They spent the rest of the evening enjoying each other’s company, the deck of cards forgotten as they talked and laughed.
As the night drew to a close, Steve held Eden’s hand as they walked to her car. Rex trotted happily beside them, completely recovered from his swim in the icy cold lake.
“Thanks for coming home with Rex and me. I had a great time.”
She smiled. “It was fun. I’m glad Rex is okay and I’m even happier we’re going on another date.”
“So am I,” Steve whispered.
They shared a tender kiss under the moonlight, the promise of a new beginning lingering between them.
As Eden said goodbye, she felt a sense of hope she hadn’t dared to believe in—and excitement for a future neither of them had expected.
Chapter13
Eden walked into the local elementary school in Sapphire Bay, excited to be helping children again, but nervous about stepping into a classroom.
Her background checks had finally come through, and today was her first day volunteering with Diana’s students. As she walked down the corridor, she passed rows of backpacks hanging from metal hooks. The quiet hum of children’s chatter filled the air, reminding her of her days in Boston.
Before she could peek inside the classroom door, Diana stepped into the corridor.
“There you are,” she said with a warm smile. “Are you ready for your first day?”
Eden returned her smile, feeling a bit more at ease. “I’ve been looking forward to it. Thank you so much for having me here.”
“You’re welcome.” Diana led her into the classroom, where the students were already settled into their afternoon routine. Brightly colored posters still adorned the walls, and a cozy reading nook she hadn’t noticed before was tucked into one corner.
“Class, this is Miss Taylor. She’s helping us for a few afternoons each week,” Diana announced to the room.
The children looked up from their desks, their faces lighting up with curiosity. A few of them waved shyly, and Eden couldn’t help but smile at their innocence and eagerness.
As Diana introduced her to the various activities and responsibilities she would be handling, Eden’s gaze landed on a familiar face. Oscar, the little boy from The Welcome Center, was sitting at a round table near the front of the room. He was busy drawing a picture, his brow furrowed in concentration.
One of the first things Diana wanted her to do was help the children feel comfortable with her being in the classroom. She couldn’t think of a better way of doing that than joining Oscar and his little friends.
Eden approached him with a gentle smile. “Hi, Oscar. It’s nice to see you here.”
Oscar looked up, his eyes widening in surprise before breaking into a grin. “You’re the lady from The Welcome Center.” He looked around the classroom. “Did you bring Rex?”
“I don’t know if I’m allowed to bring a dog to school,” she said, crouching down to his level. “What are you working on?”
He held up his drawing proudly. “I’m drawing a picture of a dinosaur. Can you help me color it?”
“Of course,” Eden replied, feeling a warm sense of connection. She glanced at Diana, who nodded encouragingly.
As Eden and Oscar worked on the drawing together, the other children around the table told her about their drawings. Before too long, they were sharing stories about their families, and what they liked and didn’t like about school.
Diana moved around the room, checking on the other students. By the time Eden moved to the next table, she was feeling a sense of purpose and fulfillment that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Being back in a classroom, surrounded by the eager faces of children, was exactly what she needed.
After a while, Diana approached with a stack of papers. “Eden, would you mind helping me grade these homework assignments? The children had to draw a picture of something they love and write a few words that describe what’s in the picture. It’ll give you a good sense of where the children are at.”
“Sure,” Eden agreed, taking the papers and a pen.
As she worked through the homework, she noticed how much effort each child had made. There were pictures of all kinds of things, including moms and dads, trampolines, toys, and pet rabbits. She smiled when she saw Oscar’s homework sheet. He’d drawn a picture of Rex and, in wobbly letters, written Rex’s name under the yellow ball of fluff.
After she’d finished grading the homework assignments, Diana explained what she’d like her to do while she helped some of the students with their reading. Before long, Eden was sitting beside Alicia, a new student who was struggling to read.
With a lot of encouragement and laughter, Alicia had gone from sitting quietly beside Eden, to trying to sound out each word. It was a step in the right direction, and Eden was looking forward to helping her again.
