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Wilda leaned against him. “What made you decide to teach kindergarten?”

“Hmm. I knew I wanted to teach at the elementary level, but I wasn’t sure what age I wanted to teach. I thought it would be junior high. But my first year out of college, I was a sub, and the kindergarten teacher got sick and needed a long-term sub to take over the class. I fell in love with the kids. They fascinated me. So smart and curious. Untainted by the world. The teacher never returned, and they offered me the class the following year.”

“It was meant to be.”

“I guess.”

“Was Rachel always your boss?”

“No. She’s only been principal for three years. She had to teach a couple of years, which she hated. But she loves the administration stuff.”

“She seems awfully young for the position.”

“She is. But small towns can’t be too particular about the small stuff. She’s qualified, and she does a great job.”

“Is it weird that I’m a little jealous of your relationship with her?”

Milo laughed. “Um…no. I can see that.”

“Have you ever considered…”

“No. Never. That ship sailed and sank to the bottom of the ocean.”

“You make me feel very comfortable, Milo. I feel like…” She looked up at him. “I feel like I’ve known you all my life.”

She laid her head back down on his shoulder, and he kissed her hair. “I meant what I said last night. Man, when you walked through the door that first day...”

“That can’t be true.”

“It is. I’m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable, but it’s the truth.”

“I don’t know what to do.”

“What do you want to do?”

She put her hand on his thigh. “I want…last night. Is that wrong?”

“Why would it be wrong?”

She looked up at him again. “I need to…”

“Sleep on it?”

“Yes.”

She stopped talking, and a few minutes later, she fell asleep. Milo didn’t want to disturb her, so he put his feet up on the coffee table and closed his eyes.

A light tapping on his knee woke him, and Milo opened his eyes to Caleb patting his knee. It was still dark, but light from the moon and stars reflected off the boy’s face.

“Hey, Caleb.” Caleb patted Milo’s knee again. “Do you want to get onto my lap?” Caleb nodded, and Milo helped him up. “Don’t wake up your mom.”

Wilda was lying on the couch with her head on Milo’s thigh. She stirred for a moment while Caleb got comfortable, but didn’t wake up. Caleb promptly fell asleep. Milo patted his back, then closed his eyes.

When Wilda rolled onto her back, Milo woke again. The sun was up, but clouds had moved in at some point during the early morning hours, and he wasn’t sure how late it was.

Wilda smiled when she saw Caleb curled up on Milo’s lap. “When did he join us?”

“A few hours ago, I think.”