Page 2 of Blessings in Disguise

He sat back and only then realized his heart was beating at a clip. Well, it was a big step to be taking in his professional life. He refused to entertain the idea that there was anything personal about this.

* * *

Gemma sat back in her chair and stared out the window at the Pathways campus. It sprawled over acres of land with strategically placed buildings and cabins for the boys. This school had been a blessing to her six years ago when she applied to join the faculty. She’d become bored with her New York City practice, no matter how much money she made. She happily ditched it when Jackson Kane’s ad inPsychology Todaycaught her eye; she’d interviewed for and gotten the position. It had been the best move of her career.

“Knock, knock.” She looked over to find Jackson had come to her door. The man was smiling. And he had a lightness in his step when he walked over.

She said, “I was just thinking about you. Sit.”

Jackson dropped on the couch. She joined him there. “Why were you thinking about me?” he asked.

“I remembered when your ad came out for a psychologist at Pathways. And I got the job.”

“Huh. You were the most qualified. Actually, you’re overqualified.”

“I may be, but this position has made me happier than I’ve ever been with a job.”

He cocked his head. “I didn’t know that. In fact, I know very little about your personal life. Even after six years.”

“You know enough.”

“Not true. What Idoknow is how hard it is to share personal things. I could only open up with Maisy, and that took a long time.”

“Maisy’s a force to be reckoned with. How is she?”

“Happy. Sheadoresme and Freddie—her word—and is three months pregnant.”

“Oh, Jackson, I’m so glad to hear that.” Glad and a little jealous.Why, she didn’t understand.

* * *

The next day Caleb walked into The Garden Grill, a cute little restaurant tucked into a side street off the main road in Westwood. Gemma was already there at an outdoor table and waved him over.

He smiled when he reached her. As it was a hot August day, she’d swept up her auburn hair in some kind of knot and she wore a sage green sundress. He’d put on his lightest pants and shirt, too. “Hello, Gemma.”

“Caleb.” She smiled back as if she was glad to see him.

He took the chair across from her. “This is a nice space.” About a dozen tables with umbrellas sat outside and thegreenery and multicolored flowers surrounding them were lush. “Maisy and I came here once.”

“I talked to Jackson yesterday about her. I don’t see much of her since she left Pathways.” When his sister had fallen in love with Jackson, the CEO, she transferred to another school.

“She loves her job at Westwood Elementary. And she’s three months pregnant.” The only true joy Caleb had experienced in a long time was when he heard she was having a baby.

“Jackson told me.” She cocked her head at him. Her eyes had more green in them today because of the color of her dress. “Do you have kids, Caleb?”

I want to have a baby.

Who will take care of it? You’re already too busy with this damn church.

“No. That never worked out for me and my ex. But you probably remember that Maisy and I fostered a little boy.”

“Freddie Pecorino. At the time, we lost his brother Frankie from Pathways. But he’s back with us.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, Jackson broke the rules after a few months and let him return so he could graduate with the class.”

“Freddie didn’t tell me.”

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