Work Text:
Tanner almost scored 100% and even had the sticker to prove it.
"Spelling quizzes are harder in first grade, nobody warns you about the jump in complexity, but believe me, it catches even the smartest cookies off guard." Mel reassures him one misspelled word does not define or derail his life.
Post-shift at the Langdon house is always a whirlwind of tiny coats and lunchboxes and boots, especially now with the second youngest Langdon in pre-school. Given that Abby's life is now constant pastels and warm bottles, it's hard to manage her older kids.
So, Mel offered to lend the couple an extra hand, free of charge and paid in dinners three nights a week. The work is barely work, she already spent so much time with Langdon, she's practically like a mother to his kids anyway.
So, when Tanner comes home with an almost perfect spelling score, Mel offers a round of Scrabble before dinner.
Learning can be fun, she said.
And, Langdon chimed in with, "try one round with us, buddy. There are no grades in Scrabble so u can't lose."
"well, technic– oh, uh-huh, no grades in Scrabble, Tan. This round is just fun!"
Mel offers teams as well, but Tanner immediately declines. "Oh, um, we can look over your quiz while ur dad finishes up dinner, maybe we can use it in different sentences or sound it out, would you like that?"
It takes a minute but he nods. Rifling through his backpack, Tanner pulls out the paper. Nine red check marks, one correction: sweater, written next to his scribbled sweethart.
Funny thing is, he got the hardest ones correct and each question is accompanied by a picture as a hint so this makes almost no sense... until the example next to the incorrect answer catches her eye. A simple, wooly sweater with a heart in the middle.
The chill down her back almost drowns her. It's not an exact match, but she has a similar one—bright and woolly with a small red heart stitched over her the left breast. She always finds it adorable when Langdon slips it over her torso, even tacks on a compliment plus a sweetheart as he pulls her braid out.
Fuck.
Langdon pushes his head in Mel's orbit, looking at the quiz over her shoulder and mumbles low, "fucking hell, kid knows how to spell autumnal, but sweater tripped him up?"
"Oh, but technically he spelled it sweethart, h-a-r-t, y'know he's lucky his tutors are both medical professionals." Her joke earns her an amused hum. But it's clear to her now, whatever mess she found herself in bled into his family. Suddenly, Mel finds herself at the bridge with two choices: back away complete away or continue making herself a permanent fixture in his life. "Also, Frank, if you're open to it, I really think if we incorporate reading in his daily routine, we can help expand his vocabulary!"
"Alright! I gotta take the mac and cheese out of the oven. Sweetheart, could you grab the plates for me?"
"Uh-huh, right away."