by Kathryn Shay
She frowned at the bottle as if it had shit inside.
Noah said, “Go ahead, Alicia.”
Once she’d sprayed her hands, made the others do so, too, they sat and began their grade-levels meeting.
Alicia burst out with, “Just what is the purpose of having an animal in our midst?”
“Mostly, she’s here for emotional support. Dogs calm kids down. Touching a dog has a soothing effect.”
“So, she doesn’t help with content?”
“She will,” Noah told her. “Research shows that a dog can help kids to settle down while reading, by sitting next to them.”
“And, she’s an excellent listener when kids read aloud. She can sit for an hour with one student and not get restless.”
“What about Math? I’m assuming she can’t add.”
Maggie’s laugh was genuine. “I taught one lesson about degrees with her. On command, she can show kids what a 180-degree turn is, then do a 360.”
Alicia didn’t respond.
“You can also do other math related activities with her. For example, Rosie, walk to Noah while I count.” She counted ten steps. “Then teachers might ask the students a simple calculation question like, if Rosie walks those ten steps five times a day for five days, how many steps does she take?”
“That’s rather simple.”
Noah spoke up. “It’s the teacher’s responsibility to make the calculation appropriate to the learning level.”
Tim put in, “I’m sure she’ll make math more fun for kids by being there.”
The rest of the meeting was spent on monthly lessons. She knew Noah was scheduled for gardening next week, there would be music and language arts centering on Native American poetry the next, and a fascinating exploration of the environment with Native Americans and the colonists. Simultaneously, the sixth-grade teachers would build on those topics with other reading, social studies and science curriculum.
When the meeting broke up, the others said goodbye but Alicia and Noah talked out in the hall. From his vantage point, he saw Maggie dress Rosie in a winter sweater and hook on a leash. Donning her own coat, they went out the side door so Rosie could do her business.
Alicia finally left—he’d hardly paid attention—and when he came back inside, he caught sight of them through the window. They played: Rosie ran excitedly around her, Maggie lobbed a light snowball at her, and wow, Rosie jumped up and whisked at a branch, sending snow tumbling onto Maggie’s head. When they came back in, she said, “Wait till the next time Rosie. You’ll be sorry you did that.”
Rosie barked as if accepting the challenge.
Noah crossed to her. Her cheeks were ruddy and her eyes sparkling. They both smelled of the winter outdoors. He lifted his hand and brushed the flakes out of her hair. “Was that fun?”
“Um, yeah, I like to play with her outside, even in the winter.”
“I have an idea. How would you like to meet Huxley?”
Her face lit. “I’d love to. What do you have in mind?”
* * *
They were to meet in a dog park halfway between her house and his. The temperature had dipped into the low thirties but Rosie’s sweater was warm and Maggie’s quilted jacket was enough over a sweatshirt. This afternoon, she’d worked on the reading material for the kids in this unit, but arrived by four, as Noah had requested.
They were waiting—Huxley on a blanket at Noah’s feet. His little sweater was bulky, with a hood.
“Oh, my goodness. Oh, Rosie, isn’t he cute?”
Noah’s three-pound teacup Yorkie looked over. His hair was a beautiful shade of gold mixed with black, and his ears pointed upward. “Noah, tell us how to deal with him.”
“Be careful you don’t step on him.”
She laughed. “Let Rosie get acquainted with her. We’ll be right here with them.”
Noah and Maggie took seats on the bench, flanking the dogs. Rosie immediately lowered to the ground, so she could be eye level with Huxley. The tiny pup sniffed her face then went along her body, all while staying on the blanket. When he got to her rear end, she batted him away from there.
“Ha, she knows what she’ll tolerate.” Noah seemed amused.
“Guess so.”
Huxley walked back up on her other side and stopped at her shoulder. He turned in a circle a few times, then adjusted himself on the blanket so he sidled into Rosie.”
Noah said, “He wants to be near her.”
“We’ll let them stay like that for a bit.”
As the two cuddled together, Noah rose and took a seat on the other side of Maggie. He surprised her by taking her hand. “This okay?”
God, he was cute, she thought again. His dark hair was mussed and his blue-gray eyes mischievous. She nodded.
“I’m not involved with Alicia in case you’re wondering. She’s interested, has been interested for a long time, but she doesn’t appeal to me.”
“W-hat does appeal to you, Noah?” Maggie asked. She followed her instinct because she didn’t know how to flirt.
“Someone more earthy, more natural, more unconcerned with appearances. Someone whose values and priorities match mine. And definitely someone who has an affinity to dogs.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He grinned at her. “How about you? What appeals to you in a man?”
“Let’s see. Strong enough to stand up to people. Sensitive enough to the moods of others, including the creatures around him.” She giggled. “A long, runner’s body, trim but muscular.”
“I never got to physical attributes.” He reached out and tucked a strand of hair into her knitted hat. “I like long hair that’s casual, even messy sometimes. A sturdy build, from exercise and eating right. And violet eyes, Maggie, even though I’ve never seen them before.” He peered into hers. “Yeah, violet eyes.”
The dogs interrupted the poignant moment. Huxley jumped up onto Noah’s lap and Rosie nudged Maggie’s knees. “Time to let them exercise,” Noah said ruefully.
“Yep, it is.”
“Huxley has to go to the small dog area if I have any hope of getting him to run around.” He tipped Maggie’s chin. “Meet back here in a half-hour?”
“You’re on.”
“Come to my house for dinner?”
A hesitation.
“Just dinner, Maggie. I’m not rushing you. We’ll eat and get to know each other more.”
“Sure. I’ll come to your house afterward.”
She ran with Rosie for thirty-minutes, then she met Noah at the entrance. He carried Huxley in the rolled-up blanket. She followed him to his house, which was in an appealing middle-class neighborhood. He lived in a cute little ranch.
After Noah buzzed up the garage door, they exited their vehicles and walked in through the side. He put Huxley down in the garage and he ran ahead, while Rosie was still tethered. Maggie walked into a medium-size kitchen. Beyond the counter, a dining area with sliding glass doors lead to the outside.
“Look around,” he said.
The sitting room was spacious. Modern furniture, posters of modern art shows and some interesting sculpture. But it was still homey with colorful throws and pillows.” She faced him. “It reflects you.”
“I renovated. It took me years to get it how I wanted.”
“Did you do it yourself?”
“With some help from my friends.”
She pointed to a Picasso poster of The Three Musicians. “Did you see these exhibits?”
“Every single one.”
She unleashed Rosie and they followed her back into the kitchen, where they found Huxley in his bed near the heat vent. “I’ll let her go over there, if you’re comfortable with that.”
“I think she’ll be fine. Sit close, though, just to be sure. I’ll get us a drink.”
Maggie pulled out one of the sleek teak chairs at the sleek teak table, and sat near the dogs. Huxley stood in his bed to sniff her. Rosie laid out again like at the park, but put her head partially in the b
ed. Huxley cuddled up next to it. “I think they’re going to be good friends. We should probably sit at this gorgeous table, though, for a while longer.”
Noah asked, “It’s after five. Would you like a soft drink, wine or beer? That’s all I have.”
“A beer, I think.” She’d had some with her uncles and Whitney.
He popped open two Heinekens, handed her one, then went to the fridge and opened his stainless-steel freezer. “I have frozen pizza, which I made last week.”
“You make pizza?”
“Don’t you?”
“My sisters do. They love to cook. My mom does, too. I know how, of course, as the oldest, and make meals for myself when I don’t go to the main house to eat with Connor and Calla. Sometimes their cook brings me food.”
“They have a cook?”
“A housekeeper/cook. Remember Noah, she’s a princess. I doubt Calla ever leaned to cook, but Connor does sometimes. His mom taught all the boys to know their way around the kitchen.” She pointed to the freezer. “I’d love to try that.”
He turned on the oven and joined her. “You know, I’m most interested in Nick and Isabelle. President Manwaring’s sister.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I guess because we don’t hear much about a president’s extended family.”
She sipped her beer right out of the bottle. “What do you want to know?”
“How did they get together?”
“Now that’s a story. They met when the president assigned Nick to be her Secret Service agent because she was getting stalked.”
He spit out some of his beer. She laughed.
“Not your average meeting.”
“He’d been the Special Agent in charge of the president’s detail, but Jim wanted him to protect her. Living in those close quarters, they fell in love.”
“Jim? You call the president by his first name?”
“Not in public, but using Mr. President while we’re eating dinner or at the pool is stupid, in my book. And his.”
“How did Isabelle getting involved with her agent go over?”
“Let’s say there were ups and downs. It was four years ago in Jim’s first term.”
“Maybe you can get him into school to talk to our kids.”
“I can ask.”
“Mags, I was kidding.”
She shrugged. “Never hurts to try.”
They talked about Noah’s mother, who was deceased, and his father who was his best friend. When the food was ready, they chatted through a dinner of pizza and salad. Then indulged in chocolate chip mint ice cream for dessert. He took the dogs out while she cleaned up. When he came back, his cheeks were ruddy and his hair a mess. “I’d better leave,” she said, “if it’s snowing.”
“How are you driving in the snow?”
“I grew up in Upstate New York, Noah. I’m better than you, surely.”
“Probably.” He retrieved her coat and slipped on his. When Rosie joined them and he opened the door, Huxley ran over, barking like a banshee. He scooped up the dog, put him inside his fleece-lined jacket, and they both walked out with her. She got Rosie into the car, and Huxley barked to go along. Noah followed her to the driver’s side, she opened the door and turned to him.
Without asking, he lowered his head, keeping a distance so as not to crush Huxley. The kiss was different from the New Year’s Eve one, a bit more aggressive on both sides, especially when she looped her arms around him, letting him know she was involved. When they drew back, he said, “I like you, Maggie Marino.”
She said, “I like you, too, Noah Carson.”
She slid inside.
“Drive carefully.” He closed her door.
“I will. See you tomorrow.”
“Looking forward to it.”
In the confines of the cold car, she shivered a bit. Was it the weather or Noah? She’d have to think about a relationship with him, but not as she drove home. Tonight, when she got in bed, she’d go over every moment of that sexy kiss.
Chapter 4
* * *
The next day, Noah addressed the class. “Guess what you’re going to do today?”
“Pet the dog?” a few kids piped up with.
“That and more.” He turned to Maggie and smiled. “Ms. Marino?”
“Rosie gets to walk to each of you today, and sit beside your desk for ten minutes. You can pet her head.” One of the goals for having Rosie work in the classroom was to calm the students down so they could pay attention better.
“Just pet her for now. As the month progresses, she can lie on the mat or sit in the comfy chairs in the back and cuddle up with you to read.”
Maggie unleashed Rosie.
Then all hell broke loose.
Brett Baker stood. Taller than the others, with a lot more meat on his bones, his face flushed, eyes bulging. He took the desk and threw it into the wall. The sound of aluminum crashing against a surface was loud. The others shouted, cried out, and Noah started toward the boy but…Rosie loped over before Noah could reach him. Brett stood with his hands fisted, anxiety pulsing in every part of his body. Rosie licked one hand, then nudged his leg, keeping contact with the boy.
It took a few minutes, but Brett dropped to the floor, on his knees, then butt, and curled up in a ball.
Rosie moved in closer, put her head and shoulders onto his back. Both adults watched and the kids quieted, letting Rosie do her thing.
In the past semester Brett had had a few outbursts, but not quite this severe. He was never able to calm himself, so he had to be removed from class. Today, however, Rosie helped him let go of his anger and anxiety. Right away. Finally, he sat up and leaned against the wall. Rosie practically got in his lap and he buried his face in her fur.
Maggie stood back to monitor the others while Noah approached them and knelt down. He asked in a soothing voice, “You okay, buddy?”
Tears streaked down Brett’s cheeks when he peered up at Noah. “I feel bad.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Let’s go back into the private alcove.”
He pointed to the dog. “Can she come?”
Noah turned to Maggie. “I’ll take care of the rest of the class.”
He heard her say to the others, “Don’t worry, guys. You’ll get Rosie by your side today. I promise.”
Noah followed the boy and dog to the back. Once inside, he drew the screen around, and they both sat, Rosie close to Brett. “Want to tell me why you feel bad?”
He petted Rosie’s fur. Looked at her. “A fight.”
“You were in a fight?”
“Not me.”
“Other kids?”
He shook his head still not meeting Noah’s gaze.
“At home?”
“Yeah.”
“Who?”
“My parents.”
“Your parents had a fight and you were there?”
“’Cuz of me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Who’d take me to school.” Buses were provided but some parents still dropped off their kids.
“What did you do?”
“I ran out of the house.”
“One thing I was going to do today was remind you of the talk we had about how to handle feelings at times like that. Times when you’re sad. Or feel bad. Or are mad.”
Clamming up, he bent over and laid his head on top of Rosie’s.
Noah’s throat got tight.
He let them be until Brett straightened and looked at Noah.
“Can you come back to class, or do you need to see Ms. Danner?” The psychologist for the fifth grade.
“I wanna come back.”
“You’ll have to do the things we set up for a time out.”
“I will.”
Noah opened the door and went out first. Rosie came next, and Brett on her heels.
Maggie was up front, reading to the kids. She looked over. And smiled. “Hi.”
�
��Hi.”
The kids turned. Brett looked at them. “Sorry I did this.” The first requirement and the others nodded. Noah had told them bad behavior was not all right.
Keeping his head down, he walked to a corner, where a desk sat between two more screens, isolated from others, but he could see the whole class. It was Noah’s version of time out because he wouldn’t leave these kids alone completely.
Maggie called Rosie to her. “Now, we’ll let her come to each of your desks and you can pet her.”
Noah watched Brett. His expression was one of longing. Noah waited till all the kids had their turn with Rosie, then took the dog back to Brett.
When his head stopped spinning, Noah was amazed at the break-through with Brett. He’d had the longest conversation ever with the boy. Thanks to Rosie.
And her handler, off course. He smiled over at Maggie.
* * *
When the kids left for PE, Noah said, “I need to alert Jill Danner. Brett’s required to see her today. Come with me?”
“Are you sure?”
“Very, we’ll get some coffee in the teacher’s café afterward. I need to settle down myself.”
“Let’s leave Rosie in her crate.” She turned and laughed. “Ha, she’s already in there.”
“She’s had an exciting morning.”
The psychologist was located in the same wing as the classrooms, so they arrived at her office in minutes. She kept her door open when she wasn’t counseling or on the phone. Right now, she was working at the computer.
Noah knocked. “Hey, Jill.”
Jill’s face, framed by bobbed blond hair, lit up. “Noah. Nice to see you.”
He walked in, Maggie behind him.
“Oh, Maggie. Hi.”
“Hello, Jill.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Not wrong. Something happened in the classroom.”
“The dog isn’t working out?”
“What? No, actually Rosie saved the day, so to speak.” He explained to Jill what happened.
She turned to Maggie, all professional. “Is this kind of thing common?”