Archer placed the sled in the bed of the truck and then climbed in.Ten minutes later, Archer pulled the truck into one of the few remaining parking spots available at the base of Maple Mountain.Kids and their parents swarmed the sledding hill, the snow already packed down.
“They’ve been at it for a few hours already,” I stated.
“Let’s go!”Lenni yelled, yanking the door open and getting out.
I unbuckled my seat belt and turned around to reach for Mildred who met me halfway.I picked her up and placed her on my lap.
“What are we going to do with her?”Archer asked.“She’s liable to get trampled, even on leash.”
“I’ve got it.”I shot him a smile and unzipped my coat halfway.
“What are you wearing?”Archer demanded.
“My first sewing project.It’s a dog sling.”I tapped my chest.“Mildred.”
Mildred crawled into the sling and settled down.I zipped up my coat and reached for my wool hat that covered my ears and then put on a pair of mittens.
“Unbelievable,” Archer said with a grin.
“She and I are buds,” I explained with a laugh.“We’ve done this before on the subway.But I forgot the sling when I left my last gig.So, I had to make a new one.See?Told you I’d figure out the sewing machine.”
“Lenni?Do you have your gloves?”Archer asked as he pulled on a beanie.
“Yep!”She hopped from one foot to the other.“Come on!”
Archer grabbed the sled and we trekked toward the bottom of the hill.
“Hey!There’s Ms.Thomas!”Lenni yelled, waving at her teacher.
Ms.Thomas waved back.Lenni grasped her father’s hand and tugged him toward her.
The two of them left me and Mildred behind.
Archer and Ms.Thomas were in the middle of talking when Ms.Thomas began to laugh.Lenni ran up the hill, dragging the sled behind her.
I forced a smile to my face and went to join the single father and the young teacher with rosy cheeks, plump lips, and twinkling blue eyes.Even in a bulky coat and a red hat with ear flaps, she was pretty.
“Wyn, have you met Ms.Thomas?”Archer asked as I joined them.
“Call me Livy,” she said with a welcoming smile.“I was just telling Archer that I’m sorry about Lenni’s suspension.”
His name on her lips sounded far too familiar for my liking.
“I pleaded with the principal not to suspend her, but he said he couldn’t let the fighting stand,” Livy said.“He did reduce her suspension from three days to one, considering she’s a new student and being the new kid takes some adjusting.”
“Thanks for going to bat for her,” I said.
“Well, I thought with such extenuating circumstances ...”She looked at Archer.“How are things going?Is she settling into a routine?”
“I think so,” Archer said.“Wyn’s been a huge help.”
“She’s a bright kid,” Livy said with a wide smile.“Funny, too.”
“You barely know her,” I blurted out.“I mean, Lenni hasn’t even been in school a full week.How can you possibly get a read on her so fast?”
Archer looked at me, his brow furrowing.
Mildred shifted beneath my coat, and I unzipped the top of it.Her head popped out.
