Melanie frowned into her drink as she contemplated. Why had she come there? It was a fair question. They’d only been making significant progress in being cordial in the last week, and this was quite a step up.

  Finally, Melanie looked into that curious gaze. “I don’t know. But I remember talking to you about the email back in September. I thought… how are you not devastated by this?”

  Esther snorted. “I’ve been dealt far more serious blows than this. Besides, the board can’t vote it into policy. It has to be made into a bill, and voted on when the Senate is in session. There’s still time that it’ll fail.”

  Melanie didn’t understand her some days. She was the strongest woman, so put together, always ready with an answer on the tip of her tongue. Stopping, Melanie canted her head at Esther. “What do you really think about it? Because explanation aside, you haven’t answered that.”

  Blowing out a breath, Esther stood up and walked out of the kitchen. Melanie joined her in the darkened living room, sitting next to her on the couch as she held her mug tightly in her hands. Esther didn’t hesitate this time when she started.

  “What do I really think? I don’t think it’ll pass, but I could be wrong. I think this is entirely a ploy by some board members to win re-election next year.”

  “You mean Skip.”

  Esther’s look said it all. She didn’t even have to say the words. “Yes, I mean Skip. As for where he really stands on the issue? I don’t think he’s in favor of it. He sat with me too many times while I tried to make a lesson plan. Would he vote for it if he thought it would make the difference in winning? Absolutely.”

  “How could you, of all people, be with someone like him?” Melanie regretted the question instantly, but there was no way to take it back. She’d been curious since she’d found out, since she’d calmed down after finding out, but the two of them were so different.

  Esther frowned. “You were charmed by him. Weren’t you?”

  Melanie couldn’t deny that. She’d found him attractive, physically, but also his smooth talking and the bluntness of being asked out had taken her by surprise. Though charmed was pushing it. She’d been hesitant at best. “I guess I was.”

  “I was young when we met. I was student teaching, so not even out of college yet.”

  Melanie hissed. She hadn’t quite done the math that far, but if Anthony was five, it would make sense. She swallowed and touched Esther’s arm, wrapping her fingers around her wrist to show her some kind of support. Esther didn’t move away, but she did tense. Melanie gave her wrist one more squeeze before she lightened her grip and moved her hand back to her mug.

  “He took advantage of you.” Melanie spoke the words so softly, so tenderly. She wanted Esther to know that she was there for her.

  “He did,” Esther agreed. “In more ways than just that.”

  “I’m so sorry, Esther.”

  “It’s in the past. I have Anthony, and I’ll keep him with me as long as possible. So if I have to write my lesson plans out for an entire year, then I’ll do that.”

  “You don’t want to fight it?”

  Esther frowned. “I can’t fight it. I’m not allowed near board meetings, and for me to argue against him? It would only end badly for Anthony, and I won’t do that.”

  Melanie understood, but she didn’t like it. She wanted Esther to be able to fight for what she deserved. “Then I’ll fight for the both of us.”

  Esther said nothing, though the look on her face was resigned. Melanie wanted to reach out and touch her again, show her somehow that she would fight for the both of them with everything she had in her, but she didn’t know what would be permitted or not. Instead, she set her mug on the coffee table and faced Esther squarely.

  “I will.”

  “I know you will.” Esther stared into her tea. “And I thank you for it, but you have your own family to think about.”

  “My kids are grown. I can do this.”

  “You can try. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Skip since I met him, it’s that he gets what he wants, and nothing less.”

  “He didn’t get you.”

  Esther snorted at that. “What makes you think he wanted me?”

  “Who wouldn’t?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She’d meant it, though. Esther would be a catch for anyone who could break through that very hard outer shell. As the awkward silence fell over them, Melanie touched Esther’s hand. “Thanks for letting me vent.”

  “It’s not as hard as you might think to listen to you. You’re not exactly angry often.”

  “Yeah, but you seem to have a way of poking those sore sports.”

  Esther grinned again, that bright smile Melanie had missed since Sunday, the one she’d thought about too many times to count. Glad to see it again, Melanie echoed it before standing.

  “I should let you get some sleep. And finish your work.” She noted the coffee table littered with papers.

  “It is late.” Esther stood up, following Melanie to the door.

  As Melanie walked down the pathway to her car, she felt so much lighter. The heaviness that had settled over her hours before when she’d been at the board meeting was gone. She was surprised Esther had managed to do that so effortlessly, and in the process, Melanie had gotten another piece to the puzzle that was Ms. Esther Dunja.

  Chapter Thirteen

  It was Wednesday before Melanie was able to find words for Anthony’s change in personality. She’d watched his face fall more and more each day. By Thursday, she was giving him as much extra special attention as she could because his mood had hit rock bottom. He was despondent.

  After lunch, Melanie had the kids go to their work centers, but Anthony stayed at his table, coloring something. Melanie moved to sit next to him in a small chair, crouching down as much as she could so she was on his level.

  “How’s it going, Anthony?”

  He sighed heavily but said nothing as he continued to color. Melanie glanced down at his drawing. There were at least two people in his picture, but she wasn’t sure how many times she had talked to students through their drawings. She waited, watching as he added a dog to the crudely drawn piece.

  “Did your dad get you a dog?”

  Anthony shook his head. “Mom said we can when we buy a house.”

  “Yeah? What kind of dog do you want?”

  Anthony pursed his lips as he added a sun to the picture. Apparently it was all outside in his little world he was creating. Melanie waited in the quiet while the other students played at their centers, running her gaze through the room to make sure everyone was doing what they should be.

  “I want to go to the shelter and get one. One that doesn’t have a home.”

  Melanie’s heart nearly broke at the thought. Sometimes kids picked up the most benign things when adults were talking and sometimes it was the most important of life lessons they learned. Melanie smiled at him and pointed to the dog in the picture. “What would you name him?”

  “Buddy, so I’d always have a friend.”

  God, this kid. Melanie wanted to hug him.

  “Anthony, what’s going on? Is there something you want to talk to me about?”

  He shook his head, still focused on his drawing. Melanie gave him some more time to answer, grabbing her own piece of paper and coloring herself. She checked on the other kids in her classroom for a minute before focusing back on Anthony.

  “I’m worried about you, kid.”

  He sighed again. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you?” Melanie eyed him, keeping her gaze even and soft so if he was still hesitating then he might feel more inclined to speak with her.

  Anthony nodded slightly, then he shook his head. “Dad has a new girlfriend.” He grabbed another crayon, still not looking up at her. “I have to go to his house next week.”

  Melanie’s mouth went dry. She wished she could keep him at Esther’s, but she understood the value of him having a relationship with both his parents. She also understood sometimes the court systems weren’t for the benefit of the children—welcome to her own little family.

  She ruffled his hair. “So why aren’t you enjoying this week at home with your mom?”

  “I’m trying to,” he murmured.

  “All right, just tell me if you need to talk to someone, okay? I’m always here to listen if you need.”

  He nodded at her.

  “Finish up your picture, and then I want you to go do centers. I think it’ll help to play with your friends a bit.”

  “I’ll try, Ms. Przybyla.”

  Melanie smiled at him and went to her own desk, taking her drawing with her. She settled at her desk to get some grading done on the language arts test they had done earlier that day so she could send it home with the kids in their folders.

  When they were ready for the afternoon snack, Melanie had them all sit at their desks. It was close to the end of the school day, and she was feeling it after that week. Ella’s appointment was soon, and the closer it got the more anxious she was. Melanie had been fielding calls and texts from her for days. It was exhausting, but she knew it would ease up as soon as the ultrasound was done—at least for a little while.

  Anthony didn’t seem any better as she sent them out for recess. In the quiet of her room, Melanie focused on what she could for the next twenty minutes. But it was harder than she’d anticipated. Anthony’s sad face kept floating through her mind and distracting her as she imagined him lonely out on the playground like he had been that one day.

  If she’d seen him like this sooner, she may have very well guessed that he was related to Esther at that point. They had the same sulk—only Esther’s was permanent. Anthony still had the possibility of a smile. Giving up on focusing for the day, Melanie organized her papers and put them to the side of her desk. She could send them home with the kids tomorrow and grade that night.

  Her heart was hurting too much for Anthony’s sake. She wished she could send him to Esther for a minute, send him some love he quite obviously needed, that likely only Esther could provide. They truly were two of a kind, and she loved to see them together.

  Walking out of her classroom, Melanie meandered down the hall toward Esther’s classroom. The door was open, which was quite rare, but she must have had a student going in or out. She stood in the doorway and watched as Esther moved through a lesson on mathematics. When Esther caught sight of Melanie, she frowned, but Melanie held up her hand to let her know she could finish. Esther gave instructions and then came over, stepping right outside the doorway so the two of them could talk.

  “What’s wrong? Anthony?”

  Melanie shook her head, lowering her voice to nearly a whisper so no one else could hear, especially tiny kids who had really good ears. “He’s at recess.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “He is. I just…had a few extra minutes and thought I’d check in on you.”

  “In the middle of the day?” Esther’s brow furrowed as she glanced over her class sitting quietly and doing their work. Esther focused on Melanie. “What’s really wrong?”

  “Nothing. Can I talk to you after school?” Melanie wanted to reach out and touch Esther’s arm, but she held back. There were eyes everywhere in a school this time of day, and she didn’t want the students to see anything they might think was something else.

  “You couldn’t send an email for this?” Esther’s upper lip curled.

  “I probably should have. Sorry.” Melanie crossed her arms and nodded toward the class. “You should get back.”

  As Melanie turned to walk away, Esther grabbed her elbow and held her in place. She stepped in close, her voice so low Melanie had to concentrate to be able to hear it. “Tell me everything is okay again. Otherwise I’ll worry for hours.”

  Melanie made eye contact, staring into those gray-blue eyes. “Everything is okay, I promise you.”

  Esther cocked her head to the side. “Don’t scare me like this again.”

  “I promise.” Melanie chastised herself in an instant. She knew she should have waited, but she couldn’t resist the call to see Esther in action and maybe soothe her own heart in the process.

  The grip on Melanie’s arm was firm, fingers pressing tight into her skin, but it was the first time Esther had willingly touched her. Another barrier smashed, and Melanie wasn’t even sure that Esther knew it was happening.

  “I promise,” Melanie reiterated.

  Esther sighed, stepped away, and nodded sharply. “After school.”

  As she walked into her classroom, she shut the door behind her and gave Melanie one last long look. Melanie shuddered before she realized she only had a minute before her kids came inside from recess and she would have to finish out her day. But with the promise of a visit with Esther, where she could share her concerns about Anthony, she was slightly more hopeful, though still struggling to keep Anthony off her mind.

  It was only Melanie’s promise that had eased her anxiety enough that she was able to finish the school day and not pull Anthony from class and take him home. She’d never had another teacher come to her like that before, and it worried her how bad it could be that she would. Then again—she had to remind herself—if it was that bad, she would have been speaking with the principal, the counselor, and likely Skip as well. Something she did not look forward to.

  Once she was free from her duties, Esther walked with purpose out of her classroom and right down to Melanie’s. She’d almost considered pulling Anthony from day care that day, but they had meetings. Esther didn’t care if she was late to them—she had to know what Melanie had come to her class for.

  The door was open when she walked in, but she shut it immediately. Melanie leaned back in her desk chair, a wave of relief washing over her face. Esther didn’t smile, but she did walk straight to the desk and put her palm flat on it as she leaned over, putting their faces close together.

  “What’s wrong with Anthony?”

  “Sit down, Esther.”

  She shook her head, fear running through every nerve in her body. Melanie stood, gripping both of Esther’s elbows as she turned Esther around and plopped her down in her chair. Melanie slipped one hand down to Esther’s, giving her fingers a good squeeze before she sat on the corner of her desk like she typically did when they were in Esther’s classroom.

  “Anthony is fine, kind of.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Esther, take a breath for me.”

  Esther’s heart raged so hard she could barely hear Melanie’s voice over the pounding in her ears. Since coming in here, her nerves had not settled any—in fact, they were probably worse. She tried to do what Melanie said, but it was harder than she anticipated. Melanie took her hand again, and Esther focused on the touch, centered herself in their connected fingertips, the warmth of Melanie’s skin against hers, the tingles… No, she stopped at the tingles. That would take her mind somewhere else entirely.

  “I’m fine. Tell me what happened?”

  “Nothing really happened. He’s been down all week, and it hasn’t been getting better. I’m worried about him.”

  Esther nodded. She’d noticed it, too. At home he had tried to cover it up, which she knew was for her sake, but he was five, and he hadn’t managed it. She’d seen him close in on himself more each day that week, much as Melanie had. Tears stung her eyes, and she glanced up at Melanie, hoping she would understand how damn difficult this was for her.

  “He doesn’t want to go to Skip’s.”

  “Does he ever?”

  “Sometimes. When Skip is single mostly. I think he still harbors this hope that Skip and I will end up together.”

  Melanie frowned but luckily didn’t probe. The classroom was not the place for that conversation. Esther tilted her chin down, pulling herself together again. She needed to be strong for now. She could figure out how to handle Anthony when she picked him up. She would spend as much time with him that weekend as possible, and maybe, if luck was in her favor, Skip would cancel the week with Anthony to spend the time with his new girlfriend.

  “Is there any chance?”

  Esther eyed Melanie, her gaze hardening. She was not going to answer that question. It was entirely inappropriate and too far beyond the friendship they had fostered so far, which was not much of anything. Esther wasn’t going to talk to her about this anymore.

  “Did you figure out what you’re going to do about the board’s secret agenda item?”

  Melanie sighed and broke the touch on Esther’s fingers. “I’ll let you get away with it this time, since we’re still in the building.”

  Esther didn’t answer.

  “I haven’t yet. There are a few rallies that are being organized, but I’m not sure it’s enough. I’ll attend. I wish you would, too.”

  “You know I can’t.” Esther eyed her carefully. “And you know I won’t.”

  “Maybe someday.”

  “In thirteen years, or seventeen if I can manage to support him through college.” Esther crossed her arms tightly, tension in her chest weighing heavily so it was harder to breathe than it should be. Esther cocked her head at Melanie, trying to play off the comment as a joke, but she wasn’t sure she managed.

  “You truly are an amazing woman,” Melanie murmured. “I’ve done the single-parent thing, but I didn’t have to contend with anything like what you do.”

  Esther’s cheeks burned. She hated compliments, and the one Melanie had just tossed in her direction was almost too much to bear. She worked hard to be a good mother, but she always felt like she was failing somewhere, that she wasn’t good enough, that she had made poor decisions, or even the fact that she wished anyone but Skip was Anthony’s father. Then again, she wouldn’t have her beautiful son if that was the case, so any time she thought it, she immediately regretted it.

  “How’s Ella?”

  Melanie hissed and rocked back, the long line of her neck exposed in the fading light of the day that shone through the large windows. Esther’s mouth went dry, not for the first time when she was looking at Melanie in that way. How she had come to feel so at ease with her was astounding, especially in such a short period of time. Esther still hesitated and held back, she didn’t share everything and never freely.