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“Mom, I’m sure Jaxson has other things to do, and besides, shouldn’t you be ordering the takeout?”
“Takeout?” Jaxson asked.
The doorbell rang again.
“Oh, Teal, take him to the dining room. I’ll handle that.”
This time, Teal did roll her eyes.
“Takeout?” Jaxson asked again.
“My mom can’t cook. I don’t know why she said she would cook you dinner or invite you, but you’re getting takeout. Possibly Italian. It’s her favorite. She always said that Italian was a little easier to pass off as her own.” She shrugged.
Jaxson laughed.
“I’m sorry about my mom,” she said.
“It’s no problem. Are you struggling with school?”
Teal didn’t know what to tell him. According to the paperwork, yes. To Teal, she didn’t believe she was having a problem. Her homework was fine. More than fine. She got the grades she needed, always had straight As in her classes. Testing this one time had failed her, and she felt like a fish out of water. Nothing made sense to her.
Teal had to wonder if her mom would even look at her math homework or any of her homework.
****
Teal never got a chance to answer as her mother returned, complete with made-up plates of pasta.
Bethany left them alone again, but not for too long as she returned carrying her meal as well as a large plate of garlic bread.
“I hope you love Italian.”
“I do.” He also knew the restaurant she’d used to attempt to pass this off as her own. It was one he frequented many times since he arrived. Italian food was his favorite.
Teal, however, looked so uncomfortable.
“So, before that brief interruption, have you had time to think of my proposal?” Bethany asked.
Jaxson looked toward Teal, who appeared to be praying for what he could only imagine was for the ground to open up to swallow her.
“Bethany, you haven’t actually told me what you would want from me.”
“Oh, right, of course. Teal is struggling through high school.”
“Mom!”
She held her hand up as if to silence her daughter. “And I was hoping that you would be able to help tutor her. I’ve read your credentials. You’re extremely qualified for the job. Wouldyou please consider helping tutor my daughter?”
“Mom, I don’t need tutoring.”
Bethany opened her mouth but stopped as her cell phone went off. “I must take this. Please excuse me.”
Jaxson was left alone with Teal once again.
“I’m sorry about my mother. She is a little, you know, full on.”
“She’s fine,” he said.
She shrugged and opened her mouth only to stop when they heard her mother snapping on the other end.
