Huck & Rachel

 Huck didn't want to think they suffered through Thanksgiving. After all, he was practically on call at the hotel, and he needed the vehicle. His job was farther away. Still, he was a little stressed. He knew Rachel was waiting for the worst. It was either about her placement at the school or her mother.

Luckily, her mother got a call the day after Thanksgiving. Maybe, the true meaning of a deal on Black Friday. She was gone in a matter of minutes. Yes, her new husband and Carol made up and she went back to the houseboat on the Mississippi. Of course, she didn't even say goodbye. Not even to Noah.

But come December, Rachel had her job down at the elementary and she looked adorable dressed for her duty as a teacher's aide. Thankfully, she'd taken a lot of classes at the Metro in that field. If she could endure it, it might be her way into teaching in the district. 

From his understanding with Gretta, "They like to pick them young and put them in the classroom." She said it was a good guide for everyone. Huck just never thought of it as a teacher BootCamp. He'd just imagined the aides he knew back in school. Many were middle-aged and just made copies and worked on all the art a teacher might need to display.

"We should celebrate!" He said after her first day. Rachel was mellow and he suspected her feet hurt. 

He didn't care how angry those eyes of hers could get. Huck whisked her away and they went out for steak. Of course, there was the feel of Christmas in the air at every turn. Twinkling lights waiting for a little snow to happen. Yes, it was a cold one. Huck could barely get used to it.

Still, she was practically mute, despite a Christmas mint mojito and an appetizer of fried mushrooms.

"Is it about your mother?" Huck questioned, but he didn't know if that was too touchy of a subject.

"No." She swelled a small frown as if she might not go back to that school.

"Then? Then what is it?" He couldn't imagine third graders being monsters. After all, she'd sounded thrilled to work with third graders.

"I don't know if..if I should bring it up," Rachel looked a bit sad. She slid her fingers down the cold residue of the drink as they waited for the main meal of steak and potatoes. Just then the salad arrived as well as the sizzling mushrooms.

"You should. I need to know," Huck nodded even if he wanted to stab a crusty mushroom and dip it in ranch dressing, and push it right into her mouth, but he ate it on second thought and almost burned the roof of his mouth.

"My ex is the janitor there." Rachel sighed.

"You have an ex?" Huck looked at her blankly. They weren't talking about a hard Algebra problem.