the mother. “Nate Garrison. I used to live here.”
“We were friends years ago,” Lindsey added, surprising him with her endorsement. “Nate’s a journalist with the Chicago Tribune , here on vacation.”
The woman’s taut posture relaxed, and after a few pleasantries, she and Jarrod exited.
Before Lindsey left to relieve her father at the counter as she usually did after she finished with Jarrod, Nate broached the subject he’d discussed with the boy. She listened, brow furrowed, as he told her about the youngster’s interest in his project.
“Are you really working on a story about children who’ve lost parents?”
“I am now.”
“Why?”
Nate ran his fingers through his hair, then propped his fist on his hip. “You want the truth? I haven’t a clue. The idea just popped out. It’s obvious Jarrod’s still dealing with a lot of issues and a lot of grief. If he finds out he’s not alone, learns how others in his shoes feel and are coping, it might help him heal. I guess I recognized that at some subconscious level.”
“Why do you care about Jarrod’s problems? He’s a stranger to you.”
He shrugged. No use pretending Lindsey hadn’t heard the background he’d shared with Jarrod. “I was in his shoes once. It would have meant a lot to me to have someone step in and try to make things better. Maybe I can do for him what no one ever did for me.”
Lindsey studied him, her features softening. “And maybe you’re not so cynical and jaded after all.”
His neck warmed, and he turned away to retake his seat in front of his laptop. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
She ignored that. “I didn’t know you’d lost your mother. Or been in foster care. I’m sorry.”
Her tone was gentle, soothing him in a way he didn’t deserve. Gritting his teeth, he stared at the geometric screen saver in front of him. “Don’t be. It was my own fault.”
Silence greeted that comment, and when he finally looked up he found Lindsey frowning down at him, her lower lip caught between her teeth.
Uh-oh. She was poised to get into some heavy stuff. And unlike the day of their reunion at The Point, he had no intention of encouraging her. He’d said too much already. “I have a proposition for you. About Jarrod.”
For an instant he thought she was going to forge ahead with whatever questions were forming in her mind. But to his relief, the creases in her brow smoothed and she switched gears. “Okay.”
“If his mother agrees to let him help me on this project, that could take the place of your reading lessons. Since my topic is a subject he’s interested in, it might come easier for him. And I’ll work it out so we know he’s actually doing the reading and comprehending the text.”
Lindsey pursed her lips and folded her arms across her chest. “I suppose it might be worth a try. I’m not getting anywhere with the books I’ve been offering, though most kids his age find them interesting.”
“Most kids his age haven’t lost a parent.”
She conceded his point with a slight lift of one shoulder. “It might work, depending on how long you’re planning to hang around. He wouldn’t progress much in two or three sessions.”
Truth be told, Nate had no idea how long he was going to stay. But he did know he wasn’t close to being ready to go back yet.
“I can commit to two weeks. Beyond that…I’m not certain.”
“Okay. That might be long enough to produce some results. I’ll call Cindy tonight and run the idea by her. We could step up the classes while you’re here, too—if you’re willing. Meet four days a week instead of three.”
“Fine by me.” He pulled a notebook out of his pocket and jotted down a number on a blank page. “Why don’t you call me after you talk to Jarrod’s mother?” He ripped the sheet out and handed it over.
“Lindsey! You want to take over so I can go home and start dinner?” Jack’s voice wafted over the shelving units that defined the coffee
“We were friends years ago,” Lindsey added, surprising him with her endorsement. “Nate’s a journalist with the Chicago Tribune , here on vacation.”
The woman’s taut posture relaxed, and after a few pleasantries, she and Jarrod exited.
Before Lindsey left to relieve her father at the counter as she usually did after she finished with Jarrod, Nate broached the subject he’d discussed with the boy. She listened, brow furrowed, as he told her about the youngster’s interest in his project.
“Are you really working on a story about children who’ve lost parents?”
“I am now.”
“Why?”
Nate ran his fingers through his hair, then propped his fist on his hip. “You want the truth? I haven’t a clue. The idea just popped out. It’s obvious Jarrod’s still dealing with a lot of issues and a lot of grief. If he finds out he’s not alone, learns how others in his shoes feel and are coping, it might help him heal. I guess I recognized that at some subconscious level.”
“Why do you care about Jarrod’s problems? He’s a stranger to you.”
He shrugged. No use pretending Lindsey hadn’t heard the background he’d shared with Jarrod. “I was in his shoes once. It would have meant a lot to me to have someone step in and try to make things better. Maybe I can do for him what no one ever did for me.”
Lindsey studied him, her features softening. “And maybe you’re not so cynical and jaded after all.”
His neck warmed, and he turned away to retake his seat in front of his laptop. “Don’t get your hopes up.”
She ignored that. “I didn’t know you’d lost your mother. Or been in foster care. I’m sorry.”
Her tone was gentle, soothing him in a way he didn’t deserve. Gritting his teeth, he stared at the geometric screen saver in front of him. “Don’t be. It was my own fault.”
Silence greeted that comment, and when he finally looked up he found Lindsey frowning down at him, her lower lip caught between her teeth.
Uh-oh. She was poised to get into some heavy stuff. And unlike the day of their reunion at The Point, he had no intention of encouraging her. He’d said too much already. “I have a proposition for you. About Jarrod.”
For an instant he thought she was going to forge ahead with whatever questions were forming in her mind. But to his relief, the creases in her brow smoothed and she switched gears. “Okay.”
“If his mother agrees to let him help me on this project, that could take the place of your reading lessons. Since my topic is a subject he’s interested in, it might come easier for him. And I’ll work it out so we know he’s actually doing the reading and comprehending the text.”
Lindsey pursed her lips and folded her arms across her chest. “I suppose it might be worth a try. I’m not getting anywhere with the books I’ve been offering, though most kids his age find them interesting.”
“Most kids his age haven’t lost a parent.”
She conceded his point with a slight lift of one shoulder. “It might work, depending on how long you’re planning to hang around. He wouldn’t progress much in two or three sessions.”
Truth be told, Nate had no idea how long he was going to stay. But he did know he wasn’t close to being ready to go back yet.
“I can commit to two weeks. Beyond that…I’m not certain.”
“Okay. That might be long enough to produce some results. I’ll call Cindy tonight and run the idea by her. We could step up the classes while you’re here, too—if you’re willing. Meet four days a week instead of three.”
“Fine by me.” He pulled a notebook out of his pocket and jotted down a number on a blank page. “Why don’t you call me after you talk to Jarrod’s mother?” He ripped the sheet out and handed it over.
“Lindsey! You want to take over so I can go home and start dinner?” Jack’s voice wafted over the shelving units that defined the coffee
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