Miss. Parsons is a fresh-out-of-college high school English Literature teacher who has a passion for love, Shakespeare and apparently, hunky southern cowboys. She pays close attention to detail, including the flirty smiles exchanged by students and...
"Dusty would you mind going outside to split some firewood?" Aunt Sue called from where she stood over the sink, rinsing clean the dinner plates.
"Not at all, ma'am." He replied automatically, standing from his place at the table and placing a swift kiss on top of my head as he left behind his steaming cup of hot chocolate.
"Thanks, lumberjack." I teased, his appearance had fit the bill of one seeing as he never went anywhere without a plaid shirt. He made a face at me before throwing a heavy-duty coat on and heading for outdoors, his boots thumping against the hardwood floor.
"You know, he really does like you." Aunt Sue casually mentions, I turned to look at her, from where she stood at the sink there was a window where she peered out at Dustin chopping the wood.
Her comment caused a smile to imprint itself onto my lips, "I know, I'm a lucky girl." She laughed and shook her head looking down at her hands which were sure to be pruned by now. "Would you like some help?"
"Oh, that would be lovely."
I stood from my chair and stood next to her, I had a bit of a view of the outdoors and I could see an axe being swung up and then chopping the wood in a single, swift motion. I took a towel and began drying as she washed the dishes.
"He's only ever had one other girlfriend and that was just a quick romance, nothing too serious, they were only in seventh grade." Aunt Sue's hair was slung back in her usual ponytail, her features soft and kind, smile lines framing the corner of her lips. Her face was full and if I could cook half as good as her, mine would be too. "But with you, he's as happy as he's ever been." She sounded as if she had just discovered the cure for some horrible, fatal disease that was plaguing an entire village.
"Well, I'm glad." I responded, this news brought joy to strike through my heart.
"And don't you worry too much about Mabel, suppose she's a bit jealous is all," she reassured me, "I mean, that's her big brother." She talked with a natural slowness to her tone and it made me feel calm. "I'm sure she'll come around."
My teeth dug into my lower lip, "I sure hope so."
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After Aunt Sue and Uncle Earl had gone to bed, Randy had converted the shed into his bedroom a while ago and spent most of his time there, Dustin and I stayed up a bit longer. Sitting on the floor in front of the fire and listening to the crackling of the wood asit blazed magnificent oranges and reds with hints of yellow dancing in there as well.
"Would you two mind, I'd like to get some rest." I quickly scrambled to my feet as the words left Mabel's mouth, Dustin took his time.
"Now just what in the hell is your problem?" He asked, finally raising to his feet. "All this time, you knew I was going out with Rae and there was never an issue." When Dustin got riled up, his accent was much more profound in his voice.
She laughed an ironic laugh, "I think you know what my problem is." She used air quotations around the word 'problem'.
"Is it because I spend so much time with her now? Mabel you said you didn't mind." I reached for Dustin's hand, suddenly feeling smaller and gave it a tug although he didn't budge.
'And I don't mind!" Her hands fell to her sides as her eyebrows scrunched together, "it's just Miss. Matchmaker over there needs to learn to mind her business." She seethed out the words as if they were some poisonous potion.
My heart pounded in my ears, Dustin gave her a look that said she was crazy, "now what stories are you making up."
"I'm not making up stories, Dustin! Remember that boy, Colton?" My vision was coming and going as it pleased. "She set us up, like some kind of sick dating show."
Dustin whipped his head to me, I looked down at my feet. "Say it ain't true, Rae." Hot tears pricked at the back of my eyes, the heat radiating from his hand suddenly left mine and I felt a coldness shutter down my spine.
"A student came to me and asked." I left my response open-ended, allowing room for interpretation. Mabel stood with her arms crossed over her chest, a smirk spread across her pink lips. "Dustin you are at just as much fault as I am, I warned you." I told him, and in a way I had, telling him about this boy who had showed an interest in his sister.
"Yeah, but you didn't have to keep pairing them up, she grew attached to him." He pointed out.
"He loves her, Dustin!" My voice raised the slightest bit before I reminded myself we weren't the only ones in the house.
"Oh, now you're defending him? You weren't there to hear Mabel crying to herself to sleep close to every night for a week, Rae." He threw his arm in her direction, like he was giving directions.
"And I'm not the only student she did it too." Mabel piped in, Dustin whipped his head over to her and must've gave her a reprimanding look because she then proceeded to put her head down and not say much of anything.
"You could have stepped in, Dustin, I told you he liked her and then you let him into your home, you continued to allow them to see each other, where does that put you?" I countered, I hadn't wanted him to feel guilt, but I didn't want to look like the bad guy either.
"It puts me at the older brother who just wanted to see his little sister happy," he started, staring at me with a kind of intensity I had never seen in him before, "but I don't know where that puts you." With that he turned on his heel and left through the house, I wanted to run after him but I knew he needed space too.
"Mabel, I am so sorry, please forgive me." I whispered, in an attempt to keep my voice from faltering, she kept her head down and drew circles on the floor with her foot.
Leaving to the room I heard my phone vibrate against the night stand,
I think it's best if you start looking for plane tickets for tomorrow.
It was from Dustin and that night, Mabel wasn't the only one who cried herself to sleep.
