I kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry you had to do that.”
Meghan craned her neck around to look at me. “I’m sorry Owen ruined our hour alone. Ali should be here any minute now.”
I touched her cheek. “That’s okay. You couldn’t help it. And when Ali gets home, I think I’ll take the two of you over to Kenny’s for dinner, so you don’t have to cook or clean up.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re being awfully understanding. I thought you were going to be mad about missing out on the naked.”
“I might have been, except that I just remembered that Bridget is going to be gone all night. My sister’s a big girl. She can handle the idea of you being in my room with me.” I turned her face and kissed her. “We might not have had our hour, but we’ll have all night.”
ONCE THE WEATHER CLEARED up, it hit me that I only had two more weeks with my students. I planned several field trips, taking them to the park, to a few special places in town and even out to our neighbor Fred’s farm to draw horses. They loved it, and I enjoyed watching their eyes light up when a new concept clicked in their minds.
I was moving between the kids when I caught sight of someone heading our way. Fred had given us permission to be in the field, and I realized the man was a little taller and a little slimmer than the farmer. As he grew nearer, I recognized the artfully-mussed hair.
Alex put on a stern face. “Hey, what’re all you guys doing in my pasture?”
They all laughed. Apparently, even though he only returned to Burton a few times a year, Alex was popular among the elementary school set. Either that or these kids weren’t easily scared.
He smiled at me. “Hello, pretty girl. Are you responsible for these hooligans?”
“Guilty as charged.” I leaned up to give him a quick hug. “The bigger question is, what’re you doing here? I thought you went back to Atlanta weeks ago.”
“I did.” He swatted at the back of his neck, where a mosquito had landed. “I’ve got a meeting in Savannah tomorrow, so I decided to stop off and visit the old homestead for the night.”
“Bet your mom and dad were glad to see you.” I knew Fred and his wife Ellen missed their only son.
“Of course they were. I’m kidnapping Mom into the city with me tomorrow, so she can have a little fun while I’m at my meeting. She’s tickled.” He ran his eyes up and down me, with one brow raised. “So, things are going well with Sam the Man? You two crazy kids setting a date yet?”
I shook my head. “You know the score. We’re just enjoying ourselves. Nothing serious.” I kept my eyes on the black horse grazing at the edge of the field. “And I leave next week.”
“And how does Sammy boy feel about your imminent departure?”
“I’m sure he’s fine with it.”
“But he hasn’t said anything.”
I shrugged. “Not really. We don’t talk about the future. He’s got a life here, and I’ve got mine—elsewhere. That’s why we keep things casual.”
“Hmmm.” Alex smirked. “Funny thing. I ran into Reenie Evans when I stopped for gas on my way to the farm last night. She seemed to think what you and Sam have going on is pretty intense.”
My eyes flashed up to his face. “She wasn’t supposed to—she promised not to say anything to anyone.”
“And she probably wouldn’t have, except I brought it up and pushed her about it. And Reenie doesn’t consider me just anyone. She and I were best friends with Ali coming up through school. She wasn’t gossiping.”
I pressed my lips together. “Still, it’s nobody’s business. After I leave, I don’t want people giving Sam a hard time and pestering him.” I leveled a look at him. “Got it?”
Alex held up his hands. “Whoa, sister, don’t look at me. Atlanta, remember? I’m the least of your worries.”
Ali’s car pulled up along the far side of the field, interrupting any reply I might have made. I’d asked the parents to pick up their offspring right from the farm so that I didn’t have to drive back into town, and Ali had decided to take Bridget right to the stand with her. She sauntered over, her face lighting up as she spied Alex.
“Miss Meghan, I can’t get his ears right.” Jared, one of my third graders, stood up and tugged at my hand.
“That’s my cue to exit, stage left.” Alex snuck a quick kiss to my cheek. “I’m going to get the skinny on all things Burton with my pal over there. See you later, lovely.”
I crouched down to check out Jared’s work, but I was all too aware of Alex and Ali, whispering and glancing at me. That could only spell trouble.