Her Valentine Family

Her palms were damp, throat was tight. She was a nervous wreck.

He stepped toward her. “So how was class? Ms. Smelding tends to be long-winded from what I’ve heard, and I guess tonight confirms that.”

Jess glanced at her watch. The class had gone an extra ten minutes. “I didn’t even notice.”

He laughed at that. “I guess you still like school as much as you did back then, huh?”

“I guess so.”

“Well, thanks to Ms. Smelding, I’ve already lost a third of my time with you tonight, right? If I stick to that half hour promise.” He tilted his head, waiting for her response, and Jessica had to swallow to help herself speak. Something about being this close to him, and looking into those eyes that were identical to Nathan’s, rendered her nearly speechless.

She finally managed, “I just want to make sure I’m back in time to see Nathan before he goes to sleep. Another ten minutes should be okay.”

He smiled, dimples and all. “Good to know.”

Ms. Smelding exited the classroom and paused to look at them. She seemed to assess the fact that he had been waiting on Jessica, then pursed her lips for a moment before speaking. “Mr. Martin, isn’t it?” she said to Chad.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Met you at the staff meetings. Biology.”

It was more a statement than a question, but Chad nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“You know, I started teaching here when I was about your age. I was the youngest staff member at Stockville back then, like you.” She smiled and bobbed her silver head as though remembering those days. “It’s a small campus, I know, but it grows on you. Kind of like a small town. There’s something nice about everyone knowing everyone.” She glanced at Jessica and added, “And every now and then, you find one or two who really appreciate your effort. Makes it all worthwhile.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Chad repeated, smiling at the woman and then at Jess.

“You two have a good night,” she said, still bobbing her head as she walked away.

“I think I just lost five more minutes of coffee time while we were talking to Ms. Smelding,” Chad said. “Come on, let’s go.” He began walking, and Jess noticed he still took the long, even strides that he’d had in high school, and like back then, she had to increase her pace to keep up. When he reached the stairs, he noticed the fact and laughed.

“Habit. I never learned to slow down.”

“Not a problem,” she said. “I can still keep up. I’m used to chasing after Nathan.”

While they continued down the stairs, he said, “Lainey’s only been mobile for about six months, but I feel the same way. And it’s like I need eyes in the back of my head. You should have seen her at Christmas. One minute she was sitting by the tree, sweetest little girl on the planet, then I turned my back for a moment to grab the camera and half of the presents were unwrapped.”

Jessica laughed. “Nathan did the same thing when he was two. That was a fun Christmas, waiting to see what he was going to get into next.”

“She’s eighteen months,” he said and opened the door for her to exit the English building.

A blast of cold air hit them, and she squinted against the chill. “Goodness.”

“Yeah, I’m sure you remember that you never know what you’re going to get here, weatherwise. It’s supposed to warm up by the end of the week, if the forecast is right, though it’s hard to imagine that now,” he said. “Let’s get to the coffee shop where it’s warm.”

“Which way?” she asked, following beside him down the front steps of the building and toward the quad.

“Not far, but more than a walk. We’ll need to drive. You want to follow me?” he asked, moving briskly toward the parking lot.

“Sure.” Jessica was reminded again of how long his legs were, but she didn’t mind that they were moving quicker now, since she was anxious to get out of the chilly air. She kept up with him without problem.

“I’m here,” he said, indicating an older-model silver BMW, parked in the row reserved for staff. “Where are you parked?”

“Right there,” she said, moving quickly to her Ford Escort, opening the door and climbing in, before she realized that he hadn’t gotten in his car but had followed her and was attempting to open her door. She nearly knocked him down when she flung the car door open.

“You’re making it difficult for me to be a gentleman,” he said with a grin.

She laughed and dropped her stack of books on the passenger seat. “Sorry, I guess I’m used to opening the door for myself now.”

“You shouldn’t be.” He paused, as if he was going to say more, but then indicated his car. “I’ll lead.”

Jessica cranked her car, and a frigid blast of air pushed through the vents before she had the wherewithal to turn on the heat and wait for the car to warm up.

You shouldn’t be.

Her heart thumped in her chest. She hadn’t even realized how much she’d missed having someone care for her enough to open her door. She hadn’t really realized how much she’d missed having someone like Chad.

After following him a couple of blocks, she pulled her car into the parking space beside his BMW. She took in the red-and-white striped awning of the coffee shop, the white iron tables that lined the front porch and the checked curtains adorning the windows. Several couples and groups of college-age kids sat throughout the cozy interior, and Jessica immediately knew why Chad had thought of this spot for their meeting. It was casual, yet intimate and a place that would be conducive to old friends getting reacquainted.

Was this the place where she would tell him about Nathan?

She closed her eyes. God, if I’m supposed to tell him tonight, help me to find the right words. And if it isn’t the right time, help me to know that, too.

Her car door opened, and she instantly jumped. Then she turned to find Chad standing there waiting for her to climb out.

“I could get used to this, you know,” she said.

He guided her toward the entrance of the coffee shop and opened that door, too. “Would that be such a bad thing?” he asked as she passed through the doorway.

“No, I don’t suppose it would.”

The entrance was narrow, causing her to brush against him as she went through. And she instantly realized that there wasn’t anything that could warm you up quicker than human contact.

A sign inside the door proclaimed the night Art Night, and Jessica noticed a couple of easels were actually set up in cozy corners of the café and that the artists, possibly some of the art students from the school, were painting on canvases while patrons sipped coffee and admired the local talent.

“Hello, Mr. Martin,” a group of kids called from a table in the corner.

Chad returned the greeting and then made his way to a welcoming alcove on one side of the shop, where a wide bookshelf housed a bounty of eclectic titles and a comfy couch bordered by fringed antique lamps gave the impression of privacy within the public café.

“This okay?” he asked, motioning toward the burgundy sofa. He moved a couple of beaded floral pillows out of the way so she could sit down.

“Yes, very nice,” she said, taking in the assortment of coffee-themed paintings adorning the red brick wall. She looked at the small name at the corner of the paintings and wondered if the artist, Gina Brown, was actually here, painting while they chatted. “I love the art night theme.”

“That’s one of the things I like most about coming here, the atmosphere. They promote local artists, musicians, singers. It makes every visit here unique, something special.”

Jessica immediately felt special, just being here with Chad.

A waitress came over. Like the other waitresses and waiters, she wore black from head to toe and had her hair pulled into a low, classic ponytail. “Hello, Mr. Martin, I’ve got my biology homework ready for class tomorrow morning,” she said.