"Two weeks. Less than two weeks," Alma kept reminding herself. She even had the date marked down on the calendar so she could count down the days until she would be free to teach again.
She couldn't stop thinking about it and caught herself daydreaming about those few years she had spent as an elementary school teacher.
The first time she started teaching had been by necessity, not by choice. After their father died, when Amanda was just a baby, their mother had been left to support the family on her own. Growing up, Alma and Amanda were both taught the importance of getting a good education, working hard, and contributing to the household.
To help the family, Alma took up teaching after she finished school. At first it had just seemed a sensible career choice, but it quickly turned into the love of her life. She loved standing in front of a classroom, having students listen to her, and actually seeing them learn from what she taught them.
She was most surprised to discover that she enjoyed being around children. Her students were so energetic and full of curiosity and life. She found herself fascinated with how everyday there was something new and interesting to discover when you looked at life through a child's eyes.
She would still be doing what she loved, if Momma hadn't gotten sick. Both she and Amanda were working then, but one of them had to stay home and take care of Mother. Mrs. May was the decision maker in the family and she was always practical about her choices. When it was time to decide who would quit work, she looked at her daughter's paychecks, found Alma's smaller, and decided she would be the one to stay home.
"But not anymore," Alma smiled to herself.
"ALMA!" Mrs. May called out, breaking Alma out of her daydream. "What do I have to do to get a little help around here?"
"I'm coming, Mother," Alma grumbled as she stood from her seat at the desk.
Her mother was carrying on with her usual complaints, but Alma blocked out her out. Pretty soon, this would all be Amanda's problem, and she would have the chance to actually do things, and not just daydream about them.
Alma hurried towards the door as soon as she heard Amanda and Andrew come home from work.
"Have you found someone to take over your job yet?"
"Yes, Alma," Amanda replied in a tired tone. "We just decided today."
"Good. It's about time. I wanted to make sure you weren't going to take longer than you said you would."
"No, everything's on schedule," Amanda said in a patronizing tone that only infuriated Alma.
"I don't want you to change your mind and think you're going to get out of taking care of Mother all day," she snapped.
"I wouldn't do that!" Amanda objected, taking offense. She was tempted to say more, but decided it was pointless. "Look, I'm tired. I just got home. I'm going upstairs to change."
Amanda slammed the dresser drawers open and shut as she searched for something to wear.
"Honey, relax," Andrew said, touching her on the arm. "Don't let her get to you."
"I know I shouldn't," she replied as she turned to face him "But I can't help it. She's my sister and she just . . .Oh, it's just always like this."
"It won't always be this way. Someday, soon I hope, it will just be you and me in a house of our own."
Amanda smiled slightly. "That does sound nice," she admitted. "But I don't see how that can happen as long as Momma's still around and I hope she will be for a long time."
Blaine was working at his second job, helping students at the university's new computer lab, when he sensed someone standing behind him. He looked up from the computer screen and saw a familiar woman standing behind him."Reese! Hi," he greeted her with surprise.
"Hello, Blaine," she replied. "I thought that was you."
"Yeah. I'm surprised to see you here."
"I just dropped in to look up some information."
"Well, do you need any help with anything? I'll be off the clock in a few minutes, so now would be the time to ask."
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm already finished."
"Doesn't your law firm have their own computers?"
"Yes, but this isn't for work. I was looking up some personal information and I didn't want to use the company's resources."
"I see."
"I come here all the time. I can't believe I didn't know that you worked here."
"I'm not here very often. It fills the extra time I have between classes and my work for Stuart-Townsend."
"Your extra time sounds about like mine."
Blaine shrugged. "It keeps the tuition bills paid." When Reese nodded, Blaine asked, "I suppose you're busy now?"
"Actually, I'm not."
"I was going to head over to the coffee shop to grab a bite to eat. Do you want to come along?"
Reese hesitated a moment and then agreed.
When they ordered something to eat at the counter, Blaine paid for both of them.
"You really didn't need to do that," Reese objected.
"It's no big deal," Blaine replied and then added confidentially, "I get a student discount anyway."
They sat down at one of the tables to eat. As they talked they discovered that they had a lot of things in common. Their interest in computers and technology being just one of them.
Before long they had both lost all track of time. When Reese finally looked at her watch, she jumped out of her chair. "It can't be that late. I've really got to go."
"Wait, before you go, I want to ask you something," Blaine started.
When he didn't continue, Reese said, "Ok. What is it?"
"I hope I'm not being too personal, if I am just say so, but I think we get along well and have a lot in common. I don't want to be a pest, but I'm just wondering. Why did you say you wouldn't go out with me the other day? Do you have a boyfriend or something?"
"No, it's nothing like that," Reese said, lifting her gaze from the floor in front of her. "I think you're a nice guy, but I have a policy. I don't get involved with guys that I work with."
Blaine nodded and tried to play it cool and hide his disappointment, "Ok. I understand. Do you think maybe we could be friends?"
Reese shrugged, "Sure. I don't see why not."
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