Midnight Rain; Cordell Walker

ii. cordell

Frankly, most of Celisa's words go through one ear and out the other. He knows Stella is doing well and he knows that Stella is a good student. She's his daughter, he'd be a shit father if he didn't know how his kid was doing in school.

There was that one time, but he didn't like to think about it if he didn't have to.

Celisa Martinez and her family are very close with the Walkers. His mother, Abeline, was ecstatic when she put two and two together that Celisa would be Stella's teacher in not one, but two classes. She got along best with his mother, but got along with everyone, including his kids. Abeline and Bonham tried anything and everything to include the Martinez family in outings and dinners; at this point, Cordell is convinced it's to spite him.

She was there every Friday night for dinners that Abeline made Lourdes Martinez promise to attend and there more to tutor Liam when he was having trouble with his classes in middle school while him and Celisa were in high school (Celisa was younger than Cordell by two years, ten months, and six days).

(Not that he was counting.)

The next four years were without her around, but even as he served, he thought about if she was gonna be there when he came back.

Sure enough, she was. Freshly graduated and already capped a job at Sacred Heart like if it was meant to be. Even worse when she ended up with Stella in her classes and now most likely guaranteed for August to have her when he's a senior.

"You're doing what?"

Cordell can see the panic strike across her face, but she's quick to compose herself. Something he noticed that she does a lot around him. Like that time the escort for her quinceañera didn't show up and they— no, he stiffly carried them across the dance floor with Geri and Hoyt cheering them on. "Uh- I said I'm-"

"I heard you," he says. "But, what I'm surprised to hear is that you started doing this without, I don't know, consulting with her father first?"

She blinks at Cordell, her mouth in the shape of an O. "Uh... Cordell, Stella is 18. And plus, applying to multiple colleges is part of the AVID curriculum. You signed for it when I sent home the syllabus in the beginning of the year." I did do that. "Stella's really excited about it."

He tried to keep his hard composure in front of Celisa, but no matter what he did, he still felt his shoulders slump and his guard fall a little bit. Despite his hatred towards Celisa, she was getting his daughter ready for the real world and for that, he'll be appreciative.

After a beat of thoughts crossing his mind, Cordell nods, lifting his hand and rubbing his temples, letting his fingers press against his eyes as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "Uh, okay, where's Stella applying?"

"Locals," Celisa replies quickly. "I'm having my students apply to UT, community colleges, Rice... the works. She also applied out of state."

"She wants to go out of state?"

"Just 'cause she applied doesn't mean she wants to go out of state," the teacher replies. "I wanted the students to each pick one to two out of state colleges. Most were in Arizona, New Mexico... Stella applied to California, I think."

Cordell tries his best to hide his surprise but he can't help but gulp down his panic. "California? And you're not sure?"

"Well excuse me for having 160 students." Son of a bitch. My kid wants to get away from me. "Look," Celisa says quickly, like if she sensed his panic. "Just because she applied doesn't mean that she's going. I did assign the applications as assignments. Maine and—"

"Maine?"

Celisa sighs, her eyes fluttering closed. Cordell could see the million affirmations running through her head as she takes in a deep breath and goes back to the meeting. "Is there any questions in particular you have about her or the classes?" Celisa questions in her calmest voice. It takes a lot for Cordell to not want to screw with her, but the panic that his daughter wants to go out of state prevents him.

"No," Cordell grumbles, running a hand over his hair and rubbing the back of his neck. "No, I don't."

"Okay," she replies smoothly. "Take this, talk it over, but it's up to you and her." Celisa hands him the paper for Stella's schedule change and he stares at it for a second before taking it and clearing his throat, standing up from the chair.