“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry,” Lila said.
“Yeah, so am I,” Katie said. “And here I thought getting jilted was the worst thing that could happen to me.”
“I think that the worst of that will fade in time,” Lila said. “And it’s not even been six months since the shooting.”
Katie groaned. “I know, but it feels like I don’t know who I am anymore. I don’t trust me not to freak out. And I don’t see the police chief marrying a crazy woman he can’t trust with his children.”
“Well, that sucks, and I’m not going to accept that, and neither should you. Just assume you will be better. Not if…but when. Okay?”
“I hear you, but it’s easier said than done,” Katie said. “And that’s enough about me. Any Jack and Lila updates?”
Lila laughed. “I’m at the ‘I don’t kiss and tell’ stage.”
Katie giggled. “That’s a first.”
“Okay, fine. So I’m a blabbermouth. But I’ll keep the details to myself,” Lila said. “On another front, gossip is that Mark Roman has refused everything to do with the Lanier inheritance. His house is up for sale, and he’s gone. I heard he went back home to Kansas.”
Katie felt nothing. At least one good thing had happened with her move. She never had to see his face again.
“I’m sure his parents are happy,” Katie said.
“Oh…hey…Jack is here. We’re going out to dinner. Love you. Gotta go.”
“Love you, too. Have fun,” Katie said, and heard the line go dead in her ear.
She sat for a few moments, watching the lights going out in the house across the street. Sam was putting his babies to bed. Tomorrow was their first day of a new school year, too.
She thought of the children and families she’d already met and wondered about the few who hadn’t gone to Back to School Night, but it didn’t matter. Water always found its own level, and so would school life.
She was tired and decided to go to bed, but not before she double-checked her rolling cart to make sure everything she planned to take tomorrow was packed. The first thing she noticed was that the school laptop wasn’t there, and then she remembered it was still on the kitchen table. She grabbed it and tucked it in beneath a stack of files, added the bag of candy she had for the grab bag, and tossed in a couple of extra boxes of tissues for snotty noses.
Now there was nothing to do but set her alarm and go to bed. She had clothes picked out. Comfortable shoes chosen for the day, and the school ID lanyard in her purse.
Katie McGrath was ready for school.
***
Sam had Beth and Evie tucked in bed, storybook read, last trips to the bathroom made, and last drinks of water, and last hugs and kisses.
The night-light was on in their bathroom, and they were lying on their sides facing each other, eyes closed, holding hands, when Sam eased up from the side of their bed and left the room.
Some days he wanted to slow time down, and other days it was a joy to watch them maturing and exploring the world into which they’d been born. He did everything he knew how to enrich their lives, while keeping them safe. But he also knew that the older they became, the more leeway they would have to be given. Spending nights with their girlfriends. Going on school trips. Challenging his authority. That was what he dreaded most—when they were becoming young women, because those were the times when a wrong decision made by a teenager could be fatal.
However, tonight he was just grateful that the only thing they were facing tomorrow was beginning first grade, and knowing Katie McGrath was going to be their teacher was comforting. They already knew and liked her, and Sam couldn’t lie: he was falling for Katie, too.
He began going through the house, locking up for the night, and glanced across the street at her house. There was a faint glow through the blinds. She was either watching TV in the dark or was already getting ready for bed.
Tomorrow, she was going back into an environment that had nearly killed her. He knew she was anxious, but he’d watched her during Back to School night. She was a natural with children and had an easy manner with parents. He wanted so much for her to find happiness again—and he wanted it to be with them.
But they all had to come to an understanding. So while Katie was teaching his children, it would be his job to prove to her that he was a man she could trust. He wished he could go knock on her door and kiss her good night, but there were the girls to consider.
So he sent her a text instead.
Thinking of you. Wishing you were here so I could hug you good night. Tomorrow is the beginning of a whole new facet of your life, and I’m so glad you chose Borden’s Gap to make it happen. Have the best day ever.—Sam
He hit Send, then finished locking up and headed for bed.
***
Katie was getting ready to get in bed when she heard her phone signal a text. When she saw it was from Sam, she opened the message and read it. Her eyes welled as she crawled into bed, then sat and read it again before responding.
I feel the hug in my heart. Thank you. I’m a little anxious, but also so looking forward to getting back in the classroom. It’s such a huge part of who I am, crazy days or not… I need to make it work.—Katie
***
After all of the embarrassment at her job site, Frieda Tiller had a peaceful weekend. Once Justin was hauled off to jail, Frieda called her mother, told her what happened, and Rita went to get the kids and kept them until Frieda got off work.
Saturday night came, and Justin never came home, so Frieda assumed he was still in jail. She took her kids to her mother’s on Sunday on her way to work and then again picked them up on her way home.
The boys were excited for their first day of school tomorrow, and Monday was Frieda’s day off. They had their school supplies inside their new backpacks, and thanks to their grandma Rita, they had new sneakers for school.
Every time Frieda’s phone rang, she was afraid it would be Justin wanting to be bailed out, but he never called. She guessed it was because he knew she didn’t get paid until tomorrow. But what he didn’t know was that she wasn’t using their rent money to bail his sorry ass out of jail again. She didn’t care where he was, as long as he wasn’t under her roof.
She locked up for the night, then checked on the boys one last time before she went to her room, and then a short time later turned out the lights and went to bed.
Tomorrow would be a busy day getting Connor, Lee, and Donny up and dressed. She so wanted this school year to be good for all of them.
***
Justin Tiller cursed the cell he was in. The mattress on the cot was lumpy and worn, and the single cover he had sure didn’t smell like Frieda’s laundry soap.