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Deborah:
You bet it is. Family lunch on Sunday?
Thomas:
Wouldn't I be the one to score?
Deborah:
You've never been very good at it.
Thomas:
You're right.
Deborah:
Tell my new sister-in-law that we'll be waiting for her.
Thomas:
Please don't scare her.
Deborah:
As if I was going to do that.
I have to go now. Take care, Thomas.
Thomas:
You too.
I stopped messaging my sister, and Violet entered the room with the information I had requested. As much as I didn't want to, I was devoured by work and barely had time for lunch. Episodes like that used to be commonplace, but I had gained yet another reason to want to go home.
Chapter thirty-three
I helped one of my students put on his backpack and led the class in a line outside the school to wait in the courtyard before the gate, as was customary. While I was checking all the children in my class had picked up their belongings, Holly came closer, and from her smile, I guessed she might end up asking me some embarrassing question.
“Are you going away with the handsome guy today?” He winked at me, and my cheeks flushed.
As happy as I was with my relationship with Thomas, I didn't want people making inappropriate comments, especially as we were dealing with children who could make inappropriate interpretations and comment on them to their parents or family members.
Thomas and I hadn't arranged anything, but I was worried about my grandmother and wanted to see her, but before I could say anything to Holly, my cell phone started ringing, saving me from the situation.
“Hi...”
“Helena?” I hadn't noticed the caller ID, and my heart raced when I heard his voice.
“It's me.”
“I'm sorry, but I won't be able to pick you up or the girls today. Mylon will be there soon because I've got complicated here at work. This is an important matter that I can't leave aside, but I promise I'll make it up to you later. The nanny will keep an eye on the girls, and we'll go somewhere, just the two of us...”
“Not today, Thomas...”
“Why not?” He seemed disappointed with the way I answered him.
“I need to stay with my grandmother.”