Page 101 of Troublemaker: The Big Picture Edition

“Oh.” I take a seat opposite her.

She places her hands on the table and studies me. “You’re very pretty. And clean.”

“Thank you.”

“Actually, I came to thankyou, Emilia. For finding my son the other day.”

“Oh. Well. Alex found him too.”

“Yes, but you found him first, and every minute counts.” She shakes her head, her eyes welling up with tears. “I can’t believe it happened. I can’t believe he didn’t want to see me.”

“He just needs time to get used to everything,” I offer.

She nods. “He needs a lot of things, and I’ve spent most of his life needing things from him. I can’t do that anymore. I’ll do whatever it takes to make him feel comfortable with Patrick. And the baby. I think a big part of what makes him comfortable is you. You being with Alex.”

“Oh…” I have no idea what else to say to that. I think she’s right, but it’s not the kind of thing you say to a child’s mother.

“You know,” she continues, stroking the tabletop as she looks down at her hands.

That’s when I notice the massive engagement ring—wowza.

“I asked Alex about you a couple of weeks ago. He was gloomier than usual, and I was like…what is going on with you? And he told me about you. About why he wasn’t able to see you for a while… I asked him how you met, and he told me you first met at a club and that he danced with you.” She laughs all of a sudden. “I didn’t believe him at first. Alex Vegahatesdancing. Even when we were drunk-off-our-ass newlyweds in Las Vegas, I had to drag him out onto the dance floor and move his arms and legs for him… But he danced with you.Foryou. The first time you met. It says a lot. And it says a lot that Ryder actually wanted you to be with him.”

She reaches out across the table to take my hands in hers.

“I want to be a better mother to Ryder. But you’re a big part of his life now too. Having you around with Alex, when he’s staying with Alex, will make his life easier. And I want to makeyourlife easier… Alex told me you were nervous about telling the principal that you’re dating again. And that you’re worried about what the other parents might think. I talked to Mrs. Woodard just now. I told her what’s been going on with Ryder ever since I got back. I told her how important it is for his wellbeing that you and his dad be together. And earlier today, I called every parent I know who has a kid in this class, and I told them what I told Mrs. Woodard. I told them not to judge you for it. I also stopped by Miss Farrell’s room just now, after the principal’s office.” A wicked little grin spreads across her face. “I gave her a piece of my mind.” She searches my face for a reaction, but I’m a little too stunned to have one. “I know you aren’t crazy enough to do something like that, butIam.”

I have to clear my throat. “What—what did the parents say?”

She shrugs. “Most of them said as long as you don’t show preferential treatment to Ryder and favor him over their kid, then what you do after school is your own business. People know you’re a good teacher. Your students only have good things to say about you. Mrs. Woodard knows this. She’s pretty cool.”

I try to suppress my smile. “And what did Paige say?”

“Not much. But I don’t think that pointy-faced twat will be a problem for you anymore.”

The tears in Nova’s eyes have been replaced by an impish glint.

I recognize that glint.

I thought Ryder got it from Alex, but he definitely gets it from her.

She gives my hands a squeeze before letting go of them.

“Nova, I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

She nods once, like that’s the end of the discussion. “Now. Tell me about my son.”

No longer able to suppress my smile—I do. I tell her about Ryder. And I already know that this is the second best and second most important parent-teacher meeting I’ve ever had.

ALEX VEGA INSPIRATION JOURNAL – MAY

- Current mood…so in love

- Mr. Vega, I hope you don’t mind me writing in your journal. It’s such a handsome notebook, I just had to pick it up. And I just want to say that everything you’ve written in it is beautiful.

If I wasn’t already in love with you and I found this sitting here on your coffee table, I would have fallen for you immediately. Now I just love you even more.

- Listening to the sound of my rapidly beating heart. The one that you taught how to love and trust again—for real.