“Do you want to go pull some ducks out of the water, Jonathan? I think you get a prize if you get the right duck.”
He turned to see his teacher, Miss Sue, waving to him. Would he go over by himself or would he need her to go also? Which would she prefer? She wanted her baby to always need her but it would also be nice to have a few minutes to herself every now and then. Plus she needed to finish setting up the snack table.
The child shuffled his feet and looked from her to his teacher. Then Madison, one of the girls in his class, skipped to their teacher so he nodded vigorously and toddled her way. A bittersweet sigh slipped from her mouth as her little boy joined his classmate.
She watched for a minute, loving how Jonathan proudly showed off the hat, chaps, vest and bandanna of his cowboy outfit. Madison reciprocated showing off her wings and fairy wand. Callie set out a few more snacks then glanced at her own costume. Jonathan had insisted and she’d been told all the parents typically dressed up.
Her saloon girl dress was conservative compared to some Heather wanted her to wear. The cap sleeves did slip off her shoulders occasionally and the bustier part pushed her minimal chest into showing a bit more cleavage, but the skirt twirled all the way to her knees. High, lace up boots covered the rest of her legs. These were borrowed from Heather’s younger sister, Charlotte, and she laughed that the girl actually wore them out in public. The heels were at least three inches.
Having finished the snack table, she wandered around making sure the children were having a good time and keeping a constant eye on her son. He barely acknowledged her. Galloping on his stick horse from game to game, he enjoyed every minute with the other children.
What would it be like if Jonathan had other children at home to play with? This thought entered her mind far too often. She was only twenty-six, plenty of time to have other children, but would it ever happen? Would her circumstances ever allow her that kind of relationship with another man?
And could she ever love someone the way she loved Jack?Loved. In the past tense? He was still in their life, yet he wasn’t.So close and yet so far. The familiar words haunted her at times, especially when she saw other parents interacting with their children and showing such love and affection for each other. She wanted that. But she wanted it with Jack.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.Get yourself out of the doldrums and concentrate on making sure the children are having a good time.Looking around, she could tell they were. And so were most of the parents, though the occasional dad seemed uncomfortable in his costume, probably one his wife made him wear.
Scanning the variety of costumes, she spotted another cowboy, this one much bigger than her son. He was tall and lean, the long duster unable to hide the firm chest and trim hips. His cowboy hat tipped low over his forehead and his bandanna covered the lower half of his face. Obviously, a vigilante who’d just robbed a train or a bank.
His appearance stirred something inside her, making her uncertain though not necessarily in a bad way. Who was he? She knew most of the dads from the preschool. Not that you could tell with half his face hidden. No wife seemed to linger anywhere nearby to keep the single moms away.
She kept her eye on him as he strolled along the outskirts of the room, his gaze focused on the children. Who was he looking for? Or looking at? As her eyes followed the direction he faced, she saw Jonathan attempting to throw a bean bag into a witch’s cauldron. The man was looking at her son.
Her protective instincts kicking up, she bustled across the room. Maybe his gaze was innocent but she needed to know who he was and why he was checking out her son. She moved up behind him, attempting to see under the brim of the hat.
His body tensed and he turned. Lifting his chin, the bandanna slipped lower. Familiar steel-gray eyes bore into hers.
“Happy Halloween, Calico.”
