“We only have three more weeks of school,” Caleb reminded her, as if he was carefully counting down the days. It had been difficult for him to be still, and he repeatedly bounced against the back of his chair. “Mrs. Patrick said if I can read at grade level, I won’t need to attend summer school.”
“That’s amazing! You’re almost there, Caleb.” Maggie knew that would give him the incentive he needed to do his assigned reading homework. Grinning, Caleb nodded, as if it was a done deal.
“This doesn’t mean you can slack off, you know.”
One bounce, then two. “I won’t, I promise.”
“Good,” she said with a wink.
Her next student was Victoria, who was a shy, sweet girl. Maggie suspected she didn’t have a great home life and had little support from her single mother when it came to completing her schoolwork. With encouragement and praise, Victoria had made great strides in her reading.
“Look at you,” Maggie said, praising the youngster, who had sounded out the word magazine without any help. “Pretty soon you’re going to be reading at a college level.”
Victoria blushed and offered Maggie a timid smile.
Maggie had grown close to both her students and was proud of the hard work they had put in and the progress they’d made. Feeling invigorated, she headed back to the house, her mind churning over ways to reward her star pupils at the end of the school year.
When Maggie arrived at the house it was after four. She found Phil busy at work, mowing the lawn.
“The yard is looking amazing,” Maggie said, as she headed up the few steps toward the front door. His efforts had made a dramatic difference already.
Phil acknowledged her words with a gentle smile.
“When you see Joan, would you mind telling her that I have a few things I need to go over with her when it’s convenient?”
“Sure thing.”
The instant Maggie entered the house, Edison galloped toward her, jumping up on his hind legs, begging for attention.
“How’s my puppy doing today?” she asked, picking him up and nuzzling him against her chest. He really was a joy, and so energetic.
Joan peeked her head around the kitchen door. “How’d your test go?”
“Great. I have a good feeling about it.” Like Maggie was with the two children she tutored, Joan had become her champion, supporting her with her own schoolwork. She didn’t mention that a second scholarship had fallen through. Maggie refused to give up hope. There remained a chance still, and she was determined to remain positive.
“I never doubted you for a moment,” Joan said, boosting Maggie’s spirits. “Not with all the hours you put in studying.”
“And now I have the next few weeks free. My supervisor at Starbucks was happy to give me more hours.”
“I don’t doubt it. She had nothing but praise for you when I talked to her.”
It was a relief to know Maggie would be able to save for school in the fall. “Did Edison have any accidents today?”
Joan sighed and wrinkled her nose. “A couple, but he’s learning. Patience is the word for the day.”
“For sure.” Maggie headed upstairs to change her clothes. With the sun out, she pulled on a pair of shorts and a summer top printed with strawberries. It was one of her favorites. She had her playlist going and bounded down the stairs when she remembered she hadn’t told Joan that Phil had something to ask her.
Halfway down, she stopped abruptly when the front door opened, and Nick Sample walked inside. When he saw her, his smile froze. Their eyes locked like clashing swords before a frown settled on his face, twisting his features.
“Why are you here?” he demanded, ignoring Edison, who begged for his attention.
Maggie straightened her shoulders, her heart pounding with such ferocity it felt like it was about to fly out of her chest. “I live here.”
“What the hell?” His eyes rounded with shock.
“Nick?” Joan came into the foyer.
“Mother,” he returned, looking none too pleased. “You didn’t tell me you’d taken in a boarder.”
“No, I guess I forgot to mention it when we last talked. Oh yes, I didn’t have a chance. The last time we talked was when you dropped off this puppy. And as I recall, you couldn’t get away fast enough.”
While playfully spoken, Maggie didn’t miss the sarcasm.
“I had to get back to work.” Nick had the good grace to look chagrined.
Joan shrugged, as if this was really none of his concern. “We discussed me taking in a boarder, remember?”
“And I said I didn’t think it was a good idea.”
“And I took your words into account and made my own decision,” Joan returned without the slightest hesitation.
“Why rent it to her,” he said, as if Maggie wasn’t standing right there listening in on the conversation.
“What’s wrong with Maggie?” Joan wanted to know, sounding perplexed. She looked from one to the other.
“Maggie and I have a difference of opinion,” Nick said, as if that explained everything.
“What he means is that he asked me out and I told him no,” Maggie clarified, infuriated that he didn’t appreciate the position she’d been in when he’d asked her for a dinner date.
“It seems a lowly construction worker isn’t good enough for Miss High and Mighty.”
“That’s not true.” Maggie couldn’t believe he’d say anything so asinine. Was that what he thought? “I…I figured out you were Joan’s son, and I didn’t know what to do. Surely even you could understand how awkward that would be.”
“You should have said something,” Nick flared back.
“I…couldn’t…not with a line of people behind you ready to place their orders.” He was smart enough to recognize her confession then and there would have been impossible.
“You made me look like a fool,” Nick returned, apparently unwilling to accept her excuse.
“If anyone needs to apologize,” Maggie flared back, “it’s you. I heard what Kurt had to say about you ditching your mother on her birthday and then pawning the puppy off on her.”
“That’s enough,” Joan said, coming to stand between the two. “I’m sorry to hear you two got off on the wrong foot.”
Maggie folded her arms over her chest.
Nick narrowed his eyes at Maggie as though to say what he thought of her and crossed his own arms.
Joan exhaled and seemed to collect her thoughts. “Now, it seems both of you have jumped to conclusions about each other. This can all be easily settled. Maggie,” she said, turning her attention to her, “Nick is a good son, and while he wasn’t able to be with me on my birthday, he later treated me to dinner at a restaurant that meant a great deal to his father and me.”
Nick smirked and nodded at Maggie as if to say he’d redeemed himself and she should appreciate his thoughtfulness.
“What about the puppy?” Maggie asked, and held back from reminding Joan of the sleepless nights they’d suffered when the puppy had cried and cried.
Joan glanced at her son with a pinched look. “Yes, well, that gift was a bit much and certainly unexpected.”