Sweet Caroline

#23 First date

Tiffany is not happy with me. Not at all. And while I miss her easy laugh and friendly chitchat, I honestly couldn't care less. I am happier than I have been in a while. And I know I should be a strong independent woman who doesn't need a man. And I am. I really am. That doesn't change the fact that I can't wait to jump Nathan the moment he shows up at my place tonight.

It's like I'm floating through the day. The kids all notice how chipper I am and that gets them in good spirits too. A little too good when it comes to Tommy and Manny Thompson. I should be firmer with them, but I just can't today. I don't want to yell at anyone. Screw it. They can get away with a few little things. Who cares?

Mr. Thompson shows up in my classroom when school is over to ask me how the boys are doing. He looks like he hasn't slept in days and I swear he's close to tears yet again. The moment I ask him about Mallory, he averts his eyes and sighs. "She moved out already. She's got a new man. We're going to court soon to figure out what to do with the kids. For now, I'm their fulltime parent."

That's a good thing, honestly. The boys are crazy about their dad. He's very strict with them. They need that and I think they sense that. Their mom just gets annoyed with them and gives up. He's the one who goes outside to play soccer with them when they've got so much energy that they look like they may explode. He is the one who checks in with me and John regularly, who thanks us when we let him know about incidents in class, who signs report cards and arranges playdates for them. I hope and pray that the kids get to stay with him and least half the time, if not more.

After Mr. Thompson comes Gracie's mom, who of course tells me that her princess needs more special attention. After that I have a talk with Theresa's mom to talk about her concerns concerning her math skills. And after that... it just goes on and on. Once I've got all the parents out of my classroom, I can get back to the preparations for the Christmas dace on Friday. Tiffany walks in to tell me a few tidbits about the decorations, but she doesn't seem to want to talk to me, not really. I hope that I will be able to get that friendship back soon. She's my only true friend in this new town.

Still, I don't let it get my spirits down. When I finish up my long day and walk back home, Nathan shoots me a message. He's asking me out. On a date. A real one. In a restaurant with candlelight and wine and the whole shebang. Two towns over, of course, since I'm not willing to face the wrath of all the other parents, my colleagues and the headmaster just yet, but still. It's a date. A real date.

Part of me wants to call someone to squeal about it, but both Shaughna and Tiffany are anti-Nathan. I could call Dshawn, but since I saw him kiss Shaughna that feels a bit weird. And honestly... I don't really have other friends. Sure, I know more people, especially back home. People I went to high school with, college friends, a few ex-colleagues from temp jobs. Not one of them is a friend who I'd confide in about this, though. I see them when I go out on Friday night or meet up with them a few times a year to catch up. Nothing close to what Shaughna means to me. After what happened with Danny, she's not gonna cheer for me when I tell her I'm gonna go out with the ex-convict 41-year-old single dad who could cause me to lose my job. No, she's not gonna like that.

Instead, I just rejoice on my own and spend the hour before Nathan comes over to pick me up showering, shaving, picking out an outfit, doing my make-up, curling my hair, the works. He's seen me naked, in pajamas, in a see-through wet sundress, in sweats, in jeans, everything. Not a date outfit though, expect for that ridiculously slutty dress I wore when I went out to meet Darius. I don't go for something quite that revealing tonight, since I don't want Nathan to think I'm a total floozy. I do want him to look at me like I'm the most beautiful girl on the planet, so I settle for a black skirt that's just long enough not to be skimpy and a pink blouse that I unbutton just enough to be sexy. Jewelry, lipstick, I go all out.