She nodded. “That’s right. I’m Jessica.”
“Tyler. Nice to meet you. What are you doing here?”
She swallowed, trying to calm her nerves. “I… What are you doing here?”
He pointed down the road. “I live by the lake. I’m staying with my mom.”
Jessica frowned. “What a coincidence.” What were the chances that he’d live so close by in such a large city? It seemed impossible. Yet, here he was. She’d thought about him a few times since the mix up with their luggage, wondered what he was doing and wished she’d had a chance to interact with him. He’d made a good first impression. But now, she was on guard.
“It’s a small world.” He walked down the drive toward her. “Listen, I meant to tell you sorry yesterday. I didn’t intend to grab your bag, but mine was new, and I didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to how it looked.”
“It’s fine,” she said with a smile as she set the kitten down and stood to her feet, headed toward the front door. “It all worked out in the end.”
This couldn’t be happening. Not again. He seemed like a nice man. Maybe she was imagining things. Maybe it really was a coincidence, and he lived close by.
“Anyway, I’m sorry about that. I know how annoying it is when you go to baggage claim and your luggage is missing. I’ve had it happen before. I hope it didn’t mess up your plans too much.”
“Not at all. Thanks for letting me know.”
“What are the chances we’d live so close to each other?” He grinned, pressing his hands to his hips.
His eyes were green, and they looked almost translucent in the golden afternoon haze. The heat of the day had shifted, and there was a slight breeze to combat the cloying humidity of late August in Georgia. A woodpecker’s drilling echoed through the woods behind her house.
“Do you really live close by?”
He nodded. “Sure do. At least, for now. I’ve just returned from overseas — military.”
“Oh, right. That makes sense.” She pointed at the hat.
“Yeah, so I’m back in the old childhood home. How about you? Are you from around here? You don’t sound like a local.”
She laughed, feeling the tension ease in her shoulders. She moved toward him, still holding the kitten. “I’m not. I arrived yesterday. I got a last-minute teaching job at a local school. I was sure I’d get something in my home state, but there was some kind of mix-up with the paperwork, so here I am.”
He studied her for a moment. “Well, welcome to Georgia.”
“Thanks. It’s hot here. Does that ever improve?”
He laughed. “Yeah, we get that a lot. But it’ll be nice before you know it. Didn’t school start today?”
“It did.”
“How was it?”
She sighed and ran a hand over her hair. “I’m still standing.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“It was fine. I’m figuring things out and finding my way. The kids were… challenging.”
“I’m sure you’ll be great,” he said. “And you already have a kitten?”
“I found it in the front yard this afternoon.” She glanced around the neighbourhood, searching for evidence of other cats — perhaps a mother, or some siblings. “I’m not exactly sure what to do with it.”
“Have you given it a name?”
“I’m calling her Moon, since she’s this lovely grey colour. I’m pretty sure she’s a girl, although I haven’t had a real close look.”
He grinned. “It seems to me that Moon has found her new home. No one names a cat who’s only passing through.” He turned to leave. “Glad to meet you, neighbour. Hope you settle in okay and the kids go easier on you.”
