“In small communities like this one, Mr. Frazier, folks help each other all the time. It’s how we are. We don’t need specific reasons to look out for one another. We just do it. A lot of us behave that way because Christians are supposed to, but we aren’t the only ones who show kindness. Pretty much everybody does. It’s one of the blessings of living here.”
“I see.”
Tina decided to press ahead. “Do you have a church home? If not, you can’t beat the one I go to,” she said enthusiastically. “We’d love to have you visit this Sunday. At nine-thirty I teach a Sunday School class of children Justin’s age. He should be comfortable enough with me by then to enjoy it. Regular church starts at eleven.”
“We’ll see.” He glanced at Justin. “I guess I might as well try to get out of here. I do have a lot to do.”
Tina scanned the table where her charges sat. “I think you’re wise to leave him with us right away, instead of getting him used to having you stick around. He’ll be fine. Just go over and tell him goodbye as if you’ve done it that way a thousand times. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“What if he cries?”
“Then, I’ll give him a hug and comfort him until he stops, the same as you’d do,” she said. To her dismay she noticed that the man seemed a bit put off by her comment. Surely he didn’t expect a motherless child to do without a lot of cuddling, even if his father didn’t view it as a natural masculine response.
“You do whatever you think is right,” Zac said. “You can reach me at the high school all afternoon if you need me. What time should I come back for Justin?”
“We like to lock up and be out of here by six-thirty. Will that work for you?”
“I’ll make it work,” he said.
Tina watched him walk stiffly across the room and bend over his son. The boy didn’t seem at all upset when he bid Zac goodbye. Funny. She’d dealt with lots of little ones in the past and she’d expected at least a mild protest, especially since Justin hadn’t had time to make friends yet.
Hanging back, she waited for the boy’s reaction rather than anticipating difficulties and telegraphing her own concern. If he accepted his father’s departure, there would be no reason to treat it as anything but routine.
Zac straightened and headed for the door. He never hesitated, never looked back. If Tina hadn’t spotted the moisture glistening in his eyes as he passed, she might have believed he wasn’t concerned about leaving Justin at all.
Chapter Two
Tina wasn’t surprised that Zac was the first parent to claim his child that day. It was barely four-thirty when he arrived. Justin looked up from the rug where he was pushing a toy race car, broke into a wide grin when he spotted his daddy and ran to him.
Zac tousled the boy’s thick brown hair. “Hi, buddy. Did you have fun?”
Nodding, Justin suddenly turned shy again and hid his face against his father’s leg, just as he had that morning when he’d first arrived.
Troubled by the abrupt change in the child’s attitude, Tina approached. “You’ll need to sign him out on that clipboard hanging on the wall by the door. Just find his name, fill in the time and sign in the space provided.”
She followed, as Zac took the boy’s hand and led him toward the door. Justin was dragging his feet and not looking at anyone, so she crouched down beside him as Zac paused to check the pupil list.
“It was very nice having you in my class, today, Justin,” she said amiably. “Tomorrow we’re going to paint, and play with the outside toys and have lots more fun.”
When the boy looked into her eyes, Tina was positive she saw a glimmer of fear. She gently stroked his bare arm to soothe him. “And then tomorrow, after school, your daddy will come for you again. Just like he did today.” Still not sure she was getting through to the little boy she added, “And I’ll be your special friend. If you want to keep me company while I walk around and do my job, you can be my helper, okay?”
“O-okay.” His voice was barely above a whisper. As soon as he spoke he looked up at his father for reassurance.
Tina, too, looked up. “I think you should tell Justin that it’s okay for me to be his friend,” she said. “He seems worried that you might not approve.”
“He doesn’t need a friend Ms….”
“It’s Braddock, remember? But call me Miss Tina. Everybody does. It simplifies things for the children.”
“All right. My son needs a teacher and a caretaker, Miss Tina. That’s why I brought him here. However, I don’t see how becoming emotionally involved will help you do a better job. Or help Justin adjust to the new routine.”
She blessed the little boy with a smile of encouragement before she straightened to face his father. The smile faded and her chin jutted out. “Everybody needs friends, Mr. Frazier. Even stubborn, hardheaded men like you, whether you choose to admit it or not.”
“Ah, I see. Are you volunteering?”
Tina didn’t like the self-satisfied expression on his face. Her eyes narrowed. “Why do I get the idea that’s a trick question?”
“Because it is. You aren’t the first single woman who’s figured she could get to me by befriending my son,” Zac said flatly. “And I’m sure you won’t be the last. I learned a long time ago that it was best for Justin if I put a stop to that kind of nonsense before it got started.”
“You think I’m pursuing you?”
“It’s pretty obvious.”
“Oh, really?” Righteous indignation rose. “Well, let me tell you something, mister. If I was interested in getting to know you on a personal level, which I am not, I’d have the backbone to come right out and say so, not hide my intentions at the expense of an innocent child.”
Zac was starting to smile for real. “Are you through?”
“No.” She pulled a pout. “But I think I’d better stop talking before I say too much.”
“Undoubtedly. I suspect I may have to rethink my conclusions about you.”
“I certainly hope so.”
“In that case, I apologize, Miss Tina.” He politely offered his hand. “If you want to be buddies with my son and can keep me out of the equation, then I certainly have no objection.”
That’s big of you, she thought cynically. For the boy’s sake she took Zac’s hand, intending to shake it merely to demonstrate harmony. It should have been a simple act. It wasn’t. The moment he grasped her fingers some serious complications arose. Tina felt a jolt of awareness zing up her arm and spread telltale warmth across her cheeks.
A barely coherent “Thanks” squeaked out of her suddenly tight, dry throat as she quickly withdrew from his touch. No wonder he’d had so much trouble with other women! The poor guy was unconsciously sending out the wrong kind of signals. At least, the ones she was picking up were wrong. Very wrong. Especially for her.
Zac cleared his throat. “So, what time can I bring Justin in the morning?”
“We open at eight. I’m usually here by a little after seven, if you want to drop him off early. You’ll need to knock. I keep the door locked when I’m here alone.” The cautious look returning to his eyes reminded her of the conversation they’d concluded a few moments before, so she clarified her statement. “I will not be waiting with baited breath for you to come in with him.”
Chuckling, he nodded and relaxed. “Okay, okay. I’m convinced. You’re not shopping for a husband.”
“You’ve