“You didn’t. I volunteered. I like helping out. I’m pretty good with a paintbrush and roller, had quite a bit of experience, so there’s that.”
“If you’re sure it’s not an imposition, I’d love the help.”
Brody glided to a stop at an intersection, watching the traffic lights. Hearing Beth’s voice made him wish he was back in Shiloh Springs, instead of an hour and a half away. He almost groaned when he noted the orange signs, indicating construction ahead on the road he needed to take to get to the Texas DPS Forensic Arson Laboratory, where he needed to drop of the evidence bags, and turn in the report of his findings.
“How about this weekend? I’ve got Saturday off. Bet we can get Jamie’s room knocked out in no time.”
“Actually, Saturday would probably be good. Today we going to get Jamie registered for pre-kindergarten. I don’t want her falling behind, especially with the move. I’ve been working with her, but it’s not the same.”
Brody chuckled, thinking about Beth and Jamie meeting with the kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Gleason had been teaching her little darlings, as she liked to call them, for longer than he’d been alive. She likened herself to being a second grandmother to all the kids. The children adored her, too, which made their parents very happy.
“Jamie will love Mrs. Gleason. I bet she’ll have her wrapped around her little finger by the end of the first day.”
“You know the kindergarten teacher? What am I saying, of course you do. You Boudreaus know everybody in Shiloh Springs, don’t you?”
“I keep forgetting you’re from the big city. I’ve lived most of my life here, so naturally I know most of the folks hereabouts. Mrs. Gleason has a way with the kids; you’d call it the magic touch. She’s like the Pied Piper of the local munchkins. Jamie will be in good hands, I promise.”
Brody heard a rustling sound, followed by Jamie’s voice. “Mommy, who you talking to?”
“I’m talking to Brody.”
Her response was followed by a loud squeal. “Can I talk to Uncle Brody, Mommy?”
Seconds later, Jamie’s voice asked, “Uncle Brody, you know what?”
“What, honey bear?”
“Mommy’s taking me to school today. I went to school before, when we lived in the other place. Then I didn’t go anymore. Now, I get a new teacher, and a new class. Do you think they have a lot of kids there? I really like having lots of kids to play with, and do art with, and write my numbers.”
Brody felt his smile grow bigger. Jamie’s enthusiasm for everything was infectious, and every time he saw her, she raised his spirits and lightened his heart. “I know your new teacher. Her name is Mrs. Gleason and she’s really nice. And, yes, there will be lots of kids for you to play with. Your class is in a building with lots of big rocks on the outside, and a bright red roof made of metal.”
“It has a roof of metal? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. I love red. It’s pretty. Mommy, Uncle Brody says the place where school is has a metal roof and it’s red. Can I paint my room red?”
“Red? Are you sure? Why don’t we wait until we go to the paint store this afternoon and look at all the colors? You might see a different one you like better.”
“Okay, Mommy. Uncle Brody, I gotta go finish getting dressed. I love you.”
The vice grip around his heart tightened at her casually stated words. He’d grow to adore the sweet little sprite over the past few months, with her golden curls and big blue eyes, and her caring and loving disposition. Jamie was one of those children who never met a stranger, and her larger-than-life personality encompassed everyone she touched.
“Love you, too, honey bear.”
“Thanks, Brody. Seriously, a red metal roof? You might as well have waved a scarlet cape in from of her and said pick me, pick me.” The amusement in Beth’s voice played like music to his senses. He loved her sense of humor, which surfaced more and more lately, as she settled into her new life in Shiloh Springs.
“Not my fault if she wants a red room. Maybe you can talk her into a red blanket instead. Or one of those ruffled pillow things.” He maneuvered his truck into the far-right lane, merging with the excruciatingly slow-moving traffic, which was down to one lane. At this rate, it’d be another hour before he hit the lab.
“Good luck with that,” he heard Beth mutter.
“Beth, was there a reason you called? Not that I don’t enjoy hearing your lovely voice first thing in the morning, but…”
“Oh, right. I just wondered if…maybe…that is,” he could hear her take a deep breath, before she continued. “Would you like to go out with me sometime? For dinner?”
Wait, she was asking him out? He’d made up his mind to ask her out when he got home this evening, yet here she was, beating him to the punch.
“Yes.”
“Okay. Good. Right.” Now she sounded flustered. He didn’t even attempt to fight his grin, smiling so big it almost hurt his cheeks. Had she expected him to turn her down? That was going to happen ever.
“When would you like to go out for this dinner?”
“Well, I’d thought about tonight, but since you’re out of town—”
He cut her off before she could finish. “Tonight is good. I’ll be heading back to Shiloh Springs after I drop off some stuff at the lab and turn in my reports on the Summers’ fire. I should be home before six.”
“Oh. That will work. How about we meet at Daisy’s Diner at seven?”
“Beth, do you really want our first date to be in the middle of town, where everybody’s going to be up in our business?” He’d grown up with the folks of Shiloh Springs, and while he loved them all, they did tend to get nosy. Not in a malicious way, it was simply because they cared.
