5432852385743

And I was pretty sure that Lila’s father was on the schoolboard, but I didn’t say so. Sadie was
glowing, and there was no need to spoil that. For all the Sanfords knew, we were sitting on the couch
with our knees together, waiting for Dennis the Menace to finish and Ed Sullivan’s rilly big shew to
come on. If my car was still in Sadie’s driveway at eleven, their perceptions might change.
She watched me dress. “What happens now, George? With us?”
“I want to be with you if you want to be with me. Is that what you want?”
She sat up, the sheet puddled around her waist, and reached for her cigarettes. “Very much. But I’m
married, and that won’t change until next summer in Reno. If I tried for an annulment, Johnny would
fight me. Hell, his parents would fight me.”
“If we’re discreet, everything will be fine. But we have to be discreet. You know that, right?”
She laughed and lit up. “Oh yes. I know that.”
“Sadie, have you had discipline problems in the library?”
“Huh? Some, sure. The usual.” She shrugged; her breasts bobbed; I wished I hadn’t dressed quite so
fast. On the other hand, who was I kidding? James Bond might’ve been up for a third go-round, but
Jake/George was tapped out. “I’m the new girl in school. They’re testing me. It’s a pain in the keister,
but nothing I didn’t expect. Why?”
“I think your problems are about to vanish. Students love it when teachers fall in love. Even the
boys. It’s like a TV show to them.”
“Will they know that we’ve . . .”
I thought about it. “Some of the girls will. The ones with experience.”
She huffed out smoke. “Great.” But she didn’t look entirely displeased.
“How about dinner out at The Saddle in Round Hill? Get people used to seeing us as a couple.”
“All right. Tomorrow?”
“No, I have something to do in Dallas tomorrow.”
“Research for your book?”
“Uh-huh.” Here we were, brand-new, and I was lying already. I didn’t like it, but saw no way
around it. As for the future . . . I refused to think about that now. I had my own glow to protect.
“Tuesday?”
“Yes. And George?”
“What?”
“We have to find a way to keep doing this.”
I smiled. “Love will find a way.”
“I think this part is more lust.”
“It’s both, maybe.”
“You’re a sweet man, George Amberson.”
Christ, even the name was a lie.
“I’ll tell you about Johnny and me. When I can. And if you want to hear.”
“I want to.” I thought I had to. If this was going to work, I had to understand. About her. About
him. About the broom. “When you’re ready.”
“As our esteemed principal likes to say, ‘Students, this will be challenging but worthwhile.’”
I laughed.
She butted out her cigarette. “One thing I wonder about. Would Miz Mimi approve of us?”
“I’m pretty sure she would.”
“I think so, too. Drive home safe, my dear. And you better take those.” She was pointing at the
paper bag from the Kileen Pharmacy. It was sitting on top of her dresser. “If I had the kind of nosy
company who checks the medicine cabinet after they tee-tee, I’d have some explaining to do.”
“Good idea.”