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“Bert” must be a nickname. Strange his wife didn’t use it.
“We both teach at the college,” she continued. “He’s the head of the business department, and I teach advanced physics.”
“Better you than me,” Jake teased. “Math was never my strong suit.”
“Hmm.” Patricia’s eyes never wavered from his.
“Mine either,” Bert confessed. “Hated it.”
Jake was trying to give Patricia the benefit of the doubt, he really was. She was Laurel’s mom, and to be fair, she hadn’t expected him to be there. Maybe she was one of those people who didn’t like surprises. So far, though, Bert seemed okay.
“Laurel is excellent at math,” Patricia told him.
“Doesn’t surprise me.” Jake laced his fingers through Laurel’s, a fact her mother didn’t miss. “I haven’t found anything she’s not good at yet. Well, except cooking.”
“Hey!” Laurel tried to pull her hand away, but he tightened his grip and winked.
Bert chuckled. “He’s got your number, Slugger.”
“Laurel was an exceptional student,” Patricia continued, ignoring the cooking comment. “She could have been a tenured professor at the college by now, if she hadn’t settled for teaching grade school.”
“Mom, I didn’t settle,” Laurel corrected softly.
“It’s never too late to switch,” Patricia said.
“I like teaching first grade.”
“I could talk to the Dean,” Patricia continued, totally disregarding what her daughter had just said. “I’m sure he’d be willing to interview you.”
“Mom, we’ve been over this. I don’t want to teach college. Ichoseto teach first grade.” Laurel said the words as if she’d uttered them a hundred times before.
Judging from this conversation, and the way Laurel was unconsciously squeezing his hand, Jake was certain she had.
“I’m not settling, and I’m not interviewing at the college.”
“Now you’re being stubborn,” Patricia said. “You need to think rationally. Teachinggradeschool,” she said the word like it was distasteful, “will never allow you to reach your full potential. And you’ll never make any money in primary education.”
Jake was having a hell of a time holding back. He didn’t care if Patricia was Laurel’s mother. She was upsetting his girl, and his protective side was screaming to take care of her.
“I don’t care about money,” Laurel said.
How was she related to this woman? Laurel was the most down to earth person he knew, and her mom, frankly, was a piece of work.
“Well, that’s just?—”
Laurel’s voice cracked when she interrupted her mother. “Ilovemy job.”
“We know you do, Slugger.” Her dad sounded like he was trying to placate her. “Your mother and I only want what’s best for you.”
“Teaching children is what’s best for me!”Laurel shouted, finally letting them have it.
Good girl! You tell ’em.
“You just can’t accept that!” Her stricken expression cut Jake to the bone.
“Laurel,” Patricia scolded. “Don’t raise your voice at your father.”
“Excuse me,” Laurel stammered, standing abruptly.
