Page 23 of Sean
“Are you OK?Did I say something to upset you?”
“No.What do you mean?”
“You were staring off into space, and your face was sort of...weird.”
“Wow, I’ve been called a lot of things, but weird-faced...”
She laughed.“You know what I mean.”
He gathered his lunch mess, forcing a smile he didn’t feel and hoping it was convincing.“Matthew Wright, huh?That’s quite a coup.”
“I thought so.Do you want to help me get there?”
The short answer to Monica’s question wasno.But her smile was so contagious and her enthusiasm so buoyant that the painful subject of Matthew Wright paled in comparison to his reluctance to disappoint his new friend.“If I can.What do you need?”
“We’re having a fundraiser craft show at the high school gym on Saturday.I could use some help on Friday evening, taping off booth spaces and setting up tables and chairs.My friend Bobbie and her husband Caleb are going to help, but an extra pair of hands would be a blessing.”
“How about a big pair and a little pair?I’ll have to bring Jace.Mom’s been doing an awful lot of babysitting, but I know they have plans for Friday night.”
***
MONICA HELD OUT HERhand for Sean’s smashed-up bag and dumped the whole lot into the trash can beside her desk.“Not a problem.Bobbie and Caleb have a three-year-old.He’ll be thrilled to have a playmate.”
“Good deal.What time?”
“We have to wait until all the kids clear out.I was hoping to get started by five.”
“It’s a date.”Sean lifted a hand in farewell and clomped down the stairs.
Monica got back to work, not quite sure why his parting words left her with a smile she couldn’t get rid of.
Chapter 6
Sean angled his carinto a slot at the Garfield High School gym on Friday evening.It wasn’t quite five-fifteen.Traveling with a baby was never conducive to being on time, so he considered anything less than thirty minutes late an on-time arrival.
Getting here was only half the battle though.After dragging everything inside he’d still need to set it all up and make sure Jace was settled before he could even find out how he could help.He’d been asking himself for several days why this new friendship was worth this much trouble.The answer eluded him.
