Page 70 of Broken Dream

I walk past her into her home but then stop short.

Another one of my students is here. Tabitha. The same one who showed up the day I realized I lived three doors down from Angie.

Fuck. She’s caught me here twice now. She’s going to be suspicious.

I take a few steps back. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company.”

“Dr. Lansing,” Tabitha says. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Jason, please.” I give her an awkward wave. “Hi, Tabitha.”

Tabitha stares at me. No doubt because I look like I tumbled right out of bed. Which, of course, I did.

I can see the gears shifting behind her eyes. She’s wondering why I’m here. Why I always seem to show up at my student’s house.

And the obvious conclusion she’s going to come to is exactly what happened.

“We’re…um…having coffee.” Tabitha gestures to the two paper cups on the coffee table. “I only brought two, but I’m sure Angie can make a pot.”

“No, that’s not necessary. I just came over to…” I search for the words in my mind.

None come.

“To say hello,” I finally finish, aware of how hollow the words sound.

Angie, bless her, doesn’t question my intrusion and instead offers a gentle smile.

“Hello then, Jason,” she says, her voice soft.

My heart lurches at the sound of my name on her lips.

Tabitha looks between us, the curiosity in her eyes magnifying. I ignore the look and focus on Angie.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment we get lost in each other’s gaze. I find myself drowning in the depth, and it’s both terrifying and comforting.

Angie breaks the silence first. “You are welcome to have coffee with us if you’d like, Jason.”

It’s a simple statement, but it holds so much more under its surface. It’s an act of reaching out in friendship, the same as she’s doing with Tabitha.

At least that’s what I tell myself.

“Sure,” I hear myself saying before I can stop myself.

Coffee with two students is fine.

It’s Saturday, and Angie is my neighbor.

Tabitha looks at me, her head cocked, but Angie shoots her a reassuring smile and walks to her kitchen.

I stay standing, saying nothing, until Tabitha excuses herself and goes into the kitchen with Angie. A few minutes later, the smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the townhome. I inhale the warm and comforting aroma. It takes me back to those mornings with Lindsay when we used to sit on our small balcony with two mugs of coffee and watch the world wake up while Julia was still asleep in her crib.

“Jason, do you take cream and sugar?” Angie calls from the kitchen.

“No,” I reply, shaking myself out of my thoughts. “Just black.”

A moment later she and Tabitha emerge. Angie hands me a steaming mug and gestures toward the living area. I take a seat on a recliner, while Angie and Tabitha sit across from me on the leather couch.

Tabitha’s expression is curious. I’m sure she’s wondering what I’m doing here. Why would I come over on a Saturday morning just to say hi to one of my students?