Blessings of the Heart and Samantha's Gift by Valerie Hansen

Author:Valerie Hansen [Hansen, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2003-10-21T21:00:00+00:00

An unexpected call summoned Rachel to the office right after the dismissal bell. She was anything but thrilled. The first few days of every school year were very tiring, and the last thing she wanted was to have to face the principal this late in the afternoon. Refusal, however, was not an option.

Sean was coming out of a classroom as she passed by. He beamed at the sight of her. “Hi.”

“Hi. So far, so good?” Rachel asked pleasantly, trying to ignore the jolt of awareness she’d felt the moment she spied him again.

“No problems,” Sean said.

“Good.”

“You okay? You look kind of funny.”

Did her unwarranted reaction show? Oh dear! Hedging, she made a silly face at him. “Thanks—I think.”

“Actually, you remind me a lot of a condemned man on the way to the gallows.”

“Oh, that.” What a relief. “Probably because I feel like one. I’ve been called to Principal Vanbruger’s office and I don’t have the slightest idea why. That kind of thing always gives me butterflies in my stomach.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Who knows. It’s a little too early in the year for me to have earned a commendation for exemplary teaching, so I have to assume that’s not why he wants to see me.”

“You never know. Maybe you’re about to get a blue ribbon for your skipping skills.”

“Let’s hope not.”

He fell into step beside her. “I’m headed your way. Mind if I walk along? Keep you company?”

“Aren’t you afraid to be associated with a terrible rule-breaker like me?”

“Not as long as I don’t catch you running with scissors,” he quipped. “I do have my limits.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Rachel couldn’t help chuckling softly. The man seemed to have the kind of nature that lifted a person’s spirits. That quality made him more appealing to her than any superficial attributes, like the fact that he was every bit as handsome as her friends had insisted during lunch, when she’d carelessly mentioned having met him.

She and Sean reached the door to the school office. Rachel paused. “Well, this is it. Here I go.”

“Want me to hang around till you’re done?”

She was amazed at his sensitivity. “No. I’ll be fine. I just hate the idea of hearing that I’m not perfect.”

Sean arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know. You look pretty good to me. Tell you what. If that guy Vanbruger picks on you, tell me, and I’ll go let the air out of the tires on his bicycle so he knows better the next time.”

Amused, Rachel looked up into his kind face and caught a glimmer of deeper concern. He’d apparently been trying to distract her with his silly banter and was now waiting to see if he’d been successful.

She assumed a pseudo-serious expression, made a fist and punched him lightly in the upper arm as she said, “Thanks, buddy. It’s good to know you’re standing by in case I need avenging. But I don’t think he rides a bicycle, so that’s out. Guess I’ll just have to take my chances.”

Turning, she reached for the doorknob.

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