Page 9 of A Beach House Beginning

She might have expected Wes to turn his attention back to his daughter. That was the reason he had come to lunch, after all, to spend time with Brielle. Instead, he seemed to go out of his way to include the boy in their conversation.

She couldn’t help being touched by and grateful for his efforts, especially because it allowed her a chance to interact with some of the other students who did not have a guest with them for various reasons.

As soon as the children finished lunch, they were each quick to return their trays to the cafeteria and rush outside for recess.

Brielle seemed to take her time over the meal, probably to spend more time with her father. Cody was the last to linger at the table, apparently enjoying his new friends too much to leave.

When he left to go out to recess, watched over by the playground aides, Jenna rose as well.

“I brought over a battery for your car,” Wes said abruptly. “I can switch it out for you before I head back to the garage. I thought that might be better so you don’t have to worry about needing a jump again after school is out.”

This man was full of surprises. “Really? You would do that on your lunch hour?”

He shrugged. “It’s no trouble. Will take me less than ten minutes. Brie can help me. She loves to work on cars, don’t you?”

His daughter beamed. “Yep.”

“I will need your car keys, though.”

“They’re in my classroom. I’m about to head back there, if you don’t mind following me.”

“Not a problem.”

He and his daughter walked with her, Brielle chattering happily with her father. She didn’t seem to mind his monosyllabic responses.

As they made their way through the halls, Jenna couldn’t help but be aware of Wes. She was a little surprised to realize she had lost some of her nervousness around him. It was very difficult to remain afraid of a man who could show such kindness to a young boy who could sometimes struggle in social situations.

“Thank you for helping with Cody. He’s having a pretty tough time right now. Guest days are sometimes hard on him. You helped distract him.”

“I didn’t do much. We just talked about his dog.”

She wanted to tell him the conversation obviously meant much more to the boy, who was deeply missing his father, but she didn’t want to get into Cody’s personal problems with him, especially not with Brielle there.

“The distraction was exactly what he needed. Thank you.”

Wes didn’t quite smile, but she thought his usual stern expression seemed to soften a little. “Glad I could help. About those keys...”

“Yes. I’ll get them.”

She opened her classroom and headed for the closet where she kept her personal effects. After digging through her purse, she pulled out her key chain with her car fob.

“Here you go,” she said.

He held his hand out and she dropped the keys into it, grateful she didn’t have to touch him for the handover.

“Thanks. I’ll bring them back when I’m done.”

“Do you need my help out there?”

“No. We got it.”

“Thank you.”

The words seemed inadequate but she did not know what else to say. As soon as Wes and Brielle walked out the side door closest to the faculty parking lot, her friend Kim Baker rushed out of her classroom across the hall, where she taught fifth grade.

“Who is that?” Kim asked, eyes wide. “I must know immediately.”

“My neighbor.”

---