Chapter 37
Chapter Thirty-Seven
FAITH
Today was the last day of school.
Adam and I both agreed until I was no longer Danny’s teacher, we would try to keep things in the friend zone, at least in front of him. Even though the entire town, and all my students, already knew we were dating.
Dating.
It seemed like such a simple word for the feelings I felt.
The timer on my phone alarm rang, signaling it was the end of the day. My group of second graders grabbed the cards they signed for one another, their last-day-of-school sugar cookies, and their backpacks from the side of the community center.
It wasn’t the classroom setup that I loved, but it was my class, and that was all that really mattered.
I couldn’t believe Dad was helping rebuild the school. I owed him so much. Mom was still keeping her distance, but Dad kept saying she would come around.
Hillsdale was amazing. James was putting a new technology center in the school and helping to fund some business rebuilds—I’m pretty sure Angie Merritt is paying him in pie.
Michael has been here every weekend, hammer in hand, and Scott and Marissa were letting people stay at the B&B for free.
Rose even offered free manicures to anyone whose house was damaged.
I wasn’t sure if it was all small towns or just mine, but I was proud to be a part of it.
My students lined up for the last time.
“Bye, Ms. Faith.”
“Bye, Ms. Luxe.”
I’d changed my last name back to Luxe, and told the children they were welcome to call me either. I never liked Lyons anyway, and honestly, I was proud to be a Luxe.
Lucy came toward me, her big doe eyes watering. “I’mma miss you, Ms. Faith.”
“Me too,” Lydia said.
“Me three,” Mason said. “Can you come to my house too, like you do Danny’s?”
I smiled and cleared my throat. No matter how hard we tried to keep things quiet, I’m pretty sure there was no such thing as quiet in Hillsdale.
“I will miss you too. Don’t forget, next year you are always welcome to come and say hi.
Once you are one of my students, you are always my students.
” I held my arms open for anyone who wanted a hug.
It was crazy to spend so much time with these kids, only to pass them off to someone else the following year.
I didn’t know if I would ever get used to that part.
They wiped their eyes and noses on their sleeves.
“I hope each of you has a happy summer! And I’m excited about next year and the new school!” I clasped my hands in front of me. “Who’s excited to see the new school?”
All the hands went up, including mine.
I walked the students out to the parking lot, then returned to clean up the rest of my makeshift classroom.
I picked up the pencils, scissors, and crayons and put them in boxes. I cleared up the smeared sugar cookie frosting, gathered the loose garbage, grabbed Mason’s dinosaur jacket to give to his mom when I next saw her, and turned off my computer.
Running footsteps sounded from outside the door, followed by a familiar jovial knock.
I couldn’t help my answering giggle as Adam pushed the door wide open and rushed toward me.
“School’s out!” Adam fist-pumped as he rushed into the room, showing off my favorite biceps, which still caused me to swoon. He was more excited than any kid I’d ever seen that it was summer. I chuckled as he ran over to me, picked me up in his arms, spun me around, and kissed me thoroughly.
“I’ve always loved summer,” Adam said as he wiggled his brows. “But I think this is going to be the best one yet.”
I ran my fingers through his hair at the back of his neck. “I love you.”
I looked into his brown eyes and was amazed at how much this man had changed my entire world. He didn’t feel the need to fix my broken pieces or to save me from my problems. He saw me for me—and loved me and held me through all of my uncertainty, as I found myself, and that made all the difference.
“I love you, Faith.” He rested his forehead against mine as his lips took on a devilish grin. “Did I say I was glad it’s summer yet?” His head drifted closer to my mouth. “Because I’m really glad it’s summer.”
I bit my bottom lip. “Oh, yeah?”
He nodded. “Yep. And I think it’s officially starting right now.”
He pulled me in and his lips found mine, and in his arms I was home.
THE END