Theresa turned off the lights. Kelsey seemed distracted as she followed out the door. "How's your team doing?" Theresa asked, not liking the far away look in the girl's eyes.
Kelsey shook her head, coming out of her trance-like state. "Great. We're in the play-offs." Suddenly, she smiled. "I'm going to send those invitations as soon as I check with Grams. I'll let you know when the party is. See you, Miss Rogers."
Theresa shrugged off the odd feeling in her chest. Kelsey was up to something. And it probably boded ill for a certain teacher and father in Salt Fork, Texas.
****
Austin knocked on Kelsey's bedroom door, then opened it. She was seated at her computer. He noticed she quickly typed something to change screens, before turning toward him.
"What's up?" she asked. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked guilty as sin.
He stepped into the room. "Supper's ready. What are you doing?"
Kelsey jumped up from her chair. "Reading an email from Aunt Jessie. Girl stuff. Nothing to worry about. She sure knows a lot about cars, doesn't she?"
Austin frowned. "Of course, she does. She owns the garage in town and can repair almost any engine blind-folded. What has that to do with anything?"
"Nothing," Kelsey shrugged. "I needed to ask a couple of questions about something. I usually text her, but with the new baby, it's hard for her to text back. Let's go eat before the food gets cold." She herded him out of her room and down the hall to the kitchen. Austin sometimes wondered who the parent really was in this relationship. Kelsey was such a manipulative little thing.
"Do you have any plans this weekend?" Kelsey asked as she set the table for the two of them.
Austin stirred the pot of stew on the stove. "Not that I can think of. We're pulling cotton on the north farm on Saturday. Should be done by dark. Why?"
"I was planning to spend the night at Grams's on Saturday. I'm having a class party and Grams said she'd cook for it."
Austin set the pot on the table and sat down. "Why aren't you having it here? And did you think to ask me beforehand?" He ladled the hot stew into a bowl and handed it to her.
"I didn't think you'd care. Grams's house is bigger and since she's cooking and baking, I thought it would be easier to have it over there. Is there a problem with that?"
"No, no problem. Only I wish you'd give me more notice of your plans. You might even try asking permission once in a while. I
am
your father, after all." He was glad Kelsey was growing up and becoming independent. But he couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling of being left behind. Or abandoned. Or not being needed anymore. That was nonsense, of course.
Kelsey smiled. "I'll try to remember, Dad. You don't
want
to come to the party, do you?"
Austin shook his head. "No, not unless you really want me there. Are any other parents going?"
"Just kids. There's only ten of us, so Grams should be able to keep us under control."
Austin nodded. "I'll be here if you or Grams need me."
"That's good to know, Dad. That's
really
good to know." Kelsey hopped up and took her bowl to the sink. "I have some homework I need to do. I'll wash the dishes later." She leaned down and hugged Austin.
"What's that for?" he asked. "What do you want?"
"Can't a girl hug her dad once in a while?"
"Sure," he said. "Except you usually want something when you start hugging me."
"I just want you to be happy," Kelsey said, then skittered quickly away as he playfully swatted her bottom.
"Go on," he said, getting up from the table. "Do your homework. I'll take care of the dishes tonight."
"Thanks, Dad. You're the best."
"You're laying it on a little thick, don't you think?"
She turned wide innocent eyes on him. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Austin advanced on her in mock anger.
Kelsey laughed. "Okay, okay. I'm out of here."
Shaking his head ruefully, Austin cleared the table. Kelsey was getting to be a handful. He was going to have trouble in a few years when she started turning those baby-blues on the unsuspecting boys in town. Suppressing a shudder, he squirted soap into the sink, turned on the faucet and slipped the dishes and silverware into the hot sudsy water.
He wouldn't think about that now. It gave him the shivers. His thoughts immediately turned to Theresa and the shivers she caused. Something else he had been trying not to think about.
Saying he would forget about Theresa and actually doing it were two entirely different matters. He couldn't get her out of his mind. He couldn't forget that night in the cafeteria. She had been liquid fire in his arms. He was going crazy with wanting her. Desire fought with guilt in his brain and in another part of his anatomy. Austin was afraid it was a losing battle. He had never believed himself a slave to his lusts, but he had never been put through this kind of test before.
If he could keep his emotions and his desires separate, he'd be okay. He wanted Theresa. If he had sex with her, it wouldn't have to be any different than the other times he had succumbed to his body's needs with the women at the honky-tonk.
Austin rinsed the plates and stacked them in the drainer. Yeah, right. When had he started lying to himself?
He knew it would be different with Theresa. That's why he had to stay away from her. But he definitely needed to do something about the tension and frustration in his body. Maybe it was time to visit the honky-tonk. What he wanted was a woman who knew the rules of the game. He could work off some of his mounting desires and come away whole. No risks. Just relief for his tortured body.
Saturday night would be perfect. Kelsey had plans. Austin decided to make a few of his own.
****
"Speech! Speech!" Kelsey cried, raising her glass of grape soda toward Theresa. "C'mon, Miss Rogers. Give us a speech."
Theresa smiled at the shining faces sitting around the big oak table in the warm, cozy kitchen belonging to Kelsey's grandmother. "I would think you have enough listening to my speeches everyday at school."
"Awww, this is different and you know it," Kelsey said. All of her classmates nodded in agreement. "Everyone has given a salute to you. Now it's your turn."
"Okay, okay." She glanced at Ruth McCade standing near the sink, and the older woman nodded encouragement. Pushing back her chair, Theresa stood up. She cleared her throat. What could she say?
"Quit stalling," Kelsey said with a grin.
"Quit interrupting," Theresa answered back. She cleared her throat again and lifted her glass. "Here's to the best group of students I've ever had the privilege of teaching. It's an honor to be voted Teacher of the Year. Thank you for this lovely party. Now, let's cut the cake."
"Congratulations, Miss Rogers!"
"Hurrah for Miss Rogers!"
"You're the best! You're the best!"
Kelsey started the chant and everyone joined in.
Ruth stepped to the table. "All right, all right. That's enough, Kelsey. It's time to serve our guests. The first piece of cake goes to Miss Rogers, of course."
As Theresa ate her cake, her eyes kept straying around the comfortable kitchen. She tried to imagine Austin as a child, sitting at this very table, eating home-cooked meals with his family. It was difficult to picture him young and carefree. With a mother like Ruth, Theresa thought Austin and his siblings must have had a wonderful childhood. It was obvious he had been loved and well cared for. Too bad life had thrown him such a curve ball. Making him into a cynical, lonely man.
After everyone finished their dessert, parents started arriving to pick up their kids.
"I really need to be getting home," Theresa said to Ruth. "Thanks for all the good food. It was delicious."
Ruth smiled. "It was my pleasure, dear. Kelsey adores you. And so do the other kids."
Theresa nodded. "They're a great bunch." Shrugging on her jacket, she grabbed her purse and bag full of presents. She took the package of leftover cake from Ruth. "Thanks again."
Kelsey bounded in the front door after escorting a few friends to their cars. "You can't leave yet!" she cried. "You're the guest of honor. You have to say goodbye to everyone. You should be the last to go."
"Where
do
you get such notions?" Ruth asked. "Miss Rogers is tired. Don't pester her."
"I'm not pestering her. Am I?" she said to Theresa. Kelsey hugged her fiercely. "I'd never
never
pester you."
Theresa hugged the girl tightly. "Of course not. Okay, I'll stay. There's only one or two more needing to be picked up."
Kelsey nodded. "I'm going to wait outside with Amelia. I'll put those gifts in your car," she said, taking the large bag. "I'll be right back." She flew out the door.
Ruth shook her head. "Well, I don't know what has gotten into that child. She's acting mighty peculiar. Begging you to stay, then taking off like that."
"Don't worry about it. I'm used to kids that age," said Theresa. "They're all going through so many changes--physically and emotionally. It's fascinating to watch them. You never know what they'll say or do next."
"That's still not cause for rudeness," Ruth said, straightening a pillow on the sofa and gathering up paper cups and napkins. "Kelsey's getting a little out of hand. I'll have a talk with her."
"A talk with who?" Kelsey asked, coming in from outside. Her blue eyes twinkled and she had a big grin on her face.
"With you," said her grandmother ruffling Kelsey's hair.
"Sure, Grams. I love to talk to you, but first I need to walk Miss Rogers to her car."
Theresa smiled. "Oh, I can go home now?"
Kelsey nodded. "Yep, everyone has gone. Here, let me carry the cake."
Theresa thanked Ruth again and followed Kelsey outside. The night was clear and chilly. Bright stars glittered in the dark sky. A stiff wind carried the promise of colder weather.
Kelsey placed the box of cake in the backseat alongside the presents. "I hope you liked your party."
"It was wonderful. Thank you for organizing it." She hugged Kelsey. "Go back inside. You don't have a coat and it's getting pretty cold."
Kelsey kissed her cheek and ran to the house.
Theresa swallowed a lump in her throat. She really was fond of Kelsey. She hoped she was lucky enough to have a daughter like her some day. But as things were turning out, it wouldn't be anytime soon.
Sticking the key in the ignition, Theresa started the car.
Or tried to.
Nothing happened when she turned the ignition. Her stomach plummeted. She hated the feeling of helplessness when something like this happened.
She tried the key again and pumped the gas pedal. Only silence. The motor wouldn't turn over. What could be wrong? She had taken the car for a tune-up and inspection only two months ago. Surely, it wasn't anything serious.
With a heavy sigh, Theresa walked up to the house and knocked. She'd have to impose on Ruth and ask her for a ride to town.
Kelsey answered the door. "Back so soon?"
"My car won't start," Theresa said. "Do you think your grandmother could give me a lift home?"
"Grams doesn't drive after dark. She has night blindness. Come on in. I'll call my dad." Kelsey opened the screen door.
Theresa's heart hammered in her chest. Austin was sure to think the worse. "Not your dad," she said quickly. "Can't one of your uncles or somebody drive me?"
Kelsey shook her head. "Uncle Tyler had a hot date tonight. Or that's what he said." She rolled her eyes and grinned. "And Uncle Dallas is probably already in bed. He always goes to bed real early, even on Saturdays."
Ruth came in from the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel. "What's wrong, Miss Rogers?"
Kelsey brushed past both of them toward the phone on the wall. "Her car's broken. I'm calling Dad."
"Oh, my," Ruth said. "Sit down, dear. It'll take Austin a few minutes to get here."
Theresa hesitated before sitting on the over-stuffed sofa. "I don't want to impose on anyone."
"It's no imposition. I'd take you myself, except I can't see a thing in the dark. Austin will be glad to help you."
"I don't think so." Theresa twisted her car keys in her hands. Austin would be angry and think she had contrived the whole thing. He always thought the worst of her. Except when he was trying to make love to her.
Theresa couldn't hear what Kelsey was telling her dad, but it didn't sound very promising. Kelsey was frowning when she hung up the phone.
"He wasn't home," she said. "I had to call him on his cell phone."
"What did he say?" Ruth asked.