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“Mm-hmm. On the corner of Ball and, uh, Sack.” I rolled my eyes. “I can’t even say it with a straight face.”
Clark chuckled, but he looked intrigued. “Not right on the corner?”
“Uh, yes.”
“The two-story Victorian at 300 Ball Avenue?”
“Ye-es.”
“Huh. Sorry. I don’t mean to seem weird. I just realized you’re in one of the most historic houses in town.”
“Oh, are we? I mean, the real estate agent told me it was one of the first houses in town, but I figured there were a lot of those.”
“This one was built the same year Granville was incorporated,” Clark said. “Actually, I’m pretty sure it was built by the founder, for his favorite nephew. Or so the story goes.”
“Huh, I didn’t know that.”
“Sorry, I’m a bit of a history buff. I don’t know if I mentioned it the other night, but that’s my subject. I teach junior and senior history and government classes when I’m not running the mentorship program.”
“So you probably know more about the house then? Maybe—”
Honk!
We both jumped when Toby laid on the horn. He stuck his head out the window. “Dad, I’m hungry! Can we go or what?”
Clark waved me on. “Sorry to keep you. You probably want to get cleaned up.”
“Yeah, I’m a mess,” I said sheepishly. “Thanks for your patience, and uh, for the offer to help out if needed. I’m going to do better though.”
“You’re doing just fine,” he said, so sincerely it made my throat tight.
I wanted to be the kind of father Toby could count on. But Clark’s kindness made my shoulders relax, some of the frantic stress I’d carried the whole afternoon abating.
Part of me wanted to leave on that high note, but I had to ask.
“How did Toby do today?”
“He’s skeptical about participating, but I think he’ll come around.”
“I hope so.” I plucked at my damp shirt, the chill making my nipples harden. I couldn’t imagine what Clark thought seeing me in this state. “Thank you for your patience—with both of us.”
He waved a hand. “You’re both too hard on yourselves. It’s going to be fine.”
I appreciated the optimism. Knowing Clark wasn’t worried relieved a good deal of my own.
I just hoped Toby and I could live up to his expectations.
* * *
CLARK
I knelton the floor of my classroom a few hours later, old platting maps, boxed news archives, and copies of deeds for some of the earliest homes in Granville surrounding me.
I studied them, plotting out the best historic locations in town for our History Lives Tour project. Most of the kids had been excited by the idea of dressing in costume and acting out roles for the town, but before we got much further, I had to identify the best people and places to incorporate and assign jobs to all the students.
“Holy guacamole, what happened in here?”
Maisie startled me from my pondering. I straightened, just now noticing the ache in my back from sitting hunched over too long. “Just doing a little research.”
