Teachers Tapestry

Fifty-two

Valentina and have been dating for a month. A whole entire month.

I didn't see her today because I left school before I had English, I left during maths but by the time therapy was over and we got ice cream, school was over.

I'm planning on giving her, her gift tomorrow.

Since we got home Kinsley has been playing in the playroom for a bit while Colton makes dinner and I try catch up on my missed work and study for Wednesday.

I have the stupid make up test in English.

I'm sitting in the kitchen because I know for a fact that if I'm upstairs in my room, I'd be lying on my bed watching Netflix or reading instead.

"How'd you find therapy Letty?" Colton asks from the stove while I sit at the table.

"It was okay, definitely something." I said as I continued to write.

"Do you think you'll continue or do you not want to?"

"I think I'd like to go again. She made talking really easy. I felt like I could confidently open up, and that isn't something I find easy to do." I said as I put my pen down.

"I'm glad, really glad." He smiled at me. "I think we should talk about something. A call I got." Colton washed his hands and came to sit down with me.

"Okay." I closed my stuff and put it to the side.

I know well enough that when Colton sits down in front of us to have a talk, it's generally a much bigger conversation.

"About your dad." He took a deep breath and I let out a sigh.

"He's coming back in a weeks. I haven't seen him Letty. I don't know how he's holding up. And to be honest, from the things you've said to me and Kinsley today, I'm considering not leaving just yet." He said.

"But you have a family?" I raised an eyebrow at him as he talked.

"Remember what I said, you two are my family. What happens outside these four walls is not for you to worry about." He said

"But Aaron—"

"Is staying with his mom when he's not at boardings school."

"And your wife—"

"And I are divorced. We have been for the last year. We're still good friends but there isn't a relationship there. And again I say, whatever is going on with me outside these four walls is not for you to worry about." He said reassuring me.

It makes sense now why he never goes home on holidays, never talks about his home life, he tells stories but very vaguely. It makes sense.

"So you're staying?" I question.

"Just to see if I can see you'll both be fine with him. And he is better." He says softly.

"Okay. Well we have the rest of January to enjoy without a worry right." I said with a smile.

He's only coming back at the end of January which means that there's three weeks left of a stress free life. Nothing to worry about for now. Time to find that new thing to do.

"In a week he'll be home. I got a call about it earlier when you girls were both in therapy." He said softly.

I hadn't anticipated this. I prepared for end of January. Not a week from now. I felt my ears start ringing, and a thump in my chest, it was louder in my ears.

"He's coming back at the end of January." I swallowed hard and shook my head to myself.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, kiddo. You just seemed so light after you walked out of that room and telling you this felt like I'd set you ten steps back after you just walked twenty. I'm sorry." He said in a soft voice and placed a hand over mine in a soothing manner.