Take My Hand

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“You don’t have to handle live worms, Alexis. I’ll take care of the bait for you.”

“Thank goodness.” She rushed on to say, “I wouldn’t want Cliff to see his teacher freaking out over such a little thing as picking up a worm. But honestly, when I was a kid, science was my worst subject because I couldn’t bring myself to touch anything slimy.”

“And you haven’t outgrown that aversion, hmm?” His tone held a note of amusement.

A sense of horror stole over her. “You’re not going to hold that over my head, are you?”

“It’s mighty tempting. I can just imagine what Cliff would do with that piece of information about our Miss Richmond.”

Could he imagine Cliff using it, or himself? What kind of child had James been? As mischievous as she suspected? Something in her growing knowledge of him told her he may have caused his mother to go gray early.

“It wouldn’t help much in class, either,” she muttered.

“Don’t worry. I won’t cause you any trouble in class. It’s only— Never mind. I’ll see you Sunday.”

They rang off, leaving Alexis’s ears ringing with James’s chortles.

That may have been a big mistake—her honesty over handling worms. She shook her head and grabbed her brush, then left her hair to hang about her face without clips. She was likely to be late for school.

She parked in her usual spot and exited her car just as Lori Donato, the regular fifth-grade teacher, parked next to her.

“Hi, Alexis,” Lori called as she slid her plump form from her car and reached for a canvas bag. “I’ve been meaning to catch up with you. Do you have a free period today? We need to discuss the field trip up to the Truman Museum if we’re going to do it next month.”

“You’re right, we should make some plans soon.” Alexis hefted her own overly full briefcase and pocketed her keys. “How about during lunch?”

“That’ll do. When—”

A familiar black truck slowed to an idle alongside them. It was impossible not to notice him. James hung one arm out his window.

Cliff slid out the other side.

“Morning, Miss Richmond,” James said with a smile as deliberate as four beats to a measure. Somehow, after their recent interaction, his formal address sounded more like a spoken intimacy.

“Good morning.” Alexis stepped closer to the truck, fighting the desire to let her own silly grin explode.

She glanced at Cliff as he rounded the truck, and her budding smile dwindled. The child sported droopy eyes. Had he been as late getting to bed as his dad? That would make for a trying day.

Keeping a school child up late…

Alexis tried to tamp down her vexation. Single parenting had its pitfalls and she didn’t think James had any backup when he had to work late. Keeping his child with him at the shop was the lesser of two evils, she supposed, compared to leaving him at home alone.

From the few remarks Cliff had made, Alexis suspected that had been a problem in the past. The boy’s mother had left him alone far too often to make a solitary meal on hot dogs, soda and chips, and then with no one to take notice, to put himself to bed. In spite of it all, James’s choice to take Cliff to work with him was the better one.

“Hiya, Lori.” James addressed the other teacher.

“Hi there, J.D.” Lori spoke with familiarity. “How have you been? Heard about Cliff coming home to live with you. Sorry about Melanie. Are you making out all right these days?”

“Learning. With a little help from my friends….”His glance, warm with gratitude, rested on Alexis.

Lori’s glance moved to Alexis, as well. “Uh, that’s good. Can never have too many friends. And Miss Richmond is a good teacher.”

Alexis clutched her bag tighter as a flush climbed her cheeks. “Thanks. But it’s my job.”

“That picnic is a terrific idea, Alexis,” James said, reclaiming her attention. His hair appeared as tousled as Cliff’s, and she wanted to ask him where his hair-brush had got to—only she rather liked it in its disheveled state. “Cliff and I can use the break.”

The tall, thin figure of their district school superintendent, Mr. Fisher, appeared out of nowhere. The county was building new offices, but until they were complete, the district’s temporary office was across from the school. They shared the parking lot.

“Good morning, ladies. Staff meeting at the last bell today, you recall.”