Carol Steward - Finding Her Home

Delicate footsteps sneaked up behind him. “The laundry room is downstairs, Dr. Remington.” She pinched the shoulder of the green cotton fabric and tugged lightly. “Scrubs don’t flatter many people, but on you the look fits.”

“Very funny.” He followed her with his bundle of laundry. She wouldn’t be teasing him if she knew the drastic measures he had taken to avoid following in his father’s medical footsteps.

Tori started the washer, added detergent and stain lifter, then sprayed her clothing and handed the bottle to him.

Steve sprayed a meager amount of treatment then shoved them in the washer and closed the lid. “Is this anything like meeting at the Laundromat over mismatched socks?”

She laughed. “We’re a little old for stale excuses for meeting someone, aren’t we?”

“Personally, I’m too old to be playing the field at all. But since you asked…your technique could use some work,” he teased.

“It might have helped if you hadn’t been standing in the doorway.” Her tone was different than when she’d broken her date with Chase.

Velvetier.

She stepped away and smiled.

He stared back in amused silence, wondering if they were really flirting. It had been, what, fifteen years since he’d flirted with anyone. The few arranged dinner dates he’d had recently had been about as personable as having dental work done.

Tori broke away from his gaze. “I need to call the school. It’s such a crazy time of year.” She lifted the phone that was now clipped to her slim waist and apologized yet again.

“I understand.” He followed her up the stairs.

Her conversation was short and to the point, reminding the secretary of another project deadline looming.

The doorbell rang a few minutes after they’d settled into the overstuffed furniture. “I’ll take care of this,” he said as she pulled a twenty from her purse.

“This is my treat.” She handed him the money, walked into the kitchen and pulled plates from the cabinet. From the refrigerator she pulled an overwhelming selection of salad dressings while he paid and carried the pizza to the table.

“So, how do you like Colorado?”

“What’s not to like? It was an adjustment from Maryland at first, but it was just what we needed. After my wife passed away, I needed to slow down and take time to bond with my kids.”

“I’m so sorry. How did you end up in Coal Valley?”

“My uncle said he needed help keeping up with the work on the ranch, which turned out to be an excuse to give the kids and I a place to escape from wellmeaning grandparents. It’s been a good move overall.”

“Oh, you’re Bill Remington’s nephew. It just dawned on me. So you’re Brody’s cousin….”

She sounded as if that changed everything. She looked much younger than Brody, but maybe…“Did you go to school with him?”

Tori had just taken a bite of pizza, so simply nodded. When she finished her bite, she didn’t expand on her answer. Had there been something between them?

“That’s convenient. Brody’s on the school board, and you’re teaching there.”

A string of cheese snapped, plastering itself to his chin. Tori smiled as he twirled the end around his finger and put it into his mouth. He swiped the oil spot with the back of his hand a second before she produced a napkin.

“It has its good and bad points. I always wanted to teach, but my parents somehow convinced me that I could never support a wife and family on a teacher’s income.”

“There is some truth to that. Most teachers’spouses are forced to work in today’s economy, but it’s come a long way in the past few years. Still, if one is looking for country-club status on a teacher’s salary, they’re bound for disappointment.”

“I grew up in the country club and couldn’t run far enough away from that life. So far in fact, that I joined the army, got my college degree and didn’t retire until two years ago.”

“The army?”

“Corps of Engineers.”

“So you’re teaching with an emergency license.”

Did he hear a disapproving edge in her words? He nodded. “When the upper-level math teacher quit mid-year, Brody suggested I give it a shot. I subbed last spring, passed the state licensing test and enjoyed education so much I decided to get my principal’s license. I hope to finish next spring with my master’s in Ed Leadership. Figure I can help more kids that way.”

“I’m impressed.” They discussed teaching until the bong of Grandfather’s hand-crafted mantel clock reminded her that she needed to get back to the hospital.

“Excuse me while I put your clothes in the dryer.” She wasn’t more than a minute, yet he missed their conversation.

When she returned, the subject progressed to her upcoming challenge to convince her grandparents it was time to move closer so she could help. “With my parents out of the country, my nearest aunt and uncle in California, my brother and his family in eastern Texas, that leaves me with the majority of the caregiving responsibility. Abuelo is stubborn as a mule. I just can’t see him willingly leaving his house.”

“Surely there’s a home health-care network in the area.”

“I’ll look into it, but I’d feel a lot better if they would move here. With my job, I just don’t have much time available to run back and forth. And their house isn’t set up well for handicapped living.”

Steve smiled, mostly to himself. Jose had mentioned his determination to stay in their home, but he wouldn’t tell her that. She already knew the battle ahead of her. “As I’m sure you’re aware, the Segundo school district is struggling. I’m sure they would love to have—”

She held up her hand. “I’m not moving back to Segundo. It’s out of the question.”

He took a long swig of soda, hoping to cool his temper before he spoke. “Sometimes we have to look beyond what we want to what’s best for those involved.”

Tori looked at him, astonished. “How old are your kids?”

Steve felt pride just thinking of his daring duo. “Six and ten. Kyle and Kelsey. I take it you didn’t like growing up there?”

“I didn’t say that.” She shook her head and looked at her salad.

“I believe it was your tone of voice.” He took a bite, waiting for her to say what she was really thinking. “So what is it? Why won’t you consider moving back if you’re the only one who could help your grandparents?”

“Making decisions for your children is your responsibility, Steve. How can you compare that to…?” She stood and started clearing the dishes.

“Compare to what?”

She turned her head and stared at him. “Caring for grandparents is different than caring for your own children. There’s so little for my grandparents to do in Segundo. Colorado Springs has better health care, wonderful retirement living facilities and so much more to offer them. I’ve tried to get them to move, but they won’t.”

He joined her in the kitchen. “It sounds like your grandfather isn’t the only stubborn one in the family.”

“I came by it honestly. I have very good reasons for needing them to come here.”

“I’m sure you do.”

She placed a hand on her hip. “My career can’t just be ignored. And let’s just say that my education philosophies don’t mesh with Superintendent Waterman’s.”

“You might be surprised. I think things are on the verge of some big changes in Segundo.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“What changes would you make, theoretically?”

“I don’t live there, so I should stay out of it.”

“I asked your opinion. I have a feeling you know something I should know. I’d like to hear your take on the situation.”

“Everyone in the valley should be concerned. Parents more than anyone. Teachers need to try more innovative teaching methods. With certain staff still at the school, I know change is an uphill battle. But this isn’t about what’s easy, it’s about what’s best for the kids. Surely as a teacher, you’re aware of the problems that the schools are facing with test scores.”