Eli
I passed back the papers. I could tell simply by their faces which students were satisfied with their grades and which ones would be hounding me after class. Like I've said before… I'm a hard grader in my fictional writing class and usually nobody will make an A+. Yes, I'm one of those teachers.
After I dismissed class the line started to form. First there were the perfectionists who thought an A- was unacceptable… Then there were the failing students who wanted to know how to pass the class and finally there was Joey.
"Mr. G… whaddup!"
"Nothing…up Joey. What's your grievance?"
"I just came to thank you. I have a D+… it's two points away from a C. I might pass this class after all…"
"Well I'm happy to hear that you are pleased with your grade."
Now for two weeks in this class I don't have any papers to grade. Instead we will be discussing some topics that I've chosen. I thought about giving them another assignment but that would just cut into the time I have with my girls and of course my Clare time. We've been dating for a month and things couldn't possibly get any hotter. We've been letting the girls have lots of sleepovers lately. When the girls are at my place Clare comes over once they are asleep and we have a romp and vice versa. Of course we can't be as loud as we want because it would be mortifying to get caught but that also adds an element of thrill to the whole thing.
I sat in my office grading papers for my literature class's quiz. I told them if they didn't read I'd know it and they'd suffer…did they listen? No. While I was flipping through all of the failed quiz grades Adam busted into my office like usual.
"I have the most amazing news!"
"What?"
"Fiona's pregnant…"
"Adam ho..."
"Don't get all crazy of course I don't have any semen so I couldn't contribute to that part. We went for invitro a few weeks ago. Surely I told you this."
"No you didn't."
"Well she's pregnant! Eli I'm going to be a dad."
"I'm happy for you fella. If you want to practice feel free to take the twins any time..."
"Well we will take them this weekend. I know you want time with your MILF."
"Don't call her that Adam. Especially not when you have a MILF of your own now."
"How are things with you and Clare anyway?"
"Great. The picnic last weekend was epic. Our girls blend together well and they like the fact that we are dating. That's never a bad thing."
"No its not… so how's the sex?"
"Well let's just say I'm never disappointed and afterwards I'm always tired. Clare is a hellcat in the sack."
I showed Adam the scratches and bite marks on my back and shoulders. He was speechless.
"Well dude… I would love to stay here and chat with you about your insanely violent sex life but I have to get back to class."
"Alright dude… Clare's coming for lunch anyway."
"Whatever you do…don't lose this job."
"Get out of here."
After Adam left I went back to grading. A few minutes later Clare appeared and she knocked on the door. I opened it and she was standing there with two salads and two cokes. She read my mind. I shut the door behind me and we started having our lunch together.
"So how was your day?"
"Oh you know…accounts and numbers and money. How was yours?"
"Great. I have some quizzes to grade. They are atrocious."
"Do you grade hard?"
"Extremely."
"Eli! That's so mean. Don't you remember what it was like in college having that one hardass evil professor?"
"Yes I do but I also recall that it was usually the mean, hard-grading, take no bullshit professors that taught me the most."
"Well now that you mention it…Just one question. Why teach college?"
"So I can control people's lives…muah ha ha ha! No…just kidding. I mean I majored in English, what else was I going to do with that? Why banking?"
"Because I majored in history. What else was I going to do with that?"
"Ah… so these salads are awesome. Where'd you get them?"
"I made it."
"No you didn't."
"Yes I made them with tomatoes, cucumbers and onions from my own garden."
"Clare you have a garden?"
"Yes I have a tiny greenhouse in my backyard. I guess you've never seen it because we never go anywhere but my bedroom."
"Do you enjoy gardening?"
"Yes. It's relaxing. You don't have to think too much you just remove weeds, tend to the plants and keep the tomatoes off the ground."
"Sounds like hard work."
"Not at all… You should come help me sometimes. You look like you'd be good at tending to the roses."
"Well I've never been complimented on my green thumb but we will see… can I wear one of those hats with plastic fruit on it?"
"How about we just…don't do that."
"Okay. I was thinking though…we should go on a date. Adam and Fiona have already offered up their babysitting services for the weekend."
"That's great."
Lunch with Clare was pleasant. She even helped me grade a few papers before she went back to work. It cut down on the amount of checking I have to do but I suspect that she did go easy on them. After my last class I went to the school just in time to get my usual space. Mrs. Jester was parked behind me. Oh joy.
"Yoo hoo! Mr. Goldsworthy."
"…Mrs. Jester."
"How are you today?"
"I'm fine."
"I mean with your wife being dead four and a half months and all, you just shouldn't be okay."
"Well you can't stop living life."
"Now how did she die again? Suicide?"
"A car accident. Is there anything in particular you wanted? I'm not really up to chatting with you today."
"I understand you are in a bad mood."
"No I'm not…your voice just sounds like nails clawing at a chalkboard…that's all."
"Why I never…"
"And you never will again."
"No wonder your girls are such improper young ladies! They are absolute ingrates and I see where they get it from."
"Yeah that's right… they take after me that way I guess. Speaking of ingrates…isn't that your daughter punching that kid?"
She ran to see what her brat was up to. Taylor and Thandie came out of the building and ran to the hearse.
"Hi girls."
"Hi daddy. Guess what?"
"What?"
"Thandie got a big fat F on her spelling test."
"Shut up Taylor! You're such a tattle tail."
"You're always tattling on me."
"Thandie what happened? We went over the words a million times… Did you get nervous or.."
"No."
"Well what happened?"
"Daddy I know what happened to her!"
"What Taylor."
"Royce Fitzgerald told her that if she didn't give him the answers he was going to cut off her ponytail and make her be his girlfriend. He's huuuuge and totally gross. I don't even think we could defeat him if we teamed up and tried."
"How long has this been going on?"
"Just today."
"Well don't you worry about it. Daddy's going to handle this."
I turned around and went back up to the school. I managed to catch their teacher just as she was coming out. I started explaining the situation to her but I could tell she wasn't really concerned about it now that she was off the clock.
"Look Mr. Goldsworthy I can see that you are upset. There's Royce's dad over there…maybe you two can reach an agreement."
I looked over only to see a flashback of my high school days. Royce's dad was my arch enemy… Mark Fitzgerald. I walked over and he looked me over.
"Emo boy… long time no see."
"And it's still too soon… Listen Fitzgerald your boy bullied my daughter today and she got an F because of it."
"What?"
"Yeah! He threatened to cut off her ponytail and force her into a relationship if she didn't give him the answers to the spelling test and she got an F for it."
"Well… the boy is clever."
"The boy is fat."
"Got something you wanna say Goldsworthy?"
"Keep that little Pillsbury doughboy away from my kid."
"It's not my fault your daughter is a wimp."
"My daughter is not a wimp, your son is just a sissy…picking on little girls because he can't face up to somebody his own size…no wait…there is nobody his size."
"That's it Goldsworthy! I'm going to kick your ass just like in high school!"
"Bring it on Fitzy…bring is the fuck on!"
"Mr. Goldsworthy, Mr. Fitzgerald… in my office now!"
That phrase sounds so very familiar. The principal of the school called us into the office. I checked on the girls before I went. The car was running and they were in there doing homework and eating a snack. I sat in the uncomfy little chair while the principal lectured us.
"So why were you two gentlemen acting like preschoolers?"
"His son bullied my daughter."
"Well that's not my fault."
"I can see why that would make you angry Mr. Goldsworthy but the situation was handled all wrong and Mr. Fitzgerald perhaps a firm hand of discipline would do Royce some good. He's in my office countless times a week after all. Gentlemen do you think you can behave yourselves?"
"Yes Mr. Herron."
"Alright."
We left the office and went back outside.
"Look Emo boy, principal baldy has a point. We have kids now and we have to set a good example so I will try to work with Royce."
"Great and I take back all the things I said about Royce."
We shook hands and came to an agreement. This is a first. I hopped in the car and the girls were coloring. They seemed content as if they knew I'd get things worked out. I guess that's part of being a dad…
Clare
Spending all this time with Eli has been great but it's good to still be able to have some quality time with Violet. She's the most important person in my life so I have to stay connected to her. After her bath I helped her dry her hair and then I detangled it like usual. She talked to me.
"Mommy… If you and Mr. Eli get married do I have to go live somewhere else?"
"No… Why? Who told you that?"
"Some kids at school said that when their mommies got married again they had to go stay with their daddies but since my daddy is dead…where will I stay?"
"I will never send you away Violet. You are my other half. If I ever marry Eli then we will all be a big happy family. Me, You, Eli, Thandie and Taylor. Nobody is getting sent away. Are you still comfortable with me dating Mr. Eli?"
"Yeah. He hides candies in his car."
"Other than for that reason Violet. Do you like him?"
"Eh…he's cool. If you get married can I be a flower girl?"
"No because you are going to be my maid of honor if I ever get remarried."
"What's a maid of honor?"
"Like my best man."
"You want me to be your best man?"
"Yes indeed because you are my best girl."
"Mama I'm your only girl."
"And that makes you the best."
After detangling her hair I helped her get ready for bed. When she was all tucked in I read her a story and she fell asleep before the end of it. I kissed her chubby cheek and I turned on her night light before turning out the big light.
I went into the kitchen to fix myself some tea to help me sleep. I decided on the blueberry. I heated up the water and I let the tea bag sit for a minute and then I drank the yummy concoction in bed while I read a gossip magazine. I will never forgive Alli for getting me hooked on these damn things. After a few minutes the tea started to work so I turned out the lights.
Thanks for reading… Please leave a review. I know you all were probably expecting some more hot action but I decided to make this chapter more about Eli and Clare's interaction and relationship with the children however I assure you…more hot lemon-y action is coming up.
