“Oh, he’s super handsome, isn’t he?” Becca said softly, as if someone might overhear her and tattle to Zane.
“Yes,” Allie laughed. “I guess he is.”
“Youguess?” Becca laughed. “He’s single too, from what I hear.”
“Oh, Becca,” Allie said, shaking her head as her cheeks burned.
“What?” Becca asked. “Are you going to tell me it’s unethical to date a student’s father?”
Becca had been teaching Zane’s twin boys when they fell in love.
“Well, you datedtwostudents’ father,” Allie teased her. “So it canceled itself out.”
“Is that how that works?” Becca teased.
“I don’t have time for dating anyway,” Allie said.
“But you do like him?” Becca asked.
“I like the way he is with Maya,” Allie said, thoughtfully. “He talks to her like she’s a person, gives her credit for being able to understand hard concepts. And he cuts her slack for falling short when she’s trying her best. A lot of parents could learn from him.”
Becca nodded, and looked like she was trying to hide her smile.
“What?” Allie asked.
“He sounds like a good man,” Becca said simply, pressing cancel on the microwave and pulling out something that smelled absolutely heavenly.
“Who sounds like a good man?” Angela Perrault’s voice boomed as she entered the kitchen. “And what’s on the menu? It smells great.”
“One of Allie’s students’ fathers,” Becca replied. “And leftover eggplant parmesan, with plenty to share if you’reinterested.”
“Oh, yes,” Angela said, grabbing plates from the cupboard. “And you’re talking about the Tailor girl’s father, aren’t you? He’s a real hunk.”
Allie laughed, wondering if she was the only one who didn’t want to just gossip about how handsome Maya’s father was.
“He was at the school today,” Becca said. “And Allie had a meeting with him.”
“Was it about that little girl who cut in line in front of Timmy Lanford?” Angela asked.
Angela was the school nurse, and everyone loved her. Naturally, she knew everything that was going on.
“Sort of, yes,” Allie said. “Maya pushed Eloise when she wouldn’t give Timmy his place back.”
“On the record, that’s a shame,” Angela said. “But off the record? They should give that girl a medal. Timmy needs more friends like Maya.”
Allie smiled, glad she wasn’t the only one who felt the same.
“Next time Maya won’t push her,” Becca said. “That’s all.”
“I think she won her over,” Allie said. “They’re going to play tomorrow, and she decided she would ask Timmy to play too.”
“Wow,” Angela said. “Very nice.”
“Her dad encouraged it,” Allie said. “But she was excited about the idea. I’m really proud of her.”
“Okay, come and get it while it’s hot,” Becca said, peeling the lid off the container of eggplant parm.
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Angela said, heading over.
