Page 5
He nodded. “She was kind of mean, now that I think about it.”
“She wasn’t mean. She was…strict.”
“So, is Caleb’s teacher the male version of Mrs. Blanchard?”
“Not at all.” Wilda went to the refrigerator, took out a pitcher of iced tea, and poured herself a glass. “He’s…”
Mathias cocked his head. “The pause again. He’s what?”
“Mr. Milo is not middle-aged, wears no glasses, and has very nice hair.”
“Okay. Do we have a crush on the kindergarten teacher?”
She scowled. “Of course not.”
He leaned against the counter. “I’m just teasing you. It seems both you and Caleb are happy with him. That’s all that matters.”
Wilda reached into her pocket and pulled out the slip of paper with Milo’s phone number. “He gave me his cell number in case we needed help with anything.” She took the slip to the refrigerator and stuck it with a magnet.
Mathias looked at it. “Is that crayon?”
“Yes.”
“Just how young is this teacher?”
Wilda laughed. “It was all he had on him.”
Caleb had been busy at the table drawing since he sat down. He held out the picture he’d been working on to Mathias.
“What’s this? A dog?” Caleb nodded. “Cool.”
Wilda looked at it. “That’s Frenchie. The classroom dog.”
Mathias looked at Caleb. “You have a classroom dog? That’s cool.”
Caleb nodded, then ate another slice of apple.
Wilda took the picture from Mathias and hung it next to Milo’s phone number. “This dog just might be the key, Matty.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” She took a few steps back, then turned to Mathias. “Why are you home so early?”
“I’m meeting with a prospective client. Big roof job if I get it.”
“Great.” She smiled. “Maybe I won’t get a job.”
“Find a hobby. Take up crocheting, or…something creative. Seriously, you don’t need to work.”
She patted him on the chest. “I need to work for my sanity. I haven’t worked in a year and a half. It’s time.”
“Alright. Do what you gotta do.” He went to Caleb and kissed the top of his head. “I’ll see you in a bit, kid.” Mathias turned to Wilda. “Do you want me to bring something home for dinner? There's a pizza place in town.”
“Pizza sounds good.”
“I’ll text you when I’m on the way home with it.”
“Will you grab some milk, too?”
