Chapter Eleven

Ada

I watch intrigued. Charlie is really good with the kids. He’s patient and funny. It’s like seeing a whole different side of him. I’m really impressed with the kids too. They are all so good and they pay attention. I’ve never taught small children and I can guess from those I’ve seen in the supermarket, they’re not all this easy to teach. Charlie is doing a fantastic job. Watching him patiently walk the kids through their steps is turning me on, and I feel my cheeks heat as I watch him. I don't need to picture Charlie with kids right now because I'm still trying to look at him as a business partner and not a sexual creature. It's hard though because I am so attracted to him.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket. I ignore it. My ex-boyfriend has been ramping up the calls since he lost his job at Maxwell Industries, and I’m not in the mood to see his number flash across my screen.

I have not mentioned him to Charlie and I’m planning on pushing that conversation back as long as I can. Since he worked and stole from his father I’m expecting that talk to be awkward. The problem is he may show up anytime when he gets this way he becomes unpredictable so he could hurt me or anyone. I am not necessarily scared of him. I just don’t want to deal with it. And he’s just another complication between me and Charlie.

My father worked with Jimmy and liked him. He didn’t care that he stole from Maxwell. That is another thing I don’t want to venture into with Charlie. Why the hell do I want to get caught up in this drama? My eyes go to Charlie helping out one of the twins and my answer appears. Charlie really is a great guy and if I decide to take my singing public he is the perfect person to do it with.

If we get serious then it will have to be discussed. I’ll have to tell Charlie about dad, and dad about Charlie.

I try not to think about it and just enjoy watching Charlie show a little girl how to place her fingers on the guitar for the third time without any irritation.

She smiles up at him when she finally gets it and my heart melts a little.

My phone buzzes again and I finally look at it seeing it’s my dad.

I hold my phone up to him and walk out the door.

“Dad,” I say when I pick up, “Is something wrong?” My father never calls me. If we talk it’s because I called him. It’s also strange because I had been thinking about him.

“I need you to come over to the house on Sunday. There are some things we need to talk about. Okay, sweetheart?” There’s a tone in his voice I don’t quite recognize. The fact that there was no greeting also shows the importance of whatever he needs to say to me is.

“Okay, I’ll see you then.”

I hang up and go back in the studio to find a jam session in full force. Each student is playing their own version of whatever he told them to. Charlie is in the front playing with them and looks like he’s having the time of his life.

I put the strange phone call with my dad out of my mind. It’s possible he knows about me spending time with Charlie, but I don’t really see how he can. Like everything else I push that worry to the back of my mind and lean against the wall enjoying the show.

The enthusiasm Charlie shows for helping these kids is phenomenal. I know the big question is coming again. He really wants me to sing with him. The thing is I don’t know if I’m ready to answer him yet. I still don’t know the logistics of the whole thing. We really didn’t discuss much at dinner last night. Questions swirled in my head.

Will I have to travel if we’re successful? Do I have to sign a contract? I realize this is one of those things you kind of jump into with both feet, but I still need some time to weigh everything out.

I am in my own head when I realize the little girl has made her way over to me.

“You should sing with us,” she says and swings her little body back and forth, arms outstretched.

“Oh no, honey. I’m just here to watch.”

“Please,” she makes the word as long as possible and starts to jump up and down. Now the twins have come over to mimic what she’s doing.

“How can you say no to that?” Charlie asks with a shrug. He is loving this.

“I’ll compromise. I don’t want to sing, but I’ll dance with you.” I tell them.

The girls have fun with me as I spin them around and then all the kids take turns being picked up and spun around. After about the third one I can feel it in my back. They’re so excited so I keep going.

Before I know it, time is over. The kids are packing up their stuff to leave.

The pretty mother from earlier is the first to pick her kid up. She puts a hand on Charlie’s arm and gives me a pointed look. I smile brightly at her and wave making her scowl.

One by one the parents come in and take their kids. We are alone again. He walks over to where I’m seated and looks down at me.

“See this is why I do this. The passion, the enthusiasm, the fun.” He is getting excited as he talks about it, making big motions with his arms.

“Yes, you’re really good with them. I even understand it. I love teaching my kids. The passion is the same for me in the classroom.”

“But there is so much more. You can have even more passion singing with me. I promise you will love the exhilaration. And I’ll be there with you sharing the spotlight.”

“I almost want to say yes just because of your commitment.”

“So, do it? Be the other half of my duo?”

“I don’t know.” I stand up and he puts his arm around me walking to the door.

“What’s holding you back?”

“I need to think about it and then I need to meet with you and Thomas before I make my final decision. I have so many questions that need to be answered.”

“Okay, I can handle that. Let’s go out Friday night. We’ll go with Thomas and kill two birds with one stone.” He bends over and kisses me. It’s not as chaste as the goodnight kiss from the other night, but it has the ability to haywire my brain.

“Alright, that will be good. Friday night it is”

“I’ll pick you up from the school.” He smiles and walks back inside.

My cell phone is buzzing again and I pick it up as I walk to my car.

“Ada, it’s Madeline,” a voice I didn’t think I’d ever pick up my phone to hear croaks at me. “I need you to sub for my class. I didn’t have time to do a lesson plan so you’ll have to do it tonight. I don’t expect to be back until Monday.” She pauses to cough daintily. “You’re a lifesaver, bye.”

I can’t be sure but the last sentence didn’t sound as sick as the first. This means I’m subbing for three days. Who calls in on a Tuesday night and knows they won’t be back until after the weekend? The whole thing is suspicious to me.

I don’t know why I’m the only one they ever call to substitute. They don’t think I can handle their classes so they spend the whole next day after asking their class about what I went over and then criticizing it. I know this because some of my music students have been in the classrooms and told me.

“I should have refused,” I say out loud as I get in my car. I look back to the door of the studio to make sure Charlie didn’t hear me talking to myself.

The principal who would be told immediately if I refused, wouldn’t appreciate that. I know I’m going to go home and work on lesson plans for an English class I haven’t been in once this quarter. I drive home with a lot on my mind and try to think of a movie I can play for the students.