Thou Shalt Not (37 page)

I purposely arrived a few minutes late to the meeting the next morning, not wanting to get strange looks if I didn’t sit next to April. She was already surrounded on both sides when I got there.

Principal West reminded everyone of the potluck to be held that night, and who we needed to talk to if we hadn’t already signed up to bring a dish. I knew I’d be able to volunteer for the soda or cups or something.

The meeting lasted a little while longer and as soon as it was over all the teachers made the mad dash for the door. Because I had come in last, I was the first one out.

Oh, the perks of being tardy...

I was already seated at my desk when April walked in.

“Hey,” I said. “Ready for the big party?”

“So excited,” she said, shaking her hands sarcastically in the air.

April picked up a desk and moved it closer to mine.

“Listen, Luke. We need to talk.”

“Uh, okay.”

“I’m not even sure how to say this.” She sighed. “Okay. I want you to know that I really have enjoyed our time together, and I think you are a great guy. And I don’t want you to be mad, but I really have to say this. Last night Marco and I were talking, and he told me that the reason he came back was because he knew things had been rough lately for us. Like really rough,” she added, with nervous laughter.

Oh my god, was she breaking up with me? No way.

“And he said that he left the kids with his mom so he could come back and we could be together for a few days without them. Because he said we never get any time together without the kids around. And, now that his season is over we can find a way to make time. So, that’s why he flew up here.”

“Okay. So what are you saying, April?”

“God,” she said, covering her hands with her face. “Look, I’ve loved spending time with you, really. And everything I’ve said to you is true. But, I just kind of jumped into things with you, and I never really thought things out, I guess. I mean, I know Marco has been a complete asshole, but we have kids, Luke. Two of them. And with the house and car payments and everything else, I have to think about things more closely, and I didn’t and I’m sorry.”

I had always wondered whether my lack of a million dollar contract would bother April, who had to have grown used to her lifestyle over the years. Not many teachers were paid THAT well. She had been subtle about it though.

“Wow, well, I wasn’t expecting this,” I said, and it wasn’t a lie.

“I know, Luke. I’m sorry.”

“Didn’t you say that you had a feeling he thought something might be up?”

“Yeah,” she said, shifting in the desk. “I did. But, last night he was different. I don’t think he knows anything.”

“Oh, well that’s good.”

“Yeah. He can’t find out, Luke.”

“Well, you won’t have to worry about me telling him.” I laughed.

“Are we okay, Luke?”

“Yeah, April. We are. Don’t worry about it. I understand.”

“Thank God. I couldn’t sleep last night. I didn’t know how you would handle it.”

The bell rang loudly, and it was time for students.

April stood up.

“Are you going to make the dinner tonight?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “I will be there. Holly will probably come with me.”

April mouthed the name “Holly” as if trying to figure out who that was. Then her eyes got big.

“The girl from your driveway?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Holly.”

“Luke,” she said, turning toward the door. “You can do better for yourself.”

And with that, she left the room. I hated her right at that moment.

I knew Holly was sleeping, but I sent her a message detailing the entire exchange anyway, minus the part about me being able to do better.

We talked about it on the way to the grocery store to pick up cups and soda for the dinner.

“If he does actually know,” Holly said, “he might try to kill you tonight, FYI.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of that,” I said. “Maybe we should have one last fuck before he does.”

“No,” she said. “I want you to die fuckless.”

Whether he knew or not, the fact remained that I did have sex with his wife. If he knew, he wasn’t going to be happy and I would suffer the consequences of my actions. If he didn’t know and never found out, I was still stomping all over a bunch of those Thou Shalt Nots. So, cosmic punishment was also a possibility. But, I made the choice, and I would take what came from it.

“I’m curious to meet her husband though. She will probably try to keep me away from him. I have a feeling I can make things really uncomfortable for her.”

Holly’s eyes were staring off into the distance, likely entertaining random scenarios in her head in which to make April squirm.

We showed up to Principal West’s house a few minutes after 6, fashionably late as always. Holly hated being late to anything. It was something I liked about her. But, I also liked showing her that being two minutes late wasn’t going to cause the party to cease from happening.

I didn’t see April’s car, but I saw a sports car that was not in the price range of anyone else on staff. Marco’s.

“They are here,” I said as I parked further up the street.

“Why am I so excited for this?” Holly said, clearly kind of giddy.

“Cause you are a little sadistic,” I reminded her.

“Oh yeah!” She flashed a big smile.

Mark’s house wasn’t very big, but he did all his entertaining in the backyard, which he had turned into a little island paradise. He had tiki torches lining his yard long before they became a staple in every backyard on the planet.

Tonight, the torches extended out along the side of the house, making a distinct pathway for everyone to follow. We obeyed the torches’ direction and turned the corner to a sound of loud “Luke’s here” and “The drinks are finally here!”

Holly glared at me, having already reminded me that you shouldn’t show up late when you were bringing beverages.

I put my arm around Holly and pulled her close. There were a lot of wide-eyed greetings from colleagues who thought my love life was non-existent. I began introducing her to everyone, while spotting April and Marco under the makeshift cabana where all the food was being set up. Quite a few people were gathered around them, basking in Marco’s famous glow.

I thought it was funny the way Landry had reacted to Marco when he saw him in the hallway, and the men and women I worked with at Lakefront reacted the same way. No matter what Marco had done on the field, he seemed to get a pass when out in the “real world” because he was a celebrity.

The World Series ring he had won was flashing brightly on his left hand, and I could hear the literal “Ooos” and “Ahhs.”

Mark came over to grab the drinks from us.

“Give me those,” he said. “Let’s break them open.”

“Here you are, sir.”

I introduced him to Holly.

“You’re a brave woman, associating with this character.” He laughed.

“You’re telling me,” she replied quickly, causing Mark to laugh loudly again.

“Come here, guys, you should meet April’s husband.”

Mark had no idea I had met him the day before, but we followed him over to the cabana anyway.

“I can’t wait to meet him,” Holly said.

Mark turned around, lowering his tone significantly. “He actually seems like a really neat guy. I think you guys will love him.”

“I bet!” Holly replied.

“Look, who I found?” Mark said loudly to April and Marco.

Marco had his back turned, but April flashed a smile as Marco turned to see us.

“Luke!” he said loudly. “Good to see you again!”

He extended his hand and we shook.

“And who is this lovely lady?” he asked, eyes checking out Holly.

“This is my girlfriend, Holly.”

Shock briefly registered on April’s face. On Holly’s too.  

“Girlfriend? Have you been keeping a secret from us?” April said. Her tone was teasing, but the look in her eyes wasn’t.

“Nope. No secret here,” Holly said, putting extra emphasis on the word
here
. “We’ve really only been official since Tuesday night.”

April was rewinding back to Tuesday night, and then it sunk in for her.

I felt a little bad about the way she found out, but I had planned on doing it before the party. April had simply beat me to the punch by telling me she was having major second thoughts.

“How great is that?” Marco said. “We should toast to new love!”

He grabbed four of the cups Mark had just put out on the table and filled them quickly with Coke. The man had hosted parties and served drinks before, you could tell. Even Holly was impressed.

“I might have a job for you during the offseason, if you’re looking,” she said.

Marco laughed again. He did that a lot.

“To love,” he said, holding up his cup. The three of us followed his lead. “To love just starting,” he said, gesturing toward Holly and me. “And to love still going strong.”

“Cheers” was offered up and everyone drank.

April sat her cup down and excused herself to the bathroom. Her eyes seemed to indicate that she wanted me to follow, but I pretended I hadn’t seen.

Mark grabbed Marco to introduce him to someone else, so Holly and I walked around the pool.

“So we are in a relationship?” Holly asked. “You could have told me.”

“I just did,” I said.

“April didn’t seem to like that.”

“You noticed that too, huh?”

“It was impossible not to.”

I spotted Stephanie and her husband Rick, who I had never actually met. He looked positively thrilled to be there.

Stephanie introduced him to us, and I introduced Holly to them.

I tried to make conversation with him while Holly complimented Stephanie’s outfit, but he was clearly a two-word answer kind of guy. I half-expected him to start grunting his answers. And I immediately felt sorry for the life Stephanie must live away from the school.

Mark loudly called for everyone to gather near the food table so that he could pray over the meal. April was back from the bathroom and was standing next to Marco.

Holly grabbed my hand and hurried me over to the table, and she found a spot to the right of April. Mark asked everyone to take the hand of the person next to them, and I knew it was with absolute glee that Holly grabbed April’s. It wasn’t like April could refuse, and Holly knew it. The look in April’s eyes hadn’t changed. She was not a happy woman. No one else in the circle would have been able to feel the tension, but I sure did.

When the prayer was over, April tried to pull her hand away from Holly’s, but Holly didn’t let go immediately.

“Your hands are so soft, April,” she said, pulling April’s hand up closer to her face. “What lotion do you use?”

April forced a smile.

“I forget the name of it.”

“Well, when you remember it, tell Luke. I’d love to have it.”

And with that, Holly let go of April’s right hand. April grabbed it with her left hand, as if she were trying to shelter it from Holly.

Holly turned back to me.

“Ready to eat, Baby?” she said, winking. Holly would never normally use a word like
baby
. This was all part of her fun little show.

“Lead the way, Baby...” I replied.

It took a while to make it through the food line, but once we finally did, we made our way over to one of the tables set up by the pool. April and Marco were at a different table.

Music played in the background, and everyone was talking and laughing loudly while we ate.

Mark stood up from the table he was sitting at with April and Marco and called for everyone’s attention.

“Quiet down, all of you. Before I give you an in-school-suspension,” He said, laughing too loudly at such a cheesy school joke. A few courtesy laughs were heard around the tables.

“Seriously, though. I know we have said this over and over, but I just want to say to you, April,” he said, turning toward her, “how glad we are to have you on staff with us. It’s been a pretty trying year so far, but we are all blessed to have you as part of the Lakefront Family. I know it hasn’t been easy, but you’ve already done a tremendous job. And, as long as Marco lets you stick around the area,” he said laughing, “we look forward to many years with you.”

“To April and Marco,” he said, leading everyone in a toast. I didn’t remember toasting anything more than once in my life, and this evening had already provided two. Why don’t we just toast dessert later, too?

Thankfully, no one starting chanting “speech, speech!” and everyone went back to eating.

After about fifteen minutes, Mark stood up one more time. “Oh, and the desserts are on their way out. The coffee will be in the cabana. Help yourselves. Just remember to help me clean up afterwards!”

As Mark sat back down, Marco stood up with plate in hand. He headed back over to the food tables for seconds.

Holly shot up from her chair immediately.

“Do you need anything else?” she asked, but she was already walking toward Marco before I had a chance to answer.

Holly met Marco at the food table, and they instantly started talking about something. They were behind April, who had watched Holly like a hawk when she left my table.

Now, April was trying to look discreet as she turned around to see what they were doing. She kept looking at her plate, taking a bite of food, and then casually turning, hoping to catch them out of the corner of her eye.

When Holly knew she had April’s attention, she lightly grabbed Marco’s arm, and with her other hand, she pointed back to me, smiling. Then she smiled and pointed to April. Marco nodded and laughed.

I had no idea what she was saying to him, but I knew it was making April very uneasy.

Finally, April picked up her plate and walked quickly over to where they were. Holly smiled at her when she saw her coming, and then patted Marco on the shoulder. Holly took her plate and left the food table just as April reached it. I caught April turn and glare at her as she passed, but Holly was all smiles.

Holly took her seat next to me. April and Marco were still discussing something while standing next to the food.

“What did you say to him?” I asked. “Whatever it was, it seemed to piss April off.”