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Chapter 8
Azalea turnedoff the highway toward Indigo. The dirt road was rough on her Suburban, but that was why she’d bought it years ago. She needed something that would make it on the dirt roads as well as in town, and this had been the best option. Jewel had been uncharacteristically quiet the entire week, including on the drive up. It was Sunday afternoon, and Azalea had gone to church and then picked up Jewel so they could head out.
The last week at school had been chaos, as it usually was before a break. Kids weren’t paying full attention to schoolwork, and she’d admit, some teachers weren’t either. Toward the end of the week, her numbers in class had dwindled down as some left for their holiday break while others didn’t. It was partly why she never scheduled a lab the week before or after a break. Some students would miss it and never be able to make it up.
Rolling her shoulders, she steered the car down the road. They had another five or so miles to go. She’d been up there a couple times, but mostly Eli would come to town. Azalea risked a glance at Jewel. Something was up with her, but she still hadn’t been able to figure it out. The last week had been a whirlwind of prep for their trip and hopefully leaving all their work behind, but still Jewel had been distant in a way Azalea hadn’t expected.
The sharp contrast of her dark brown hair against her pale skin looked nearly perfect. Jewel had taken the time that morning to style it up and out of her face, gelling it so it stuck up. She’d put in contacts, although Azalea was partial to her glasses. It made her look older, but it also gave her a flair of style.
It was late into the afternoon, nearing dinner time, but that’s when Eli had told them to arrive. The road was bumpy, and her car jerked over the dips and potholes as she moved slowly down the drive. She remembered it being the same the last time she’d driven that way, years before. Seemed not much had changed.
“You said she was your student?”
“Uh…yes,” Azalea answered, gripping the steering wheel. She hoped Jewel didn’t take the conversation in a certain direction, but not being out should help that, especially if she avoided that topic at all costs.
“I guess I’ll have relationships like that with my students at some point.”
“You can.” Azalea bit the inside of her cheek. “I’m only on this level with a couple of them, some who have gone on to become teachers and others who I just clicked with. I try to make it a policy not to have deep relationships with former students.”
“I can see why, but in a small town, that’s pretty hard.”
“It is nice to see where they go from graduation.” Azalea took the left fork. Jewel seemed so calm, but something was eating away at her inside. Azalea could see it, and she planned over the course of the week to pull it out. They had six days together for her to work it out of Jewel, and Jewel was not someone who readily kept things close to her heart. Although the confession of her sexuality had been somewhat shocking, especially since she’d managed to keep it a secret from Azalea for five years.
“I can see that, and scary too.”
Azalea smirked. “Yes, that too. Depends on the kid.”
Jewel drew in a deep breath and let it out on a sigh. “Thanks for thinking to bring me here.”
“No problem. I think you were right. We both need the break.”
She pulled through the gate and rounded the bend, finally coming up on the stark white house. Her stomach clenched at the sight of it. It was a beautiful house, and Eli had done a wonderful job keeping it looking nice. She had reworked the outside of it to make it more amenable for guests.
“This place is beautiful.” Jewel sounded as though she was in awe, and Azalea could understand why.
Even having been there before, she felt the same. “It is. Eli has done a wonderful job.”
Azalea stepped on the gas up the last of the hill, passing a massive red barn. She parked right out in front of the house alongside several other vehicles that were no doubt guests’ vehicles. “Well, we’re here.”
“I’m shocked a place like this even exists out here in western Kansas.”
“Yeah, I was too, then I remembered who Eli was, and I’m not so surprised anymore.” Azalea turned off the engine and stepped out of the car. She went to the trunk and grabbed her bag as Jewel rounded the side and took her own. Together, they walked toward the front door, stepping up onto the wraparound porch.
Eli pushed open the door and hooked her thumbs in the loops on her jeans, leaning back in her white socks. Her straw-colored hair was in two braids that hung over her shoulders, and the grin on her lips reached her eyes. “Azalea.”
“Hey, Eli. This is Jewel.”
Eli held her hand out for Jewel to take it. “Good to meet you.”
“You too,” Jewel responded. “This house is gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” Eli winked. “I worked hard on it.”
Jewel drew in a sharp breath. Azalea watched her carefully, judging everything that could be going through her mind and heart. She wanted to know what was bothering Jewel so much, but she also knew it was going to take some strong tenacity to get it out of her.
“Come on in. I’ll take you up to the room. Dinner should be ready in an hour.” Eli turned and walked back inside.
Azalea shrugged at Jewel and followed, Jewel behind her. They moved through a wide-open living area that had a piano and guitars set to one side, a large fireplace on the other, and couches and chairs that looked like she could lounge in them for hours.
