Page 9 of Reformation

And yes, my brother’s call sign was Twilight and his son is named Cullen, after the former movie vampire. That is not a coincidence. That is my sister-in-law’s fucked-up sense of humor.

She’s fucking awesome.

I scan the group looking for Cullen, and luckily, he is right up front. While the other kids are waving their hands at their parents in the audience, my nephew is whispering into the ear of the little girl next to him.

That’s my boy.

I don’t have much time to be a proud uncle because my attention is immediately grabbed by the woman who walks on stage in front of the class.

“Holy shit. Who is that?” I don’t mean to, but I say it in a very loud whisper.

“The old guy is the music teacher. But I’m guessing you are talking about the blonde. That is Cullen’s teacher,” Mark whispers back. “I’ve only met her a few times. Charlie is ready to nominate her for sainthood.”

I don’t know anything about being a saint, but I’d definitely worship her body every day and twice on Sunday.

I take her all in, and I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t had sex in a very long time, but I can’t stop staring at her. Blonde hair just past her shoulders. Breasts that look to be just big enough to fit in my hands. Curves that are subtle, but you know they exist underneath the long dress she’s wearing. One that shouldn’t be as sexy as she makes it and I’m sure comes with a helluva smaller price tag than anything Annika would ever be caught dead in.

Simply said: Cullen’s teacher is fucking hot.

I don’t remember what happens over the next thirty minutes. I’m pretty sure the kids sang a few Christmas carols. Don’t ask me which ones. I think I heard parents clapping. I might have clapped as well. I saw parents holding up phones to video their child’s performance, and that’s only because I saw them in my peripheral vision. I was too busy looking at the beauty who is Cullen’s teacher and casually adjusting myself because I’m getting slightly hard from the sight of her.

At least, that’s what I was looking at until I saw fingers snapping in front of my face, shaking me from my tunnel vision.

I look up from my seat to see a furious Charlie staring down at me, Mark standing behind her with Makenna on his hip and a smile on his face. I know that look. It’s the smile he used to give me when he knew our mom was about to lay into me for something.

“No. No, no, no! There will be none of that, Garrett Dixon! Calm your hormones, dear brother-in-law,” Charlie yells, grabbing me by my shirt so I have no choice but to stand up. I might tower over her at six foot one, but that doesn’t make her any less scary. The woman knows twenty different ways to kill someone. And those are just the ones she told me about.

“Paige Blackstone is an angel walking among us mortals. Cullen actually listens to her. Well, mostly. I only get two phone calls a week. And you want to know why that is? It’s because that woman was created by God to tame your nephew, who takes far too much after you and my husband for my liking. So, get this straight, Garrett Dixon… right now… You will not stare at her. You will not make suggestive comments to her. You will not go back to your old ways and treat her like you would some fuck-girl nurse. Do you understand me? Because if you fuck this up for me… I swear to God… I still have contacts who will make it look like my husband was an only child and who will convince everyone we know that it’s true.”

I nod and swallow hard as Charlie walks away, leaving me alone with my brother and niece.

“Your wife is absolutely terrifying.”

Mark laughs. “She is. And I fucking love it.”

* * *

Paige

“Good job, Miss Blackstone. Another stellar performance.”

I turn to look at Mr. Arthur, who, at the age of seventy-two, is the eldest member of the Jefferson Elementary staff. He’s been around for five principals, refused to get rid of his chalkboard when dry erase and smart boards were installed, and knows where all of the proverbial bodies are buried. And bless his heart, despite his age and slight hearing loss, he can still get kids excited about music, as well as hear all the gossip around the teacher’s lounge.

“You know I didn’t do anything. That was all the kids. And you, of course.”

He takes my hand, giving it a squeeze as a grandfather would. Or at least I assume so. I never met either of my grandfathers, but if I got to pick, I’d want mine to be exactly like Mr. Arthur.

“My dear, it’s teachers like you who make me come back each year. Your enthusiasm fills me with the energy to keep going. Despite some… well… more trying students.”

I chuckle, knowing exactly who he is talking about. And as if on cue, Cullen Dixon crashes into my leg.

“Hey there, Cullen! Great job tonight, buddy!”

“Thanks, Miss Blackstone! I sang all the words just like you told me to!”

He gives me a big wink, likely referring to the bribe I offered him in regard to the music program. This kid… I swear. I really want to laugh at his antics, because his personality is one you can’t not love. Sometimes it almost makes me forget that he hid my reading glasses yesterday for the fun of it. The only reason I got them back was that I offered him a Reese’s Cup.

“Cullen, are you bugging Miss Blackstone?”

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