Page 38 of Sweet Surrender

She gave up her lunch break to have this meeting, so I’m bringing her lunch. It’s nothing I wouldn’t do for any other teacher.

That didn’t really explain whyhewas going to eat lunch at eleven in the morning with her. But he suspected city women were the type who wouldn’t eat alone in front of you.

Though when he pictured her putting away a healthy serving of beef stew last night, he figured maybe that wasn’t the case for Becca.

Crossing Bear Avenue, he couldn’t help remembering being a child himself and wandering around town, buying candy at the general store, and always, always sharing it with Tripp. The idea made him smile, and he was feeling good as he kept walking to the school.

Miss Wiggins, the secretary let him in right away, but warned him that he was early.

“That’s fine,” he told her. “Okay for me to go on up and talk with Miss Hawthorne?”

“Sure,” she replied, eyeing the paper bag and thermos he carried suspiciously.

He frowned and strode off for the staircase, trying not to worry about gossip. Miss Wiggins was part of his mom’s quiltingclub, but that didn’t necessarily mean she was going to snitch on him.

Snitch on me for what? I’m just doing the polite thing and bringing Becca lunch since she’s missing hers to help my boys.

His heart began thundering as he approached the classroom door. He couldn’t stop thinking about last night, and how easy it had been to sit at the dinner table beside her, watching her smile and laugh along with the family.

She had been so beautiful bathed in starlight afterward. The innocent joy on her face as she gazed at the shimmering sky awakened something in his chest. It had been so long since he’d seen anything in his world for the first time. Seeing it through her eyes was better, somehow. And when she’d stood by her car, looking up at him with that same wonder, for just a moment, he’d almost felt like she wanted him to…

He pushed all those thoughts aside as he reached the doorway and paused, gazing into the room where Cal spent his days. Student work hung from the walls, along with big poster boards asking questions about Sugarville Grove.

“You’re early,” Becca said, her sweet, bell-like voice sounding like she was happy about it. “Come on in. I can show you some of Cal’s work, if you’d like.”

“I thought I’d bring you some lunch,” he told her, following her back over to the big desk where they’d met the first time.

He couldn’t help wincing at the memory of the way he had treated her then.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

“I’m just sorry for how I spoke to you the other day,” he told her.

“We already did this,” she said, smiling. “I’m also sorry for talking with the principal without you. But it’s all water under the bridge now. Right?”

He nodded, and she smiled as she sat down, gesturing for him to do the same.

“Now what were you saying about bringing me lunch?” she asked.

“It’s just grilled cheese and tomato soup,” he muttered, suddenly feeling embarrassed, like maybe he shouldn’t have done it. “And some hot cocoa.”

“Well, you sure know the way to my heart,” she said happily. “I know I said that everything was water under the bridge, but if it would make you feel better to keep apologizing like this, my break is the same time tomorrow.”

He chuckled as he poured out soup into the two bowls Tara had included in the bag with the sandwiches.

“That smells amazing,” Becca murmured. “Is it homemade?”

“Not this time,” he told her, handing her one of the paper-wrapped packets that contained a warm grilled cheese sandwich. “I picked it up at Bean Counters.”

“Tara is the best,” Becca said, closing her eyes in ecstasy as she took a sip of her soup.

“I’m glad you already know the café,” Zane said. “Have you been to the pizzeria yet?”

“I’ve been meaning to try it,” she said, suddenly looking a little shy. “One of these days I’ll get over there.”

He nodded and they both dug in. Even a little cooled down from his walk, the grilled cheese was amazing. And Tara always spiced up her tomato soup so that it felt like a meal on its own. They ate together in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

“You got this meeting set up quickly,” Becca said, wiping her mouth and sitting back in her chair when they had both finished their meal. “You must have sent a really good email.”

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