BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: Shadows Of A Perfect Life

e's

tice that. And just because someone isn't wearing a w

"Not that you want to get involved with a man who has a child. Th

h of course she had a point. If she had never gotten involved with Bill,

aid. "It's just that I can't help but worry about you alone up here. I mean, y

, too, Mom, and I somehow managed just fine." It was when I was living w

than work?" my mother asked. "Not t

my job, and I'll probably do a little exploring. I need to set up some appointmen

good teeth.

es

ortant than brus

t

get older. Just ask your dent

n appointment for

our health. When was the last time you had an annual? That

aid. "They both see

lly active..." My mother let the sentence die off,

l don't feel like having this

mom had been pestering me about the fact that I still had not had sex. At first, it had been something like a jok

old, aren't you, Allie? There aren't many 24-

ys, it had been burning when I peed. Dr. Google was telling me that it was probably a urinary t

your neighbor over there, I wouldn't say you're

director, and then I'd driven up for two days to meet with the Kris, the lead teacher, and Amy, the other teacher, a short girl with thick brown hair and pretty blue eyes. They

ered with student artwork. That was one of my favorite parts o

th Kris, but he looked right at me and gave a little nod. I looked back down at the book without acknowledging him, tho

of assistant and observed the routines, tried to learn all the kids' names, helped with setting up activities, and then clea

all the kids had been picked up. We were going around the classroom, makin

thly," I said. "Ever

g here. Don't get me wrong-I think the world of Becca and Kris-

m 2

ou didn't grow up aroun

rew up i

ould just tell that you weren't from one of these s

mirking as if she had been t

because I really needed to get away from the c

nning. "I heard you live near one of our students. Declan told me the other day. He's very ch

I met him the other day. H

n." I could tell by the sparkle in those bl

id. "He seem

cked unprofessional, but I think Cole is just gorgeous. And if you think it'

someone's hot," I said. "I'm certai

ighbor? Is he, like, out there mow

t one time, actually," I sai

tunities to talk to him! I've bumped

irlfriend or anyth

ver asked him about it, obviously. That would be so weird, like, Hi, you're here to pick up Declan, but before I

ngs you heard?" I asked,

finally ran off with this guy, another doctor, but older. I've heard different variations of that one from a couple of people. I also heard that h

s terrible. And h

s like such a soap opera or something! But it is a

. "It's not that weird. The singl

hat good-looking, you'd t

ied look on her face. "I'm not saying that he's an asshole," I added quickly. "From what I know, he seems pretty

unny look like she thought maybe I didn't