“I’ll give you the kids. I do love the little monsters. But I’m serious about my parents. My life work is to drive them to their early graves and inherit their estate.”
I just shook my head. There was no arguing with her. “I am coming back,” I told her. “Maybe not right away… but I will be back. I can’t walk away from teaching forever.”
Her gray gaze found mine and glistened with unshed tears. “I know you will. You’re too good at what you do to give it up forever. You’ll just have to turn that endless inspiration on your own little ones now. They get to keep you for a while. As they should.”
Hearing the sorrow in her tone, I had to assure her. “Good thing they have their Auntie Kara to keep it real for them. I’ve been told I’m a little delusional with my optimism at times.”
She let out a bark of laughter, “Who told you that?”
“Mostly my students. The same ones I’m trying to inspire.”
She grinned at me. “You know, this is much better than being spinsters together. I probably would have eventually stabbed you with my crochet hook.”
“We would have made terrible spinsters,” I agreed. “We’re way too hot for cats.”
She snorted. “Because only ugly people have cats?”
“Oh, no. That’s not what I meant.”
She waved me off. “I know what you meant. Your secret hate for people with cats is safe with me.”
It was my turn to laugh. “Well, I am a dog person you know.”
“How could you not be? A dog saved your marriage and knocked you up.”
“The dog did not knock me up.”
She winked at me. “Not what I heard.”
I shook my head and joined her at the door. “I need to check my mailbox.”
She sighed. “I need to go fill out paperwork. Apparently your powers of inspiration worked better than usual. Jay Allen signed up for summer school.”
“Why?” I gasped. “His grade in my class was excellent. What classes does he have to retake?”
She leaned in as if she were telling a secret. “He’s not retaking anything, Kate. He’s taking as many AP classes as I’m going to let him. Apparently, he wants to get into a good school.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I am very serious.”
My smile was so big I practically glowed. Tears filled my eyes and I blamed hormones. I rarely cried under normal circumstances.
Just kidding.
“Good.” I finally said.
“Thought you’d be happy.” We reached the hall where her office was nestled next to the teachers’ lounge. “I’ll call you later, k? Andrea and I are planning a baby shower for you. I need your input.”
“Oh, my god, what is wrong with you?”
“It was her idea.”
“Kara, I’m not going through with that. You can’t make me. Besides, last I heard everyone thought I was a drama queen for calling off my divorce.”
She shot me a mischievous grin. “But now that you’re preggers they understand why you called off your divorce. You can’t raise a baby alone. Plus he got that nice job. Clearly you’re in it for the money.”
I groaned. “Do none of them realize there was no possible way for me to know I was pregnant when I called off the divorce? Or that I thought it was literally impossible for me to have a baby? Are they all morons?”
Her smile dimmed, “Every last one I’m afraid.”
“And these are people in charge of educating the future leaders of America. I’m actually afraid.” She laughed at me but didn’t argue. I turned to her and said seriously, “I don’t want to do the baby shower.”
“If only life was all about the things we want to do.”
“You are the worst guidance counselor ever.”
She gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and disappeared into her office, throwing over her shoulder, “You don’t mean that. I saved your marriage!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. She was absolutely ridiculous.
And I loved her for it.
She might not have saved my marriage, but she definitely saved me when I thought my marriage was over.