Page 24 of Falling for Brody

Brody looked at her and Rhea hoping that her face wasn't flaming red.

"Rhea," he nodded and turned back to Sandra, "is going to be my partner at work."

Maybe it was also her imagination that Sandra's eyebrows had lifted when Brody said 'partner.'

It didn't mean anything more than what it was, but by the overly bright smile she saw on the woman's face, Rhea had a feeling that there might be some gossip starting up.

Gossip that was way off base.

"Well, then..." Sandra stepped back. "Welcome, Rhea and Chip. Where would you like to sit?"

Rhea looked at Brody and he... looked at Chip. "Go ahead, Chip." Brody patted him on the back. "Pick a table."

Looking up at the room, she saw the waitress at the far end of the room turn to watch.

There were a couple of tables taken and Rhea looked up at the clock. It was late afternoon, so the lunch rush had passed. There were a number of open tables in the center and along the front wall.

She had a feeling that Chip would pick a table near the glass to look out. While she loved people watching. He liked it too, but he also liked talking, too.

Chip lifted an arm and pointed at a table near the far side of the room and looked up at Brody. "Can we sit with her?"

Rhea had been prepared to say something. What? She had no idea.

Sandra cleared her throat. "Don't you want a table to yourselves?"

But Brody didn't hesitate. "Let's go ask her. Come on, buddy."

Rhea followed behind the two as they walked up to the table.

"Hello, Missus Hardy."

The woman at the table looked up and grinned. "Armstrong," she grinned. "Brody Armstrong. How nice to see you, son."

"Nice to see you, too, Missus Hardy." He gestured at Chip beside him. "This is my new friend Chip. And this," Brody looked toward her and grinned before looking back at the older woman, "Is Rhea, his mother."

Missus Hardy reached out a hand and tapped Brody's hand where it touched the table. "Good for you, Brody."

Rhea was taken aback at her words and looked at Brody, waiting for him to clarify their relationship.

"Chip? Rhea? Missus Hardy was my third-grade teacher in school."

Chip looked from Brody's face to the older woman at the table. "I love school! Are you going to be my third-grade teacher when I get to third grade?"

Missus Hardy laughed out loud, loosely covering her mouth with both hands. "Oh, dear. I'm sorry, young man. I haven't been a teacher in some five or six years!"

Chip looked down at the table. "Darn."

"But if you need any help," she offered, "I'm happy to help you. Just ask Brody to call me."

"Cool!" Chip bounced back easily with the offer. "Can we sit here with you?"

Missus Hardy looked up in surprise and Brody gave her a wink. "Sandra said we can pick our table and Chip wants to sit with you."

Rhea held her breath, hoping that the older woman wouldn't think the request was too silly.

After a moment of reflection, Missus Hardy turned a little and grasped the back of the chair beside her. "Well, have a seat young man."

Brody helped Chip settle in the chair beside her and took the seat across from his old teacher.

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