One More Time

Since graduating with my degree in child development, I’d been working my tail off to qualify for a loan to start the child care facility of my dreams. I grew up caring for children and loved it, but I grew tired of the mundane learning programs which hardly met the minimum requirements to keep a facility licensed, and most importantly, lacked the curriculum to keep children challenged or even engaged. While other facilities in the country were kicking ass, my town did a horrible job of encouraging centers to follow the same lead.

I persona

lly experienced a crap load of difficulty in school due to my own battle with dyslexia. It was the worst. I remember the shame I felt over the years, not to mention the huge blow to my confidence. I only learned later in life that the disorder had no connection to one’s intellect. While learning disorders are all unique, there are proven ways to help children gain the skills they need to deal with a disorder early on.

“The bank’s loan officer told me that I didn’t have any business credit, but he said that if I could get a cosigner that could work. The only problem is I have no damn clue who that could be. Besides, I’m so deep in college bills, the only thing I can really focus on is finding a stable job until I can come back up for air. Anyway, enough about my boring life, tell me more about your date from hell.”

“Well his favorite thing to talk about was his car,” Janie said, rolling her eyes. “His car, Emily. I couldn’t even pretend to be interested. After he exhausted his job, his car, his high school football record, and the fact that he won the third-grade spelling bee, he finally asked about me.”

“What did he ask?” I took a sip of my drink.

“I don’t even remember,” Janie said. “We were already pulling into my driveway by that point.”

“You’re kidding?”

“God, I wish I was.” Janie rolled her eyes again and grabbed her beer off the table. She took a long swig and then set it back down with a shake of her head. “This was the worst date ever, Em. I’m telling you. It was just awful.”

“God,” I said, sitting back and taking a sip of my drink. “Do you think all the good guys are taken?”

“It’s this damn town,” Janie said. “Everyone here has known everyone else since the womb. We can’t find any new meat, literally!”

I chuckled over her joke “I don’t think it needs to be new,” I said. “Just thoughtful. Sophisticated.”

“Do you really think we’re going to find anyone sophisticated in Telluride?” Janie asked.

“Probably not,” I admitted with a laugh. “I just wish something would change around here, you know?”

“Oh!” Janie said suddenly, her eyes alive with excitement. “That reminds me! You know Margie, right?”

“Margie Smith?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Janie nodded. “She works at the pizza place now, and she said a hot single dad came in on Thursday night.”

Janie’s eyes were wide, and she looked at me with expectation. I blinked. So far, there wasn’t anything exciting about her news, but I waited for her to continue.

“Margie asked her dad, who works for the real estate office that sold him the house, to do a little digging around,” Janie said. “Apparently, the guy’s wife died a little bit ago, and he decided to move his kids here for a fresh start. They’re young. Like seven and four or something.”

I rolled my eyes. Margie’s dad was a worse gossip than the old ladies at the beauty shop.

“He moved here for a fresh start?” I asked. “Why?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I think she said her dad found out they’re from San Diego. Maybe he just wanted to live the small-town life for a while.”

“Well,” I said. “He’s probably sophisticated.”

Janie laughed and I joined in. After a long week, it was nice to sit and talk mindlessly with my best friend. I’d known Janie since the first grade, and we’d been inseparable ever since. She was the one thing that made life in Telluride slightly exciting.

“He is really hot, though,” Janie said wistfully.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“Margie snapped a picture on her phone.” Janie shrugged.

“Seriously?” I laughed. “She needs to leave that poor man alone, especially if his wife just died.”

“He didn’t notice,” Janie said, waving her hand. “It was fine. Besides, I’m telling you, he is insanely hot.”

“I’m sure he is.” I rolled my eyes, but my interest was piqued.