“I told you, I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong. You worry too much. I think we ought to see about setting you up on a blind date. That’s what I think. I suppose that would give me more energy than anything.”
“Maybe not?” he said.
Marjorie laughed at his horrified reply, and then she launched into a story about a blind date that one of her classmates had set up for her in high school. It was a story he hadn’t heard before, and he listened with interest. She effectively took his mind off his worry about her and her health and entertained him the rest of the way home. It wasn’t until later that he realized that he hadn’t gotten her to agree to go to the doctor like he wanted to.
Chapter Five
“Hello, darling. How was school today?” Grandma asked as Nelly arrived home, closing the door behind her and setting her bag down by the chair.
She had more work than usual, since she had spent her planning period discussing the school play with another teacher. She had what she was doing in her own classroom, plus the school play, but thankfully, the church had not tapped her for anything this year.
Although, things seemed to be running behind a little bit and maybe no one was planning on doing anything.
There was a part of her that wanted to jump in and make sure something was being planned, and if not, plan it herself, but she already had a lot of irons in the fire.
She thought about the firewood and smiled.
“Hello, Grandma. School was wonderful. The kids were great, and I think we all learned some things. Did you have a good day?”
“I did, but I cannot find my husband anywhere. He seems to have slipped away from me and did not let me know where he was going. I really don’t like it when he does this. He knows I always want him toleave a note.” Her grandmother looked very put out, although not worried.
Her words sent a squiggle of fear through Nelly’s stomach. She had thought her gram was in her right mind today. She hadn’t had an episode for over a week.
“I’m sure he’ll be back soon, Gram. Would you like to go into the kitchen? I’m starving.” She put an arm around her grandmother’s shoulders and gently guided her toward the kitchen. It was funny, but being in the kitchen usually soothed her grandmother. Maybe it was because she had spent so much time there, creating delicious meals and dishes for her own family. Or maybe it was just being surrounded by the warmth and the good smells and the idea of sitting at the family table and laughing and talking with each other.
Whatever it was, Grandma always settled when they entered the room.
This time was no different.
“I sure hope those children didn’t give you too much trouble today,” her grandmother said, like the episode about her husband had never happened. She seemed to be back in the present.
“They didn’t. They’re good kids. I really love my class this year.”
“You say that every year,” Grandma teased her. And it was true. She always did think the class that she had currently was the best class she’d ever had. And she’d only been teaching for eight years. Was that the way it would always be?
“That’s true. I guess I just always see their potential, you know?” she said, feeling the strain between her shoulder blades and flexing a bit to try to alleviate the pain. She had a long evening ahead of her before she could go to bed.
“That’s one of the things I love about you. You were always so driven and competitive in school, and you still are, but you have such a big heart.”
“Driven and competitive?” she said, although she knew it was true.
“Well, yes, you and that…McBride boy. Roland. The youngest. My goodness, you guys had such a competition going on.”
“That’s because he was mean to me, and I always wanted to outdo him.”
“Yes, that’s probably true. But you guys pushed each other to excellence. It was competition in the very best way. One year, you would win the spelling bee, then next year, he would.”
“No. I won every year except for one, and that’s when Jamie won.” Jamie had ended up being the valedictorian of the class. It was funny, because she didn’t remember any competition between her and Jamie, even though she had graduated number two. But she remembered tons of competition between her and Roland, and Roland hadn’t even graduated in the top five. Their class had been small, and Roland had ranked well, but…not even next to her. It’s funny—she remembered him as her main competitor.
“Every teacher you had commented on your rivalry with him. And how it was too bad that the two of you didn’t get along, because instead of tearing each other down, your rivalry built each other up.”
“I think that’s true. I don’t think I would have graduated number two in the class if it hadn’t been for Roland. I was so determined to beat him at everything.” She thought about other academic competitions, even any time they took a test. She didn’t care who got the best grade in the class, whether it was her or someone else. She only cared that she beat Roland. Somehow, someway, she always found out his grade. Thankfully, she had a friend who sat behind him in almost every class, at least the ones where they were seated in alphabetical order according to last names. So she kind of had an inside scoop on what he made.
Somehow, he figured out how she did as well. It couldn’t have been the person behind her, because that had been Jamie, and they had been friends.
Maybe it was someone who usually sat catty-corner from her. She wasn’t sure, but…most of the memories were good. Even if her feelings about Roland were irritation more than anything.
“I always thought the two of you would end up together,” Gram said as Nelly opened the refrigerator door and pulled out the salad fixings she had ready to put together for the meal.
