Perfecting the Odds (36 page)

Karis opened the door and quietly closed it until only a crack remained. Karis eyed the students from the window of her door.

“
Yes, Mrs. Winston?” She knew it must have been important to interrupt a state exam. The interruption could already mean the test would most likely be invalidated.

“Mrs.
Bennett, your son’s school nurse is on the phone. Apparently, he has a 102˚ fever. She called Eve, but because of her...situation, she said she couldn’t drive. She called everyone on his emergency card, but no one answered. She’s left messages but no one’s called back. If you leave, Karis, these tests will be invalidated, and I already have to cover someone else. Is there anyone you can think of who would be able to pick up Robby? By law, he
cannot
stay at school so ill.”

Karis
sighed wearily. “Has she called his great aunt Claire?” She lived farther away now, but she would come if she could.

“Yes, the nurse
called everyone on the list. She’s tried for over an hour, and no one’s available.”

Karis
shut her eyes to think. “Okay, please cover me for a moment. I’ll need to make a call from my cell phone.”

“Of course,
Karis.”

Before switching positions with her boss,
Karis went to grab her cell phone from her purse having no clue who she could call, or trust, to pick up Robby. This exact situation was one of the greatest defects of the teaching world. Taking time off was more effort than actually teaching. Normally, she would have to write substitute plans with extensive lessons, at least that’s what Karis did. Her students did authentic work. Always No busy work ever appeared on the desks of her students.

But she didn’t need a lesson plan today; she need
ed something far more difficult to conjure: a trustworthy adult.

Grabbing her phone from her desk, she walked
into the hall and flipped it open, finding several text message alerts.

Eve
: Karis, the school called. You know I can’t drive. I called everyone else. No
luck. We both know who you need to call.

Jason
: Just got the message from the school...at a conference. Sorry.

Diane:
Sorry, Karis. I’m in surgery until four o’clock. Wish I could help.

Eve
: So, are you going to call him or not? Robby’s sick. Swallow the pride.

Call Michael?
Yeah, when I lick the underside of a yogurt lid
,
she snorted.
Trustworthy adult? Not even close
. She scrolled down her contact list of possible saviors: too far away...too weird…horrible driver. She attached flaws to each person. 

Realizing what she had to do, she took a de
ep breath and pressed his name, which she had secretly changed to Sex God and hadn’t had the nerve to edit it. Dammit, the ringing was always the worst.

Please help me with this, Michael, and I’ll lick the next goddamn lid.

“
Karis.” It wasn’t a question or a statement of shock, disbelief, or even anger. He said her name as if someone asked him who the love of his life was. It left his lips softly, confident and without regret.

She
cleared her throat. “Hi...uh...Michael. Listen, I’m sorry to bother you, but you see, I have a favor… I need you—” She paused. Uttering those words sent a spark to her heart. She did need him right now—so badly--but she’d be damned if she’d let him know how much.

“
Tell me what you need.” Just as they’d always done, Michael’s words circled her heart and soul. Her mind flashed to the last time she heard those words, how he’d given her exactly what her body needed, and now her body betrayed her, having its own plans in mind.
Ease down,
Karis.

“Okay, here’s the thing. Robby is really sick, and none of the people
on his emergency card can get to school to pick him up. I’m in the middle of state testing, and--.”

“I’ll
pick him up, no problem at all.”

“I’m sure you have classes to teach, Michael. I just don’t have anyone else left to call.”

“So, I’m your last resort, Karis?” She winced as the words cut through her.

“Well, no
...I mean, yes, I guess...I just need your help, okay?”

“I said I would help you
, and I will...under one condition.” She could almost hear his lips curve upward.

“I’m
not having sex with you, Michael.” His immediate laugh pissed her off. She could see his head thrown back, done only when he found something absolutely hilarious. Aren’t I the one that says assumption is the downfall of ma
n
, she thought.

“I’m glad to hear sex with me has been on your mind,
Karis.”

She pursed her lips, growling out, “My mind has not been t
h-there, thank you very much.” Liar
. And now you’re a hypocrite, too.
“So what’s the condition? Just say it already.”

“
Okay, relax, sweetheart.” She stifled her sigh at his endearment and palmed on her forehead, feeling the nervous droplets forming. “What I want is for you to keep your word—to spend Thanksgiving with my family.”

Karis
’s throat constricted. “What?” she squeaked. “Have you lost your goddamn mind, Michael? There is no fuc—frickin’ way.”

“
You said it yourself, Karis. You’re a woman of your word.”

“
Yeah, well, you made promises, too, Michael.” Dead silence filled the receiver. Karis then spotted Ms. Winston’s scowl. “Listen, my boss is glaring at me. Are you going to help me or not?”

“
Are you coming for Thanksgiving?”

What
damn choice did she have? “Fine! I’ll come, but only because my son is suffering from a high grade fever, and you’re playing bargaining games. God, you’re so frustrating! Why don’t you just go find someone to help you screw me out of your system already,” she hissed quietly. What the hell was she saying? That had to be an all-time low statement for her. How would he react? She needed him, for the sheer fact that her head was on the chopping block with leaving the testing room. It was settled. The man was making her lose her mind, and his silence after her ridiculous state nearly broke her.

“
Karis?” Sadness now masked any lightness in the conversation. “What school does Robby attend?”

“Oaktree Middle.
I’ll let the school know you’re picking him up,” she answered quietly but clipped. She was completely appalled by her behavior.

“Okay. And, Karis?”

“What
, Michael?”

“I would have picked him up even if you said you wouldn’t come.
I would never let you down when you needed me. See you this afternoon, darling.”

The phone clicked. Guilt. Trying to describe it was nearly impossible. Metaphors hardly did justice to how it manifested itself
in her body, mind, and soul. If it had a flavor, it would taste like eating month-old tuna salad after a twenty-four hour bender of whiskey shots. It just fucking lingered.

Then
panic unleashed a wicked fluttering in her gut. She would see Michael this afternoon.

Jumping out the window now didn’t seem so life-altering.

***

Michael and Robby sat
cross-legged on the floor of the boy’s bedroom playing Halo 1 or 2; Michael hadn’t a clue. Pumped full of Ibuprofen, Robby felt well enough to play video games, Yeah so Michael reluctantly agreed. The game oozed testosterone, combat, unbelievable graphics, and guns, which in most guys’ minds equates to a kick-ass afternoon. At the very least, it distracted Michael until seeing Karis.

“
Mr. Finn?”

“
Hmm?”

“
You’re a Marine?”

“Yes
...not active. Now I teach college kids.”

“That’s pretty awesome
...that you’ve done both. I heard from girls in my class about Career Day at mom’s school. What’s with girls and military guys, especially Marines?”

Michael laughed. “I have no clue.”

“Girls make no sense.”

“Yu
p.”

“
My mom really likes you.”

Michael’s breath caught in his throat for a moment.
The boy definitely inherited his appalling segue skills from his mother. But still, this topic was exactly what Michael wanted to discuss.

“
Oh, yeah?” he managed.
For the love of god, keep fucking talking.

“Yeah, and I think you really like her.”

“Shows how much you know,” he mocked. “I love your mom.” Robby’s wide eyes darted toward Michael and just as quickly returned to the television. Michael had no clue why he was confessing his love for Karis to her thirteen year old son. He shrugged absently. The boy was clearly intelligent and mature. What the hell did Michael have to lose? He wasn’t too proud. In fact, he was downright desperate for Karis to return to him.

“Mom’s been crying a lot lately, though.”

Michael coughed to
squelch his smile that held a little spark of relief. “Really? Does she talk about it?”

Robby shrugged.
“No. But the other night I caught her staring in her bedroom mirror saying, ‘I can’t do it again, Michael.’  She misses you, Mr. Finn.”

             
“I miss her too, Robby. More than I can say.”

              Robby ceased the conversation for about two minutes and continued playing. Jolting Michael enough for him to drop the controller, Robby started again.

“Y
ou should have seen her when she came home from school that day she went out with you. I think she took two showers because she was so nervous. And then when you sent her flowers, she was so happy she started doing this crazy dance around the kitchen. I’m not gonna lie, it was kinda weird, but I have a hard time staying away from her when she’s like that…it’s not often.” He paused and seemed to drift into a deeper thought that he kept to himself. “And then when she received that package you sent, she locked herself in her room for like an hour. She came out, her eyes all red, clutching a container of yogurt. Weird.”

Michael chuckled.
“You’re a good son, Robby.”

Robby shrugged his shoulders. “I try. She thinks she keeps stuff from us.
You know, I never heard her cry after my dad died. Maybe once at the funeral. She was just angry all the time. But I’ve heard her cry a lot since she met you.” Michael sat stunned by his unguarded confession, but more by this boy’s perception. He knew his mother much like Michael knew his. He couldn’t help but want to hear everything this precocious teenage spy was sharing. “Adults always think they shield things from kids. They think they know everything about us, what’s good for us
all
the time. Heck, I knew how to read like six months before my mom knew I could.”

Genuinely intrigued, Michael asked,
“Why didn’t you tell her?”

Robby blinked a few times
; then, his face lit up. “You should hear my mom read a book. She does all the characters and changes her voice. It’s hilarious. So I was afraid if she knew I could read, she wouldn’t lie in bed with me at night and read to me. She does though, and she listens to me read, too.” Robby paused again and cleared his throat. “Mr. Finn, I think you’re a good guy, so I’m going to tell you something.” He paused the game and put down his controller; Michael did the same, nervous as hell about what the kid was about to say. “Don’t give up on her, okay? She deserves to be happy. My dad messed up when he didn’t go to the doctor until it was too late.” He paused again. “Please don’t tell mom I know that.” Michael nodded reassuringly. “I love my dad, and I miss him. A lot. But he must have been scared or too proud or something because he messed up big time, and my mom paid for it. We all did. I just want her to be happy again.” Robby’s head dropped as if what he’d just said what his greatest wish.

Michael
searched his mind to try and make sense of what this boy was telling him. Most sons would never encourage their mothers to date, let alone request that the boyfriend keep making her happy. But no matter how stunned he was by Robby’s blessing, he wouldn’t dare lessen it by questioning him.

“I love your mom, Robby. But
you should know I messed up, too.” Michael dropped his head this time, shame threatening the demise of his already weakened heart. Hurting Karis was already too much, but now he realized his deception had affected her family as well, and that slammed a new fist of guilt right into his gut.

“She’ll come around
,” Robby declared matter-a-factly as he picked up the controller again. “She needs you. And, I’m sure you’ve figured out she’s
crazy
stubborn. You just have to crack to the code, ya know?” Robby smiled genuinely. Michael returned the grin.