Her Family Wish

Jude’s gaze followed her motion, and a flush rode an unwelcome passage up Hannah’s neck. Definitely a one-sided attraction. He had no reason to be drawn to her, and a jagged, three-inch reason not to.

Hannah straightened her shoulders, determined not to let him see her vulnerabilities. It would get them nowhere. “If that’s all, I better get back to the class.” A roar of laughter burst from inside the classroom, and Hannah took that as her cue. She reached for the knob, and Jude held out one hand as if to stop her before letting it drop back to his side. The traitorous blush claimed new real estate on her neck and chest and she forced herself not to look away, to hold her ground. She had nothing to be embarrassed about.

Unless he could read her mind.

Head tilted, Jude’s eyes searched hers before resignation released her from their navy blue hold. “All right. Then I guess I’ll see you around.”

Hannah nodded once before slipping back inside the classroom.

Not if she could help it.

Chapter Three

A gust of October wind sent myriad crimson and gold leaves skittering past Hannah’s feet. She adjusted the settings on her Nikon and squinted through the viewfinder. Perfect. As soon as her eleven o’clock appointment arrived at the park, she’d set the siblings up on the low branches of this oak and be able to catch the last of the morning light.

A car door slammed from the lot behind her, and Hannah turned in time to see what had to be the McDuffy family rushing toward her. The teenage girl, Sarah, if she remembered correctly, held her hands up to protect her spiral-curled hair from the wind, while the younger boy—Adam?—hurried toward her, carefree. Hannah waved and smiled, never tired of seeing what a few years in age and gender could mean for priorities.

A second girl hurried behind the first, and once they cleared the shadow of the pavilion, Hannah blinked. Abby. But not the braided, plaid Abby. This one had on subtle makeup and was dressed more like her friend in trendy jeans and a sparkly layered top.

“Hey, guys.” Hannah smiled. “Abby, I didn’t expect to see you here!”

“You know Ms. Hart?” Mrs. McDuffy asked in surprise.

Abby nodded, avoiding her gaze. Hannah frowned. That wasn’t like her. She was so personable in class.

“The girls had a sleepover last night and thought it’d be fun if Abby tagged along.” Mrs. McDuffy tried in vain to smooth her son’s cowlick. “Oh, well. I guess photography is meant to record accuracy anyway.”

“Don’t worry. I can do wonders with editing.” Hannah winked. “Come on, guys, I thought we’d take a few shots in this tree over here.”

“Cool!” Adam bolted forward, scrambling for the lowest branch.

Sarah wrinkled her nose and stared at the tree like it might spring to life and devour her. “Will I get dirty?”

“I have tissues in my bag.” Hannah urged her forward. Mrs. McDuffy strolled a few paces back to lean against the fence separating the park from the road. But Abby stood awkwardly next to Hannah, head still turned down, feigning great interest in her shoes. Hannah took a quick shot of Sarah and Adam in the tree. “Adam, scoot closer toward the trunk.” She waited while he shifted, lowering her voice. “You okay, Abby?”

“Uh-huh.” The breeze nearly carried away the soft reply, and Hannah wondered if she should press the issue or take the girl’s cue and leave it alone. She never liked being pushed to talk about things when she was younger. Best to ignore it for now—maybe distraction would open her up.

“Adam, that’s perfect.” Hannah took a few more shots then tilted her head. “Sarah, can you stand on the lowest branch? Adam, sit on the one above her.” The kids scrambled to follow orders, Sarah pausing twice to wipe her hands.

Hannah dropped to her stomach, laying flat on the ground, to catch a unique angle.

Abby gaped at her. “You don’t mind getting dirty?”

“Nope. That’s why I wear old clothes to photo shoots.” Hannah rolled sideways and braced her arm on her knee to get a sideways shot of the kids grinning through the leaves. “Thanks, guys! Let’s take a few by the slides.” She slowed her pace to match Abby’s as the siblings and Mrs. McDuffy headed toward the playground equipment. The wind lifted Abby’s blond hair, flowing freely across her shoulders, and turned the strands to honey. “Speaking of clothes, you look cute today. Trying out a new look?”

Abby looked over her shoulder, and then lowered her voice even though no one was around. “It’s only for fun. I don’t get to wear it often.”

Hannah hiked her bag higher on her shoulder. “Why not? You look great.”

“My dad likes my other look better.” She rolled her eyes. “You know, the baby look with ponytails and dresses.”

“I see.” But she didn’t, really. Hannah could understand a father being overprotective with his daughter—after all, her daddy was the same way even though she was almost thirty and lived three states away—but it wasn’t as if Abby was doing anything inappropriate. However, these early teen years were rough, and on a single parent, probably rougher than she realized. “For what it’s worth, you’re a pretty girl either way.”

A pleased blush tinted Abby’s cheeks and she smiled shyly. “Thanks, Ms. Hart.” As if a burden were suddenly lifted, she waved her arm at Sarah several paces ahead. “Hey, wait up!”

Hannah watched Abby jog across the park, glad the girl’s smile was firmly back in place. She couldn’t help but wonder about Abby’s mom. Had she died? Had she and Jude divorced? He carried a burden in his eyes that resembled grief, so maybe an accident had stolen the former Mrs. Bradley. It seemed so unfair that such a sweet girl like Abby, in need of female guidance, would be robbed of her mother. Hannah’s hand went to the scar on her face, her fingers tracing the slightly curved pattern she could draw in her sleep. But life wasn’t fair—she was walking proof of that.

Enough bitterness. Hannah joined the group on the slides and placed the kids in different positions on the equipment. “Adam, tone back the smile a bit, okay?” The boy’s toothy grin held more cheese than a warehouse in Wisconsin. She nodded as he narrowed his smile to something more natural. “Sarah, your necklace is crooked. Now, everyone say ‘school’s out’!”

The kids laughed on cue and Hannah took the shot.

After several more pictures, Mrs. McDuffy suggested that Abby get on the top of the jungle gym beside Sarah. “I think a few friend photos are in order.”

Hannah hesitated. Jude had made it clear he didn’t want any free photography, but if this was Mrs. McDuffy’s idea—and money—then why would he resist? Technically, it wouldn’t be free at all.

Decision made, Hannah nodded. “Sure thing.” She crouched at the end of the slide, attempting to capture on camera the friendship that shone so sincerely in real life between the girls. Linking arms, they slid down the slide. Click. She caught them posing on the wooden bridge connecting two jungle gyms. Click. And again on the swings, legs pumping furiously as if they were children instead of almost teenagers.

Hannah paused to study the photos on her camera’s LCD screen, admiring the innocence and beauty in both of their faces. A particular photo caught Hannah’s eyes, and she looked up at Abby, then glanced back at her camera, grinning as an idea took root. Just because Hannah needed to keep her distance from the handsome assistant principal didn’t mean she couldn’t take an opportunity to help mend a fence between father and daughter.

And she knew just how to do it.

* * *

Jude frowned at the budget on his desk, wishing the numbers would rearrange themselves into something presentable. This wasn’t looking good—in fact, it was getting downright grim. He shoved the papers away with a sigh, wishing it was as easy to push aside the stress headache now permanently taking up residence in his neck. Head Principal Coleman had sent another email to the upper staff today, clarifying that the electives at school were in danger because of the budget and there would be big decisions to make in the near future. Exactly what that meant, Jude had yet to discover.

Part of him didn’t even want to know.

Jude sighed. Between Abby’s teenage pride and this issue with the budget, he rarely had a moment’s peace. He rolled a pencil between his fingers, staring at the yellow blur flipping over his knuckles. It didn’t help that thoughts of Hannah consumed him more than they should have over the weekend. With Abby spending the night at a friend’s house, he had ample time to wonder what he said wrong in his apology Friday afternoon. Though Hannah’s words assured him all was well, her expression and manner had certainly not as she excused herself to go back to the class. Was she still offended? Or simply cautious?

It shouldn’t matter. Even if his attraction to her was obvious—though hopefully not obvious to her—he had to tamp it down. He had no business with a photographer, no interest in being with someone who constantly reminded him of everything he was attempting to keep his daughter from.

He groaned. It figured. An attractive woman finally snagged his interest, without the help of Abby’s inevitable matchmaking attempts, but he couldn’t—make that wouldn’t—pursue it. It wouldn’t be fair, not until he figured a few things out about himself, first—assuming he ever did.

Jude’s secretary, Mrs. Oakes, tapped on his open door, her frizzy dark hair even more out of place today than usual. He winced, knowing her stress was partly a consequence of his own. He made a mental note to take full advantage of the upcoming secretary appreciation day.

“Sir, Ms. Hart is here to see you.”

Hannah? All thoughts of secretary appreciation fled his mind. Despite logic warning him otherwise, Jude’s heart hammered a telltale thump and he dropped the pencil still in his hand. “Great. Send her in.” Maybe he could practice being a professional in front of her now, rather than nearly moony as he’d been during their hallway talk—though not as easily done as said. It wasn’t just her appearance that knocked Jude off center. After all, he’d been around attractive women before—had married one, for that matter—but rather something deeper. Something about Hannah seemed to look right through him and see things he didn’t show very often.

Make that ever.

How did she get under his skin like that? Maybe he was more desperate for female company than he’d realized. Maybe it was time to date again, if only to keep these crazy thoughts at bay when around Hannah.

Because he sure couldn’t date her.

Hannah appeared in the door frame seconds later, her shoulder-length brown hair swept up on one side with a clip, revealing the long line of her neck above the scoop of her sweater. He cleared his throat, hoping she hadn’t caught him staring. Even with the scar slightly hidden under the curtain of hair on her left side, she was beautiful.

“Hi.” She hesitated in the doorway, clutching a manila envelope and looking as timid as his students did when they came to his office. “Is this a good time?”