Don't Promise (Don't 3)

I held a leather clutch to my stomach. Something about hiding my pregnancy in church seemed even more taboo. I took a deep breath.

“Merry Christmas, Kaitlyn. Good to see you here.” Mr. Robinson, my high school math teacher appeared from the crowd.

“Merry Christmas to you. It was a sweet show this year.”

I kept my eye on the parking lot. Mr. Robinson had been my number one crush for the four years I attended high school. Secretly, I had a feeling the reason I went into business was because of him. Who could ignore those dimples and how sexy he looked when he pulled on a pair of glasses at the overhead board?

“So I heard you moved to Texas?” He grinned.

“I did. In the fall I left for South Padre.”

“That’s pretty far south isn’t it?”

I nodded. “Almost in Mexico. It’s a small island.”

“I never heard the story. What took you there? New job?” Mr. Robinson leaned in closer and for the first time in four years he was looking at me like I wasn’t a student.

“Actually, I met someone. Or re-met them,” I fumbled with the explanation.

This was one of the oddest conversations I’d had at church. Trying to tell my one-time off-limits high school math teacher crush that I had fallen in love with someone his age and moved to another state.

“Really?” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t know.”

“What about you? How are things going at school?” My dad and Cole must be having a hard time de-icing the windshield. There was no sign of the car.

“I’ve got a few good classes, but no students like you.” He smiled lightly. “Maybe I’ll see you again before you head back to Texas.”

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Robinson.”

“It’s Paul. You can call me Paul now.” He waved as he darted out the door.

“No car yet?” My mom looped an arm through mine. Grayson had a cookie in each hand. He looked happy and covered in red and green sugar.

“No, they said they’d bring it up for us.”

“Was that Mr. Robinson you were talking to?” My mother arched one eyebrow higher than the other.

I felt my cheeks turning crimson. “Yes. He didn’t know about my move to Padre. Just filling him in.”

“Ah ha.” She smiled. “I never had teachers that good-looking in school. Can’t believe he’s still single. But he’s young, only twenty-eight. He’s got plenty of time.” Her grip tightened against my arm.

Was that a jab at my age or Cole’s? Was she trying to tell me that since I was younger than him I had time to wait and settle down? Before I could ask her what she meant, the car pulled in front of the door and Cole hopped out to hold the doors open for us.

“It’s pretty and all, but I think I’m glad we don’t have to deal with this mess in Padre.” Cole winked as he shuttled me into the car. His breath formed clouds of ice crystals, he looked like he was about to shiver out of his coat.

“All right,” my father announced. “Let’s get this sleigh back to the house for a night cap.” I rolled my eyes. There was no way the living room fern could handle another drink.

11

Kaitlyn

By the time we finally said goodnight to my parents and tucked Grayson in my old bedroom it was well after midnight. Cole locked the deadbolt on the guesthouse door. His arms wrapped around me and he kissed me on the forehead.

“You know what I want to do we haven’t done yet?” he asked.

“What’s that, cowboy?” I tipped toward him.

“We haven’t watched any Christmas movies.” His smile was wide.