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“It can get pretty crazy in high school but that’s where I’m meant to be.” She takes another sip before placing her glass down on the table. “He doesn’t get it either. He wants me to move up here and get an adjunct position, settle into academia.”
“But you don’t want that.”
“No. I love what I do. But I guess it’s always good to have a back-up plan.” That pensive look is gone, her eyes now smiling with mischief as she leans in and whispers, “Especially since those old crows on the school board are always grumbling about getting me fired.”
“Still?” I shake my head when she nods. “They’re idiots. I’m seriously not blowing smoke up your butt when I say you were the best teacher I’ve ever had.” She raises her eyebrows and laughs as I take another sip. “I’m not tipsy. Not even close.”
“Then thank you for the compliment.” Miss Dawson lets out a breath. “I had to order new uniforms for the girls this fall. Those adorable spangled numbers were apparently too provocative.”
“The red, white and blue ones?” When she nods, I add, “I loved those outfits. Our uniforms were lame compared to them.”
“I always wondered why you were a cheerleader instead of focusing on dance. Nothing wrong with cheer, it’s just that you’re a talented dancer. I’d watch you doing the routines with your sister in the gym sometimes.”
The server comes and sets our food on the table, and I’m glad for the break in conversation. I love dancing, always have, but I held back from doing anything Sienna was involved in when we were in high school.
As kids we always played the same sports and were on the same teams. I played piano, so did she. I mean, it made more sense in terms of arranging activities around our parents’ schedules, but it reinforced this idea that me and Sienna were one in the same.
“Since you watch cooking shows, I’ll go out on a limb and assume you’re a foodie.”
I take a slice of the white pie. “I make this one at home myself, except I use pancetta instead of prosciutto.”
“Where on earth can you find pancetta in our town? Seriously, I’d think you’d have to sub in deli ham and green beans for this recipe.”
We both bite into our pizza simultaneously and moan. Then we laugh, and I almost cry because this connection, this feeling of friendship is so good.
She raises her glass to mine. “I’m so glad I ran into you today.”
“Me too.”
“So?”
“I’m getting there. I think transferring in as a junior is what’s making me feel so out of the loop.”
She considers this, takes another bite, sips her wine and then looks at me. “You’ve also been through a devastating trauma. Let’s not leave that out of the equation.” She reaches across the table and takes my hand. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to attend the funeral. Jack and I took an extended trip over the summer. I went to see you two when I heard the news but you were both gone, moved out. I know Sienna is still in town.” She looks guilty when she adds, “I have to reach out to her.”
I squeeze her hand, wanting to reassure her. “It’s all right. We’ve been getting through it. And Sienna is doing really well. She’s—.”
“Having a baby.” Her look is somber. “I heard.”
“I mean, she’s married. It wasn’t some unplanned, out of left field situation. But I get it. I was a little disappointed when they told me too.”
She rolls her eyes. “Listen to me, like I have all the answers.” She reaches for the other pie, slides a slice onto my plate and then hers. “He was always a nice kid, Garth. I just hope she doesn’t regret it.”
Shaking my head, I can’t help but smile. “That’s the thing with the two of them. They’re so damn happy I don’t think it would ever occur to either one of them to think they were trapped or that life had passed them by.”
“Sienna was always a dreamer, and I mean that in the best possible way.”
“Garth is the same.”
She tips her glass my way and then drains the last drop from it. “Then here’s to them. Maybe I need some of that blind optimism. Maybe you do, too.”
“So…Jack?”
“His name is actually Jaxson,” she pauses, “with an x.” She leans in and her eyes light up. “Which kills him, by the way.”
“Why?”
“He fancies himself a serious academic, but he’s been saddled with a name right out of a CW teen drama or a bad reality show. He’d prefer to be a Theodore or an Arthur, or maybe even a Thaddius.”
