Just The Tip Page 4

  From what her friends had filled me in on, Violet was a bit. . . Awkward. Not my word, theirs, but if that was the truth, I might be able to help her with that too.

  So here I was, ready for day one.

  I hope she's ready for me.

  No one's ever ready for me. When I get involved, I change people's lives.

  The hard soles of our shoes echoed in the barren and quiet halls. Following the overly round man, he continued with his tour speech. “We tell all the kids when they get here, to think of this school as a baseball field. My office is home plate, and our kindergarten rooms are set in the outfield.”

  Nodding with fake interest, I pretended to jot down notes in my file. What he didn't realize was my file wasn't for his school, it was for Violet. My notes on the women—and men— I've helped, were my lifeline. The smallest detail to some, could potentially make the greatest difference in finding them what they're looking for.

  And I wanted it all.

  From their most obscure tick, to their favorite food, their craziest secret. It was all important, far more meaningful than most could ever understand. That's why I was so damn good at what I did, I paid attention to the details.

  You couldn't get the personal touch I gave from one of those online dating sites. They tried to stuff who you were into a ten page form you had answer for yourself.

  Fucking waste of time, in my opinion.

  Computer programs can do a lot of great things, but they're not human. Only a living, breathing, thought-filled person could understand emotions, histories, likes and dislikes. That wasn't something you could cram into an endless list of questions, and leave to the device of a data-simulated connection.

  Although, this time it felt different. Most of the people I had come across were nothing like Violet, I already knew that from the first second I saw her.

  She was beautiful, truly beautiful in the most meaningful form of the word.

  I didn't expect that.

  For the first time ever in my life, I had been completely blown away.

  Her eyes glistened with a reflective softness, and when I met her gaze, a shiver of gold lightening raced down my spine. The feel of her skin was as delicate as summer rain on a petal; warm and sweet.

  I had to reel myself in, remind myself of why I was there. It was a job, that was it. I felt it and I forced it away.

  But the feeling that raked my spine was dangerous; far too dangerous to indulge.

  “Here we are, Mr. Garza.” Holding out his arm, the principal folded his lips in a forced smile. “Ms. Hughes is probably in the middle of art class right now according to her lesson plan.” Raising a fist, he knocked briefly, and popped the door open.

  Both of us stood motionless, eyes trying to read the sight before us. From the look on her face, sheer horror had stiffened her muscles to rigid bark. Mr. Arnold and I both tilted our heads in unison, blankly staring into her classroom.

  What the hell is that?

  Is that what I think it is?

  Violet

  Today felt like it was going to be a great day. I had a new breath of air that cascaded through my lungs when I woke up this morning, a new skip to my step when I launched myself out the door to work.

  The sun was shining, the sky was crystal clear and blue as the ocean, and every inch of my body felt lighter, less heavy and shattered than it had been in an extremely long time.

  Nothing was going to bring me down today.

  I didn't exactly know where the new found feeling crept in from, but I embraced it. And why the hell not?

  My friend Lynn was right, Lilith had a great life. I had been able to create everything she needed, and now it was time for me try something new. To open myself up finally and try to find happiness for myself, because I deserved that.

  I deserve to be happy.

  “Alright guys, I'm excited to see what you made. I hope you all picked a really delicious food, actually I'm sure you all did.” Coasting through the classroom, the small children were all huddled around circle tables, adding the finishing touches to their art work.

  Art class was one of my favorite times with the kids. Their creativity shined, their imaginations soared to wonderous places that an adult could never imagine.

  Because as we grew, our world and thoughts had changed. Our mind understood the difference between fact and fiction, tangible and dreamy. We had lost our ability to conjure up whimsical fairy tales, and envision the impossible.

  But a child, a child's imagination was pure. Imagination ruled their life, and the idea that if you could think it, dream it, draw it, anything was possible.

  The innocence in their eyes and windmill of churning desire to see the unseen, it was a beautiful thing. And that's what made my job amazing.

  “Sara, what did you make?”

  The tiny girl popped up, her toothless grin etched across rosy cheeks. “I made an apple, I love apples.” Her eyes fell to the large red fruit in her hands. “I miss apples, Mommy says I have to wait till my teeth come back.”

  “That won't be long, Sara,” I said, bending to my knees and scooping the picture from her hands. “You'll be eating these again in no time.” Stepping to the giant cork board against the wall, I pinned her fruit in place.

  “Okay.” Scanning the room, I picked another student. “Dante, what did you make?” Folding my hands together, I walked to his table.

  “I, I made eggs. Two eggs, see?” Taking a single finger, he jabbed the crayon picture. “One, two. Eggs are good, but my grandpa says they are loaded with clor.est.rolping.”

  Giggling to myself, I took his picture. “Well, it sounds to me like your grandpa is just trying to keep himself healthy. Great job, it's going up.” Sticking it with the small tack, I secured it to the brown cushion.

  “Ms. Hughes, I finished mine.” Christopher, a petite boy with jet black hair, stood and walked towards me.

  “Excellent, what food did you make?” I asked, wiggling my fingers with excitement.

  “Here,” he said, holding out a long piece of construction paper.

  Lifting the oddly cut paper, I examined the shape, and colored scribbles.

  What is it?

  Veering my stare, I twisted it around in different directions, holding it up to the lights, and hovering it over the floor. “Um, Chris. . .”

  My chest pounced with nerves, lip twitching with an uncomfortable snap. I wasn't sure what he had tried to make, but what it looked like didn't resemble any food I could think of.

  Knock Knock

  “Ms. Hughes. . .” The door sprung open, and to my shock, there stood Principal Arnold with the one man I didn't think I would see again until the weekend.

  Mateo Garza. . .

  What's he doing here?

  Oh, shit.

  Why is he here?

  Both their eyes bulged from the sockets, heads slowly tilting to their shoulders. The blood drained from Principal Arnold's face as his brows arched in a curiosity that made my lungs trap all the air inside.

  My eyes dropped to my hands, the elongated shape of a giant construction paper penis, was stiffly gripped in my fingers. “Mr. Arnold, hey—hi—hello. I mean hello, Principal Arnold.”

  “What's going on here?” He demanded, the whites of his eyes scaled with red veins I could see from ten feet away.

  “Well, the kids were all making healthy food pictures to hang in the classroom. Chris here, he made. . . Uh. . . Um. . .” Twisting the curved, fiber erection in my hands, I didn't know what the hell to say. I literally had no idea what the kid was going for with this one.

  The peach colored paper was wider and circular at the base, reminding me of testicles, the shape then thinned and morphed into a long shaft that mushroomed at the tip. But what food it was supposed to be—no fucking clue.

  My palms began to sweat, chest inhaling short bursts of oxygen as I searched my blank mind for anything to give it a name other than a penis.

  But that's exactly what it looked like, and f
rom the looks on Mateo and the principal. . . They saw it too.

  “And this food. . . This food is. . . Uh. . .” Damnit! Anything, say anything!

  But what? What the hell is this?

  Tugging on my skirt, Chris asked, “Aren't you going to hang my cashew now? I learned from my mom they have a lot of probean in them.”

  A relieved breath escaped my lips, as an itching laughter bellowed from my throat. “A cashew, it's a cashew,” I said, bouncing my eyes between Mr. Arnold and Mateo. “Yes, Chris, I was just about to hang your cashew up right now, thank you.”

  I'm definitely going to label these later.

  A Cashew, huh?

  What did he walk in on one night?

  Chuckling to myself with the idea that this poor kid's mother possibly had to explain away a much more difficult conversation, my mind immediately shot back to the fact that Mateo was standing in the doorway with the principal.

  Clearing his throat, Mr. Arnold raised his arm to Mateo's shoulder. “Ms. Hughes, this is Mr. Garza from the school department. He'll be spending some time in here today for observation of your teaching techniques. Please be courteous, and remind the children not to bother him too much so he can do what he came here for.” Patting Mateo's thick muscled back, the principal swiped a hand over the top of his head, smoothing the lonely patch of hair.

  I was speechless, confused, and had no idea what the hell he was doing there, or if I had just been dooped the other night.

  Is this really happening?

  Thinking quickly, I said, “Alright, children, it's time for snack. Everyone place your picture on my desk and head to your cubbie.” My heels clicked in my ears like a death sentence, each tap bringing me closer and closer to my executioner. “What the hell is going on? You work for the school too?”

  A sultry smile spread across his lips as his chin tilted in the air. “No, no, no. I just told good old Mr. Magoo that to get in here.”

  My hands clutched my sides, hip kicking out. “Do you know how bad that is? You lied to my boss. And for what reason—why are you here?”

  Mateo's thumb skipped like a firm stone across his jaw, riding with precision down his throat. My eyes followed his thick finger, a warm tingle spreading over my belly as he hit the hollow of his neck. “Ms. Hughes,” he said with a smooth baritone voice, “This is all part of our agreement. I need to learn in order to help, this is step one.” Smacking the folder in his palm, a deep chuckle left his lips.

  Step one? What the hell is he doing?

  “Do you realize that your being here can put my job at risk? Or your freedom? He could call the cops, have me fired. If the principal finds out that you're not who you said you were. . .” Pausing, I squeezed my lips together. “Mateo, this is crazy, you shouldn't be here.”

  “That's where you're wrong, this is exactly where I need to be.” Slipping past me, he strolled with finesse through the miniature tables and chairs. “Just go about your class as usual and pretend I'm not here.” Lowering into a chair that I expected to buckle with even half the weight he was putting on it, Mateo pulled a piece of paper from his folder, and a pen from his suit pocket.

  He can't be serious.

  He really isn't worried about what type of trouble he—we, could get into?

  The children all eyed the new stranger, curiosity washing their faces. Every tiny set of eyes were trained on the mysterious man in the back, bodies turned awkwardly to stare at the newcomer to our class.

  Inhaling a large breath of air, I clapped my hands loudly. “Okay, kids, everyone put on your listening ears. We have someone special with us for a little while today, his name is Mr. Garza, please say hello to Mr. Garza.”

  As if a giant megaphone had just dropped from the ceiling, every tiny voice turned into one large explosion. “Hello, Mr. Garza.”

  Mateo smiled, waving a gentle hand. “Hello, small humans.”

  Small humans? Really?

  He can't have any experience with kids.

  “Alright, now that that's done, let's get back to work. It's narrator time, everyone go sit crisscross applesauce on the rug.”

  Each chair in the room screeched as they were pushed across the tiles, the light patter of feet hit the walls as the children all took their designated letter seat on the rug.

  I tried desperately to ignore the man-candy sitting in the rear of my room, but I could feel him watching me like a hawk. Each movement I made, his eyes burned into my back, watching, observing, writing.

  What's he writing?

  What the hell does he think he's going to get from this?

  I don't care, I'm working.

  A part of me was slightly pissed that he had the balls to invite himself into my classroom only to watch me.

  Me.

  I was teaching a group of children how to read, how to write. What the hell did that have to do with my personal life?

  What did his being here have to do with helping me date or even finding a reason to want to date again?

  Nothing. This had nothing to do with it.

  But the entire time he sat there he wrote and jotted down notes. His face made small twitches as he followed me around the room, his hand repeatedly raising to the paper to put down something he thought he saw or noticed.

  At least that's what I figured anyway. I honestly didn't have a damn clue what he was really writing down, but I tried to sneak a peek—several times.

  I hate secrets. Why is he blocking the notes?

  If it's about me, shouldn't I be able to read them?

  But each time I thought I could grab a glance at his hand drawn words, he would cover them up with his palm.

  Mateo at one point even tisked me under his breath as I tried to manipulate my position to take a glance. “Uh, uh, uh. No peeking, Ms. Hughes.” His barely audible words floated through the air on tiny feathers.

  Grimacing, I directed my attention back to the kids and their efforts to practice writing the new sight words we had worked on.

  As the lunch bell rang, the children all burst from their seats, running to grab their lunch boxes. Glancing over at Mateo, he stood from his tiny refuge in the back, stretching his legs. “Alright, I think I've seen enough for today. I'll call you in a few days and we can set up another meeting.”

  “Another meeting? You'd call this a meeting?” Crossing my arms tight over my chest, my head cocked to the side.

  Mateo's eyes dipped to my breasts, following my neckline up. His gaze drifted over my lips, my eyes, then back to my lips. With his subtle movements my body shivered, muscles tensing up with electrified jolts that burned into my core.

  Cupping my elbow, his fingers teased the fabric. “That's exactly what this was.” Lifting two fingers to his lips, he kissed them and flicked his fingers in the air. “See you soon.”

  My body went up in flames, turning to hot sparks with his touch. He had been the first man to touch me in years, and no matter how much I wanted to shut down the feelings streaming my muscles; I couldn't.

  This is ridiculous.

  I'm ridiculous.

  What the hell did I get into?

  Violet

  “He what?” Piper asked, her voice tempered with confusion.

  “He showed up at the school, Piper, waltzed right in like he owned the damn place.”

  “What do you mean he showed up at the school? Why the hell would he do that?”

  “I don't know, you tell me, you hired the guy.” Pouring the box of mac and cheese into the bubbling water, I tilted my head into my shoulder to hold the phone against my ear. “Did you guys even do any checks on him? I mean he literally lied through his teeth to my boss to get in, then watched me like a predator stalks their prey. You know he could've gotten my ass fired—he could still get my ass fired.”

  Her breathing hit the receiver as she let out an annoyed grunt. “Of course we checked on the guy, Vi, and the man has an incredible portfolio. He was featured in Entrepreneur magazine on two different occasions, has a runni
ng list of highly respected women who rave about their success through him and finding love. Shit, Vi, even Sylvia Dunkin was a client of his.”

  Sylvia was a local news anchor, who's running list of men included four actors, and a bigwig lawyer from downtown.

  Piper went on, “I'm sure he knows what he's doing, he wouldn't have credentials like that if he didn't.” Her voice broke off, yelling into the distance. “I swear if you touch him one more time—don't you roll your eyes at me! That's it, go to your room! I said go!”

  “Everything alright?” I asked, stirring the pasta, as Lilith danced around my ankles singing the Kraft jingle. But no matter how many times I heard the same, “I got the blues,” line, it never got old.

  I guessed that might change as she got older. From the screech in Piper's voice, a child nearing the age of seven, had completely different views on what was annoying. Glancing over my shoulder, Lilith looked up and smiled, continuing her tune.

  Maybe boys are just different.

  “Yeah, we're good. Look, Vi, just give Mateo a chance. I'm sure there's some rhyme to his reason. Don't knock him out yet.”

  “Yeah, maybe,” I said, skirting around my tiny ballerina, and grabbing the milk from the fridge.

  “So when are you supposed to see him again?”

  “Hell if I know, he said he'd be in touch.”

  “A man who leaves you dangling on the edge of your seat—I like that.”

  “Well, I don't. I hate not knowing what to expect. What's he going to do next? Show up while I'm grocery shopping?”

  Lilith paused her solo, snapping her head up at me. “Mommy, are we going to the store?”

  “No Honey, not today. Go get washed up for dinner.” Plating our easy meal, I leaned against the sink. “Piper, can I ask you something?” My eyes scanned the hall, making sure Lilith was out of hearing distance.

  “Anything.”

  “Why does this feel wrong? I mean, I know my husband has been gone for years, but the thought of looking for someone else makes me sick. I can't shake it, and believe me, I've tried.”