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“That’s an admirable approach.”
“It’s always just been so obvious to me.” She pushed her chair back. “It’s nice to walk in a forest where a few birds are singing. But the forest is so much more beautiful and fascinating when many different birds are singing their own unique songs. Did you bring a lunch?”
“A…oh.” He shook his head, as if shaking himself out of a trance. “No. Didn’t think of it.”
“You can share mine, if you don’t mind bologna sandwiches.” She held up her lunch bag and logged off her computer. “Plus there’s always extra food in the teacher’s lounge.”
She led him down the crowded corridors to the lounge. The teachers all greeted him warmly, with several expressing admiration for his books. Grace rummaged around for peanut butter crackers, string cheese, and bananas, and they sat down to eat.
Her home-packed lunch was as neat and organized as her lesson planner. Individual Tupperware containers held her sandwich, chips, carrots and celery sticks, and fruit salad. Her dessert was a square of frosted chocolate cake, which she sliced neatly down the middle to share with him. She got him a soda from the communal stash in the fridge, but for herself she’d packed a little, old-fashioned glass bottle of milk.
Though Lincoln usually preferred coming up with his own “answers” about people, he was beginning to realize he wanted the truth about Grace. His fictional creations wouldn’t be nearly as interesting as the real reasons why she was the way she was.
And his stay in Bliss Cove wouldn’t be nearly as tedious as he’d originally thought. He thoroughly enjoyed sitting in on Grace’s classes for the rest of the day.
After school, she packed up a stack of books and folders and told him she had to hurry to the auditorium.
“I’m the drama club advisor, and we’re rehearsing for the student production ofA Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She slipped her bag over her shoulder and locked her desk. “But I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“I’ll be here.”
“Okay.” She flashed him a smile that was both spontaneous and genuine.
His breath stuck in his throat. He watched her hurry off, her hair spilling out of its messy knot, her tattered book bag thumping heavily against her hip.
Shaking off the urge to follow her, he walked out to the parking lot and drove to Title Wave. Sam was stocking books in the Mystery section. They’d only seen each other once since they’d made this deal, when Lincoln had stopped by to tell him about the high school job.
“Still here, huh?” Sam asked.
“You thought I’d bail after less than a week?”
“Man, I’m not judging you.” Sam placed a few books on the shelf. “Wherever I’ve been in the world, I’ve always had one foot out the door.”
Until…
Lincoln glanced toward the front counter. “Is your girl here?”
“Yeah, she’s back in the office.” Sam brushed his hands on his jeans. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
They walked to the back of the store.
“How’d your teaching gig go?” Sam asked.
“Okay.” Lincoln deliberately kept his tone indifferent. “I’ve been assigned to Grace Berry’s Shakespeare and poetry classes. She mentioned she knows you.”
“Yeah, she orders all her books through us. She’s great. Really smart.” Sam pushed open the office door, and a pretty young woman with long brown hair looked up from the computer.
“Hey, I ordered a few copies of…” Her voice faded.
“Lincoln, Brooke.” Sam stepped aside, holding the door open. “Brooke, Lincoln.”
“Lincoln.”The pleasure lighting up her eyes almost startled him. “I’m so happy to finally meet you for real.”
Pushing away from the desk, she hurried over to him. The next thing Lincoln knew, she was hugging him as if he were a long-lost friend.
“You probably don’t remember, but we met by accident in New York a few months ago.” She eased away, still beaming, and squeezed his hands. “We shared an elevator, and I acted like a dork, and then this woman told me you were Lincoln Atwood, and later I realized it had to be fate. I’msothrilled you’re here. What have you done so far? Did you try the artichoke soup? Where are you staying?”
“Uh…” He was a little dazzled by her effusive greeting and warmth. “I’m at the Happy Daze Motel over on the interstate. I haven’t had any soup, no.”
