LITMIR.BIZ

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drifted through budding trees to dapple the old sidewalk with shadow lace. It caught her fancy, bringing a smile to her lips. Alexis felt her heart lift in appreciation of the morning’s beauty. Unable to help herself, she dawdled and admired the blossoming crocus in the yard nearest the school.

      On this lazy spring Saturday, she expected most people to have a late start to their day. Finding J.D. in the school parking lot before her surprised her.

      She quickened her step. His long, lean back was bent over her motor, and she could see only the curve of his face. He wore a dark, aged T-shirt that stretched along his shoulders and biceps as he moved. It stirred her senses. He reminded her of a calendar she once had in college that featured gorgeous blue-collar males. Firemen. Cops. Construction workers. All clothed and tastefully done, but nonetheless shining examples of male beauty.

      Swallowing hard, she silently lamented, Lord, this isn’t helping. Why can’t I see attraction in the right man for a change? I didn’t even think Ron was this cute at first, and he had a few of the qualities I’ve been looking for. This guy is so off-the-mark for me….

      From what she could see, he didn’t fit a single thing she wanted in a life mate. Short-tempered. Short on advanced education. Limited horizons.

      Although to be fair, she didn’t think J. D. Sullivan short on intelligence—he just didn’t apply it to help himself much.

      She had a mental list of the qualities, interests and goals she wanted—hoped and prayed—to share with a husband. Truth be known, she had a written list, too, one she’d made out at twenty. And revised at twenty-five. Now she’d have to look at it again, she supposed.

      But all in all, there was something different about this man. J. D. Sullivan had an element she had yet to put her finger on.

      He glanced up at that moment. In the sunlight, his brown eyes glinted with golden sparks. His mouth moved. Not in a smile exactly, but with an involuntary acknowledgment of her presence.

      It was quickly hidden before he said, “Almost got it done.”

      She glanced away, letting her gaze rove the school yard. “Where’s Cliff? I thought he’d be here with you this morning.”

      “He’s right—” J.D. stopped what he was doing and shrugged. After glancing around, he let out a disgusted breath. “Well, he was there a minute ago. On his skateboard.”

      He stuck his head back under the hood, mumbling. “That boy is just asking for it. I’m likely to lock him in his room and throw away the key if he keeps this up. Told him to stay close by, but he keeps disappearing on me. Kid can’t seem to follow the simplest orders.”

      A flare of irritation shot up her body. She tried to tamp it down, realizing she did not know the circumstances of their situation. This adjustment was extremely difficult on both of them, and it touched a sympathetic chord in her. But…how dare J.D. treat his son with such flippant lack of concern? Didn’t he love the child at all? Didn’t he care what the boy got himself into? Where he went?

      Cliff must feel the loss of his mother keenly. How could the child cope with a father who rebuffed him?

      Alexis felt so blessed. She’d had a loving set of parents and two older sisters to nurture her through childhood. They accepted her completely. Plus she had a plethora of extended family to fill her life. There never was a time when she hadn’t felt wanted and cherished. Even after her recent breakup with Ron, she’d never doubted her family’s love, nor her Lord’s.

      She leaned against the car door, silently praying, Father, give me patience…and wisdom….

      Perhaps that was the major problem. Just maybe neither of these two felt loved. According to the paperwork she had, this father and son had only each other. And since they’d just been reunited after a five-year absence, they were near strangers. Perhaps J.D. didn’t know how to love his son. Or even know what it was to love.

      You’re the teacher….

      Her breath came sharply and lodged uncomfortably just under her breastbone. J.D glanced her way, his expression quizzical.

      “Cliff is probably on the other playground,” she said abruptly. Turning on her heel, Alexis went to search for him. “I’ll find him.”

      She sprinted around the building to the small playground in back of the original section of the school. Then she rounded the corner, seeing no one. She wasn’t surprised. This field was seldom used anymore because most of the classes found it too small.

      She heard children’s voices and noisy activity from up the way. Crossing the street, she hurried along the old broken sidewalk. Still yards distant, she spotted three boys.

      It wasn’t a friendly scene.

      Skateboard raised high above his head, Randy Brown’s irritated voice floated out to her. Alexis remembered him from last year, her first year of teaching in Sunny Creek. The boy was two grades higher than Cliff, half a head taller and a bit of a bully. He was yelling in strident tones, “You don’t know nothin’, brat, so just stuff it.”

      Jason Kell, also two years older and even taller than Randy, stood with arms crossed, glaring at Cliff.

      When she strolled up to them, he rolled his eyes in distaste, letting her know his opinion of the younger boy.

      Cliff had his back to her. He didn’t seem to notice their ire. He was talking a mile a minute. “I do so. I can do lots of tricks. I watched how they do it out in California. They’re better’n any of you guys. They have a monster track. I’m going to be a champion and stuff, just like them. You wait to see.”

      Her first instinct was that she’d arrived just in time. It was clear that Cliff had worn out his welcome.

      As she smiled at the older boys, she saw recognition of her teacher’s status flash across Randy’s face.

      “Hi, guys.”

      They mumbled a hello. Cliff kept talking.

      “Cliff?”

      He glanced over his shoulder impatiently. “Yeah?”

      She held out her hand. “Let’s go. Your dad wants you.”

      “He’s busy doing something else,” he protested. He dropped his skateboard, stepping up and pushing off to ride the length of the concrete drive. Away from her.

      “Yes, but he wants you now.” She firmed her tone. “Come along, we need to go.”

      The skateboard hit a bump and tipped. Cliff jumped off awkwardly, barely avoiding a fall. Randy and Jason snickered.

      Cliff glared with all the ferocity of a wolf pup.

      Alexis hid her sigh. Cliff already sported skinned knees, so she suspected he’d taken a number of recent falls. She didn’t see much of his father’s grace in the boy’s movements. He would have to grow into that, she supposed. It might take a while.

      Meantime, he was ripe for all the teasing grief he’d already encountered. If only he didn’t invite it.

      She casually moved toward him, not wanting to cause alarm. Yet her movement held command.

      “I don’t see why I have to leave.” Cliff’s tone was contentious. “He’s looking at your car.”

      “That’s right. But he’s almost through and he needs you.” She tipped her head, giving her statement additional authority. “Now, let’s go.”

      Cliff’s face took on all the aspects of the proverbial Missouri mule. But after a moment, he picked up his board and followed her up the terrace to the playground. “I don’t see why I can’t stay here…”

      Out of earshot of the other boys, she slowed her step to let him walk alongside of her. “I know you like to ride your board, Cliff,” she said in sympathy. “There will be other times when you can practice.”

      “But

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