“Then you’ll stay here!” my mom declares excitedly. “You can have Allie’s old room.”
“Mom,” I tell her. “Margie is staying with me.”
“On a fold-out couch,” she sneers. “That’s no place to get a good night sleep while you’re growing my grandchild.” She looks at my dad and orders, “We need to turn that room back into a proper bedroom for Margie. I’ll make a list.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted my parents are getting on board with all this, yet I can’t help but ask, “Why didn’t you turn it into a proper bedroom for me when I came home?” My marriagehadended horribly. You’d think I deserved a proper bedroom after that.
“I didn’t want you getting comfortable,” my mom tells me. “You have a big life ahead of you, Allie. That wasn’t going to happen if you were hiding out at home.” She motions toward Margie. “Look what moving out has already brought you! A new jobanda baby!”
I know I should probably leave well enough alone, but I can’t help myself. I tell my mom, “I don’t have a man in my life.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I suppose that if you want one, you’ll get one at some point.”
“Just please make sure he isn’t anything like Brett,” my dad says. “We never liked him very much.”
Excuse me?“What do you mean you never liked him? You always acted like you did.”
“He was your choice, honey,” my mom says. “Your dad and I didn’t want to upset you by telling you that we didn’t think he was good enough for you.”
Has my whole life been a lie? What in the world is happening here?“I thought Brett was everything you ever wanted for me in a husband.”
“If it was up to me,” my mom says, “you would have fallen in love with someone who worshipped the ground you walked on, not tried to run rough shod over you.”Iwasn’t even aware that he did that for years, which once again makes me doubt if I ever want another husband. What if my picker is broken?
“I would have chosen someone taller,” my dad contributes. “Also, I would have liked if he played golf, or any sport for that matter. It’s hard to trust a man who doesn’t have a sport.” I guess my dad isn’t counting Brett’s “mad” ping pong skills.
Before I can fully absorb their opinion of Brett, an image of Noah pops into my head. My parents would have loved having him for a son-in-law. Not only is he tall and sporty, but he treats me like I’m a queen. He acts like everything I have to say is interesting and important. He looks at me like I hung the moon.
On impulse, I close my eyes and throw the universe themother of all requests.I don’t know how, but you’ve made my dream of having a baby come true—would it be too much to ask to throw in the perfect man?
CHAPTER FORTY
NOAH
I’ve been in a fog ever since leaving Chicago yesterday afternoon. I barely slept a wink last night wondering if I was making the right choice. When I woke up this morning, I felt I was on an entirely different planet. Even though everything looks the same, I know it isn’t and probably never will be again.
The principal at Banks made me a very enticing offer. He didn’t give me everything I asked for, but he came pretty darn close. Enough so that it certainly felt like a victory. The problem is, I couldn’t seem to get Allie out of my mind.
Mid-morning, I give up trying to stay focussed and pretty much just let the kids do whatever they want. Instead of doing my job, I spend the day comparing the differences between Elk Lake High School and Banks. Elk Lake is pretty much like every other small-town school. They’re nearly interchangeable right down to the smells that emanate from the cafeteria—predominantly pizza, green beans, and salisbury steak. Meanwhile, Banks is like a Hollywood version of high school. Huge, state of the art, impressive in all things, and atrociously expensive.
As my mind whirls, I have the strangest sensation that I’monly half in my body. The other half is floating through the ethos trying to make sense out of my life.
When afternoon practice finally starts, I can barely keep my eyes off Allie. She’s positively luminous, which makes me even more nervous to tell her my news.
Once our teams are running drills, we move to the sidelines and get our first chance to talk since Saturday. Allie jumps right in and demands, “What did you do yesterday?”
I was going to wait to tell her at dinner, but I suddenly need her to know now. Even though I know I’ve made the right decision, I want her to confirm it. “I went to Chicago and met with the principal of my old school.”
Her expression falters noticeably. “Oh? How did that go?”
“Really well,” I tell her. “He nearly doubled my previous salary and even offered to sign a three-year contract with a sizable bonus if we go to number one in the state.”
Allie looks like she’s trying to be happy for me, but she’s not selling it. “That’s great news, Noah. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.” Oh yeah, there’s a definite lack of excitement.
“What did you do yesterday?” I ask in return.
“Margie and I had supper with my folks.”
“And?” I prod. “Wasn’t there something else you were going to tell me?”
