Circle of Family

by Mia Ross

  Those words just about broke her heart. It would be their first Fourth of July celebration without her father, and she shared Kyle’s feelings. Emily’s excitement faded and she looked down at her half-eaten sandwich. “I miss Granddad.”

  “We all do, darlin’,” John assured her with a fond smile. “But he’s still around the farm every day, keeping an eye on us.”

  She lifted her head, and her eyes rounded in amazement. “He is?”

  “Sure. The folks we love are never really gone,” he explained. “As long as we remember them, they’re always here.”

  Marianne was stunned, to put it mildly. She loved John, but she’d never heard him talk that way. She knew that their dad’s unexpected death had affected them all, but she hadn’t realized how much it had changed her carefree little brother.

  Right now, though, he pinned her with a knowing look. “You forgot about the picnic, didn’t you?”

  Even though she was thoroughly embarrassed, Marianne couldn’t hem and haw with her children listening. So she did her best to laugh it off. “With the wedding and everything, I’m ashamed to say I did. We’ll fix that, though.” Crossing the kitchen, she picked up a piece of chalk and started a list on the blackboard. “Bounce house. Waterslide. Fireworks. What else?”

  “A pony!” Emily chirped.

  “I can handle that,” John said. “The Perkins have a nice little Shetland they use at the fairs. I’ll trade them some hay for an afternoon with Dopey.”

  “Dopey?” Emily scowled. “That’s a mean thing to name a pony.”

  “I guess it’s their grandson’s favorite dwarf. He’s three.”

  “I hope when he’s older, he picks better names,” she said with a disdainful sniff.

  John grinned at her. “I’m sure he will.”

  “Maybe Ridge could give people rides in his plane,” Kyle suggested hopefully. “That would be really cool.”

  “Ridge is our guest,” Marianne reminded him. “I don’t think he wants to work on the Fourth.”

  The door creaked open, and the man himself stepped into the kitchen. “What’s this about working on the Fourth?”

  She relayed Kyle’s idea, and she could see excitement sparkling in Ridge’s eyes. He spun a chair around and sat down. “I’d be happy to give rides. What else have you got planned?”

  While the kids filled him in, Marianne watched him closely. He showed the same interest in Emily’s fanciful ideas as he did in Kyle’s more practical ones. Ridge wasn’t childish, but he had a childlike enthusiasm she grudgingly envied. Even though he was in his mid-thirties like Matt, Ridge had managed to keep the little boy in him alive all these years. That shouldn’t have held any appeal for a thirty-year-old mother of two, but for some reason it did.

  “Sounds fantastic,” he approved with a genuine smile. “How can I help?”

  “You any good with a lawn mower?” John asked.

  “It’s been a while, but I’m sure I can handle it. That reminds me.” Suddenly, he was serious. “If you need an extra pair of hands while Matt’s gone, let me know. I hate staying here and not helping out.”

  “Well, now, I don’t get too many offers like that.” John rocked his chair on its back legs just because he knew it drove Marianne crazy. “You sure you know what you’re getting into?”

  “The dusting comes first, but afternoons I only have some aerial tours scheduled. I could give you a few hours when they’re done.”

  “I just might take you up on that.”

  While John filled him in on what they’d be doing around the farm, Marianne was only half-listening. She’d thought Ridge considered himself their guest, but apparently he felt obliged to earn his keep. As Matt’s friend, he could stay as long as he wanted, tending to his contract work while John kept their shorthanded farm running as smoothly as he could. That Ridge would even think to lend a hand certainly impressed her.

  Maybe, she mused, he really was one of the good guys.

  * * *

  As Ridge had predicted, the rain started early Monday morning, accented by thunder and lightning that kept Tucker cowering under the kitchen table, whimpering like a puppy. Marianne and the kids were sorting through their school papers, deciding which were important enough to keep. Emily’s pile wasn’t much smaller than when they’d started, but most of Kyle’s was heaped in the recycle bin. Typical, Marianne thought with a little smile.

  While she was mixing up some fresh lemonade to go with their oatmeal cookies, the phone rang.

  “Sawyer Farm,” she answered, tucking the handset between her chin and shoulder while she stirred ice into the pitcher.

  “Marianne, this is Donna Harvey. Principal Franks was wondering if you have some time to meet with him around one today.”

  Marianne’s heart shot into her throat, and the spoon kept spinning in the pitcher when she let it go to grip the phone properly. This was the call she’d been waiting for, the one that would set her plans for the foreseeable future.

  Harland Elementary was either offering her a full-time permanent teaching position, or they were letting her go. Traditional to the core, Alan Franks was the type of man to deal with both tasks in person.

  Marianne took a deep breath before answering. “That works into my schedule perfectly, Donna. Please tell Alan I’ll be there at one.”

  As she pressed the off button, Marianne quickly rearranged her chores to accommodate this very important meeting. After pouring each of the kids some lemonade, she did her best to sound casual.

  “Kyle, I’ve got a meeting at school at one o’clock. Can you go find Uncle John and let him know I need him to hang out with you two while I’m gone?”

  With the driving rain, she knew John was enjoying a rare day off. She hated to interrupt that, but she couldn’t take the kids with her to a meeting with the school principal. Donna wouldn’t mind having them wait in the office lobby, but Marianne felt it would be unprofessional to ask for that kind of favor.

  “Ridge is in the barn,” Kyle said as he bolted for the door. “I’ll ask him.”

  “I don’t—” The rest of her protest was lost in the slamming of the screen door, and she looked at Emily with a little grin. “He really likes Ridge, doesn’t he?”

  Swallowing a mouthful of cookie, Emily gave her a sweet smile. “So do I, Mommy. He’s awesome.”

  That was Kyle’s word, and hearing her daughter use it made Marianne chuckle. Sitting at the table, she asked, “What do you like so much about him?”

  “He calls me ‘sweetness,’ which is very pretty. Mostly, he listens to me when I’m talking. I really like that.”

  Funny, Marianne thought while she nibbled on a broken cookie. She liked that about him, too. Through the screen, she watched as Kyle and Ridge paused outside the barn and evened up their feet. Growing up with two very competitive brothers, she recognized a race in the making.

  She heard Kyle shout, “Three, two, one, go!” and the two of them ran toward the house. Ridge beat him to the porch easily enough, then stumbled and groaned loudly as Kyle flew past him and up the steps.

  “Klutz,” Kyle taunted his muddy opponent with a huge grin. “I told you it was slippery.”

  “Whatever,” he grumbled.

  When he looked at Marianne, there was an unmistakable twinkle in his eyes that told her he’d tripped on purpose. So much for not letting kids win, she thought with a smile. “I didn’t mean for Kyle to pull you away from what you were doing.”

  “Just puttering. What’s up?”

  Considering the shaky nature of their new friendship, she hesitated to ask him for a favor like this. But since her only other option was to take the kids with her, she forged ahead. “I was hoping you and John could watch the kids for me while I go to school for a meeting.”

  “Mommy’s going to be a rea
l teacher,” Emily informed him proudly.

  Ridge looked to Marianne for clarification, and she explained. “I’ve been a sub this year, but I’m hoping for a permanent position. The principal wants to talk to me about it.”

  Ridge gave her a sympathetic look. “Or?”

  He’d read her insecurity so quickly, it took Marianne by surprise. Keenly aware that her kids were listening, she did her best to disguise her very real fear. “I’ll find another one.”

  “If you teach half as well as you do everything else, any school would be lucky to have you.”

  The conviction in his voice told her he was dead serious. Stunned by his response, she stammered, “Thank you.”

  Glancing at the clock, he pulled out a chair and helped himself to a couple of cookies. “I’d imagine you’ve got some things to do before you go. I’ll find John and then make sure the kids have something besides these for lunch,” he added before taking a huge bite.

  She appreciated his understanding that she’d prefer her brother be there with the kids. While Ridge seemed responsible enough, she’d only known him a couple of days.

  “Can we watch a movie?” Emily asked. When Marianne hummed, her daughter gave her a dimpled smile. “May we watch a movie?”

  “Sure,” Ridge agreed easily. “You can each pick one.”

  “I want to pick first,” she announced.

  “That’s not fair,” Kyle protested. “I’m the oldest, so I should go first.”

  “Aw, man,” Ridge groaned as he got to his feet. Digging something out of the pocket of his jeans, he said, “You can flip for it.”

  Intrigued, Kyle craned his neck to see the coin in Ridge’s hand. “That’s cool. What is it?”

  “It’s a Walking Liberty dollar,” he answered, holding it on his palm for them all to see. The well-worn silver piece shone in the light, and he smiled. “Grandpa gave it to me when I was a kid, for good luck.”

  “Does it work?” Emily asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

  “Well, I’ve had a pretty good life,” Ridge replied. “I’d say it doesn’t not work.”

  Apparently satisfied with the luckiness of the silver dollar, Emily said, “I want heads.”

  “That’d be the lady, then.” He flipped the coin and caught it on the back of his hand. When he pulled his other hand away, the woman glittered up at them. “Sorry, dude. Emily picks first.”

  “Great,” he grumbled. “Princesses.”

  “Nuh-uh.” With her button nose in the air, she said, “Lion King.”

  Marianne knew her very boyish son would never admit it, but that was still one of his favorite movies. With a long-suffering sigh, he said, “Okay.”

  “That’s settled, then,” Ridge commented as he put the coin away. To Marianne, he said, “You should probably go get ready.”

  “Yes, I should. Thanks again.”

  “No problem. And Marianne?”

  Pausing at the foot of the stairs, she looked back.

  Dragging his hands back through his soaking-wet hair, he grinned. “You might wanna take an umbrella.”

  * * *

  “So,” Donna said while she typed, “how was the wedding?”

  “Fun,” Marianne replied, trying not to stare at the principal’s closed door. “It was a lot of work, but it was worth it to see Matt and Caty so happy.”

  Donna hit the enter key and turned to her with a bright smile. “Knowing you, it was like one of those bride’s magazines.”

  Being a perfectionist, nothing ever suited her completely, but Marianne appreciated the praise. “Now we’re looking forward to summer vacation. How about you?”

  “Water park, county fair, lots of dirt-track races and demolition derbies.” Donna ticked each of them off on her fingers with a good-natured grin. “Maybe someday I’ll have a girl and we can do the spa thing while Tim hangs out with the boys.”

  Marianne felt a little envious of Donna’s good fortune. Peter had never voluntarily done anything with the kids, but she kept dragging him to the zoo and the playground so they’d have some family time. In the end, it was a colossal waste of time. It would have been so nice—

  “—this guy Tim works with.”

  Marianne was jerked back to the present. “What?”

  “He’s a corporate lawyer at Tim’s firm, never married, no kids. He’s been focused on his career, and he’s really successful. Now he’s looking for someone to share all his toys with. We’ve gotten together a few times, and he seems really great. So, naturally, I thought of you.”

  “Why?” Marianne blurted out before she realized it would sound incredibly rude. “I mean, I appreciate the thought, but I’m not really interested in dating right now.”

  Donna gave her a you-can’t-fool-me look. “How long have you been single?”

  “Not nearly long enough to even consider getting back into all that.” Marianne made a face. “Besides, I don’t have time.”

  “Right.”

  Feeling even more self-conscious than she had when she got there, Marianne fished around in her purse like she was searching for something. In reality, she just wanted to end the pointless argument with someone who clearly meant well.

  Something fluttered out, and she picked it up off the floor. When she laughed, Donna tilted her head and smiled. “What is it?”

  “One of my students gave me this on the last day of school.” Marianne showed her a hand-lettered invitation to supper. On the front was a crayon picture of his house, but no address. “He said his father needs someone to go places with. He told me his sisters keep trying, but they get it wrong.”

  “Really?” Donna said, her smile growing. “Did he say why?”

  “According to him, girls don’t know what guys like.”

  The friendly receptionist laughed out loud. “That is so true. And very sweet of him to step in to try to help his father find a girl. Are you going?”

  “I didn’t have the heart to turn him down in person.” Marianne refolded the drawing and slid it into the side pocket of her purse. “I told him I’d think it over and let him know.”

  “Why would you turn him down?” Donna asked. “His dad could be a great guy.”

  Marianne swallowed a groan. Folks seemed to have no problem telling her what—and who—she needed to be happy. She appreciated their concern, but she wished they’d all just leave her be. Her wrenching divorce had stripped her of everything except her children and her dignity, which had taken a real beating. She wasn’t keen on wading back into those waters anytime soon.

  “I won’t mention it again.” Donna finally relented, hands in the air like she was surrendering. “But I think it’s interesting that a first-grader can see what’s missing in your life and you can’t.”

  “I have Kyle and Emily, and a big farm to help run. I’ve got more than enough already.”

  “You really believe that?”

  “Yes.” That wasn’t entirely true, but Marianne did her best to sound convincing. She’d done that a lot in the last few years, waiting for her natural confidence to return. She had no clue how long that would take, but until it happened she’d just have to fake it.

  Shaking her head, Donna sighed. “Suit yourself, I guess. You won’t mind if I say a few prayers for you, though, will you?”

  “Of course not. I’ll take all the prayers I can get.”

  The intercom buzzed, and Donna picked up the phone. After hanging up, she gave Marianne an encouraging smile.

  “Then I’ll start right now. Alan’s on his way out.”

  As she stood and smoothed her skirt, Marianne realized that her hands were shaking. She took a deep breath and felt reasonably calm when the principal opened his door and greeted her with a smile.

  “Thanks for coming in, Marianne,” he said,
offering his hand. “I know it was short notice.”

  Hoping to sound unconcerned, she said, “It wasn’t a problem at all.”

  Still smiling, he led her to his office and motioned for her to sit in one of the comfortable chairs opposite his desk. After closing the door, he strolled over and sat down behind his desk.

  “I’d imagine you’re a little anxious about this, so I’ll get right to the point.” Another smile. “You’ve been a wonderful addition to the Harland teaching staff, and we’d like to offer you a permanent position.”

  Marianne’s heart soared, and she swallowed down the excited yelp that was threatening to burst free. Very professionally, she simply said, “Thank you so much. I accept.”

  Alan cautioned her with a raised index finger. “One thing first. We have high standards for our teachers, and you’d have to meet them.”

  “Of course. What do I need?” At this point, she’d stand on her head and eat a bug if the school board told her to.

  “Your master’s.”

  Now her heart sank. While she could figure out a way to pay for classes, she didn’t have the time to shuttle back and forth to the nearest campus an hour away in Charlotte. Worse, her life was built around her children, and she couldn’t imagine spending all her free time in class and studying.

  The problem was, she knew that in order to get a full-time position anywhere, she’d probably need that degree.

  “I understand your hesitation,” the principal continued. “You’re an excellent teacher, so we’d waive the practicum requirement. But we can’t make an exception for you on the degree.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to,” she replied, meaning every word. “High standards mean our students get the best possible education. That’s what all parents want.”

  Approval lit his eyes, and he nodded. “I was hoping you’d say something like that. Do you want some time to think it over?”

  “No, but I do have a question.” When he motioned for her to go on, she asked, “Which grade level is available?”

  “First, the same class you taught this year.” He chuckled. “After all that time off recuperating, Kathy decided to retire rather than come back. She and her husband took an RV trip to the Grand Canyon and enjoyed it so much, they’re going to become professional gypsies. Her words,” he clarified with a grin.