It was honest, and it also likely revealed a truth she wasn’t ready to share. Something about this school made her open up more than she would have normally. Or perhaps she was finally done with being on her own for five years straight and realizing she needed someone else in her life. Like Carissa had said—she couldn’t keep doing this by herself.

  Chris looked surprised by her answer. “Is that all?”

  “Yeah.” Esther nodded. “I would like to still be here.”

  “Well, I think we can make that happen. What about in five years?”

  Esther had worried that was going to be the next question. She really did not have an answer. In five years, Anthony would be in fifth grade, the same year that she preferred teaching. It scared her almost. She wouldn’t be teaching that year if they were still in the same school. She couldn’t do that to him. She would take on a different class—not kindergarten—and would figure something out. God, he’d be ten.

  Esther lifted her chin and looked directly into Chris’ brown eyes. Tears stung as she tried to hold them back, and she managed it at the very last second. Swallowing hard, Esther started, “Anthony will be ten, so I guess I won’t be teaching fifth grade.”

  Chris gave a sweet smile. “What other grade would you want to teach?”

  “I taught fourth grade once and liked that well enough. Maybe third.”

  “Not kindergarten?”

  Esther snorted. “Can you see me teaching kindergarten? I can’t. I don’t have enough energy to keep up with them.”

  “Somehow, I doubt that.” Chris eyed her carefully.

  “Perhaps disposition is the better term.”

  “Now, that I can see.” Chris winked at her.

  Immediately, Esther was slightly more at ease. If this was all the conversation was going to be, she could handle it, but when Chris held the silence again, she knew the biggest question was coming next.

  “Do you want another mentor? I know you and Melanie have had issues, she’s shared them with me, but I want to make sure that you’re comfortable with whatever is chosen.”

  Esther wanted to cower. She wanted to shout that yes she wanted a new mentor because she wasn’t sure she could handle being in such close proximity to Melanie anymore, not with the raging crush she had still not letting up no matter how much she knew Melanie wouldn’t be with her. Esther stuttered, trying to formulate an answer, but giving up in the end and clenching her jaw tightly.

  “You can always tell me some other—”

  “No,” Esther stated firmly. “I won’t claim to entirely understand this mentorship program you have going on here, but I don’t want someone else.”

  Chris eyed her curiously. “The program is designed to help make new teachers long-term teachers. There are a lot of studies that say schools thrive when teachers are here longer term, that students thrive. The goal is to help that process, make sure every base is covered, that relationships are built.”

  “I get all that,” Esther inserted and then took perhaps the biggest risk in her entire life. “I don’t want someone else.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Esther nodded firmly. Intellectually, she wanted to disagree with herself, but for this one time she was going with what her heart wanted, and she wasn’t quite sure it was the best decision. Yet it had been so long since she allowed her instinct to tell her what to do that perhaps it was time to let it.

  “If you’re sure…” Chris trailed off.

  “I am.” Esther’s lips twitched upward, a rare smile if she were to say so herself. “Is that all?”

  “It is. I’ll meet with you again toward the end of the second quarter.”

  “Good.” Esther stood up, nodding at Chris as she left the office. She had a much lighter step as she traipsed to her classroom to collect her things and leave. Suddenly the quiet evening alone didn’t look so awful. She’d made a decision, and Melanie was going to be a part of her life.

  Chapter Twelve

  Esther waited impatiently on the couch, the curtains wide open so she could see as soon as Skip pulled up. He hadn’t told her when he was dropping him off, but it was supposed to be no later than seven in the evening. He never communicated with her, but she’d hoped it would be early enough that he would give in to Anthony’s hopes of going trick-or-treating, especially since it was a good night for him to get laid if he wanted it.

  When the black truck pulled up outside her house, she grinned and walked right up to the door to open it. Skip helped Anthony out, and he came with only his school backpack on his shoulders. Couldn’t even get him a costume this year.

  Sighing, Esther pushed the thought from her mind as she focused on Anthony. He ran into her arms and gave her a big hug before they walked inside, Esther shooting Skip a dirty look as he drove off, no doubt without giving her a second glance.

  As soon as they were inside, Anthony dropped his backpack in its designated spot and sat on the couch. He looked so small and defeated. Esther furrowed her brow as she sat next to him. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “Dad said he couldn’t take me trick-or-treating.”

  “I’m sorry.” She rubbed her hand up and down his back, but she wasn’t surprised in the least that Skip had ditched that duty again. Esther bent down and kissed his head. “Do you still want to go? We have your costume here, and I’m sure there are still a few houses handing out candy.”

  “Really?” He sniffled, but when he looked up at her, she could see the excitement behind his single word.

  “Yeah. Come on.”

  In a matter of minutes, Anthony was dressed up as Mario and had his pillowcase for a candy bag. Esther took his hand after tossing on her nice warm winter jacket as they walked out of the house. It was colder than she expected; she had forgotten how chilly Cheyenne could be at the end of October. She walked with him down the block, stopping at every house that had their porch lights on.

  This was one way to get to know the neighborhood, she supposed. They went two blocks up, then three blocks north of that before cutting back over. Anthony wanted to hit every house, but it was getting close to eight-thirty, and Esther knew houses would be running out of candy or finishing up.

  Esther hurried him along, but she was just happy to see him happy. She’d missed him all week, and seeing the joy in his face as he returned from each house was exactly what she needed to soothe her soul. Esther smiled as Anthony bounded toward the next house. They were only two blocks from their rental, and Esther was ready to be home.

  The light went off just as he reached the door, but he knocked on it anyway, probably not even noticing. Esther was just about to tell him when the door opened, revealing Melanie Przybyla.

  Esther’s jaw dropped in surprise. They couldn’t live that close and not have known, could they? Esther stepped up the small pathway to join Anthony under the porch light. He was so excited when she got there, screaming about how Ms. Przybyla lived there. Esther nodded in return, giving him a forced smile back.

  “Hey,” Melanie said, her voice rough as if she’d been talking all day and all night.

  “Hey back,” Esther answered. “I’m sorry, he didn’t see your light go off.”

  “Forget about it. Do you want to come in?”

  Anthony beelined it inside, so Esther guessed she didn’t have a choice. Melanie grinned as she followed his movement to the kitchen table where there were boxes of full-sized candy bars.

  “I do this for my students, former or current. They get to pick six of their favorite candy bars.”

  “Really?” Esther furrowed her brow as Anthony stood over the table and leered at all the chocolate and sugar in sight.

  Melanie grabbed a small bag off the table and pointed at some of the candy, instructing Anthony to have his pick. When he was done, she tied up the bag—which had way more than six candy bars in it—and handed it over to him. Melanie leaned against the wall and eyed Esther up and down, her gaze trailing all over her body.

  If she hadn’t known better, she would say Melanie was checking her out, but that of course couldn’t be the situation. Instead, Esther crossed her arms and waited for Anthony to come back over so they could leave.

  “I didn’t realize you lived in the neighborhood,” Melanie started.

  “I didn’t realize you did either.” Esther eyed her, challenging her silently to continue the conversation.

  “So where do you live?”

  Esther’s lips quirked slightly at the corners. “Two blocks east of here. I normally drive east to school, so I never pass your house.”

  Melanie nodded, but Anthony interrupted them. “We live at five…one…five…”

  “Yes, we do.” Esther was proud of him for remembering, but at the same time, it worried her that he’d just told Melanie their house number. But if he was going to tell anyone, at least it was her and not some stranger.

  “Anthony, there are some toys on the bottom shelf of the bookcase if you want to play with them.” Melanie didn’t take her gaze off Esther, a smile playing at her lips the entire time.

  Esther’s stomach dropped. Oh yeah, she had a crush all right. There was never going to be any denying it now. That look, the pure, unrestrained joy in it was something she longed to see every day, and she’d found herself missing it when she didn’t. Esther shivered, but luckily it was covered up by her oversized jacket, because she certainly did not want Melanie to see it. It would be hell if Melanie figured out she actually liked her, more than as a mentor.

  “Chris said you didn’t want a new mentor.”

  Curse Melanie for reading her mind. Esther pursed her lips, giving Melanie a hard look before she finally answered. “I don’t.”

  “I thought you would.”

  “So I can break in someone new? No, thank you.”

  “Break me in?” Melanie's eyes danced with laughter. “Is that what you’ve been doing for these last two and a half months?”

  Esther was not going to answer. Instead, she continued to look Melanie in the eye and waited to see what she would say next.

  “Esther?” Melanie gave her a curious look.

  Esther couldn’t stop the grin. Her cheeks moved into a bright smile as her eyes crinkled. She had no idea what to say next, but she was enjoying whatever their current banter was. It was such a change from every conversation before.

  “That look scares me.” Melanie’s words didn’t quite work with the glitter in her eyes. “Seriously, what’s got you so happy all of a sudden? I’ve never seen you like this.”

  Shaking her head, Esther looked at Anthony. “I’m just happy to have him home and that we were able to go trick-or-treating.”

  Melanie eyed her suspiciously. “I don’t think that’s it.”

  “Then you’ll just have to figure it out on your own.”

  “It might be part of why.” Melanie stepped in closer, turning to look at Anthony as he played. She lowered her tone, dropping it to a whisper so Esther had to lean in to hear her. “But I don’t think that's the entire reason.”

  “Just be happy that you’ve melted me a bit. Okay?”

  “Happy? I’m elated.” Melanie squeezed Esther’s hand, which she was somehow holding. Esther hadn’t even noticed when she’d grabbed hold of Melanie’s fingers, but there they stood, fingers entwined in the middle of the dining room.

  Clearing her throat, Esther stepped away and broke the contact. They were becoming far too familiar if it didn’t even bother her to be touched. “We should get going. He needs to go to bed to be ready for school in the morning.”

  “Of course,” Melanie murmured, not tearing her gaze from Esther.

  “Anthony.” Esther didn’t look at him, her eyes glued to Melanie’s face. “It’s time to go, bub.”

  “Okay!” He popped up and put the toys away as Esther and Melanie had a stare down. Once he was at Esther’s side, she took his hand and his candy sack and walked him toward the door. Melanie followed. As soon as they were outside, Anthony turned on his toes and raced to give Melanie a hug.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow, kiddo.”

  “See you!” He looked so excited.

  Esther took his hand again, giving a soft wave to Melanie with her other as she walked down the sidewalk and turned toward their house. She had to let out a breath and push all thoughts she was having of Melanie to the back of her mind. She could not, under any circumstances, think of Melanie like that. She had to stop flirting with her. If Melanie didn’t know that’s what they were doing, it was unfair, but to play with fire along with her ice when Melanie wasn’t expecting it would be dangerous to both of them.

  Melanie stood in the back of the room with her arms crossed. She’d attended school board meetings before. This time, it took two hours to get to the secret agenda item. Her heart thudded hard when the proposal was introduced. She knew now why they waited to introduce it. It was going to the State Senate. She immediately got on her phone and texted Chris.

  Melanie listened to the argument, but she could tell which direction the school board was taking, and why it was being introduced as a bill for voting. Her heart raced. This would doom any new teacher. She could manage it, since she’d been teaching the same grade for twelve years, but someone like Esther? She wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand.

  As soon as the meeting ended, Melanie tore out of there. Disgust filled her. She’d been absolutely right in her assessment that Skip and the others were not teachers, and they did not understand what it meant to be a teacher in the twenty-first century, everything they had to contend with, the rules they had to follow.

  Her heart sank as she slipped into her car. She was angry. Good and truly pissed off, in a way she hadn’t been in years. She drove home, but she didn’t have the heart to get out of her car. Chris hadn’t answered, no doubt fielding calls from every other teacher in her school that had tuned in.

  This was ridiculous. Melanie stared at her front porch, light shining brightly, and she did the only thing she could think of. She pulled out of her driveway and drove the two blocks to Esther’s. As she walked up to the small white house, her stomach twisted in knots.

  What was she even doing? She and Esther did not have this type of relationship. Other than Sunday night, they had never spoken outside of the school building—forgetting the “disaster date” as Melanie had started calling it.

  She knocked on the door, quietly, hoping that if Anthony was already asleep she wouldn’t wake him up. The lock clicked, then a second one, before Esther opened the door, her gaze curious and confused.

  “I’m sorry. I just…” Melanie stopped. “Can I come in?”

  Esther let Melanie inside, then shut and locked the door. “Do you want some tea?”

  “I would love some.” Melanie sighed with relief as she followed Esther into the kitchen. The house was small, the living room tiny, but it held a long couch and television in it. The dining room table was smashed against the wall on the far side of the galley kitchen, which looked to be something right out of the seventies. Not that Melanie would ever comment on it.

  Esther filled an electric tea kettle, plugged it in, and hit the small button at the base to start it. Reaching into the cupboard, she grabbed two mugs. Her blouse rode up, revealing smooth skin. Melanie wondered how soft it was, how warm. She shook the thought instantly.

  When Esther turned around to face her again, she had a wary look on her face. “It’s nine at night.”

  “I know.” Melanie frowned. “I just…did you watch the board meeting?”

  “No. I was going to watch the replay.”

  “I was there for it.”

  “For the secret agenda item?”

  Melanie nodded. She moved to the counter Esther leaned against, turning to mimic her pose. Maybe if she didn’t have to look at Esther this would be easier. “Chris didn’t answer my text.”

  “So I’m your second best?”

  Melanie shook her head. “No. They want to require teachers to have an entire year's lesson plans done and ready before the school year starts.”

  Esther frowned, deep lines setting into her forehead and around her mouth.

  “And I highly doubt they’re going to start paying us in the summer, so it’ll be more work when we’re not on the clock—so to say.”

  “Of course. What other way can they weasel free labor out of us?” Esther crossed her arms tightly, her gaze dropping to the ground and her toes.

  Melanie followed her line of sight, realizing all too late that Esther was barefoot, and her toenails were painted a deep red, shiny, as if she took care to get a pedicure on a regular basis. Melanie couldn’t tear her gaze from Esther’s feet.

  “I’m not surprised, you know.” Esther’s voice was firm but soft.

  “You’re not?”

  “There have been bills going up around the country about it. We seem to do everything everyone else is doing so long as it is considered conservative and for the benefit of children. It’s really not, though. How can we plan to teach before we know the students well enough to understand what level they’re coming in at? Not to mention sudden changes in curriculum that get thrown at us last minute.”

  “How would you manage?” Melanie looked Esther in the eyes, those guarded gray-blue eyes.

  Esther sighed heavily. “Depends on what I’m supposed to teach next year.”

  She turned as the electric kettle went off. Pouring water into the mugs, she grabbed a metal tin and opened it up, handing it over to Melanie. “I prefer the pomegranate tea.”

  “I’ll try it, thanks.” Melanie took the small packet and ripped it open, dropping it into one of the mugs while Esther took another and did the same. They both leaned against the counter, not moving, completely comfortable where they were.

  “Why are you here, Melanie?”

  “Because I need someone to talk to.”

  “No. Maybe I should phrase this better, but why are you here? Why did you come here? Of all places? We’re not exactly friends, and I’m sure you have plenty of other friends who you could talk to about this.”