Page 10 of Pretty Relentless

Oh, well. I don’t have to worry about it now. I need to run home, finish wrapping my presents, and get ready to pick up Grandma. The Christmas Eve service is our little tradition, and now that she doesn’t drive thanks to her terrible vision, I get the honor of taking her. That’s where my focus needs to be tonight, not on the sexy single dad of one of my students. Especially when I have a very strict “no dating” rule for fathers of kids in my class.

But if—if—I was going to break my own rule, it might very well be for a man like Gavin Pierson.

“Thank you for coming. Merry Christmas.”

I shake our pastor’s hand as we slowly exit the church. “Merry Christmas,” I reply, feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket.

“Excellent service, Pastor Charles,” my grandma says behind me, shaking his outstretched hand.

“Thank you, Miss Betty. Merry Christmas to you,” he replies before moving on to the next member of the congregation.

I extend my elbow, which Grandma takes, as we carefully descend the steps leading to the foyer. My phone vibrates again, and I start to get a little anxious that something could be wrong. Yet, I still refrain from pulling the device out. Grabbing Grandma’s coat from the rack, I help her slip it on, retrieving my own while she secures the large buttons down the front.

“Before we go, I’m going to have a word with Zelda,” Grandma announces, walking over to where one of her church lady friends stands.

Making sure I’m out of the way, I take the opportunity to check my phone while I wait. I find a bunch of text messages in our friend group and scroll up to find the first one.

Ellie:You guys, Brody just got home and told me his grades. Dean’s list for his first semester of college. I’m so stinking proud of him!!

Blair:Yay, Brody!! He’s such a smart young man. You have every right to be proud.

Hallie:Yes!! Congratulations, Brody!

Blair:What did TD say?

Ellie:He took me in his arms and held me while I cried. There were times when he was little that I didn’t know how I was going to pay for new shoes and clothes and food. I’m just so overcome with gratitude for what everyone did for me and him.

Blair:YOU did this, Ellie. We all just held your hand and helped when we could.

Hallie:Agreed. He is a shining example of his mama.

Ellie:Thank you. Truly. I can’t believe I had such an amazing child, despite all the crap life threw at me.

Hallie:That’s exactly why he’s so wonderful, caring, and smart.

Blair:Agreed. Please tell him congrats from all of us.

Hallie:Yes! We’ll buy him a slice of pie next time he’s at the diner.

That’s the last message sent, and I’m able to jump right in.

Me:Sorry, I was at church with Grandma. Yes! Congrats to Brody. He’s a smart young man, just like his mama.

I try to ignore the way my heart trips over itself at the word mama. There’s an ache in my chest at the thought of having a baby. I’ve always wanted one. Well, not just one, but a couple. Unfortunately, that requires someone with sperm to make that happen, and I haven’t exactly been swimming in the dating pool lately.

And I know that’s how Ellie feels too. They’ve been trying to have a baby since they got married over the summer, but it hasn’t happened yet. I understand her fear completely. The older we get, the more difficult it becomes, with more risks of complications. That’s why I hold my classmates so close to my heart. They’re the kids I’ve always wanted but may never have.

Hallie:Everyone have a wonderful Christmas Eve. Hope Santa brings you exactly what you want this year.

“Ava, dear, what do you think?”

I glance up at my grandma, not realizing she had been talking to me. “What?”

“About dessert with Zelda. There’ll be pie,” Grandma says, a big grin on her face, since she knows I’m a huge fan of peach and cherry pie.

My phone buzzes again in my hand, so I quickly reply, “Oh, that would be fine.”

“Great. I’ll tell Zelda we’ll meet her there,” she says, turning and making her way back over to her friend.

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