Lib Novel Page 27
“Your mother is an angel,” Mr. Allen said. “And I figured Kellan would have told you all about all this.”
“My brother is very serious about patient privacy. He didn’t even tell me about the time Jon Rhinebeck knocked himself out jumping over the baby gate in the kitchen doorway while he was running for a snack during a commercial,” Jared said, his eyes dancing. “Jon had to tell me all about it himself, in front of everyone in line for sandwiches at the Co-op.”
Mr. Allen was laughing in earnest now.
“Your brother is a good man,” he said, wiping his eyes with the hand that didn’t have a cast. “And a great doctor. I’ve got to be on these sticks for another two weeks, and then he said I’ll be right as rain.”
“That’s great news,” Jared said, nodding.
“Well, sit down, sit down,” the man said, turning to Cora. “You say you’re the new schoolteacher?”
“Yes, sir, I’m Cora Davies,” she said, meeting his eyes as bravely as she knew how.
“Cora Davies?” he echoed. “Arthur’s wife?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
“I knew your husband,” he said, his eyes going serious. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Arthur was a really good guy.”
Something about the man’s last name started to click with her, but it couldn’t be…
“Wait,” she said, stunned. “You… you aren’t Tiny Allen?”
“Tiny,” Jared hooted. “I haven’t heard that nickname in years. I thought you left that one on the field.”
“That’s me,” the man said with a fond smile.
“Oh, Arthur loved telling the story about how you saved his bacon when he finally got pulled off the bench in that crazy game against Springton.”
“That sounds just like something he’d say,” Mr. Allen said, shaking his head. “When your team is down to their second-string center and he’s protecting the second-string kicker who’s subbing in because they literally ran out of quarterbacks, you know it was a wild game.”
“From what he told me, you didn’t stay a second-string center for long,” she said.
“It’s true,” he said, smiling. “Your husband made me look like a hero that day, for sure.”
“He told me he cheered you on from his spot on the bench for the rest of your high school career,” she said, smiling.
“He may not have been a star,” Mr. Allen said warmly. “But he was a true team player. I wish he could be here to share these memories with us.”
“Me too,” she told him, clearing her throat. “But I’m actually here today to talk with you about Jimmy. Your son is brilliant, Mr. Allen. I’m sure you already know that. We’ve missed him so much at school.”
She glanced over at Jimmy, but he was looking out the window.
“Now that I’m here, I can see why he’s home, he must be working the farm while you’re laid up,” she went on quickly, turning back to his father. “It’s no less than I would expect from a young man who shows such strength of character at school. But you should know that if he misses just two more days, he’s going to be held back, and?—”
“Dad didn’t finish school,” Jimmy interjected suddenly. “I may as well just work on the farm now. It’s what I’m going to do anyway. What does it matter if I go to school or I don’t?”
Cora froze, wondering what she could possibly say next that wouldn’t offend Mr. Allen, but would encourage his boy to stay in school.
“Absolutely not,” Mr. Allen said in a loud, clear voice. “You’re so much smarter than I was, Jimmy. You’re going to go to college and get your degree. Then you’ll be able to help every farmer in Tarker County. Did you know he wants to be a livestock veterinarian?”
“Jimmy, that’s wonderful,” Cora said, impressed that the bright young man had found a career path that would truly challenge him, yet allow him to stay in a field that he clearly loved.
“We’d lose the farm, Dad,” Jimmy said softly, turning from the window to face his father. “Who will take care of the cows and the equipment?”
“That’s not your concern,” his father said. “I’ll figure something out.”
But Cora could tell by the look on his face that he had already tried to figure something out and failed.