“We already bought the strawberries.” He lay back against the pillows. “So you’ll come?”
“Sure, I spent the day gathering the information you asked for,” she said. “I’ll bring it along.”
“Great.”
They were working. And taking care of Kelsey. They were friends. He was okay with that.
THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY Kelsey was invited to a slumber party, and she and Josie were going to leave together from Josie’s house. Mark finished up the last of the pending business in his office, made a couple more calls on Meredith’s behalf and headed down the hall to see if she’d left for the day.
With her back to the room, she was wiping a wet cloth along the blackboard. She had on one of her long cotton patchwork skirts with all the colors and a violet top that, when she lifted her arm, showed just a sliver of the skin at her waist.
Not that he really noticed.
Mark looked away. “You got plans this evening?”
“Oh!” She swung around. “Mark! You scared me.”
“Sorry.” He was. That had been dumb. Not like him at all. “Do you?”
“Have plans?” she asked, back at her desk, putting papers in a folder. “Just this.” She held up the folder. “Grading papers.”
Working. He had plans to do the same. Compiling the chart he planned to distribute to the members of the Bartlesville public school board. With Meredith’s help—as well as help from a surprising number of parents of previous students—he had compiled much more data then he’d expected to have. And he was kind of anxious to see the results. For her sake.
Susan had predicted a percentage in the nineties, in terms of correct assumptions from Meredith. He’d be glad to get fifty—a fair guessing average.
“Did you need something?” She was staring at him.
“Just wondered if you wanted to get some dinner.”
“Kelsey’s gone.”
“I know that, but how did you?”
“I’ve been making a point of seeing her every day, just saying hello. She mentioned the slumber party—seemed to be looking forward to it.”
“It’s only her second one.” But he wasn’t thinking about children’s parties. “Why have you been specifically looking for her?” The idea was pleasing—and made him uncomfortable at the same time. He’d spent part of the afternoon reading accounts of all the times she’d sensed troubled kids in the past four years. He didn’t want to be one of her statistics.
“No reason.” She turned for her bag. “I’ve grown fond of her.”
She said she’d made a point of finding her. As though for a specific reason. He watched her load her bag, wanting to push.
She glanced up. “What?”
“Nothing.” But he couldn’t let it go. “You sure there’s no other reason you’re seeing my daughter?”
She shrugged and his mood dipped a bit. She could feel people’s fears all she wanted, so long as she kept his daughter out of it.
“I was concerned about that nonfight she was in,” she told him. “I just wanted to keep an eye out, to make sure no one was bullying her.”
Mark relaxed. Felt like a damn fool. And smiled. “Thank you.” He wasn’t used to sharing Kelsey’s care. It was nice.
“So how about dinner?” he said. She was coming toward him, her bag over her shoulder. It was bright pink with orange-and-green trim around the pockets. Only Meredith could pull off carrying a bag like that—wearing an outfit like that—and appear completely mature and professional at the same time.
“Okay. Your place or mine? I have eggs. Or chicken in the freezer.”
“I thought we’d go out.”
She gave him a sideways glance as they stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine. “Not a good idea.”