Friday's Child Read Online Free PDF Page A

towels, expertly wet them and started cleaning the little girl up. “So now we have a mess in the sink and a mess on you.”
    Chloe’s eyes began to sparkle mirthfully. “You have a mess on you, too, Miss Rose. Right here.” She pointed a grubby finger at her teacher’s face.
    Kate looked at the mirror hanging over the sink. Chloe was right. Two splatters of dirt marred one cheek. She wiped them off and then brushed at the matching spots on the front of her jumper before returning to her student. Casting a glance at the surrounding countertops and walls, she stifled a sigh. She was going to have a major cleanup job, one that would have to wait until after her meeting with Mr. Friday.
    Once Chloe had been returned to a semblance of her formerly tidy self, Kate disposed of the paper towels and reached for the little girl’s plant. Pouring out the excess water, she handed the pot to Chloe. “Get your measuring stick and join the others at the table,” she instructed.
    Chloe looked at the plant, which was bent over dispiritedly. “I don’t think it’s gonna stand up to be measured.”
    Kate surveyed the plant and then her student. Chloe was looking at her hopefully. “Bring me a new pencil and the thread from the supply drawer.” With Chloe and a few interested students looking on, Kate stuck the pencil in the dirt next to the plant, then tied thread around the two. When she finished, she set the plant in front of Chloe, who enthusiastically began measuring it.
    Her gaze sneaked to the clock. Less than an hour to finish the activities she had planned for the afternoon. Her stomach tightened as she remembered. Less than an hour before she faced Michael Friday again. She hoped the upcoming meeting wouldn’t give rise to another lecture from Carol. She’d spoken with Kate twice before to caution her against getting too involved in her students’ lives. It was fine to preach objectivity and distance, Kate mused as she bent down to soothe a little boy growing frustrated with his slippery plant, but muchharder to practice it. At least for her. She knew from bitter experience what it was like to grow up in a home where love and acceptance weren’t given freely. She’d never believe that it was wrong for her to fight for them on behalf of her students.
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    Michael rose courteously to greet each of the newcomers as they entered the conference room near the office. After fifteen minutes of talking to the principal, it was easy to tell that Chloe’s teacher had the woman’s respect. He sank back into his seat after being introduced to the school nurse.
    He was surrounded by women at the table, a situation he would ordinarily enjoy. He’d grown up in a household headed by a single mother and was totally at ease around women. He enjoyed everything about them—their smell, their softness, their fascinating female rituals. It was odd that the one thing he missed most from his marriage to Deanna was watching her get ready to go out for the evening. He stifled a sigh. Derek was right. He was as domesticated as a lapdog.
    The door opened inwardly again, and this time Kate filled it. His stomach muscles tightened reflexively. Rising, he held out his hand, conscious of the softness of hers as he met it briefly. He waited for her to sit before he followed suit. Today her curly hair was caught in a low ponytail, allowing her hair to drape around her ears without letting any tendrils free. It was long, hanging to the middle of her back, and too close to the fantasy he’d had about her yesterday for comfort. She was wearing another jumper, plaid this time, with large pockets, and dark tights. The outfit made her look like a schoolgirl herself, especially with the smear of dirt across her chest.
    â€œSorry I’m late.” Her voice was just as he remembered it, its cadence soft with the rounded vowels of a native Virginian, slightly husky. “I