Chapter 312: First Day
*You have the advantage of already knowing some of these kids. – Mrs. Kelly*
The classroom was a combination of Rye and Mrs. Kelly. Mrs. Kelly was retiring over winter break and offered to let Rye keep whatever she wanted. Rye was thrilled to receive so many tools so early in her career.
There were a few things that she added and changed. Mrs. Kelly wasn’t sure about the music, but when the younger woman showed her the studies, she had to admit it was worth trying.
Chance had Trevor build her a laptop to fit her needs. Rye wasn’t sure if the large man built the machine or just programmed it. Either way, she was in love with the pink machine.
The library that Chance was building for Michael was growing almost daily. And with every book that he bought for the house; he bought at least one for the classroom.
Elizabeth had been one of the first kids to arrive. Rye wasn’t sure who she was more excited to see, Ms. Rye, Mr. Chance, or Michael.
Mrs. Kelso, an older woman with forty years of teaching and looking forward to retirement, had listened intently as the five-year-old explained that she broke up with Mr. Chance so he could marry Ms. Rye.
“I was going to marry Mr. Chance, but mommy said that by the time that I was thirty, Mr. Chance would be really, really old.”
“Oh.” Mrs. Kelly said as Rye hid her laugh behind her hand. “Thirty?”
“Yeah. Daddy says that I can’t date until I’m at least thirty. Not a day before.” Elizabeth quoted. “But daddy drives a truck and mommy says I might get to date when I’m twenty-nine.”
“Well, I guess since Mr. Chance will be really, really old, that’s probably a good thing that you let Miss Rye marry him.” Mrs. Kelly agreed as Rye turned away from the little girl and teacher kneeling before her on the floor.
“Yeah, and they have a little baby too.”
And then, as if on cue, Mr. Chance walked into the room carrying their baby boy. Chance handed over a gift bag to Rye and then Mrs. Kelly.
“Michael insisted that you two needed a first day present.” Chance said with a smirk. “I tried to talk him out of it. But he’s stubborn.”
Rye took Michael as he reached for her. With a kiss on the top of his head, she sat down on the floor with him for Elizabeth to see him.
Mrs. Kelly grinned as she looked inside her gift bag. There was a large bag of chocolate, her favorite soda and a spiral bound book. Pulling out the book she had to fight back tears.
The cover was custom with a picture of a generic schoolhouse. Her name and class number were at the top. The bottom had ‘Memories from 40 years of teaching (and reasons for retirement!)’
“TJ, this is really sweet.” The woman fought back tears as she hugged the gift from her former student to her chest.
“Well, I figured you could just list all the Lowery kids that you’ve had over the years as reasons to retire.” He said with a shrug.
“Most of you were good kids.” She gave him a hug. “Most. You were better if I had only one of you at a time.”
Chance could only laugh since he knew what she was referring to. Due to their proximity in age and just the way that their birthdays fell, she had Rocky, Gremlin and Dino all at one time. The three were still inseparable and usually got into some kind of trouble.
Their triplet wives were in the class one year behind them. The six of them together were a headache for their teachers from kindergarten onward. Mrs. Kelly was not the only one to cringe when the next generation Lowery children started school.
“Let me meet this little guy.” Mrs. Kelly said as Rye handed Michael over and accepted her own gift bag.
Rye received the same in her bag. Her book had the same picture, and her information was written in teal. At the bottom was ‘Shaping the Future. One little adorable shit at a time.’
“How did you get these without me knowing?” she asked of the books.
“What? You think I work all day?” He grinned at his wife as she shook her head. Giving her a chaste kiss, he gathered Michael before leaving for work. “We’ll be at home when you get there. I’m thinking homemade tacos for dinner.”
Just as he expected, she blushed. And just as he had promised, they were all at home when she arrived.
Chance was in the large kitchen cooking dinner. Geo was in the living room, shirtless, giving Michael his bottle.
She looked around her house with the custom wooden furniture and teal cushions and pink pillows. The walls were a pale teal, several shades lighter than her furniture. Not once did she ever connect her color choices with the first room that she met with Carly in. The colors comforted her, just as they had as she learned to like and then love herself.
There were pictures on the walls of their wedding and of Michael. Various pictures of their families and friends.
Her dad’s flag had a new case that also displayed his awards and rank. It sat in a place of honor on the mantle.
It had been years since any place felt like home. But this two-story yellow house did. And she was smiling when Chance looked up from the counter.
“Hey, Duchess.”
At one point, she hated that nickname. Cringed every time he said it. Now it was a gentle caress around her heart and soul.
Walking through the living room, she stopped and kissed Michael on the forehead. He grinned at her around the bottle. Geo kissed her temple and gave a light tug on her hair.
“Dad said that he’d call you tonight. See how your first day went. Oh! Mom sent you something, it’s on your desk.”
“Thanks, Geo.” She said as she straightened and walked into the kitchen.
Chance sat down the knife and wiped off his hands before hugging her. He kissed her lightly and did not object when she deepened it.
“Careful, duchess. I might burn dinner if you keep that up.” Chance warned softly as Geo turned up the news to drown them out.
Smiling Rye cupped his face with her hands. Meeting his eyes, she gave him the words that he so patiently waited for.
“I love you.”
