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“Rudy’s. It’s perfectly safe and respectable.”

“I asked you to call her, not invite her out drinking.”

“A drink. We’re not going to get wasted. Give me some credit. She sounded as if she could use someone to talk to.”

Milo sighed loudly. “Fine.”

“Fine, you give her your permission? Or fine, you understand.”

“Obviously, she doesn’t need my permission.”

Rachel patted his arm. “She sounded pretty normal on the phone. Do you want to tell me what happened?”

“I’ll let her tell you.”

“She’s going to meet me here at five, so you can work out the logistics with her.”

“Okay. Have fun, I guess.”

Rachel left, and Milo turned back to the playground.

During his lunch break, he stayed in the room and called Wilda.

“Hello?”

“Hey. Just checking in.”

“I’m okay.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not on the phone. I do want to let you know that I’m meeting Rachel this evening.”

“For a drink? She told me.”

“Oh, do you mind?”

“No. Of course not. I can keep Caleb with me and bring him home, so you’re not making an extra trip.”

“How late do you think you’ll be?”

“I should be done by four. We might go to the park or Rocco’s though.”

“He’ll like that. Although after his grumpy mood this morning, he probably shouldn’t be rewarded.”

“I think he’s sorry. But if you want me…”

“It’s fine. Take him wherever you want.”

“Okay. I guess I will see you later tonight then.”

“Not very late. One drink.”

“Have fun.”

He ended the call and leaned back in his chair. “Okay. Rachel and Wilda hanging out together.”

The afternoon dragged on, and Milo’s hour after school stretched to an hour and a half. At four-thirty, he, Caleb, and Frenchie left the school and headed for the park. Caleb preferred the pond to the playground, so they walked across the green grass to the pond and watched the ducks.