To Claim the Mountain Man

Chapter 6

ISLA MAE

I stabbed at a piece of fried okra with my fork, sandwiched between Mom and Dad at a booth in the back corner of Rex's. Across the table, Garrett's wife, Natalie, sat in a similar position between my brother and Heath.

"So, Isla," Natalie ventured, sliding her empty plate away from her on the table. "Are you excited for school to start on Monday?"

"I'm more nervous than excited," I admitted, pushing the okra back and forth. "My degree is in English, not teaching, but a few of my professors have sent over sample lesson plans for me to use while I get my feet under me."

"You're going to be perfect," Mom crooned, squeezing my bicep three times. "The school is lucky to have you."

I knew she believed that, but it didn't change the fact that I lacked the knowledge and personality of a real, trained teacher. I might've been able to write a mean essay about literature and wield words like a weapon, but none of that meant anything if I couldn't teach it to a bunch of teenagers.

I shrugged. "It's just for a year. They'll have to find someone permanent for the position next fall."

I felt Heath's eyes burn into me from across the table. He'd been considerably quiet since our encounter in my bedroom, but I figured that was because Mom spent a majority of dinner gushing about the upcoming arrival of her first grandbaby, Garrett and Natalie's, in four months.

Now, when I looked up and found his intense slate grays watching me, my stomach flipped.

"You're only staying for a year?" he questioned, a little crease forming between his brows.

Did I imagine the undercurrent of displeasure lingering in his words?

"I'm going back to New York next fall," I explained, forcing myself to stop playing with my food and sit up a bit straighter. Confident.

Of course, that depended on whether I get accepted to Columbia's MFA program, but I refused to consider any alternative. I would be accepted.

"Our little Isla Mae can't get enough of school," Dad teased, nudging me with his shoulder. A smudge of ketchup stained the corner of his smiling lips. "She's gonna be a world-famous author one day, I guarantee it."

Pride shone in his eyes like strobe lights, and my cheeks warmed under the weight of it.

My parents would support my dreams of becoming a successful author no matter what, but I couldn't help the tendril of doubt from creeping in. If I couldn't get into the MFA program next fall, did I even deserve their support? Was I just wasting everyone's time, mine included, on a hopeless dream?

"I'm trying to convince her to stay in Laurel Peak," Mom claimed playfully. "But, in the meantime, I guess we'll have to take advantage of every moment that she's here. Speaking of, Isla, will you be joining me at the Ladies' Bridge Tournament this Friday night? Everyone is dying to see you."

I tried not to cringe. Prior to leaving for college, I spent most Friday nights with my mother at the Laurel Peak Community Center, where dozens of women around town came together to play surprisingly competitive rounds of bridge. Whereas most highschoolers spent their Friday nights partying or watching football and hockey games, I spent them serving chicken-salad sandwiches and fruit punch out of a bowl to the bridge players.

Thank goodness, I had an excuse to skip this Friday's tournament.

"I can't." I took a sip of my water and set the perspiring glass back on the table. "I'm going out with Sky and Eliana."

Both of my friends had also recently graduated with their undergraduate degrees and returned to Laurel Peak. Skylar planned on staying while she searched for a job in her field, but Eliana was moving to Denver with her fiancé in a handful of weeks. We promised to spend as much time together until then.