Shaking my head, I look back at Ms. Aberdeen. “I had an idea for story time.” Nerves flare in my stomach at the thought, but I can’t take it back now, even if she tells me no.
“What a great idea. What day?” Her eyes twinkle, and a part of me wonders if she set all of this up.
After giving her the details, I walk through the brisk cold and throw my body into the truck just as Lark was mid sentence.
With a full body shiver, I slam the door shut and give her my complete attention. “So?”
“So what?”
“Don’t play coy with me. How was the first day?” I direct all the heating vents directly at me, but it’s no use. The temperature dropped hard and fast, and I can smell snow in the air again.
“We were just talking about school.” Arlo pulls away from the curb, glancing down at Lark, whose smile has yet to waver.
“Ms. Larson is amazing. She’s better than all the teachers I had in Atlanta. She made everything easy and simple, and it was incredible. I got to read whatever book I wanted, and she evensaid when you finish with the library, we will have library days!” she gushes, coming up for air before continuing. “Ms. Larson is the smartest teacher I’ve ever had. She taught algebra. Algebra, Mom! And she was amazing at it. I didn’t even have to struggle. I got it on the first try. Now some kids struggled a bit, but she teaches so well that they got it on the second try. Mom, that is unheard of!” she hisses on an inhale.
“Breathe, human, breathe.” Her excitement spreads, filling the truck with a sense of happiness at something new.
“Mom, it was incredible.” My little goblin turns to face me, the strap of the seat belt cutting across her neck. “I’ve never had a teacher like Seraphina.”
“She is great at teaching,” Arlo muses, but the pride on his face for his sister is breathtaking.
The truck rumbles into the drive as Lark bounces in her seat. She’s excited to get out and do homework, so when I climb out, I’m not at all surprised when she launches herself toward the house, almost tripping over her own feet on her way to the door.
“She really likes school, huh?” Arlo asks as we walk around to the back to grab my pile of laundry.
“I blame my gram.” I smile with all the love I feel for that woman on my face. Leaning against the truck with a bundle of pillows and bean bag coverings, I give him a small piece of myself that has haunted me all day. “My gram used to read to Robin and me every night. Not simple children’s books, but chapter books. Fantasy, paranormal, even simple mystery. We kept up the tradition when Lark was born.” Now, though, my little bookworm reads to herself in the evenings.
Dessert, tea, and a good book. It’s become our routine, and one I wouldn’t want to give up for the world. Except tonight I’m going to break it.
My thoughts must spill out onto my face, because Arlo says, “So what you are telling me is that tonight around…”
“Seven.” Is that my heart pounding?
“Seven. I should make us some tea and pick a book.” His brow rises in question.
There it is.
That flicker of excitement that flares in the pit of my belly.
A pulse of adrenaline.
My heart sputters out an extra beat, and my body floods with sweet, sweet epinephrine that I can taste on my tongue. Dizziness swims through my head and limbs, and if I weren’t standing next to the truck, I may very well buckle at the knees.
Not that I didn’t see Arlo. Oh, I saw my delectable medieval knight. From the dark shaggy hair on top to the trimmed, shaved sides, to his height that makes me feel safe and secure, and right down to those baby blue eyes that see so much. Even the grump I first met faded away as he realized just how I was feeling at being stuck somewhere I had no intention of being.
Yet now, Iseehim—or I’m beginning to see him.
How many guys would go out of their way and learn how to fix a stranger’s car? I’m not sure there are many, though I know he said he had already planned it. But he set that up to help me, taking classes over the internet.
He’s shown up every single time I needed him, and he doesn’t even know me. Not entirely. He knows what I look like and that I love coffee, pastries, and all sweets in general.
Now, he’s sending me off to have fun with women I’ve never even met and offering to watch a child he doesn’t even know. And to make sure I don’t think he’s some creepy small-town serial killer, he’s going to be with his mom and his sister.
My mouth opens and closes and no words come out. Up until this moment, though Lark said this place felt like home, I didn’t feel it until he spoke those words.
Words I know will forever change my life.
Seeing my struggle, he carries on, “Any recommendations?”
