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“Not so much. I enjoy it.”
“You enjoy cutting open people—children—and working on their vital organs?” She narrows her eyes at me, as if she thinks I’m a monster.
“When you word it like that, it doesn’t sound great.” I shake my head and then narrow my eyes right back. “I enjoy fixing something that’s broken, helping to heal a child and the pain that they and their family have gone through.”
Her face softens when I explain myself, and she slowly takes a sip of water. “How altruistic of you.”
“Not really. It’s my job, but I enjoy it nonetheless. I would assume it’s how you view teaching—as a challenge and a joy. That is, if you do like to teach.”
At the mention of her job, her face lights up, the coldness gone, replaced by the same beaming smile I saw the first day I met her.
“Oh, I love it. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I think that since children are our future, we should put the most effort into anything to do with them. I love seeing their eyes sparkle when they understand something or the sense of accomplishment they feel after completing an assignment or task. Children thrive under attention, and I do my best to give them that.”
I frown, thinking of Ivy and what kind of attention she gets. Plenty of it between school and Vicky and her playdates. I spend dinners with her—when I can get home in time. And I’m always there to tuck her into bed. Okay, ninety percent of the time, I’m there to kiss her good night.
I look back up to see Alice’s face shuttered again, no doubt from the sudden scowl I’m sporting, and I do my best to smooth my face out. I might not have wanted to do this stupid show, but there are worse things than getting stuck with someone you are attracted to.
Plates of pasta are laid in front of us, as if we’d ordered it, and although I haven’t really eaten much today, I’m not extremely hungry. Alice picks up her fork, twirling it through her noodles but not bringing them to her mouth.
“Ivy really liked you as a teacher,” I say, and her eyes snap to mine.
I should keep this on common ground. Keep her talking about her work and our connection—my daughter. It seems she thinks the worst of me, and although I can’t really blame her, I don’t want her to think that right now.
As soon as I bring up Ivy, a plan forms in my mind. One that I hope will solve this strange softening my heart is undergoing and remind me of where I stand on the matter of relationships. One that I think Alice would prefer if we have to go through this joke of a TV show for six weeks. A business transaction. One that will make everyone happy and keep us just far enough apart to leave feelings out of it.
