Page 47 of July (New Orleans #7)

“S o, you’re Juni’s teacher and dating Jill?”

“I am, yeah,” she said. “It just kind of happened.” Willa smiled over at Jill. “I couldn’t resist her.”

Jill smiled back at her before taking a drink of her iced water, and when she set the glass down, she said, “I’m irresistible, apparently.”

Willa just laughed a little at her.

“What does that mean?” Juni asked.

“Chew with your mouth closed,” Jill and Jill’s mother said at the same time.

“Sorry,” Juni replied before closing her mouth to finish chewing her meatball.

“Juni said you’re her favorite teacher so far,” Jill’s mom noted.

“She’s my favorite student.” Willa smiled over at Juni. “She reminds me of someone else I know.”

Willa looked over at Jill.

“They do look a lot alike, don’t they?” Jill’s mom said.

“Yes, they do. Both beautiful,” Willa replied.

“Don’t make me blush at the dinner table,” Jill said.

“Too late. Your cheeks are already bright pink, babe.” Willa pointed at her.

Jill chuckled and pushed her plate away.

“You hardly touched your food,” Jill’s mom noted.

“I’m not very hungry,” Jill replied. “Mel got us all lunch today to celebrate my promotion, and I ate way too much.”

Willa checked Jill’s expression to see if she was telling the truth or if she wasn’t feeling much like eating right now but was actually starving.

“You finally got it? It’s official?” Jill’s mom asked.

“Yeah, officially official. The next pay period, I will be paid as a manager and not as a guide.”

“That’s great, honey. You’ll still make good money?”

“Well, good enough. I told Mel that I still wanted to do a couple tours a week, and I’d fill in if someone called in sick or something.

We have things to figure out, but this gives Mel the chance to focus on the other office she wants.

Enid will probably run it when she’s done with school.

I don’t know if she’ll do it forever, but she seems really interested. ”

“Who is Enid?” Jill’s mom asked.

“Oh, a new friend,” Jill replied. “She works at NOLA Guides, too, now.”

Willa noticed that Jill didn’t say that Enid was kind of more than a new friend. They’d dated, however briefly, but they had dated.

“She’s getting her MBA,” Jill added. “So, she’ll probably have all sorts of ideas to expand the company further.”

“What about you?” Jill’s mom asked. “You have ideas.”

“Some, yeah, but not all that many,” Jill replied.

“You have that marketing degree.”

“I do, yes. And I hate marketing.”

“But I’m sure you have ideas to make the place better. You’re not just a tour guide.”

Willa saw Jill’s face fall at that remark, and she wanted to step in and tell this poor excuse of a mother to go to hell.

When she’d first arrived, Juni had opened the door, and the girl had been so excited at Willa being there that she’d pulled her straight to the table, leaving Willa and Jill no time to talk alone before dinner.

“No, I’m not,” Jill said. “But there’s nothing wrong with being just a tour guide, Mom.

I love my job. It’s the reason I still do it.

I could’ve found something else after a while when I wasn’t a huge fan of it, but now, I get to work with my friends every day.

I get to show people around a city I love, meet new people all the time, eat great food pretty much for free, and I make decent tips on top of it.

I don’t have to go and sit in a cubicle, staring at a computer screen all day, which isn’t what I want, and I have just enough responsibility without it being boring or too much to worry about.

Mel is a great boss, and I love going to work most days.

I know I’m not some CEO or anything, but I don’t want that for myself, either. I like where I am now.”

Willa smiled widely over at her girlfriend, whom she was so proud of. She loved watching Jill stand up for herself but also reveal part of herself to her mother, who clearly had no idea who Jill really was.

“I guess so,” the woman replied, and Willa wasn’t sure what that meant.

“Mom, can Steven come over tomorrow? Freddy said I can take him for two whole nights.”

“I don’t know, honey. How do you take care of a lizard?”

“Salamander,” Jill clarified. “And I looked it up. I’ll send you the article I found.”

Jill’s mother nodded at her.

“So, can I?” Juni asked.

“I guess so.”

“Can I go call Freddy to tell him?”

“I’m sure he’s eating dinner with his family. You can tell him at school tomorrow.”

“But he has to bring Steven with him for me to take him here.”

“Oh, go ahead,” Jill’s mother relented.

Excitedly, Juni ran off, leaving her half-finished plate on the table.

“She’ll be back in a few minutes,” Jill’s mother added. “So, tell me more about you, Willa.”

“Not much to tell. I have an older brother and sister. I–”

“She just got a kick-ass job at some private school in Metairie,” Jill interrupted.

“You did?” Jill’s mother asked.

“I just accepted it officially today, actually. I start in a couple of weeks. Luckily for me, I can finish the summer session before that, and they’re pretty flexible.”

“That’s great. Congratulations. I’m sure Juni is going to miss you. She told me you were going to be her fifth-grade teacher.”

“Actually, Mom, can we talk to you about that?” Jill said.

Willa turned her head toward her, surprised to see that Jill was going there at all, especially right now.

“About what?”

“Willa thinks she might be able to get Juni into the new school,” Jill said.

“It’s a private school.”

“Yes, but there are scholarships.” Jill leaned forward, pushing her plate away. “And Willa might be able to get her one for this year.”

“It’s a brand-new school. They’ve opened up twenty-five scholarships to deserving students.

I think Juni could be one of them. I could put her application together and submit it by the end of the week, if you want.

That way, if she gets it, she has time to get ready for her new school, and if she doesn’t, you’d know she’s staying where she is and can make plans. ”

“Girls, this is a lot to take in… I don’t know about her changing schools right before the year starts.”

“Mom, this is a good opportunity for her. It’s a better school, and Willa would be there.”

“I already have a hard time working, dropping her off, and picking her up with my schedule now that her dad isn’t here to help. I can’t make the trip that way and then get to work on time.”

“We’ll help,” Jill said.

“You say that now, but you were upset that you had to take care of her when I–”

“I know you know those are two different things,” Jill interjected. “Willa has offered to pick her up on the way to the school herself some days. She’s going there anyway, and I can help with pickups sometimes.”

“Willa is your girlfriend, Jill. No offense, but this is still a new relationship for you both, so I don’t think we should count on this working out. And I don’t say that to discourage your relationship. I just mean it in this context.”

“I get it,” Jill replied. “I thought the same thing initially. But, Mom, it might be new, but it’s real.”

Willa smiled over at her.

“It’s very real,” Jill added, smiling back at her.

“I don’t see Willa going away anytime soon.

And I want a bigger role in Juni’s life now.

She’s a great kid, and I want to watch her grow up.

I can help. I’ll make things work with my schedule.

We can figure it out if she gets in. And if something happens between Willa and me, I won’t be going anywhere, okay? ”

Jill’s mom turned to Willa then and asked, “You think she can get in?”

“I do. I don’t want to guarantee anything, but I think I can get her in this year through the scholarship program.”

“What happens if they take that money away?”

“Well, Jill’s planning on marrying me within the next two years, so Juni would be a relative, and I could get her in at a discount.”

“Willa!” Jill laughed.

“What? It’s what you said,” she teased.

“Marriage?” Jill’s mom asked.

“Not tomorrow,” Jill said. “We were just talking about the stuff one needs to discuss when the relationship is getting serious: where we’d want to live, jobs, marriage, kids; that kind of thing. No actual plans were made.”

“She’s freaking out,” Willa teased. “I’m not asking for her hand or anything, though.”

“I am not freaking out.” Jill laughed.

Willa winked at her and said, “Good. We’re on a two-year deadline.”

Jill rolled her eyes at her and said, “Can I go check on my sister before we go and trust you two to behave?”

“I’ll behave,” Willa replied.

Jill stood up and asked, “Mom?”

“I’m only going to ask about grandchildren.”

“Mom!” Jill laughed.

Then, she leaned down and kissed Willa quickly before she left for Juni’s room. Willa turned to look at Jill’s mom, waiting for her to say something.

“You’ll take care of my daughter?” she asked.

“She’ll love the school. It’s got brand-new everything, and–”

“I wasn’t referring to Juni,” Jill’s mother interrupted, pushing her plate toward the middle of the table. “I meant my other daughter.”

Willa nodded and replied, “I’m in love with her.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Jill doesn’t know that yet, so I’d appreciate you letting me be the one to tell her when we get to that point.”

“You’re not already there?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never had anything happen so quickly before where I just felt like…

I’ve found her.” She sighed. “And she found me. The timing wasn’t exactly the best, with her being here and everything, but I love how she stepped up for Juni and put her first. I don’t say that to– I mean, no offense. ”

“Not taken. Jill and I have some more talking to do, I think, but she told me how she felt when she first got here, and, well, I know I’ve messed up. I’m going to work on it.”

“And you’re not going anywhere again?” Willa checked. “You hurt her , too, you know? Not just your younger kid.”

“I know. She told me. And I should’ve thought about that, but I didn’t.

” Jill’s mom took a deep breath. “I was only thinking about myself. My own mother showed up in Arkansas and slapped me in the face.” She chuckled.

“She’s never hit me in my life, but the anger and disappointment I saw in her face after told me that I’d been an idiot.

We talked, and it took me some time to admit it, but I… Well, I fucked up.”

“Yes, you did,” Willa said. “So, I think I need to ask you the same question. Will you take care of my girlfriend? Will you be her mother? She still needs you, even though she’s an adult.

She needs you to take care of yourself, too.

And Juni. You can’t skip town again and leave her with everything you don’t want to take care of. It’s not fair to her or Juni.”

“I know,” Jill’s mother replied. “I don’t plan on leaving again. I’m going to see if I can get some help.”

“That’s good,” Willa said.

“I hope so.”

“I said goodbye,” Jill spoke when she walked back into the room. “Did you two already decide how many kids we’re having and our wedding date, or do I get to be involved in that conversation one day?”

Willa chuckled a little and said, “I’ll consider letting you be involved.”

“Oh, that’s so nice of you,” Jill joked. “Juni said Steven will be here tomorrow night, and Freddy is giving her some food.”

“What am I getting myself into?” Jill’s mom asked.

“Nothing. It has a cage thing. I checked. Just don’t let her let it out, or you’ll never find it.”

“If she kills or loses the thing, how much do salamanders cost so I can buy a replacement without Freddy noticing?”

Jill laughed and said to Willa, “Are you ready?”

“Shouldn’t we help clean up?” Willa asked.

“I’ve got it,” Jill’s mother replied, waving her off. “You two get out of here. Jill, will you come for dinner another time this week?”

Jill nodded.

“And, Willa, I’d like to know more about the scholarship thing. Would you mind sending me any information you have?”

“I’ll do it when we get home,” she replied and stood up.

“You’re living together already?” Jill’s mother teased.

“We’re going to spend the night at Willa’s place,” Jill replied. “She hasn’t really been home in a few days.”

“No, I like your place better than mine. And I packed a bag,” Willa said, taking Jill’s hand.

“You’re sure?” Jill asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay. Well, my place it is.”

“I’ll send you the information packet for the scholarship in an hour or so. I can fill it out for you, if you want. You’d just have to fill in a few sections. I have Juni’s school records already, so I can add that tomorrow.”

“That would be very helpful. Thank you.”

“No problem,” Willa replied and turned to Jill. “Can I say bye to Juni real quick, too?”

“Go for it,” Jill said.

“Be right back.”

Willa walked toward Juni’s room and found her sitting on her bed with her math workbook in her lap.

“Hey. I just wanted to let you know that your sister and I are leaving. I’ll see you at school tomorrow?”

“You’re leaving?” Juni looked up. “I thought you were staying after dinner.”

“Not tonight. But maybe another time,” Willa replied, walking into the room. “Your mom wants to spend time with you, and Jill and I have some things to do tonight.”

“But… I liked it when you were here. You and Jill.”

“We liked it, too,” she replied as she ran a hand through Juni’s blonde hair that so resembled Jill’s.

“Now that Mom’s back, I won’t see Jill much, will I?”

“Of course, you will,” Jill said, walking into the room, too, now. She sat down next to Willa on the bed and added, “I just won’t stay here all the time now that Mom’s home, but I’ll see you later this week. I’ll come for dinner.”

“Will you bring Willa?” Juni asked.

“Do you want me to bring Willa?” Jill asked back.

“Yes,” Juni replied.

“Do you really just want Willa here, and you’re asking me to come so that I bring her with me?” Jill teased.

“No, I want you both here,” Juni replied.

“Then, we’ll be here,” Willa said and rubbed Jill’s back over her uniform shirt.