“No,” he answered honestly.
“But it does. Doesn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Jayne stroked the back of her neck and a slight flush came into her cheeks. “Opposites attracting doesn’t have to mean having oppositional personalities. Seth and I are opposites but it’s very seldom that we clash. When we do, it’s over important things. Don’t worry about Maizy handling your lifestyle, or adjusting to it. And don’t worry about fitting into her world. I can tell by your thoughtfulness why you stand out from the crowd for her.”
“We don’t want to make life hard for her at the school.”
Jayne shrugged and looked around the library. “Because I’m not in a ménage, I have a different dynamic, but it wasn’t altogether easy when I married Seth either. Some people were supportive, and others wanted to judge. If you want my opinion, I don’t think she had things all that easy at school to begin with. Were you planning to deliver the book yourself today?”
He explained briefly that they were being careful about which of them she was seen with publicly and then voiced his other concern. “She’s already had two deliveries today. I think me showing up would be over the top. I was going to let Heath give it to her tonight.”
“But it was your idea. You should give it to her.”
“But the three of us care for her equally. It would be from all three of us.”
“What if I play delivery girl for you? I’ll be done here at two o’clock. You could go by the bookstore and pay for the book and have Violet gift wrap it and I’ll swing by and get it and deliver it for you.”
“Would you?”
“I’d be delighted.”
* * * *
Maizy sat at her desk and looked at the roses in their pretty round vase, reaching out to stroke a tender hot pink petal. Those men. They were something else. Even with the lid closed, she could smell the sweet buttercream icing that decorated the cupcake nestled in a tissue-lined box on her desk. It was so beautiful she didn’t have the heart to eat it.
Continuing the first card’s theme, the card that came with the cupcake was written in the same sure, masculine hand and said,
Really amazing…
-S.C.H.
She opened the book in her lap, marveling at it most of all. Jayne had just delivered it during her afternoon conference period. As she left, Jayne had said, “Turn to Sonnet 116. Spencer told me he left the card there.”
Sitting there alone, she looked down and read the words on the page.
“Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! It is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken”
With trembling fingers, she gently tore open the envelope and removed the plain white card.
Was last night a dream? If it was, please don’t wake me.
-S.C.H.
Wishing she could feel his strong arms around her, she took out her phone and sent a quick text to Spencer. “You’re going to make me cry. I love my book and I miss you.”
His reply was swift in coming. “Please don’t cry. I want you to smile. You make me smile. Did you like it?”
“I loved it. Shakespeare’s Sonnets are my favorite, especially 116.” Her heart palpitated as she scanned the words to the beautiful poem once more. “I’m a big fan of William’s…and yours. Please tell Heath and Cody thank you for me.”
“I’ll tell them. Did you receive the others?”
“Yes. You three sure know how to surprise a girl! I wish I could kiss you.”
“Me, too. Have fun tonight.”
“I will.” She was about to text, “I love you,” when her classroom volunteer led the children back in from PE. They were sweaty-headed and breathless, giggling and rambunctious as they took their seats. She replaced her phone on her desk and proceeded with the last segment of the day before they went home. If she was lucky, she could tell him she loved him in person before he left for work.
Fifteen minutes later, she had her students lined up in a row with their backpacks on and lunch boxes in hand, ready to be picked up by bus or parent. One by one, they departed and she counted the minutes until the last one was safely on his way. Maizy waited as the last kindergartener’s parent snaked forward in the long line of cars and stood with him near Jan, who was corralling her first graders. After asking Jan’s permission, Michael Martinez came over and gave her an affectionate hug.
“I hear that congratulations are in order, big brother,” she said as she stroked his tousled head. “How is little Isabella doing?”