Risking It All Page 2

  “No, I’m glad you did.” She took a deep breath and blew it out, puffing her cheeks out as she pushed the air out slowly. “I need to get more used to talking about him with other people. The kids will start asking more about him soon and I need to be able to talk about him to tell them how wonderful and brave he was.”

  “Can I ask how he died?”

  “Killed in action.” Her shoulders lifted in a shrug he didn’t completely understand. “We didn’t get a lot of details. I think that was part of why it was so hard for me. I knew there was risk, he was deployed, there’s always risk. I just never realized they wouldn’t tell us what he was doing or what happened. This is me.” she stopped beside a blue minivan that was a few years old.

  It took Thorne a second to process the sudden change of subject.

  “Oh. I’m over there.” He motioned to where he’d parked his car. “I’m sorry about your loss. And the offer still stands, I’d be happy to help you out any way I can. Just say something and I’ll be right there.” He glanced at her car then back to her. “I’ll let you unload and get back to your meeting. I’ll see you Monday? You’re not going to march in there and quit after I badgered you into revealing your secrets, are you?”

  Nancy laughed again and Thorne got the impression she didn’t do it nearly often enough.

  “No, unless McKeever fires me, I’ll be here Monday.”

  Thorne waved and turned for his car, thinking about Nancy and all that she’d been through as he went.

  Monday, Thorne went into work, wanting to say something to Nancy but not knowing what, something to make her smile, or laugh. He got there a little earlier than normal, hoping to catch her before students started arriving but she didn’t show. Instead, five minutes before the first bell, Ms. Sarch, one of the substitutes, disappeared through the door.

  Thorne frowned. Had McKeever fired her after all? Had Thorne scared her into quitting? He didn’t see that last one. She had more nerve than that. He hoped nothing had gone wrong at home.

  He frowned, wondering why he was so invested in the new girl. He’d spoken to her all of three times, why did he care if she wasn’t here today?

  The bell ringing interrupted his thoughts. He pushed her from his mind and turned his attention to the students. He’d figure Nancy out later.

  Chapter 3

  The second week of school, and the second week of her new job, was not the time to have a sick babysitter, and a sick kid on top of that, but there was nothing Nancy could do. She’d called everyone she trusted to watch Jasmine, but no one could manage Monday. Warren promised he’d take Tuesday, but he was working and couldn’t manage Monday.

  Nancy understood and hated doing it but she’d called the principal Sunday evening and let him know what was going on, hoping he’d have enough time to get a sub.

  Now, as she waited for the fifth load of laundry today to finish in the washer, she had a renewed appreciation for Suzette. Granted, five loads of clothes and bedding because a kid kept puking on them wasn’t common, but still. Suzette had seen them through worse. Like when the twins had that stomach bug just after spring break. Nancy shuddered as she thought about two puking kids at the same time. Jasmine was enough for her.

  The front door opened and the house filled with noise as Tommy and the kids came in from school. She was lucky that the bus stop was less than fifty feet from their driveway, so Tommy could walk the younger two in and she didn’t have to go out and meet them. She’d intended to, but time had gotten away from her and she hadn’t realized it was that time already.

  “Hey you guys, how was your day?” She tried to sound happy and upbeat but, honestly, she was exhausted. She’d tried to nap while Jasmine had, but she hadn’t gotten much sleep since this bug hit yesterday afternoon. She was dead on her feet, but it felt like the worst of Jasmine’s illness had passed and hopefully they’d both get some sleep tonight.

  “Good.” Tommy hung his backpack next to the door then took his brother’s and hung it up while their sister took hers off.

  “Any homework?”

  “It’s only the second week, Mom.” Tommy sounded annoyed. “They don’t give homework this early, at least not real homework.”

  “Real homework?” She watched him with one lifted brow, wondering exactly what he meant by that.

  “Homework to take home.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes like she should know this.

  “As opposed to?” Nancy wasn’t sure there was any other kind of homework.

  “I don’t have homework,” Mia said.

  “They give homework in kindergarten?” Mason’s eyes were wide.

  Nancy wasn’t sure if it was wonder or horror at the idea. She looked back to Tommy, waiting for his answer.

  “The kind I can do at school before the bell rings.” He rolled his eyes and opened the fridge door, where he pulled a few things from the drawer where she kept snacks and handed one to each, Mia and Mason. “Can Jasmine have one?”

  “She’s sleeping, but not yet. Her stomach’s still a little delicate. Hopefully she’ll feel a little better after dinner.” Nancy felt bad for her youngest. Lunch had been a couple sips of clear soda, a couple sips of broth and maybe three saltine crackers an hour and a half ago. But she’d kept it down, at least so far. Knock on wood.

  She rushed into her classroom with only a few minutes to spare the next morning. She’d fallen into bed not thirty minutes after she’d gotten Tommy to bed, and she’d slept hard. Hard enough that she’d slept through her alarm and didn’t get up until Jasmine had come in and asked where her milk was, thirty minutes after she should have gotten up.

  Nothing like a frantic rush to get everyone ready and out the door to get your blood pumping in the morning. Unfortunately she hadn’t had time for coffee and she knew she was going to regret that.

  “There you are.”

  A deep voice behind her made her spin, nearly overbalancing herself with the books she hadn’t had time to put down yet. She couldn’t help a deep breath of relief when she found it was Thorne.

  “I was worried you’d given up on us already.”

  “No such thing. I wanted to be here, but between a sick sitter and a sick kid, there was no way I could make it. I haven’t seen Mr. McKeever yet, did they find a sub?”

  “Oh yeah. Ms. Sarch took the class yesterday.”

  “You say that like you know her.”

  “She’s been subbing here longer than I’ve been around. Sometimes for a few weeks, but usually only a day or two here and there.”

  “But not full time?”

  “I don’t think she wants full time.” He shrugged. “At least that’s the feeling I get.”

  “You never asked?” With as quickly as he’d introduced himself to her, that seemed odd.

  “Ms. Sarch is not the most—” he paused as if he was looking for an appropriate word, “approachable of teachers. I’d never do it myself, but I’ve heard some of the kids call her Ms. Starch. It’s not inaccurate.”

  Nancy frowned a second as she thought about that. It wasn’t the most flattering of nicknames, but she’d heard a lot worse too.

  “A little stiff?”

  “You ever seen The Parent Trap? Not the remake but the original.”

  “The one with Hailey Mills? Of course.” Nancy frowned. Not sure where this was going.

  “Ms. Sarch acts like the camp counselor who inspected the tent, but she looks more like the one who told the girls they’d have to share a cabin.”

  Nancy blinked and fought the urge not to laugh out loud as the image implanted itself in her head. She couldn’t help but here echoes of ‘let the punishment fit the crime’ in her head as she let a smile escape.

  “You’re bad.” She set the books she’d brought in with her on her desk and almost collapsed into her chair.

  “You look tired. Do you drink coffee? The caffeine might help you get through the day.”

  “I do, but I didn’t have time for any this morning.” Nancy
sighed. “It’s going to be a rough one.” She fought the urge to frown and be grumpy but that wouldn’t do any good, and it would make the students harder to deal with.

  “I’d suggest the teacher’s lounge but that’s not coffee. It’s dubiously caffeinated tar.”

  This time she couldn’t hold back her laugh.

  “That bad huh?”

  “That bad. Hey, I’ve got an extra Coke if you’re interested. It’s not coffee but it’s better than nothing.”

  “I’ll be okay for now, but I may hit you up for that at lunch. If it’s still available.”

  “It will be.”

  A couple students came in and took up their seats. Thorne glanced across the hall. “I better get back before they turn feral on me. And if you need that boost before noon, just ask. It’s in my lunch bag with a cold pack so it will be ready whenever you are.”

  “Will do. Thanks.” Nancy watched him go, wondering again why he was so friendly and if she was getting old or jaded for assuming he wanted more than just friendship.

  Chapter 4

  Thorne couldn’t help but take a relieved breath as he made his way back to his own classroom. He’d been serious when he’d said he’d been afraid she’d given up on them. Why the idea bothered him so much, he wasn’t as certain.

  A quick scan of the room told him only a couple kids were here yet, so he sat and waited for the bell, letting his mind wander while he waited. He tried to think about the lessons he had planned for today but the slender redhead across the hall kept slipping into his thoughts. All too soon the bell rang, then he had kids to deal with and it was a little easier to keep his mind from straying.

  The lunch bell rang. Thorne waited for the kids to finish their mad rush for the door before he took the soda over and offered it to Ms. Fisher. There were only a few left when he spotted the woman standing outside Nancy’s classroom door, she wore a Black Jack Police Department uniform and her hair was pulled back in a slick bun that reminded him of Ms. Sarch. Before his students could leave and he could go ask if anything was wrong, the woman disappeared into the other classroom.

  Now he didn’t know if he should go over or not. He wanted to, but what if it was official business? With a deep breath he grabbed his lunch bag and decided to stop, as if he hadn’t spotted the officer going in.

  “Knock, knock,” he called as he rapped against the open door. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were busy.”

  “No, it’s okay. Come on in,” Nancy said. “This is my sister-in-law, Hayley.”

  “Sister-in-law?” the woman in the uniform looked surprised.

  “It’ll be official soon enough.” Nancy tipped up a paper coffee cup and took a sip before turning back to Thorne. “Warren is watching Jasmine today, that’s my sick one. Apparently, he thought I looked pretty bad this morning and sent in reinforcements for me.” She lifted the cup in her hand, indicating it was what he’d sent.

  “He didn’t say you looked bad. He said you were running on fumes.” Hayley laughed. “He would know, he’s seen me the same way too many times to count.”

  “Thank you for playing delivery person a rescuing me today.” She leaned over and gave the other woman a hug.

  “No problem.” They separated. “Warren said to tell you Jasmine’s fine. She’s a little sleepy but no stomach problems at all today.”

  “Thank goodness.” Nancy shook her head. “He’s been a godsend in the last two years. I don’t know how to thank him, or you, enough.”

  “No need. That’s what families are for. I’ve got to get back to work, but you take care on your way home tonight.” The officer turned to him. “And you too.”

  “Thanks, Officer. Will do.”

  “It’s Sergeant. Sergeant Moreno.” She extended one hand. He shook it. She said goodbye to Nancy again then left. He watched her go, not sure what to say.

  “Must be handy to have a police sergeant in the family.” Thorne turned back to Nancy. “Makes tickets easier.”

  “Not just a sergeant, Warren’s a detective, but that doesn’t help with tickets. They’ve really cracked down on police letting family off on tickets. At least as long as Warren’s been a cop.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  “It would be a nice perk.” She sipped her coffee. “Thanks for the offer of the soda, but with this, I don’t think I’ll need it.”

  “No problem. It’s nice to have family who cares enough to take care of you like that.”

  “Isn’t it?” She looked toward the door where Hayley had left. “Warren used to be an officer in Albuquerque. He only moved to Blackjack after Thomas was killed, because I needed help. I don’t know how I’d have managed without him.” She shook her head. “But it worked out for the best. He was burning out fast there, and he loves what he does here. And he’d never have met Hayley if he’d stayed in Albuquerque. Those two were meant to be together.” A smile curved her lips as she thought about her brother and his soon-to-be wife. It was a little sad, maybe lost, but it was still a smile. Something deep inside, that he didn’t quite know where it came from, told him eventually she’d lose that sadness, when she found the right person.

  “Would you like to join me for lunch?”

  “I’m afraid I’m stuck with the cafeteria for lunch. I didn’t have time to grab anything this morning. But if you want to join me there, I’d be happy to have lunch with you.”

  A light sensation filled his chest. “I’d be thrilled.” He waited for her to gather her things, a notebook and her coffee cup and walked with her to the cafeteria. “I’ll get us a spot while you get your food?”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Want me to take any of that?” He motioned to the things she carried. “Make room for your tray?”

  “Sure.” She handed him the notebook but kept the coffee cup.

  “I’ll hold on to this.” She eyed the line in front of her. “I may need it to get through this.” The light in her eye said she was only half teasing.

  “I would.” He waited till she joined the line for food then turned and scanned the room, spotting an empty table in the corner, he took off in that direction. It was still empty when he got there so he took a spot for himself and set her notebook in a second. Just in case others joined them, her spot was saved. He put her across the rectangle six-seater table. He’d have preferred beside him but thought it was too soon. She’d probably find it odd or pushy and he didn’t want either.

  He resisted the temptation to open the notebook and see what was inside. Just to see what she’d brought with her. Instead he scanned the food line and found Nancy was farther along than he’d thought. The line was moving pretty quickly. To fill the time, he opened and unpacked his lunch box, leaving the extra soda in the insulated case with the cool pack. She still might want it. He probably would in her shoes.

  “Thanks,” Nancy set her tray down and sat on the bench attached to the table. “I’m hoping a little food will help fuel me through the day.”

  “Sounds like a plan. What are they serving today?” He hadn’t even looked. He almost never ate in the cafeteria, opting instead to bring something and eat either in his classroom or in the teacher’s lounge.

  “Cheeseburgers, salad, fries, and baked beans. I opted out of the beans.”

  “Don’t like them?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Once in a while I find some I can eat, but not often. Not often enough to hazard these.” She picked up a fry and popped it in her mouth. “What do you have?” She nodded at the container he’d put on the table in front of him, but hadn’t yet opened.

  Thorne had a flash back to his school days when he and his friends had compared what their mom’s had packed them, then traded and mixed and matched until everyone was fed and happy with their food, even those who might not have gotten enough or who’d forgotten their lunch.

  “Oh, it’s a salad with rotisserie chicken.” He usually brought leftovers of one kind or another and this was no exception. The salad had started life
as a pre-mixed, bagged salad, and the chicken was left over from the ready to eat rotisserie chicken he’d bought for sandwiches over the weekend. He’d taken the last of the meat off the bones last night and added it to the salad, calling it good for today’s lunch.

  “Sounds good.”

  “Want some?”

  Nancy shook her head. “I’ve got a salad here. I don’t want to take your lunch, besides, I probably won’t eat all of this anyway. The servings are designed for active, growing kids, not a fully-grown woman.” She poked at her salad with the plastic fork then took a bite.

  Thorne popped the lid off his own container, added the dressing he kept in a small squeeze bottle, and dug in to his own lunch.

  Chapter 5

  “Thank you again, Warren. Not just for keeping Jasmine for me but for sending Hayley with the coffee too. It was a life saver.” Nancy had been home less than ten minutes. Her feet hurt and her eyes were gritty but the day was nearly over.

  “Are you sure you don’t want me to hang around a while longer? It’s no big deal.” Her brother sat in the middle of her living room floor playing with a three-year-old wearing nothing but a diaper as if he did it every day.

  “I’m not sending you away. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. I need to start dinner.” She pushed herself up off the sofa where she’d collapsed for a few minutes after she’d come in and headed for the kitchen. “If you’re gonna stay, why don’t you call Hayley and see if she wants to join us.”

  “Hayley’s going out with Denni tonight. Girl’s night.”

  “So you have nothing to make you rush home to.”

  “Nothing but Jake. He’ll be just as happy to see me in twenty minutes as in two hours.”

  “Jake?” Jasmine’s voice made Nancy smile. All her kids loved her brother’s black lab. “Where Jake?”

  “He’s not here, Jazzy.” Warren’s voice was soothing as Nancy went to the fridge and pulled out ingredients. “Hayley said there was a guy at the school today. You have a suitor already?”