Page 47 of The Lighthouse at the Cove
“Exactly,” she told him. “The kids can make lighthouses out of different materials or even draw them.” She lifted her gaze, locking her eyes with his. “This is going to be amazing, Reid.”
“Yeah.” He stared down at her, and when his eyes lowered to her mouth, a heat began to wash over him as his heart pounded wildly in his chest. For a moment he imagined how soft her lips would feel on his, and he yearned to find out.
His chin dipped, and her eyes fluttered shut.
And just before his lips touched hers, a door opened down the hall.
Reid jumped back and did a mental headshake. He was about to make out with Kaiah. In his daughter’s school. Not thebestidea, but could he really help it? Once again, he felt an invisible magnet pulling him toward this woman. He seemed powerless to resist her.
“Hello, Mr. Turner.” Ms. Robertson, the principal, headed down the hall, her heels clacking on the worn, polished concrete floor. “Are you here to visit Piper’s classroom?”
Reid cleared his throat. “Hi, Ms. Robertson. Yes, I am. This is my friend Kaiah Ross. She’s a reporter doing a story on Coral Cove, and we were here discussing an idea for the upcoming festival with Coach Emmerson.” He made a sweeping gesture between the women. “Ms. Robertson is the principal.”
The principal nodded a greeting.
“Hi.” Kaiah pointed toward the bulletin board. “We were admiring the students’ artwork.”
“I heard about the festival from members of the PTO. The theme is perfect.”
Reid shared their ideas about the marathon and the arts and crafts tent.
“The kids will love both of those events. You should tell Piper’s class about it,” Ms. Robertson said. “I’m sure the kids will get their parents involved in each of them. The PTO is going to work on flyers to send home with all of the students.”
“That’s perfect,” Reid said.
While Ms. Robertson continued down the hall, Kaiah grabbed Reid’s arm as excitement flashed over her features. “Getting the elementary school involved is such a great idea. I’m sure the other schools will want to participate too.”
“Definitely.” He peeked into the window of Piper’s classroom door and spotted her sitting in the front row. All of the students were working with their heads bent. He tapped lightly on the door, and the teacher hurried over.
“Mr. Turner,” she said.
Across the room, Piper waved and called, “Daddy!”
“Hi, Piper.” Reid waved to his daughter and then addressed the teacher, “I was wondering if I could visit. My friend and I were here talking to Coach Emmerson about the upcoming spring festival.” He introduced the teacher to Kaiah. “We were hoping we could tell Piper’s class about it.”
“Of course,” Ms. Mason said. “Now is the perfect time. We’re just working on a project, and we have some free time before music.”
Reid and Kaiah entered the room, and the nearly three dozen students greeted them from their desks, which were cramped in the small classroom. The classes had doubled in size due to the closed wing.
Piper rushed over and hugged Reid’s waist.
“Hi, Daddy!” She gazed up at him. “I didn’t know you’d be here today.” She turned toward the class. “This is my daddy and my friend Miss Kaiah.”
Reid touched her nose. “We have something exciting to share with you guys.”
Piper threaded her fingers with Reid’s and then with Kaiah’s. “I’ll help you tell your stories.” She led them to the front of the room. “Everyone, my daddy is a fireman. He has lots of stories he can share. If you have questions, raise your hand.”
When nearly all of the hands in the classroom shot up, Ms. Mason made her way to the front. “Okay, class. Let’s have our guests speak before you ask questions, okay?”
Kaiah shot Reid a grin, and he bit back a laugh.
Ms. Mason turned to Reid. “Why don’t you tell the class about the festival?”
Reid glanced at Kaiah, and she nodded at him as if telling him to speak while she stood off to the side with Piper and the teacher. “Hi, everyone. I’m Piper’s dad. My name is Reid, and my friend Kaiah and I are helping to plan the spring festival. It’s going to take place in a week and a half, and the theme is Light the Dark.”
A little boy in the front row waved his arm in the air. “Oh! Oh! Like a lamp! Or a lighthouse! We drew some of those the other day.”
“Exactly,” Reid said. “What can you tell me about the Coral Cove lighthouse?”
