Page 71

They fell into another silence. Azalea’s mind worked overtime as first she tried to figure out what to say and second she tried to convince herself to say it. She was just about to speak when Jewel set her mug down a little heavier than usual on the coffee table and let out a huge sigh.

“What’s wrong?” Azalea asked.

Jewel shot her a look. “I ran into Brady last night, and I’ve been in a foul mood since, which is ticking me off, frankly.”

“Was it as bad as the last time you saw him?” Azalea watched Jewel carefully over the rim of her own mug, wanting to catch every change in her demeanor. Maybe this was what they needed in order to open the conversation about where they were going.

Jewel shrugged, her jaw clenched tight, and she refused to look at Azalea. So yes, that answered one question. It was as bad as the last time they’d run into each other, in the front of Azalea’s house. Setting her coffee next to Jewel’s, Azalea reached for Jewel’s hand and gave her a gentle squeeze.

“What happened?”

“I went to the Grill House. I was too tired to cook and figured I could just go, eat, and come home. I was sitting there, minding my own business, when he walked in with Cora Velsco.”

“Really?” Azalea’s tone rose in pitch. “Didn’t she just get divorced last year?”

“I think so. I don’t remember dates, honestly. I know her oldest had a rough time with that transition and it made that year really tough, so yeah, I guess it’s been about a year.”

Azalea pressed her lips tightly. “I taught Cora.”

“You taught everyone,” Jewel shot back and rolled her eyes.

Chuckling, Azalea grabbed her coffee again. “Not everyone.”

“Anyone under the age of thirty in this town for sure. Anyone under the age of thirty-five it’s highly likely you taught them.”

“You make me sound old.” Her heart sank. When Jewel talked like that it made her did think that perhaps it was time to retire. She was starting to see children of her former students in her classes far more often now than just the rare student here and there. What would she do if she ever ended up with a third generation? No. She had to retire before then. She could not be sixty and teaching grandchildren of her first students. When she focused on Jewel, she was startled by the intense stare she received. “What?”

“Lost you there for a minute.”

“I was thinking I ought to retire soon.”

“What?” Shock vibrated between them. “Why would you retire?”

“I’ve been teaching for twenty years. I can retire if I want with my full pension now.”

“But why would you? You love teaching.”

“I do,” Azalea agreed. “It was just a thought.”

Jewel’s look of concern didn’t dissipate.

“You said anyone under the age of thirty-five, and I realized how many students I have in my classes whose parents were students of mine. I don’t want to end up with a third generation in my class.”

“Oh.”

Azalea nodded sharply. “So I should probably retire soon.”

“I think you have another decade at least before that happens.”

“Maybe. Kadence Crawford had a child when she was sixteen. Jenna Crawford, her daughter, had a baby at eighteen. If I stick around much longer, Braydon will end up in one of my classes.”

“I’ll see him first.”

“Yes, but you didn’t teach his grandmother.”

“No, but I did teach his mother.”

Azalea shrugged. Teen pregnancies in town were rare, but that family was full of them. It didn’t surprise her that either of them had gotten pregnant before graduating, although at least Jenna had graduated before she had Braydon. They lapsed into silence before Jewel shook her head.