Life

Episode 12

Scarlett tried as much as possible to concentrate when Gavin sat opposite her successfully reading the bible story she had selected today for his brief lesson.

He was reading about David and Goliath and he seemed to be enjoying himself as he read and digested the whole story by himself. Two months of this extra lesson was doing him good and he was improving.

He even went as far as drawing images and showing it to her. He drew so many things and colored them. He drew images of her and everything else he could put his hand on that she wondered if the boy was going to be an artist when he grew older
She looked at his hair and noticed his tousled dark hair which made him look so adorable and knew he’d gotten it from Josh but the eyes,
that was definitely from his ex-wife or the woman whom he’d had Gavin with.

She tried not to feel jealous that He’d carried on without her and then remembering his kiss again the last time they went out brought about an odd s£nsat!on crawling up her belly to her throat and she closed her eyes to shut away the memory of his lips on hers and how she’d wished they would continue in that moment.

It was moments like that she’d dreamed about and that dream had gotten her into trouble years ago in highschool.
She wasn’t going to let it ruin her life again and she was going to pretend like nothing had happened.

If Josh proved uncooperative, she would tell him to his face.

She felt like she’d cheated on Gabe and the thought nudged at her till present. Gabe had kissed her on different occasions, but not a thousand kisses from him could awaken her like Josh’s and she felt terrible that she longed for another man’s kiss whereas her fiancé wasn’t aware of the whole drama.
Maybe she would tell him the truth. Maybe she would tell him about her past and the role Josh had played. Honesty was very vital in a relationship and this relationship was heading to a “Forever” moment between herself and Gabe. She wasn’t going to hold out on him cos he would never hold out on her.
He was a good man and He loved her and she loved him too as well.
“am I interrupting anything?’’ a sonorous voice broke into her thoughts and her heart thudded loudly in her chest. She hoped Gavin wouldn’t hear it.
She had difficulty swallowing Saliva but managed to raise her head to see the intruder which her heart was already aware of subconsciously.

“Dad.’’ The boy beamed and ran to him. it was obvious they had begun patching things up and since His father was not going to sue his teacher or harass her, they had become best buds.

“hiya cowboy.’’ Josh raised the boy to his eye level and returned his excitement by rubbing his hands through his hair.

“hey!’’ he cried and they laughed together. ‘’just because its tousled doesn’t mean you can make it worse.’’
“any chance I get big guy.’’ He looked at Scarlett then. ‘’and I see your english language is getting better by the way.’’
“yeah. Miss Ruby is just the best.’’
He dropped the boy and came towards Scarlett. ‘’hi’’
“hi’’ she tried as much as possible to avoid his gaze but this didn’t stop him from continuous scrutiny.

“I tried calling you but you wouldn’t even pick my call.’’
“I was busy.’’
He cocked an eyebrow. ‘’and I stopped by the house. Luckily for you someone else didn’t want me to see you.’’
“well, I guess that’s the way things have become Mr. Riley.’’
“okay then.’’ He shrugged with an air of confidence, hands in pocket again. ‘’I’ll go straight to the point and settle what I came here for.’’
“okay.’’
“my son won’t be having extra lessons with you anymore.’’

Her heart dropped but she knew there was still another blow she would receive and so prepared herself for his next attack.
He faced Gavin. ‘’hey kid, could you excuse us for a minute. Miss Ruby and I have something we’d like to discuss in private.’’
“k..’’ he shrugged. ‘’but you better make it quick cos I’m getting hungry.’’
Josh laughed briefly and watched his son head to the playground before facing Scarlett again
“the only thing I’ll endure is you coming to my place to take him lessons and you’ll get paid for whatever it is that you do.’’
“excuse me?’’
“that’s the only way I can get you interacting with my son Miss Ruby. If you feel this thing you have with Gavin is that interesting enough to continue indulging yourself with extra curricular activities for his sake, then the ball is in your court.’’
“oh, i see what you’re trying to do Josh and its not going to work.’’
‘oh…now its ‘Josh’….i like that better. It doesn’t make us sound like strangers.’’ He smiled when she rolled her eyes at him and continued. “I’m not pressing Charges Miss Ruby. You should be glad I didn’t.’’
She fumed “and what if I say no?’’
“there are many teachers in Chicago Miss Ruby. The moment you make your decision, that same moment I decide how to get someone else as his lesson teacher and I bet you it won’t be your religious stories she’ll be reading to him.’’

Scarlett’s face turned red but there was nothing she could do. He was setting a trap for her and he knew she would fall for it. he was a lawyer so he must have thought it through and weighed her options.

She knew she could say no and gladly break free from all form of attachments and threats and he would have no right to dictate what he wanted but she thought of Gavin, the boy who had stolen her heart in the past three months she had spent at Sunnydale. The boy whom she saw a bright future in and who was beginning to appreciate God as he read the stories she fed to him daily
And was she going to let an ex-crush take all that away from her?
She was going to prove to him that she was much stronger than he’d estimated her to be.
“okay.’’
Josh raised an eyebrow like he was surprised at her sudden response. ‘’okay you’re in or what?’’
“I’m in.’’

His smile came slowly and his gaze settled on her lips again. ‘’you start tomorrow. I’ll give you the address and when Gavin’s aunt comes over to pick him up from school tomorrow, she’ll come and check on you. I’ll explain everything to her so you’ll have fewer introductions to do.’’

The flames of hatred in her eyes were enough to consume him if they were real but he ignored it and excused himself politely when a call came through.
Scarlett began to wish she had objected.

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Rea brought home Chinese and Scarlett was glad, explaining to her that she had gotten groceries on her way to the house but was too tired to cook.
She headed towards her answering machine as usual and listened to her voice mail messages.
One was from Sue calling her to state she had a minor contraction and how she would be staying at home with Darren for the week now that she was on leave. And then she mentioned “hola Scar’’ making Scarlett smile.

The last message was from Mike and Rea thought she would freeze out of fear.
“hey Andrea, it’s Mike. Just calling to say hi and tell you how I’d like us to go out again sometime, maybe tomorrow night if you’re up to it. I had a great time last night and I hope you have a great day at work today. So, take care.’’
And he was gone.
By the time Rea came back to reality and looked up, Scar was looking at her, mouth agape.
“Don’t know what you got drunk on last night girlfriend but it got that cute guy calling you back.’’ Scar teased and they both giggled before settling into the chair.
‘’are you okay?’’ Rea asked her friend when she saw her eyes looking so far away.
“yeah, why do you ask?’’
“nothing.’’ She shrugged. ‘’it’s just that you hardly share anything with me these days except for the day you kissed Josh. It’s like you don’t trust me or something.’’
“well, I trusted people in the past and look what it got me.’’ she scoffed and stood up to head into the kitchen but Rea didn’t give up.
“but I’m your friend Scarlett, I would never do anything to hurt you.’’
‘’you can say that again.’’ She simply ignored her and opened the fridge to get two bottles of water for the both of them.

“you’re not the only one who got hurt Scarlett, I had my own share of heartbreaks and I’m moving on.’’
“oh really, I can see that.’’ Her voice dripped in sarcasm. “then why in the world will you get drunk over a guy that has moved on with his life. why in the world will you call yourself a Christian and go to a bar to have a drink with a different guy? To me, all I can see is a confused woman and I’m sorry if I sound harsh but you’re not better than I am.’’
Rea felt like she’d been hit with an arrow but she didn’t give up.
“Josh doesn’t deserve you Scarlett. When are you going to realize this and stop this stupid game you’re playing with him.’’
She turned red. ‘’I’m not playing games.’’
“you’re not the only teacher who can take that boy Scarlett. They’re dozens of other teachers he can employ and he’s just trying to set a trap for you.’’
“well, too bad I don’t have my eyes on anyone but Gabe’’
Rea felt like hitting some sense into the girl. She might feel grownup and look it, but she was so far from it. “you think josh doesn’t know you have feelings for him. he knows and he’s trying to take advantage of you once more.’’
“I told him I’m engaged.’’

“a man who is obsessed about a woman or rather a man who sets out to get a girl doesn’t see an engagement ring as an obstacle. I saw him looking at you the day he came over to the house to take you out and believe me those looks could make any girl drop dead at his feet.’’
‘’I’m strong enough.’’
Rea grabbed her by the arm. ‘’you’re not that strong Scarlett and I know what Josh does to you when he looks at you. You were my best friend in high school and I know how hard it took you to get over him.’’
Scarlett jerked free angrily. ‘’and I said I’m strong enough to handle whatever he brings my way.’’
Rea looked at her friend and shook her head trying to hold back the tears. ‘’sometimes I feel I don’t know you anymore. And I don’t want you to do what you’ll end up regretting. I hope you put that in mind. You can’t bring people to Jesus in your own way, but you can stay away and pray for them.’’

And then she headed straight to her room.

Scarlett heard the loud bang of the door and inhaled deeply telling herself she was doing the right thing.
She had to or Rea would be right afterall.

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When Scarlett arrived at Josh’s place, it was all it took for her not to gasp.
His house was awesome and huge and she wondered if Gavin didn’t feel alone when he stayed home since his mother was probably in a different state and didn’t care about his well being
Well that was what she could insinuate from the little bits Gavin had been willing to share with her.
But that was before Demi began rambling about the whole thing and she was amazed she already knew about Josh in a few hours.
He was single, he’d been in a relationship for two years which resulted in Gavin but the girl had dumped him for a richer and older man. Far much older man who basked in wealth and luxury.
She had told him she wasn’t a commitment person initially and he’d agreed to their deal, and then the baby came and she’d kept it because Josh wanted her to. But she’d agreed to go on with her life and have nothing to do with him or the baby. She had gone as far as signing a contract on their agreement and Josh being a lawyer made it easier for the both of them.
Demi still didn’t understand how Josh got involved with a girl like Ashley Brooks but all the same, it was over and she was glad.

Gavin had a family who loved and wanted him although it took him time to begin realizing this truth most especially when his father acted in a way that made him doubt that sometimes.
All Gavin wanted was a father who cared enough to take him out, play games with him and read him bedtime stories but Josh was falling short although he had been trying to improve recently and she was glad for the upcoming change.

Demi confessed that she liked Scarlett and urged her to continue with her bible lessons. Josh wasn’t home and so they had time to talk about so many things and Scar knew she’d found a new friend who shared the same faith with her.
“josh secretly listens to Gavin reading those bible stories when he’s about to sleep. One time I caught him sitting in his son’s room and glancing through his new collection of books and his drawings. Josh couldn’t help but smile when he saw a drawing of his son holding a taller man which he tagged Dad.’’
“that’s beautiful.’’
“he hasn’t done that in a while and Josh was convinced you had a part to play. Gavin has always been a distant kid who was still trying to adapt to me and this whole new environment but was having a difficult time doing so. And then you came and he smiles more often and keeps a tooth under his pillow In faith.’’

Scarlett tried not to cry and further asked. ‘’did you guys just moved back to Naperville too?’’
“yeah, about two years ago. Josh didn’t want to risk his son having to face any form of threat or challenges from his mother since she happened to be living in Boston too.’’
“ohh, I see.’’ Scarlett looked away. ‘’He must really love Gavin.’’
“and since he travelled here more often due to his career, he decided why not get a permanent resident here most especially when he was given a tempting offer that gave him a boost to his career. He had roots here from his parents and grandparents and so what other way to get a kid to bond with nephews, nieces and friends. That’s how he came up with this amazing place.’’

“its wonderful. It looks like those houses built for site-seeing.’’

Demi laughed. ‘’wait till you see his beach house in California. That’s a different world entirely hun.’’ She laughed to herself. ‘’more coffee?’’
“no…, I’ve had enough for one day.’’ Scarlett managed to respond before standing up to pick her bag. This was one of those days she finished Gavin’s lessons in time and had a chitchat with Demi who talked about everything from food to love to Josh.
And it always ended up with Josh.
She was glad he wasn’t home and this was one of those days she felt comfortable to move about the house or talk freely.
When he was home, he made her so conscious of herself and everything around her.
She had seen a beautiful piano in the living room the first day she had entered the house and wished she would play one of these days. How she longed to settle her hands on the keys and produce the music that had been dead within her for years.
Maybe one day after Gavin’s lesson, she would give in