mom. Is everything okay?"

"Yes." She sounds a little out of breath. "I wasn't expecting you to answer."

"It's lunchtime. And if you didn't expect me to answer, why did you call?"

"Because I wanted to let you know your aunt has had a fall."

"Oh, God. Is she okay?"

A couple of faces look toward me, and I quickly put away my lunch box in my locker and leave the room, going into my classroom, which I know will be vacant.

"She's broken her wrist. To be honest, from what she said, I think she was lucky that was all she broke. She was up a ladder at the time."

"Up a ladder? What was she thinking?"

"Heaven knows. Anyway, I'm gonna go stay with her for a while… just until she's able to cope a little better."

"Okay. Is there anything I can do?"

"Send me some valium?" she says, and we both laugh.

"I'm sure she'll be grateful… and hopefully less demanding than usual."

"You think? Personally, I have my doubts."

"Well… call me if you need to talk." I hear a rustling in the background. "What are you doing?" I ask.

"I'm packing a few things. Your aunt might only live ten miles away, but I don't want to come back here every day."

"Because she'll keep you busy doing other things?"

"Probably," she says, sounding fed up already. "How's everything going with you?"

"Fine," I say, smiling.

"Has something happened?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Because I know my own daughter, and she never normally sounds so dreamy."

I hadn't realized I did, and I shake my head, even though Mom can't see me. "Okay… I've met someone."

"I take it this isn't Russ?" she says.

"No. I got it wrong with him. He's engaged to a nurse, and they live together in Concord."

"Oh… that's a shame."

"No, it's not. They're very happy."

"And presumably you've met someone else?"

"Yes. His name's Tanner. He owns a bookshop."

"Owns it?" I can hear the surprise in her voice and realize I'm going to have to explain.

"He's older than me."

"How much older?"

"He's thirty-four." I decide I might as well tell her everything. "He's divorced… and he's got an eight-year-old son called Nash, who lives with his mom during the week and with Tanner at the weekends."

There's a silence that stretches just a little too far, although I know Mom's still there. I can hear her breathing.

"Goodness," she says eventually. "This must be serious, if he's introduced you to his son already."

"He hasn't," I reply. "Not as his girlfriend."

"What does that mean?"

"It means Nash knows me as Miss Howell, the kindergarten teacher."

"Wait a second… are you saying Nash is a student at your school?"

"Yes."

"And you're dating his father?"

I'm sleeping with his father as of last night, but I don't think I want to explain that to my mother.

"Yes."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

"Nash isn't in my class, Mom."

"Even so…" she says.

"You're starting to sound like Russ."

"Why? What did Russ say?"

"That I should be wary of dating a parent."

"Then maybe you should listen to him."

"It's a little late for that."

"A little late for…"

"I love him, Mom," I say and I hear her let out a sigh.

"Oh."

"He loves me too, before you ask. So please don't disapprove."

"I'm not… just as long as he makes you happy."

"He does. I couldn't ask for a better man."

"In that case, I think you'd better bring Tanner and Nash to meet me, don't you?" she says.

"I will, although we'll have to wait for you to get back from Aunt Charlotte's." A thought occurs and I perch on the edge of my desk, thinking about it for a second. "We could come for Thanksgiving, if you like?"

"That sounds great. But before you make definite arrangements, you should probably check with Tanner's ex. Unfortunately, you don't get to call the shots on family plans when there's a child and his mother involved."

She has a point, and my heart sinks as I think through how complicated things might get. My mom's probably right. Vacations, Christmas and Thanksgiving, birthdays and family events… it'll all have to be done with Sabrina's consent. That makes it vital she reacts well to Tanner's news. Because the alternative doesn't bear thinking about.