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Angels Fall
As Nathan pulled off the freeway, my mind started reeling. What were the chances that his sister would live in the same neighborhood where I taught? There were not very many schools in this area of North Las Vegas, so if his nephew was elementary school age he would attend the school I worked at. Maybe I’d get lucky and his nephew would be in middle school or better yet, not even in school yet. I couldn’t believe we’d never talked about it. When we pulled up to the house, my body started shaking uncontrollably. Something in my gut told me this was going to be bad.
Opening the door to exit Nathan’s truck, my entire body froze when I saw a little blonde haired boy poking his head out of the door. NO! NO! NO! I screamed in my head. Nathan’s nephew, Jackson, was in my kindergarten class last year. And to make matters worse his sister, Cristina, volunteered in my class and worked closely with the PTA. My whole fucking world was about to blow up.
Jumping into my arms, Jackson gave me one of those hugs only he could do. Throughout this past school year, I'd grown close to him. I knew his father was deployed overseas which caused me to give him that little bit of extra attention. He often talked about his Uncle Nate coming over to play and swim with him, but never in in million years would I have thought that my Nathan would be my student’s Uncle Nate from class.
I felt the bile rise up in my throat as this adorable little boy gripped tighter around my neck. I was about to throw up. “Jackson, honey could you show me to the restroom?” I asked him.
“Of course, Ms. McKennan. Oh my goodness. I'm so happy my favorite teacher is here to go swimming with me,” he bounced with joy.
Jackson took my hand and led me into the house. For completely different reasons, I couldn't bring myself to look at either Nathan or Cristina. I dug through my purse and found my phone and set Rose a text.
Me: I have never needed my best friend more. Come get me NOW! No joke.
Rose: Are you ok? Are you hurt? Where are you?
Me: No I am not ok. No I am not hurt. Things are bad. Pick me up on the corner by Rock Canyon Elementary.
Rose: WTF? Where’s Nathan?
Me: Just come get me please.
Rose: Give me 20 minutes. I’m on my way.
I walked out of the bathroom to see Nathan waiting for me in the hallway. “Care to explain, Ms. McKennan?” he asks.
“Please, Nathan. Not here. Not now. Rose is coming to get me so you can spend time with your family. I need to go now,” I cried.
“Let me take you home, Ryann.”
“No. I can’t be around you. Or anyone for that matter. She’s meeting me at the school on the corner,” I told him.
“Ryann,” he softly said my name.
“Ms. McKennan,” Jackson came running in the hallway where Nathan and I were talking. “Are you ready to go swimming now?”
“No, sweetie. I’m sorry, I'm not feeling very well. My friend is coming to get me so I can go lie down for a while,” I kneeled down and explained to him.
“Okay. I understand,” Jackson said sadly. “Uncle Nate, are you leaving too?”
“For a few minutes, buddy. But I'll be right back after Ms. McKennan’s friend picks her up.”
Nathan guided me out the front door with his hand on the small of my back. I couldn’t bring myself to make eye contact with Cristina. I had no idea what Nathan had told her about me. And yet at the same time I hadn’t told Nathan the truth.
As soon as I was out of sight of Nathan’s family, the tears started running down my face. I didn't want to have the conversation with Nathan about me being a broke ass teacher in middle of the street in the neighborhood I taught in. I needed to get the fuck out of there.
“Ryann, stop, please, baby,” Nathan said placing his hands on my shoulders. “Talk to me, butterfly.”
“What, Nathan!” I yelled. “What the hell do you want me to say right now? My show that is on hiatus for the summer is right there. Rock Canyon Elementary School. I teach kindergarten. Last year, my divorce, left my life pretty well fucked up. At the beginning of the summer I made the choice to move home with my mother and her nudist boyfriend because I was that damn broke. But then my wonderful best friend convinced to strip and now my entire life is fucked up and going straight down the drain.”
“I don’t understand, Ryann. Is this because of Cristina and Jackson?” Nathan asked. I could see the utter confusion on his face.
“Nathan, where did you tell Cristina we met?” I asked, my frustration obviously growing.
“Fuck. At the club,” he answered.
Before anything else could be said, Rose’s truck pulled up, but it wasn’t Rose driving. Jeremy had come to get me. He rolled down the window. “Get in, Ryann.”
