Page 95 of Above All Else
What is his deal?
We all took our seats around the table, the clinking of flatware against plates the only sound filling the warm area.
June’s concern rolled off her in waves, the way her hand trembled as she lifted her fork to her mouth.
Dipping my steady hand beneath the table, I placed it on her thigh—her quivering reverberated through my arm.
She can withstand a night of torture, death, and horrors, but this brought her to her knees?
Make that make sense.
“This is delicious, Carter. You really know how to pick a place.” Susan beamed in stark contrast to her husband.
Dad nodded, his fork spearing a piece of chicken. “Absolutely.It’s been a long time since I’ve had good Indian food.”
“So, June.” My mother put her fork down and picked up her glass.
Uh, oh.
“Are you planning on getting a job?”
I grumbled under my breath, my jaw tensing. “Mom.”
“What?” She shrugged. “She had a job in Avon. I was just curious.”
“Actually, Mrs. Morgan. There’s a first-grade position that came available in the city.”
Mom gave her a pinched smile. “That’s great.”
Stiff tension filled the room. Every clink of flatware against plates and every crunch of food between teeth amplified in my ears like a megaphone stuck on max.
“Junie loved her students, and they loved her. She’s just made for it.” Susan swallowed a bit of wine and reached for a torn piece of naan. “For being around kids, you know?”
Mom lifted her head in acknowledgment.
June twiddled with the edge of her napkin folded by her plate. “I’ve been teaching for about four years now.”
Mom resumed her tight, cordial smile, her eyes flashing with something that made my stomach twist. “And what made you decide to go into teaching? It’s a…challenging profession, isn’t it? Especially these days.”
June snapped her gaze at me. “I’ve always loved children. And I wanted to make a difference in their lives-to help shape their futures.”
Like beat their fathers with a baseball bat...
We shared a smirk across the table.
“Hmm.” Mom mirrored Susan, grabbing a piece of naan in the center of the table. “That’s very noble. But I imagine it’s not without its difficulties. Long hours, low pay…It must be hard to make ends meet.”
There it is, the not-so-subtle jab.
My fingers dipped under the edges of her dress, causing her cheeks to flush, her hand holding her fork as though it were a lifeline. “It has its challenges, but it’s worth it.” Her lips parted as she let out the softest exhale, then rolled her lips closed. “The rewards far outweigh the difficulties.”
“Junie’s always been passionate about helping others. She’s got a big heart, just like her father.”
James grunted his agreement, though his expression remained as stony as ever.
My mother’s eyes flipped to June’s parents, her grin still in place, but her gaze pointed. “I’m sure she does. But tell me, June, how do you find time for your personal life with such a demanding job?”
June’s hands stilled on her napkin, and I skimmed my fingers higher, her core warm beneath my touch. “It’s a balance, like anything else.” Crimson colored her cheeks. “But I make time for the things that matter.”