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“Thank you,” I say with a slow blink and a nod that I
give when people offer their sincere condolences.
“And I’m pissed on your behalf. You’re a beautiful person who doesn’t deserve to go through that,” he continues. His brows knit together and it feels as though he might never take his eyes off me.
If anybody else stared at me the way Vince does, I would feel self-conscious. Instead, this feels like a blanket. Kind of like the special heavy blanket I bought for my classroom to help a few of my students who struggle with anxiety and sensory input. It keeps them calm, focused and feeling secure. In the same way, Vince is a special heavy blanket for my soul.
“Thank you,” I say again, this time a whisper.
“And where are you going, beautiful Jewel?”
Oh, the sparks that fly all over my skin, down into my bones when he says that. Beautiful Jewel. I have to keep from swooning.
I smile. “Well, I’m going to keep teaching kindergarten for now. But I’m working toward my Gifted and Talented certification because it’s an exciting field to me. And I see myself, eventually, with lots of kids of my own, in a big house, with a mess of paint and glitter and glue everywhere.”
Vince’s eyes are smiling while he keeps eating. “And what have you learned?”
“That I can’t make everything fun. That even if I get bored or uncomfortable, or it hurts, it doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. “
He nods solemnly. “I like that.”
“OK, now you. Where have you been?”
Vince leans back in his chair. “Interviewing kids in child abuse cases. It’s important work but it got to be too much for me. I like helping kids in trouble, but damn. This world is crazy. And now I’m without a job. Go me.”
I put my hands up. “I’m going to stop you right there. You are without a job because of a very good reason.”
He shrugs and continues. “And where am I going? I’m messing with the idea of starting my own private investigation business. I’ve already taken the classes and have my license. I’ve got connections in law enforcement. I could do it, but I don’t have office space. And also in my future, I see us going into that room in there,” he says, pointing down the hall to his bedroom, “and watching Mary Poppins.”
I feel aroused and elated and stuffed full of Thai food. He might be the perfect man. “How in the world did you know I liked Mary Poppins?”
He laughs and stands up, taking my hand as I get to my feet.
“I don’t know, Jewel, Charmer of Small Children. Lucky guess.”
18
Vince
I try my best to keep my eyes open while sprawled out on the bed, but the truth is I hate musicals. I’m not a huge fan of watching them on a stage but watching them on TV is some kind of torture. How does everyone burst into song in the middle of a conversation?
Too much…soul searching for me.
“Vince…Vince?”
I snort awake. I actually snort. Such a catch, I am.
“Sorry, what? What did I miss?”
She’s laughing and the way she’s covering her mouth is so damn cute.
“Nothing. We’ve only been watching the movie for about fifteen minutes. Let’s watch something you like. What’s your favorite movie?”
“No, no. This is your night.”
She presses. “Bullshit. What’s your favorite movie?”
I study this precious, innocent modern woman and wonder for a moment whether I think she’ll be able to handle it.
