Page 78 of Last Call

Beth shrugged. “I don’t know. He tells me things sometimes, like I’m supposed to understand.”

“Sounds familiar,” Riley offered.

“He taught history at the high school,” Carol explained. “No. Actually, he was a history teacher at the high school.”

Beth and Riley exchanged a confused look over their drinks.

“We used to call him Avery the Ambusher,” Carol said, sliding a coaster under Beth’s glass like she was setting the stage. “Pop quizzes every week. Sometimes, twice a week, if he was in the mood. He once gave us a quiz before he handed out our weekly reading assignment. Said, and I quote, ‘History doesn’t wait for instructions.’”

“He did not,” Riley said.

“He did. He was legendary,” Carol went on. “Had this haunted-looking classroom with maps all over the walls. It had the faint smell of a burning overhead projector and crushed dreams.”

Riley and Beth chuckled.

“I’m not joking. He was brutal. His class tanked more than one future valedictorian’s GPA. You nevereverleft a blank on his fill-in-the-blanks. He told everyone on the first day that if they could name Backstreet Boys, Gilmore Girls, American Idols, or Desperate Housewives but couldn’t name any Founding Fathers or First Ladies, they were already failing.”

Riley laughed. “That is brutal.”

“Pete hired The Ambusher’s kid?” Carol asked.

“Apparently,” Beth replied.

“Maybe she’ll give Pete pop quizzes on carburetors,” Riley joked.

“I don’t think she’s interested in testing Pete’s knowledge of engines. Yours, maybe,” Beth told Riley.

“Avery’s kid is a lesbian?” Carol asked.

“A single one,” Beth replied.

“Just when I thought we’d married them all off,” Carol mused. “I really wish I could drink.”

Riley’s brow lifted. “We won’t tell.”

A lopsided grin served as Carol’s only reply.

“No way!” Riley exclaimed. “Are you pregnant?”

Carol shrugged. “Eight weeks today.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Riley wondered.

“I didn’t want to jinx it.”

“Congratulations,” Beth said. “Charlie must be thrilled.”

Carol nodded. “He is. It’s not the best timing.”

Riley reached over and took Carol’s hand. “Things will work out.”

“Am I missing something?” Beth asked. “I feel like I’m always missing something.”

“Welcome to the club,” Riley said. “It goes with the territory of being the never-ending newbie.”

“You’re not newbies.”

“Yes. We are,” Riley said. “Just look at your Mr. Avery story.”

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