Page 13 of Wed to You

“We’re going to go to our seats and make a picture. This will be a special picture as it will be the cover of your kindergarten book.” Chelsea held up a stack of papers. “I have put together most of your work over the year from learning your ABCs and numbers to art work, and even some of the pictures we’ve taken. You’ll make the cover and you’ll have a book to remember kindergarten.”

The children smiled. No wonder Kaden was in love with her. She was gentle, kind, and genuine. Jagger was half in love himself.

“So, when I call your table, I want you to stand up, go to your cubby to get your art box and your art shirt, and go to your seat. Mr. Talbot and I will get more art supplies and bring them to you.”

She scanned the group. They sat forward, anticipating which table she’d start with. “Honey bees, you can start.”

Honey bees?Jagger glanced at Chelsea with one raised brow. She smiled at him then turned her attention to the five children who stood and quietly went to a large storage area along the side wall. He was amazed at how orderly they were. How’d she do that? As the first group gathered their items, Chelsea called a second group, the Sharks, and Kaden, along with four other boys, stood.

“No girls wanted to be a shark?”

“Girls aren’t sharks,” one boy said.

“I don’t know. I’ve met a few.”

Chelsea sent him a warning glance, but her gaze held humor.

Like the previous group, this set of five children quietly went to their storage cubbies and got their items. Kaden put on his art shirt, making Jagger frown. Was that one of his old shirts? When did he send that to school?

Within a few minutes, all the children were at their tables, waiting for their next task.

“Mr. Talbot, can you help me pass out the other art items? There are several boxes over here. You can put one box per table.” Chelsea led Jagger to a storage area near her desk. There were several boxes filled with glue, glitter, beads, paint, and other art supplies.

“You’re just going to let them have at all this?” Jagger had done art with Kaden before, the results of which were still smeared on Kaden’s bedroom wall.

She smiled and, for a moment, it distracted him. She really was beautiful. “It’s the last day of school.” Her gaze slid over his body and he realized he ran out of the house without considering what he was wearing.

Not able to remember, he glanced down. Old faded jeans Miss Z kept trying to throw out and a blue, plaid button-down over a white T-shirt. Could be better. Could be worse.

“If you’re worried about getting your clothes ruined, I have a smock you can wear.”

“I’d rather buy new clothes than wear a smock.”

She nodded, her lips twitching into that coy smile, and then she turned her attention back to the children, whose noise level was rising. “Remember, indoor voices. Mr. Talbot is going to give each table an art box. Don’t forget your manners and take turns. There are enough art supplies for everyone. I’m going to give you each a piece of construction paper. You’ll have your choice of color.” She held up a large stack of construction paper. “When I give you your paper, you can start.”

Jagger picked up the art boxes and set one on each table as instructed while Chelsea handed out construction paper.

“Jagger, I chose green.” Kaden waved his paper in the air, nearly hitting the boy sitting next to him.

“I like green. What are you going to put on it?”

Kaden set his paper on the table and rummaged through his art box. “Me and you and Miss Beemer having pizza.”

Jagger cast a glance toward Chelsea. Her lips curved upward slightly and a blush came to her cheeks as she turned her gaze to Jagger.

Interesting.

It seemed like hours that he and Chelsea checked on the kids and stopped glitter wars, which, in his estimate, he lost. Miss Z might get her wish with the jeans if the glitter didn’t come off.

Then Chelsea gave them a five-minute warning that it was time to finish up. In a marvel Jagger wouldn’t have believed if he hadn’t seen it, the kids finished and within ten minutes of completing their work, all the supplies were stashed, the artwork sat along the window to dry, and the kids were back on the carpet waiting quietly.

“Mr. Talbot will read you a story while I finish cleaning up and then we’ll have our snack and party.”

There was a group, “Yay!” from the kids.

Story?“I can clean if you’d—”

“I think Kaden would enjoy you reading a story. The one about napping is a favorite.” She nodded toward the shelf of books.

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