Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(11)

Ruby sniffled as she thought about it and then nodded. She walked over to look at the toys in the play area but kept a firm grip on Buns.

Smiling, Maizy stood again and to Mrs. Porter she said, “She’ll be fine. I’ll be keeping her hands busy this week so she won’t need to cling to Buns.”

“I’m really sorry,” Ruby’s mother said, looking a little misty-eyed. “I didn’t have the heart to take him from her before we left the house. Her Grandpa Woody gave him to her. She’s Grandpa’s girl.”

“Don’t apologize. You did the right thing. It needs to be her choice. By the end of the week she’ll be just fine.”

Lucy waved at her as she moved toward the door, looking a little teary-eyed. Maizy waved back at her, loving her just a little more for being so attached to PJ. Patrick was a lucky man. So was Beck, even if the man was a clueless doofus at times.

Maizy’s classroom volunteer arrived as several more parents showed up with kindergartners in various stages of readiness for the first day of school. Some gave a kiss and wave at the door and others clung tearfully to their parent’s legs. The volunteer drew each child to the group in the play area as the time to start the day neared.

One of her students from last year stopped by her room for a hug and to give her a pint-sized miniature rose bush.

“Ready for first grade, Jasmine?” Maizy asked, recalling how this precious little girl had struggled the previous year, learning to read. She also remembered the way her beautiful coffee-colored cheeks had glowed and her eyes had sparkled when she read a sentence all on her own the first time. Her heart ached with love for the little girl. That feeling was mingled with hope for her in the coming year.

Jasmine’s mother waved at her from the door, placed her hand over her heart, and mouthed “thank-you” as Jasmine ran back to her to go next door.

Despite the tears and drama of her new students, she was still excited and felt privileged to be the one to help them with their first steps in the world of reading and writing.

The bell rang, startling some of the kids. Ruby began to cry and Maizy comforted her before she got the class’s attention and started the day.

At intervals throughout the day, three handsome faces kept popping into her mind, making it difficult to focus. Each time that happened, her heart lurched. At lunch she found the business card in her tote bag and stared at it. Tossing it would be the best idea but as she looked at it, she couldn’t do it. She felt compelled to follow through on Cody’s request. “Call me.”

During her lunch break, her cell phone chirped with a text message. She picked her phone up from her desk in the quiet classroom, hoping it was a message from Lucy. She sighed when she saw the sender was her older sister, Roberta.

“What now,” she said softly as she opened the message. Roberta had been on the warpath ever since Patrick’s relationship with Lucy and Beck had become a public fact, thanks to Tabitha Lester and her gossip.

“Hey, Maizy! I just wanted to invite you to come to my ladies’ study group tonight. I think you’d really like it. We could eat supper beforehand and get all caught up.”

“Hmm,” Maizy whispered. “Get all caught up on all the ugly gossip Tabitha spews, I’m sure.”

“Is this the class that Tabitha Lester teaches?” Supposedly it was a Bible study, but it was really just that odious woman’s soapbox for all her bitterness.

“Yes! It’ll be awesome tonight, I’m sure. She’s a really strong teacher. Tells it like it is.”

“Sorry, Roberta. It’s the first day of school and I’m sure I’ll be wiped out. I’m not sure I’d attend Tabitha’s study, even on a good day. She’s been really mean to Patrick, Lucy, and Beck.”

“Oh. I forgot about school starting today. I hope you reconsider. And Patrick shouldn’t expect any better if he wants to involve himself in a sinful lifestyle.”

“He’s your brother, Roberta.” Maizy got a chill when she thought of Roberta’s reaction if she knew Maizy was considering meeting with Cody, Heath, and Spencer.

“I know. And I hope he reconsiders this horrible path he is on.”

Maizy scoffed and shook her head. She’d never seen Patrick happier, and it was undeniable that Lucy had been good for PJ. Any time Maizy was around them, she had no doubt that they were good for each other.

“The only thing horrible is seeing you willingly creating this divide in the family.”

“I’m not the only one, Maizy. Dad feels the same way.”

“When I became an adult I started thinking for myself, Roberta. I don’t let Daddy dictate my actions and wouldn’t expect Patrick to allow that either.”