𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 || joel miller ¹

[ 𝟎𝟐 ] 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐨𝐝𝐝

─ ❝ DON'T YOU DARE, MR. 'WE COULD WORK A DOUBLE' ❞

──── ⋆◖◍◗⋆ ────

WHEN RENEE HIT THE BOTTOM of the steps, she found the kitchen completely deserted. No sign of Tommy or Sarah, although Sarah's plate and glass remained at her spot on the table which Renee quickly deposited into the sink before heading outside to search for a sign of life.

Tommy leaned against the driver's side of his truck with a lit cigarette hanging between his lips. His attention was directed towards something beyond Renee's sight from inside of the garage, but it was quickly averted when he heard the heavy garage door slam in her wake.

"Oh, look at that!" Tommy exclaimed, and Renee immediately sensed the forced politeness that strained the man's voice against his pained smile. "Here she is now!"

Renee stepped out into the driveway and found what or who had the younger Miller's attention. The Adlers, Joel's next door neighbors, were sitting on their slightly overgrown lawn, Danny Adler on his floral foldable lawn chair and his mother-in-law, 'Nana' Adler, in her wheelchair.

Renee offered a neighborly wave and smile like she always did when Danny loudly greeted her. He was a sweet old man — head of thick, wild gray hair and a matching beard, thinly rimmed seeing glasses atop a broad nose, and a Texan—accented voice that projected for miles due to his steadily declining hearing.

He turned for just a moment to tear a piece of the fresh biscuit he held in his ample fingers, and fed it to a barely responsive Nana. Renee tried to stop her oncoming wince, shifting her focus to a snickering Tommy.

"Sarah's not out here yet?" She asked.

Tommy tapped the cig, a chunk of gray ash dissipating into Joel's lawn, and shook his head. "Mm-mm. She's gettin' her backpack."

"Watch out, baby." Joel's voice, taut as he hauled heavy equipment towards the opened truck bed, startled Renee and she hopped backwards out of his way. "Can you go get Sarah for me? She's gonna be late."

"Sure thing." Renee tucked her arms around her waist and retreated back through the garage door, swinging it open to loudly call the girl's name. It took a few seconds for her to respond, Renee swore she heard a stir coming from Joel's bedroom, but she eventually came bounding down the steps with an ungenuine apology and headed towards the truck.

She, too, was stopped by Danny the moment she met his line of sight. Renee came up beside her, busying herself with their conversation.

"Connie's been askin' after you!" Danny pushed the tip of his finger past Nana's lips to ease a piece of biscuit through before it could fall. "She said you haven't been over in a while."

Sarah's mouth hung open and she found Joel's eyes, begging for an ounce of help. It was futile, Joel lugging his tool belt into the truck bed and mumbling, "Make 'em happy." The girl tried to ask Renee for some assistance, but before she could get a word out, her cell phone started ringing. Sarah huffed at the halting finger Renee held up and whirled back around with a forced smile.

"I could come by after school today, but just for a little bit?" Sarah answered.

Renee drowned the rest of the conversation out and fished her phone out of her jeans pocket, trying to read the caller ID. She glanced up at Joel, who was looking for the same thing. "It's Sam." Renee said flatly. Her thumb hovered over the answer button, but she debated on pressing it.

Samuel was another teacher's assistant in the same class Renee was working in. He was a couple of years younger than her, but was also in the same graduate program Renee was in. He was a sweet boy — tall, skinny blonde boy, genuinely not half bad looking with a great personality.