“I am so proud of you girls!”
Abby shrugs. “I couldn’t have done it without Tyler.”
Itutat her, and she laughs. “It’s true. He’s a great tutor.”
The girls chatter for a few minutes longer, but I finally have to shoo them to the door. I’m scheduled for a meeting with the guidance counselor in five minutes to touch base on my program.
The three of us are almost to the door when Abby turns back, her gaze landing on my flowers.
“Someone sent you flowers?”
Unable to hide my smile, I simply nod.
“Was it Tyler?”
“Tyler, your tutor?” Amelia asks, walking back to smell the bouquet.
Abby smirks at me. “Same person. Tyler is my mom’s crush.” She draws out the word crush in a silly taunting way. Much like one might chantTyler and Josie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
Amelia’s eyes light up. “Like, an actual crush? Does he know?”
Now Abby is full on grinning. “Oh, you should see how he looks at her. The crush is mutual.”
“Oh my gosh, Abby. Is Tyler gonna be your new dad? Then you’d be related to Austin James.”
Abby’s nose scrunches up but right as her mouth opens to speak I clap my hands and point to the door with a dramatic flourish.
“Out, the both of you.”
The girls giggle the whole way out, their laughter echoing down the empty hallway. Meanwhile I’m left with warm cheeks, and with another glance at my bouquet, I feel a tiny slip of all my worries and doubts flitter off in the distance. Not entirely, but enough to loosen the ball of anxiety and depression weighing heavy on my chest.
Josie Thomas is one stubborn woman. And that woman is determined to distance herself from me. Staying busy at the studio has helped, and I like hanging out with Austin and the band, but it hasn’t come close to distracting me from my Josie problem. Austin even invited me to play poker at Jackson’s with some of the men around town, I’m sure to keep my mind off things, but I declined.
I’ve ended my work day early enough each day to arrive promptly at 3:10 p.m. to tutor Abby. Her exam is this week, so I’ve put in extra time with her to help make sure she aces it. Josie has spent every afternoon with her Mawmaw, so I’m greeted by Lisa whenever I arrive for the tutoring sessions. Every day is the same. I tutor Abby, shoot some hoops with Jay, and leave before Josie ever gets home.
At basketball practice last night, Josie flew in right as we were getting started, then collected Jay at the end without a word to me. A few moms stayed late, asking the most random questions, making sure to touch me on the arm with a ringless left hand, and a few bold ones who were wearing a ring. But I can’t even recall what they looked like, because all my thoughts are stuck on one woman here in Singing River.
Today I decided to take Penny and Cassie’s advice, puttingOperation Woo Josieinto action. The flowers were a small gesture, but Josie must have liked them, because to my surprise, she texted me. We didn’t say much, but still, it gave me hope that things are looking up. To add to my good mood, today is Abby’s math exam, and the last day of school before the start of Christmas break. And I have a feeling Abby aced that exam. Though my time tutoring her has come to an end, I show up like every other day, waving big when Lisa’s car comes into view.
Before Lisa has even cut the engine, Abby is flinging the door open, waving a paper above her head, full on sprinting across the lawn toward me.
“I made an A! Tyler! I made an A!” Abby shouts, barreling toward me. She throws her arms around me with a force so hard I let out anoofsound. When she pulls away, she thrusts the paper in my hand, and I study it. My chest swells with pride that I’m able to be here for this moment, that I played a part in this with my daughter.
“I’m proud of ya, kiddo. You worked hard!” I tousle her hair and she walks back to the car to grab her backpack, that bright smile still on her face.
Meanwhile, Jay comes across the lawn and unceremoniously drops his backpack to the ground. “I made a C-plus,” he announces, holding up a fractions test.
“And…we’re happy with that, right?”
“Yep, good enough for me.”
I take his paper, looking over each problem. He seems pleased with his mark, so if he’s happy, I’m happy.
“Good job, man.” I raise a hand for a fist bump and he returns it.
“Wanna play Fortnite?” Jay asks, already heading toward the house.
Looking to Lisa for confirmation, she shrugs and nods. When school starts back in the new year I might need to work on math with him, too, but today I’ll get in a couple games and leavebefore Josie gets home. After the text from her earlier, thanking me for the flowers, I feel like I’m walking a fine line between doing too much and not doing enough, but I need something, anything that makes me feel close to her.
