Page 5 of Awaken My Heart

four

Bram

My truck idles in the middle school parking lot. It doesn’t take my granddaughter, Taylor, long to climb into the passenger side.

“Hey darlin, how were rehearsals?”

“So amazing! But you know you really need to talk to Ms. Carson about the set design. Remember? You promised you would.”

“Yeah, darlin, I remember.”

I could be annoyed that she volunteered me for the job, but the truth is, this kid could get away with murder. Not only that, but the work is not a big deal. I could probably build anything they’ll need in my sleep.

I’ve always been good with my hands. And having a new project will distract me from the lunacy of cross-breeding tomatoes.

Seriously, how is this my life?

Taylor pops in one earbud. “She’s in there now; you should just go talk to her and y’all can figure it out. I have some homework I can do while I wait.” She pulls a notebook out of her backpack and immediately goes to work.

“Ms. Carson?” I clarify.

“Yep. She’s my very favorite, Pops, so be super nice to her.” Taylor gives me a stern look.

“Got it. I’ll be super nice.” I wink at her, then step out of the truck and head over to the doors for the auditorium. This is the same school all my kids went to so I’m familiar with the layout. It’s after school hours so the grounds are pretty quiet.

“Ms. Carson,” I mumble to myself to remember the new theatre teacher’s name. She’s probably an adorable little old lady riding out her last couple of years at a small school before retiring.

Taylor said they’re doing Seussical: The Musical, so I should be able to find some set ideas online. I pull on the auditorium door and am met with the familiar pop song sounds of my daughter-in-law, Jess Munoz. She’s Taylor’s favorite singer, and a music video recording crashed her into Grady and Taylor’s life. Jess has been the best thing that’s ever happened to them.

I glance around, looking for the teacher. I step closer to the stage to see if someone is off in the wings. I’m met with the sight of the most perfect, rounded blue-jeans-clad backside I’ve ever seen.

And it’s wiggling.

To the beat of the music.

The rest of her body pops up out of the bent-ass-shaking-position, then she turns.

Long, wavy brown hair and a light-up-the-whole-room smile faces me.

It’s her. Emma, from the bar.

Fuck my life.

Her mouth rounds into a surprised expression and she pulls a phone out of her pocket to turn off the music. Then we’re just staring at each other. Her, standing center stage and me, breathing heavy, on the auditorium floor.

“It’s you,” she says, her voice husky. “Why is it you?”

I do my best not to scan her body, but it seems around this woman, I have zero control over my eyes. So, I take in the way her blue jeans mold to her curvy hips and legs. A “Saddle Creek Middle School” polo shirt stretches across her ample breasts. My mouth fills with saliva. I’m like Pavlov’s fucking dog at the moment. I’m ready to ring her bell and get my treat.

“I’m looking for the theatre teacher, not you,” I snap.

She comes down the front stairs so we’re on the same level. She barely reaches my chest. With her this close, I can see that her eyes are a light rusty brown, like fresh ground cinnamon.

She plants her fists on her hips and glares up at me. “That’s unfortunate because I am the theatre teacher.”

“You are? You’re Ms. Carson, the new theatre teacher I’ve heard so much about?”

She holds her arms up like ‘ta-da!’