Yet, she wanted to.

  This was the first person in years that she wanted to share with. Carissa aside. Carissa knew everything, she understood everything Esther had gone through in the last seven years, but Esther wanted Melanie to understand it and that frightened her.

  “Ella is a ball of nerves,” Melanie finally answered. “Her first ultrasound is next week. She got a late appointment on Wednesday so I can drive out in the afternoon and come back the same day.”

  “Where does she live?”

  “Denver.” Melanie frowned. “Sometimes I wish she had stayed here. It’d be easier to help her, but she followed Becky down there and won’t leave her sister.”

  “That’s something I can understand.” Esther was reminded of Carissa, of that strong bond between the two of them. Even though Carissa was a good eight years older than her, they still had a sisterly bond that had never been broken.

  “What is?”

  “Sisters.”

  Melanie pursed her lips and looked at Esther curiously. “I feel like there’s a story there.”

  “Perhaps for another day.”

  “Saturday?”

  Esther eyed her. “Perhaps.”

  “Is that your answer for everything?”

  Esther grinned, joy racing through her and straight to her heart, and she let out the slightest chuckle when she answered while dipping her chin. “Perhaps.”

  Oh, she was flirting now. No one would be able to deny it, although she would if anyone ever asked. She rolled her shoulders slightly and leaned in, using the pause in the conversation to center herself again.

  “Anthony says he doesn’t like Skip’s new girlfriend.”

  Melanie hummed. “He didn’t like the last one. I hope he forgives me for the mistake.”

  Esther’s lips twitched. “He does. I do hope someday Anthony is able to forgive his father for the turmoil Skip causes.”

  “Causes?”

  “Yes.” Esther straightened her back, her gaze drifting from Melanie’s dark brown eyes to her full lips that had a light red stain on them. She flicked her gaze back up when she realized what she was doing. “Anthony is my priority. Thank you for telling me. I hadn’t realized how bad it was this time around.”

  “This time?”

  “He does this.” Esther shrugged. “There’s a lot of changes this year, and even though we’re in November now, there are still a lot of changes. Skip has canceled more visits than he’s taken in the last six months. Anthony is struggling with all the transitions he’s had to make.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind in the classroom.”

  “Thank you.”

  The knock on the door startled Esther, and she jumped. Melanie put out her hand as if to touch or calm her, Esther wasn’t sure which. She stared at it like she would lob it off before stiffening. Johanna opened the door and poked her head around the corner.

  “Are you two coming?”

  Right. The staff meeting they were both due to be at that afternoon had already started. They’d talked beyond the short period of time they had together. Esther stood up immediately and smoothed her hands down the front of her blouse before folding her fingers together in front of her and nodding. “We’ll be right there.”

  Johanna eyed them curiously before nodding with a slight lift to her lips. Esther wasn’t quite sure what that meant or where it came from, but she wasn’t going to say anything about it. Melanie rose more slowly from the desk and faced the door.

  “I guess we can continue this later.”

  “Perhaps.” Esther cringed as she couldn’t stop the word from slipping from her lips. Melanie was right, and while it had been a tease before, now it was just plain stupid. Chastising herself, she stepped around the desk. Melanie followed, and together, they walked down the hall to their meeting.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Melanie hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Anthony, and when she woke up Saturday morning, it took every effort not to go right over to Esther’s to check on him. Something about that kid touched her, and she wanted to make sure he had everything so he could succeed in life. She fiddled with her phone and debated how early was too early to get hold of Esther. They were teachers after all, so early mornings were something they were used to, and Esther had Anthony at home that weekend so he would likely be up early too.

  She flipped her phone back and forth in her fingers as she sipped her coffee on her couch, staring out at the sun just rising. It was nearly eight in the morning. She had a feeling Esther would be awake at the very least. They had talked briefly about getting together that day but hadn’t made any concrete plans.

  Melanie pursed her lips as the sky lightened. She should have made plans. She loved to fly by the seat of her pants, especially when it came to friends and family, but she knew without even having to ask that Esther was not someone like that. She was so rooted in routine and control that she likely wouldn’t ever be that person.

  Still, Melanie should have tried to make more plans, that way she wouldn’t be stuck where she was now. Pushing down unexpected nerves, she unlocked her phone and sent a text asking when a good time to come over would be. The immediate reply of “Whenever you want” warmed her heart.

  Melanie jumped up from her couch and got dressed, all the while sucking down the rest of her coffee. She didn’t bother with makeup and barely even slid the comb through her short hair, though she did wet her fingers to attempt to flatten it out. Grabbing her jacket, she stepped out of her house, locked the door, and walked the two blocks to Esther’s.

  Knocking on Esther’s door felt so different from last time. She wasn’t worried about being quiet, and when she heard the loud thumping of feet, she knew Anthony was wide awake. She expected him to open the door, but she was greeted with Esther’s bright face instead. Anthony stared at Melanie from a few steps away, curious and cautious. Though she supposed he would be. She doubted Esther had anyone over to their house like this, let alone another teacher or his teacher.

  As soon as she was inside, though, Anthony wrapped his arms around her waist in a hug and squeezed her tight. She bent slightly and reciprocated, breathing in his scent. He seemed so much happier already. She threw Esther a curious glance as Anthony stepped back and dragged her by the hand away from the door.

  “Want to see my room?”

  “Sure.” She smiled as he led the way into a small room off the living area. He showed her his room, which was full of toys and books, and his mom’s door, but wouldn’t take her inside. Melanie told him that was perfectly fine with her.

  When she got to the kitchen, Esther had a cup of coffee ready for her, along with all the makings for it—cream and sugar. Melanie took the cup with a whispered thanks and added both. Anthony stared at them for a minute before cocking his head at his mother.

  “Why is Ms. Przybyla here?”

  Esther’s lips parted, but Melanie stepped in. “I came to talk to your mom a bit. Is that okay?”

  He narrowed his gaze. “About me?”

  “You might come up in conversation, I won’t lie. That doesn’t mean it’ll all be about you, and you’re not the reason I’m here.”

  Anthony frowned as he thought about Melanie’s response for a moment before he nodded and ran to his room. “Tell me when breakfast is ready, Mom!”

  “Breakfast?” Melanie raised an eyebrow.

  “We tend to eat late on Saturdays.” Esther leaned against the counter, like she had the week before, eyeing Melanie over the rim of her mug. The look sent a shiver down Melanie’s spine and she couldn’t quite identify why, but still, she liked it. It didn’t feel odd or out of place.

  “So what’s for breakfast?”

  Esther sighed. “Eggs and bacon, every Saturday. Do you want to join us?”

  “Sure.”

  Esther was efficient with how she cooked, knowing exactly what she was doing. Although, if she’d been making the same meal for years, Melanie supposed she would. As Anthony sat at the table eating his eggs and waiting for the turkey bacon to finish cooking, Melanie stood by Esther.

  “I love Ella, but she is driving me up a wall these days.”

  “She’s nervous,” Esther corrected. “I was too before that first ultrasound.”

  Melanie frowned. She’d barely thought of how Esther had gone through that process nearly alone. “How did you find out you were pregnant?”

  “Took a test.”

  Snorting, Melanie shook her head. “You know what I meant.”

  Esther risked a glance at Anthony. “I was a month late before I figured it out.”

  “A month?”

  Shrugging, Esther plated up the bacon and sent Anthony to sit at the coffee table in the living room to eat. She made plates for herself and Melanie before they sat at the table in the kitchen. “I was in the middle of finals and trying to find a teaching position, so, interviewing. I honestly didn’t pay attention until I started puking my guts up all the time when I was about eight weeks along. I was so sick. I lost about twenty pounds in the first trimester.”

  “They didn’t put you on anything for it?”

  “They wouldn’t see me until I was twelve weeks because I made my appointment so late. By the time I got there, I could at least keep some food down.”

  Melanie shook her head as she ate her eggs. “I can’t imagine going through that alone.”

  “Technically I had Skip.”

  “Technically being the operative word.”

  Esther’s wry look said it all. “It was fine. My pregnancy was relatively easy. I ended up taking the second semester off from my first year teaching because Skip insisted, but it was awful.” Esther’s tone was so low, Melanie was sure so Anthony didn’t hear. “I think during my pregnancy we broke up about five times but always got back together. He was mad I was keeping the baby, accused me of running around on him several times, and I caught him more times than that.”

  “Esther.” Pity laced her name. Melanie’s heart broke for her. Being scared and in an unhealthy relationship while pregnant couldn’t have been easy.

  “I stayed because of Anthony, and then I left because of him. I couldn’t raise him in that environment and make him think that is the only way a family should be.”

  “You’re incredibly strong for it.”

  Esther frowned. “I got a paternity test, to prove Skip was the father, and when it came time for custody battles, he had better lawyers than I could afford.”

  “Friends in high places?”

  “Probably.” Esther played with her food more than she ate it, which didn’t surprise Melanie. She didn’t seem like someone who ate breakfast often, other than coffee, which she’d already refilled once. “Skip called late last night and canceled Anthony’s week, though next weekend is still up in the air.”

  “That explains the mood shift.”

  “Hmm, yes. Skip usually does this when he has a new girlfriend. They typically only last a month or two before he finds someone new.”

  Melanie blew out a breath, glad she hadn’t been sucked into that drama. If she was going to date again, she wasn’t looking for a quick fling but a long-term relationship. She didn’t have time to just have fun. She wanted someone she could spend the rest of her life with if it came to that. “That must be so hard on Anthony.”

  “It is, but I have no other choice but to send him when I have to and keep him here when I have the opportunity.”

  It wasn’t a winning situation for anyone.

  Esther continued, “I honestly hope that as Anthony gets older, Skip will want to be less involved. He seems to be trending in that direction already. Or that as Anthony gets older and he has the ability to decide, he won’t go over there.”

  “How did he get you banned from board meetings?” The question was out before she could take it back, but she was genuinely curious.

  Esther pushed her plate closer to the center of the table, half-eaten, and curled her fingers around her mug. “I had written him a letter, stupidly I might say, telling him the baby was mine and he couldn’t take him from me, amongst other things. He used that letter to gaslight me, stating that I was stalking him and threatening him, so the board banned me for his protection.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “I was angry.” Esther wouldn’t look her in the eye.

  Melanie leaned forward and clasped Esther’s hand tightly. “You had a right to be.”

  Esther was about to say something when Anthony came back in with his empty plate and asked for more. Esther filled him up for a second round and sent him back to watch cartoons. “I didn’t have a right to take his son away from him.”

  Melanie wasn’t quite sure she agreed with that, but she wasn’t going to argue.

  “The worst part is holidays. Skip has Anthony for Thanksgiving this year, and I’m pretty sure he’ll keep him.”

  “Why?”

  “His mother is coming to town.”

  “So he has to play daddy of the year?”

  Esther’s flat look was an answer.

  “You’re welcome to my house for Thanksgiving if you want. My girls will be home. Not Jeremy, but the girls will be.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “Esther, I’m quite used to having a lot of people around for holidays since I adopted the kids. We kind of collect people. It’s gotten quieter as the kids have grown up, but you’ll see what I mean when you come. And please, do come. It’s not a pity invitation. Chris would be joining us too, but I think she said Katie was coming this year and they were going to her parents’.”

  “Melanie, you really don’t have to invite me. I’m perfectly capable—”

  “I know you are,” Melanie interrupted. “But, I want you to come, and the invitation is there. You can even bring something if you want.”

  “What do you want me to bring?”

  Melanie’s heart thudded hard. That felt as though it had been far too easy, but there was still time to back out. “Why don’t you bring a pie, and if anything does happen with Skip and Anthony that week, bring Anthony too. Becky is bringing her girls, so he’ll have someone to play with.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  There was the hesitance Melanie had been expecting. Finally back on their normal level of resistance and pushing, Melanie finished her breakfast and then helped Esther with the dishes until Anthony brought in his plate. She stayed until it was close to lunch and then left to give them time as a family. Not to mention the texts from Ella were getting distracting, and it would be much easier to just call her to calm her down than trying to do it via text message. On her walk back to her house, she couldn’t stop smiling. The walls certainly were coming down quickly, and she was glad, because Esther was a strong saint underneath it all.

  Esther helped Anthony read a few books before he went across the street to play with his new best friend. Cast into the quiet of her house, she set about her routine of deep cleaning—which she did every Saturday afternoon after spending some quality time with Anthony, or Saturday mornings when he was with Skip.

  She moved the mop against the hardwood floors, her mind spinning from the conversation with Melanie. She hadn’t meant to share so much, but it had felt so good. The only other person who knew anything of the details was Carissa. Their parents only knew some of it, and Esther liked to keep it that way. She didn’t want to air her dirty laundry for the world to see and for Anthony to bear the brunt of.

  Having someone else in the loop, at least somewhat in it, someone she thought might have Anthony’s best interest in mind was more comforting than she’d imagined. Melanie had taken the time out of her day Thursday to share with Esther her concerns over Anthony and she’d never had another teacher do that, not a day care teacher or anyone who was supposed to have a vested interest in him.

  Melanie might be Anthony’s teacher, but she was going beyond what she needed to do in order to ensure his mental well-being. That meant more to Esther than anything, and it had allowed her to share a small sliver more of her chaotic relationship with Skip. And it really felt as though a weight had been lifted, as if she could smile more knowing that at least one other person in her immediate circle didn’t think she was crazy or spiteful.

  She’d been called that so many times throughout the years she’d begun to think it really was true. She shuddered as she dipped the mop back into the water and wrung it out. As much as she hated to admit it, finding someone who could be there for her had been the right decision, even if she had been forced into it with the mentorship program, and she wasn’t sure that anyone else would have managed it other than Melanie.

  God, and seeing her without makeup? That had been glorious. Melanie had come over raw, straight from bed, unmasked. And she was still the confident woman Esther thought she was, someone who knew and understood herself.

  Her phone buzzing in her pocket surprised her, but when she saw the name on the screen, she grinned. Setting the mop against the wall and plopping onto the couch, Esther got comfortable for a long conversation that she had been waiting hours to have.

  “Hey, sis.”

  “Hey.” Carissa’s voice was a warm welcome, although Esther was feeling pretty damn good still. “How’s Anthony doing? Any better?”

  “He is because Skip canceled for next week.”

  “Asshole.” Carissa chuckled. “But I’m glad it at least makes Anthony feel a bit better.”

  Esther hummed, staring out her front window where she could see the house where Anthony was. “He’s next door playing with his friend right now.”

  “Good.”

  “I had a bit of an unexpected visitor this morning. Well, not really unexpected. I guess I did technically invite her over, but I didn’t think she would take me up on the offer.” Esther’s cheeks heated, thinking of the way Melanie had looked, fresh for the day as if she was just getting it started—which she was. But it had been a pleasure to be able to witness her in that state.