Camille

Perks

By Wednesday morning my routine has finally returned. I arise before Bailey and make breakfast again. Eggs and bacon. Bailey stumbles into the kitchen her eyes groggy and her hair a jumbled mess. She slinks over to me and wraps her arms around my waist.

"Morning Mama."

"Morning sweetheart."

"I like when you're happy."

"I'm always happy with you around."

"Well, I like when you're cooking happy."

I love her little brain.

I head into work after dropping Bailey off at school and wander into my office. Bree is already here and my office is already opened with the lights on. I enter to find a bouquet of peonies sitting at my desk. I smile and reach for the card knowing there will be a clever note from that clever man.

"now moan"

I laugh loudly and Bree calls out.

"Good you're here."

as she makes her way to my office.

"We've got a problem."

"What is it?" I say grinning.

"I've never seen someone so happy to hear we have a problem. I take it things worked out with Alex."

My smile broadens.

"I'm very happy for you, but we do really have a problem."

I shake my body to try and wake myself back up from this dreamy state.

"Ok, what is it."

"When you left Bailey wouldn't stop asking about Alex, the teachers put two and two together. Now everyone's talking about it."

"Who's everyone?"

"Our teachers mostly, but I'm afraid some parents know too. There was a lot of murmur when you left."

"Some of the parents already know. The PTA president was telling me how I was the latest gossip."

"Isn't she charming."

I snicker.

"So what do you think we should do?" Bree asks.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yeah. I mean what really can we do? If we do anything to try and counteract their thoughts then they'll just think I'm guilty of something I didn't do. The only thing to do is our jobs. We work, we stay focused and put on a great showcase."

Bree smiles at me.

"What?"

"Nothing, you just sound like your old self."

She peeks around me to view my peonies.

"Anything to do with him?"

My smile returns, maybe.

"Enough about that, lets get to work." Evade, evade, evade.

Work is a blur, two days away was too long. There is too much to get done and I work tirelessly while I try and mentally prepare for my mother who will be here to drop off Bailey. That evening finds her standing in the door to my office.

"Got a minuet?" She asks before she walks in and sits down.

"Of course." I smile.

She looks at the peonies sitting prominently at the edge of my desk.