Page 18 of Moonlight Feels Right
"You have no idea," he said gratefully. "I didn't have time to make any."
"I figured." Their fingers brushed in the brief exchange, and he felt an odd tingle run down his spine. It happened again when she gave him a smile and her hazel eyes sparkled at him, a mix of gold, green, and brown, changing with the light, and he found himself somewhat captivated by her gaze. She wore a simple sundress with a light cardigan, her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. She looked both professional and approachable—exactly what a kindergarten teacher should be.
She suddenly seemed to realize they were staring at each other for far too long. She cleared her throat and moved past him to greet Olivia.
"Are you ready for the big day?" she asked.
"Monkey isn't sure he wants to go," Olivia said, still clutching the monkey, who he had a feeling was going to school with her.
"He'll have a great time, and so will you," Emmalyn said.
"Hunter said we could get ice cream after school. Can you come with us?"
"Sure. I love ice cream," she replied. "We should get going."
"Let's do this." He grabbed his keys and ushered them out of the apartment. Then he followed Emmalyn to the school, which was located in a quiet, tree-lined neighborhood about two miles from the complex. Because they were early, he found a spot on the street. Then he and Olivia met up with Emmalyn in the staff parking lot and headed into the school. They stopped briefly in the principal's office, where he met Allan Perkins, the principal, who assured him that Olivia's teacher, Teri Hunt, would make sure Olivia felt welcome.
Allan was right. When they entered the first-grade classroom, Teri Hunt, a smiling brunette in her forties, greeted Olivia with warmth and enthusiasm, even making sure to let her know that her monkey was welcome to sit at the table with her. He was surprised that the classroom just had three big round tables and not individual desks, but it went with the rest of the décor, which was colorful and kid-friendly with art supplies in one corner, and big blocks and games in another, the ABCs spelled out on the carpet where they apparently had reading time.
"I better get to my classroom," Emmalyn said.
"I should go, too," he added. He turned to Olivia. "I'll be here to pick you up after school, Liv. Then we'll get ice cream."
Olivia gave them both a somewhat uncertain wave, then went with her teacher to the back of the classroom to put away her lunchbox.
He followed Emmalyn into the hallway. "Thanks for everything," he said. "You have made this so much easier for her."
"You're doing good, too, Hunter. You know that, right?"
He shrugged. "I'm winging it."
"Your instincts are good."
"So are yours. I told Liv a story about her dad last night, and she went to sleep right after that."
"I'm so glad that helped."
"Surprisingly, it helped me, too."
Her gaze softened. "Even better. I'll see you after school."
"You don't have to do ice cream if you don't want to. I feel like we're taking up a lot of your time."
"It's going to be a warm day. I'll be ready for a double scoop of something," she said with a smile that warmed him all the way through. "My kids get out at noon, but I'll be working in the library until two thirty. I'll see you in the playground when the first graders are excused."
"See you then." At some point, he would need to cut ties with Emmalyn, because she was starting to get a little too close, but that point wasn't going to be today. He had other things to worry about.
After leaving the school, he headed to the medical center for a session with his physical therapist, Jessica Bennett, who had been with him since the beginning of his rehabilitation. She was a no-nonsense, pragmatic, somewhat ruthless woman in her forties, who had pushed him through a number of dark days when he'd surprised himself with how much he just wanted to give up.
He had never thought of himself as a quitter, but there had been several times when he just didn't think he could keep going. But Jessica hadn't let him give up, and now, he was almost done.
After a grueling ninety minutes, Jessica handed him a towel, and he patted down his sweaty face, then took several long swigs of water from his water bottle.
"I can't believe this is the second to last time I'm going to see your annoyed face," Jessica said. "Monday is our last session before your medical evaluation next Wednesday."
"Do you think I'm ready?"
"You know you are. Stop looking for compliments."
