Britt: That’s like once a week for a few hours and every other weekend, Dad! Not to mention summer is coming, and Brayden won’t get tutored at all!!
Tell me something I don’t know, kid.
Me: Well, next fall, Brayden won’t have lacrosse, so it will be twice a week and every other weekend.
Britt: Big whoop.
Me: It’s the best I can do, kiddo.
She didn’t respond.
I fired off a text to Gretchen, hoping she’d get it during her lunch hour.
Me: Hey. I hope all is well in your world.
I wrote out “I miss you,” then erased it before continuing.
Brayden is sick with a stomach bug, so we’ll have to cancel tutoringtonight.
She replied right away.
Gretchen: Yeah, that’s going around right now. I hope he’s okay!
Me: I think he will be once it runs its course.
Gretchen: Thanks for letting me know. Please tell him I hope he feels better soon. We can have extra sessions next week to help get him caught up on his missed work and prepare for finals.
Me: I can still come by tonight though and finish the kitchen.
The dots indicating she was replying started and stopped, started and stopped, and finally her message came.
Gretchen: Let’s just wait until next week.
I was afraid she’d say that.
Didn’t she knowIneeded to see her and Jake?
Me: It’s no problem for me to come. I hate the idea of your kitchen not being perfect. We guarantee perfect.
No, we didn’t. But she didn’t know that.
Me: Plus, I’d love to see you and Jake.
Again, with the dots starting and stopping.
Gretchen: I think we should wait. I don’t want to confuse Jake any more than he probably already is.
It felt like all the air left my lungs, but I managed to reply.
Me: I understand. I’ll be in touch about next week. But don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.
Gretchen: Will do.
It seemed Gretchen was already back to normal. Me, on the other hand… I was far from “normal” and wondered if I’d ever feel that way again.
****
Gretchen
