Page 17 of Love's Bloom
Misty shook her head. “They’re from David’s mother, not him. It’s a thank-you of sorts. She’s been very lonely, missing her daughter. And I love talking with her. It’s almost like I imagine it would be if I had a mother.”
“How sweet!” Hazel said and followed Misty inside.
Misty led Hazel to the kitchen, where she’d placed a list of items she’d bought: books, puzzles, dot-to-dot coloring books, crayons, pencils, erasers, and a few special items.
“I have so much to show you. A lot of the stores are offering teacher discounts, and I took advantage of them.”
Hazel studied the list of items Misty had selected. “Looks like you’re as excited as I am to start the school year. These are all wonderful additions to your other teaching resources.”
“I’ll fill in with them where necessary,” said Misty. “I don’t want any child to feel left out.” She remembered all too well how awful she’d felt when she didn’t have the supplies other kids brought to school and how her teachers had made sure she did.
After they’d sorted through everything, Misty said, “Want to plan a shopping trip for clothes? We can go to the outlet malls in Maine. Or anywhere else you want.” She knew money wasn’t an issue for Hazel.
“Sure, let’s go tomorrow. I need practical things to wear in the classroom.”
“That’ll be fun,” said Misty. “What are you up to this evening? Going to Jake’s?”
“Mike has asked me out to dinner at Stan’s. I said I’d go if we didn’t make it a late evening. I want to be well rested before I go home for a visit next week.”
“A last trip south for a while,” said Misty. “Do you miss New Orleans?”
“We live outside the city, but I miss the food there. I love Lilac Lake, though. It’s where I want to settle.”
“I understand,” said Misty. “Lilac Lake is a special place. And I think a certain gentleman is smitten with you.”
“You mean Mike?” Hazel asked. “He’s a great guy, but we’re not seriously dating. I’m not ready for that.”
“New people are moving into town all the time,” said Misty, realizing she wasn’t interested in dating anyone but David. With him, she felt safe. And she loved his family.
###
Misty was finishing hanging up her new clothes when her cell rang.David.
“Hi,” she said, her heart beating a happy tattoo.
“Hi. I said I’d call. I wonder if you want to come to my house tomorrow for dinner. We can watch a movie afterward if you want to. Are you into Super Heroes?”
Misty grinned. “I think they’re fun.”
“Great. I’ll be working late, but I can pick you up at seven.”
“That will be perfect,” Misty said, eager to be upbeat and not let bad memories get in the way of a relationship with this incredible man.
“Did you have a nice day?” he asked politely.
Misty told him about her shopping trip with Hazel. “Now that it’s getting close to school time, I’m getting excited.”
“The kids you teach are going to be very lucky,” he said. “I still remember my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Gilbert. She was very kind about helping me with math. I didn’t realize how much I’d need it for my work.”
“That's such a nice story. I hope to be a teacher just like that.”
“I have a feeling you will be,” said David. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks.”
Misty ended the call smiling. David’s support meant everything to her.
CHAPTER SIX
The next day, the rainy morning kept Misty from her usual routine of walking to the park and into town for coffee. She decided to make a lazy morning of it and stayed in her pajamas, working on posters to hang in her classroom. Her theme for the year was going to be kindness. Like everyone else, second-grade students needed a safe space, and she wanted her students to be sure that everyone would be treated well in her classroom.
