Wade hardly slept on Sunday night and by Monday morning, he was filled with nervous energy as he faced his first teaching job. He’d spoken to Valerie several times over the weekend to let her know he would fill the position, and then to find out what he needed to do to get the special license. She told him what his responsibilities would be, and he had spent hours researching online before making his first lesson plan. His students would range in age from five to fourteen, which was a large gap. But his biggest priority would be the Christmas program.
“Our class has music on Monday mornings,” Issy said as they drove toward the school. “So, I’ll see you today, Daddy.”
“I’m not sure if it’s reassuring that you’ll be one of my first classes—or if it’s intimidating, Bug.”
She grinned at him in the rearview mirror. “You’re going to do great!”
“Thanks for the confidence boost.”
They pulled into the parking lot, and he was relieved to see Valerie’s car already there. It was just after seven, but he wanted to give himself enough time to get settled into his classroom. He and Valerie had visited it on Sunday, after church, so he had a good feel for what he had to work with and what he might need to bring from home.
After parking, he and the kids got out of his truck and walked into the school. It had snowed the night before and there was a fresh coat on all the surfaces. Someone had already shoveled the walkways and plowed the parking lot, for which Wade was thankful.
“Will we come to the music room before school starts?” Issy asked Wade.
“That’s the plan. You can go to your classrooms before the first bell rings.”
Valerie was just walking out of her office when they entered the school.
“Perfect timing,” she said with a smile. She was wearing a pair of black pants, a white button-down shirt and a gray jacket. She always looked put together and professional. Wade usually wore Carhartt pants and a flannel shirt to work—but today, he was wearing slacks and a simple button-down shirt. He had gone back and forth about wearing a tie but had decided it was a little too dressy for him. “I was just coming to look for you,” she said.
“Oh?”
“I thought we could go over Mrs. Cole’s Christmas program before the first-class period. She told me where I could find the file.”
“Great.”
Hailey stepped out of Valerie’s office and she and Issy linked arms as they talked quietly. The little group walked down the long hallway to the end of the building where the music room and the art room were located.
Wade had a set of keys for the room, so he slipped one into the lock and opened the door for everyone to enter.
Issy and Hailey sat on a pair of chairs as Hailey opened her backpack and pulled out their friendship bracelet supplies. Brayden went to the music closet where all the instruments were located and pulled out a xylophone to play with.
“Mrs. Cole said her Christmas program folder is in the top drawer of her filing cabinet,” Valerie said as she walked across the room.
Wade followed. The teacher’s desk was in the farthest corner, and it was exactly as Mrs. Cole had left it on Wednesday when she’d gone home for Thanksgiving break. A picture of her family, complete with her grandchildren, sat on one side, while a calendar and miscellaneous supplies sat on the other side. It was a tidy little office space and when Valerie opened the filing cabinet, she found what she was looking for.
“Have a seat,” Wade said as he pointed to the desk chair. He pulled a stool over to join her as she spread the file open.
Wade set his shoulder bag on the floor next to the desk and took off his coat to set on top before he took a seat on the stool.
“Hmm,” Valerie said as she looked over the papers in the file.
“Is that good or bad?” he asked.
She let out a sigh. “It looks like these are the notes she kept from the past few years with the titles of the songs they sang, and the scriptures recited. She has a list of who played which part in the nativity—but that’s all. She doesn’t have anything laid out for this year. At least, not that I can see.”
“She didn’t already select the songs or give out the parts?”
Valerie shook her head. “I don’t see anything like that. Maybe there’s another file.”
She stood and opened the top drawer, then looked through several files before closing it and opening the second drawer. When she had gone through the entire cabinet, she turned back to Wade and shrugged. “I can’t find anything.”
“Should we call her?”
“It’s kind of early, but we can give it a try.”
Valerie pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket and took a seat again. She found Mrs. Cole’s number and pressed the talk icon and then put the call on speakerphone.
It didn’t take long for Mrs. Cole to answer. “Hello, Miss Wilmington. How can I help you?”
“Hello, Mrs. Cole. I’m here with Mr. Griffin, who will be subbing for you this coming month.”
“Hello, Mr. Griffin,” Mrs. Cole said. “Thank you so much for stepping in to help. I don’t know what we would do without you.”
“I’m happy to help,” he said.
“Good.”
“Mrs. Cole,” Valerie continued, “we found the file that you told me about, with notes about the past few pageants. But I’m not finding anything about this year’s program. Do you have that available?”
“Oh, dear. I thought I explained. I was going to put the program together this weekend, over the Thanksgiving break, but I didn’t get a chance. I only have the notes from years past.” A child began to cry in the background. Mrs. Cole paused for a second and addressed the child’s problem before returning her attention to the conversation. “I’m so sorry. I’m alone with the kids right now, since my husband is at the grocery store. My son-in-law is at work and my daughter is at the hospital with the new baby.”
“How is the baby doing?” Valerie asked.
“We’re taking things one day at a time. Yesterday, there were some complications and they struggled to keep the baby’s body temperature up. But it seems she’s turned a new leaf and things are looking better today.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” Valerie said.
“I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to get sidetracked,” Mrs. Cole said. “There’s just so much going on here.” The child continued to cry in the background. “Would you like me to put the program together and email it to you?”
“Oh, no,” Valerie said. “Don’t worry about a thing. Mr. Griffin and I will put the program together this year. You focus on your family. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something important.”
“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Cole said. “I feel like I’m leaving you in a pinch.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Valerie assured her. “We’ve got things under control.”
“Okay. I should run. Call or text me if you need anything else.”
“We will. Goodbye.” Valerie hung up the phone and turned to Wade, an apology on her face. “I’m sorry, Wade.”
“It’s not your fault. We’ll figure it out. How hard can it be to choose a few songs and assign the parts of the nativity play?”
“You don’t know all the students, nor what they are or are not capable of,” she said.
He hadn’t thought about that.
“I know all of them,” Valerie said, “but I don’t know their musical abilities. I could probably take a good stab at it and try to come up with a cast list.”
“I’m happy to help,” he assured her. “I know a few of the kids. And I can try to get a feel today with the classes that I have.”
Valerie nodded. “I think that’s a good idea.” She glanced at the clock. “We won’t have enough time during school. Why don’t you and the kids come over for supper tonight and we can put the program together?”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.” She smiled at him, her eyes softening. “Having supper together is starting to become a habit.”
He returned her smile. “It’s a habit I’m enjoying quite a bit.”
Her cheeks blossomed with color and her dimples shone. He could get used to looking for those dimples.
“At least let me bring something,” he said.
She waved his offer away. “I have a roast with vegetables in the slow cooker, and Hailey and I made some fresh bread yesterday after church. We have some leftover pies that need to get eaten, so we’ll have plenty of food.”
“I’m kind of relieved at the offer. With everything going on this weekend and trying to get all my plans in order this morning, I haven’t thought ahead to supper, and I need to get to the grocery store, which might not happen today. Supper at your house sounds great.”
“Then it’s settled. Come over about five and we’ll have supper and then sit down with Mrs. Cole’s notes and come up with a plan. For now, perhaps focus on “Silent Night.” Mrs. Cole said she always ends the program with the students circling the sanctuary with battery-operated candles, singing that song.”
“That I do remember,” Wade said.
She studied him for a second and then said, “You’re going to do a wonderful job, Wade.”
“Thank you.” With her reassurance, he felt like maybe he would.
“I need to do a couple of things before the first bell,” she told him as she closed the file folder and stood. “But I’ll be back when the first class comes in at 9:10—I think it’s Hailey and Issy’s class, if I’m not mistaken. I’ll let the students know what’s happened to Mrs. Cole and introduce them to you. Will that be okay?”
“Sure. I’ll be happy to see you whenever you want to stop by.” He was flirting with her—he couldn’t seem to help it. But it suddenly occurred to him that Valerie was his boss and he needed to keep things professional. At least during school hours.
She just smiled at him and then called for Hailey.
“Can’t I wait in here with Issy until school starts?” Hailey asked.
“Do you mind, Wade?” Valerie asked, turning to him.
“Not at all. I’ll send them off before the bell rings.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you later.” She left the music room and Wade moved the stool aside so he could sit at the desk.
He had a lot to prepare before the first class arrived—but his excitement was starting to outweigh his nerves. Already, this was more appealing to him than working construction—especially in the winter.
Hopefully he felt the same by the end of the day.
Valerie loved the smell of roasting meat and vegetables that permeated her house. It gave her a warm, homey feeling. Hailey was at the dining-room table finishing her homework with Annabelle on her lap, and Valerie was in the kitchen putting together an oatmeal spice cake, which she would pop into the oven. It would add another aroma to the air, and even though they had enough dessert with the leftover pies, she loved a good oatmeal spice cake after eating a roast.
It was almost five and Valerie was eager for Wade and the kids to arrive. She’d seen him several times at school that day and each time their paths had crossed, her heart had done a little flip. It had been the highlight of her week—and it had only just begun. She was excited to see him tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that.
But they hadn’t had a lot of time to talk about how his classes had gone. She’d been caught up in a meeting with the school board at the end of the day and so she was looking forward to hearing about it when they got to her house.
“Can you help me?” Hailey asked from the dining room in a whiny voice.
“I’m happy to help as soon as I get this in the oven,” Valerie said as she opened the oven door and slipped the glass cake pan inside. She set the timer and then walked into the dining room. “What are you working on?”
“Decimal points.” Hailey made a face. “I hate math.”
“Hate is a strong word, Hailey. I didn’t like it when I was your age, either. But once I realized that math was simply a set of rules, and if I learned them and followed them, I could do any math problem I was given, I didn’t dislike it so much.”
Hailey scrunched up her nose as if Valerie didn’t know what she was talking about.
Valerie sat next to Hailey at the table and had the little girl show her the problem.
“Okay,” Valerie said as she realized what she was working on. “Let’s look at it this way.” She laid out the problem in a real-world situation and walked Hailey through, step-by-step.
When they were done, Hailey grinned up at Valerie. “That wasn’t so hard.”
“See,” Valerie said, touching Hailey’s chin. “I told you. Now do the next one.”
Hailey bit her tongue as she worked on the next math problem, and when she came up with the correct answer, she cheered.
Valerie sat back, marveling at her daughter. Sometimes, it took her off guard that this was her child. Hailey was a part of her—a big part of her—and she loved sharing her life with her.
The front doorbell rang, and Valerie stood.
“Can I finish the last problem later?” Hailey asked Valerie.
“Sure.”
They walked through the living room and Hailey pulled the door open. Like usual, there was the excited round of greetings, with Annabelle included. Wade looked tired, but happy to see Valerie.
“Come in,” she said as she helped the kids hang up their coats. “Supper will be ready in about twenty minutes,” she told them as they ran up the stairs toward Hailey’s bedroom.
Wade took off his coat as Valerie closed the door behind him.
“You look tired,” she said.
“I’m exhausted. I don’t care what anyone says. An eight-hour day in construction is nothing compared to an eight-hour day with students. And I only had three classes today. I don’t know what I’ll do with four.”
She put her hand on his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’ll do great. All the teachers who had students in your class today told me how much the kids enjoyed themselves. They said you were funny and nice, and they want to go back to music class tomorrow.”
His muscle tensed under her hand as he put his hand over hers. It was warm and gentle, and she suddenly found herself wondering what it would feel like to have his arms around her—a thought that startled her and made her pull away from him.
More and more, Valerie found herself daydreaming about Wade Griffin. Her feelings for him were growing faster than she liked to admit. Yet the more time she spent with him, the more time she wanted to spend with him.
“Thank you,” he said, showing no sign that he noticed her sudden apprehension. “That’s nice to hear.”
“Come in,” she said as she moved toward the dining room. “I could use some help setting the table. And I want to hear all about your day.”
They worked in tandem, and Valerie marveled that Wade was comfortable enough in her home to know where to find the plates, cups, silverware and napkins without asking or being told. They visited as if they’d known each other for years—instead of just a few months.
Wade’s stories about his first day of teaching made her laugh. It was fun to share this part of her life with him. To work with the same people, know the same students and commiserate about the coffee in the teachers’ lounge. Wade teased her that everyone blamed the coffee on her, but they all knew it was the secretary, Mrs. Freeman, who purchased the coffee and insisted on that brand.
They didn’t even get around to talking about the Christmas program before supper. Instead, they talked about Thanksgiving break and when the conversation shifted to his parents’ unexpected visit, he told her about his childhood growing up in Timber Falls. He had one older sister who lived in Oregon and only came home at Christmas. They talked about Wade’s need to come home and work for his dad after his divorce. Neither one noticed that half an hour had passed until the timer went off on the oven and the cake was ready to come out.
“We should get the kids down here to eat,” Valerie said.
“I’ll call them.”
As Wade left to tell the kids to come to supper, Valerie pulled the cake out of the oven. She had a cream cheese frosting ready to put on it, but it would need to cool first.
When everyone was seated, Valerie asked Wade if he’d like to offer grace.
He met her gaze and for a second, she held her breath.
This was starting to feel an awful lot like a family.
And she liked it—was beginning to love it.
“Of course,” he said.
They held hands as Wade said grace and then they began to eat the meal.
The kids were just as comfortable with each other as Wade and Valerie had become and they laughed and visited as the meal progressed.
When everyone was done, the kids began to clear the table and Wade and Valerie hand-washed the dishes. He flicked some suds at her, and she laughed as she retaliated.
The kids asked to watch a movie in Valerie’s bedroom and after they were settled, Valerie came downstairs and found Wade at the table with a pad of paper and a pen.
“Ready to plan the best Christmas pageant ever?” he asked.
She took the seat next to him, trying not to be aware of their nearness, or the subtle scent of his cologne—or her desire to touch him. To feel his skin against hers—to know what it would be like in his arms. To be kissed again.
She forced herself to focus on the task ahead—but it was almost impossible. She loved having him in her home—in her life.
Was Wade feeling what she was feeling? Or was this one-sided? She’d told him they needed to remain friends, but could she stick to that plan? Had she ruined things by telling him that’s what she wanted, when she was starting to change her mind?
He turned to her, a question in his beautiful blue eyes. They were so clear. So honest. So kind. She could get lost in those eyes.
“Everything okay?” he asked quietly.
She couldn’t speak, so she simply nodded.
He studied her for another heartbeat and then tore his gaze away from hers and cleared his throat. “I think we should start with the play.” His voice sounded a little strained—but was she only imagining that?
“Okay,” she managed to say.
“Do you think we could cast Hailey to play the part of Mary?” he asked. “When she was singing today, I was really impressed with her vocal ability. And she has so much confidence. Since she’s new to the school, I also thought it might be good for her to feel ownership of the play. Other kids would get to know her better and she might feel like she has a place here.”
Unexpected tears came to Valerie’s eyes. “Really? You want her to play Mary?”
He looked at her again. “If you think she’d enjoy it.”
“I think she’d love it.” She wanted to hug him—but she refrained, knowing that if they went down that road, there was no coming back without pain.
And pain was the last thing she wanted for her—or for Hailey.
“Great,” he said as he wrote Hailey’s name on the list.
They worked for over an hour on their Christmas pageant plan, brainstorming ideas, and going over Mrs. Cole’s notes.
Valerie found herself laughing again as Wade told her stories about the previous pageants and some of the foibles that had taken place. A wise man who had the hiccups, a sheep who loved the limelight and spent the entire program bleating, though he was repeatedly told to stop, and the various singers who tried to out-sing each other to be heard above the noise.
When they were finished, and both were satisfied with the plan, Valerie cut some cake and they each enjoyed a piece before calling the children down to join them.
“I think this year will be a memorable year, if nothing else,” Wade said as he took a bite of his cake.
“For all the right reasons,” she said as she savored the spices on her tongue.
“Mmm.” He looked down at his cake. “This is so good, Valerie.”
“Thank you.”
“Your cooking and baking have spoiled the kids and me. We might need to do this more often.”
She didn’t meet his gaze as she said, “Part of me wants to tell you that we should make a habit of it.”
He was silent for a moment and then said, “And the other part?”
“The other part is scared and making a list of all the reasons it wouldn’t be a good idea.” She finally looked up at him.
Wade was watching her, and she could see that he was struggling, too. “I think you and I are telling ourselves the same things.”
She felt a sense of relief to finally be voicing what she’d been feeling for several days—and to know he was on the same page.
“I like you, Valerie,” he said. “A lot.”
“I like you, too,” she said quietly.
“But I think both of us know what we’re up against. The least of which is that I’m now your employee and I have a feeling there’s some kind of policy against dating your boss.”
A smile tilted the edges of her lips. “If there is, I haven’t seen one. But I know what you mean.” Sadness filled her heart as she played with the crumbs of her cake. “My life drastically changed less than two weeks ago—I think that’s about all the change I can handle for a while.”
He was silent again as he, too, pushed his cake around with his fork. When he looked up at her, he offered a sad smile. “I’m thankful for your friendship, Valerie. More than I can say.”
“So am I.” And she was—very much—but was it enough?
It would have to be.