by Holly Jacobs
"Speak for yourself," said Samantha, still in a scolding voice. "I don't need to check him out, remember? I met him on Monday and told you he seemed very nice."
Carly snorted. "I'd prefer making my own assessment, thank you. So, where do we start, Michelle?"
"By putting your coats on and leaving?" Michelle assured herself that she was teasing—well, mostly teasing.
Samantha gave her a look of sympathy. "There was no talking her out of this."
"No, there wasn't, Samantha, and no I'm not leaving, Michelle."
"Harry promised to entertain the kids, and we're here to do whatever's needed."
"I brought a couple crafts." Carly held out a huge plastic bag. "I know we're always running short of gifts that the kids can buy for their families."
"Thank goodness. I don't have a crafty bone in my body," Michelle assured her. She knew there were some leftover beads and fishing line for necklaces from last year that she'd planned to work on today, but even that might have stretched her to her crafty limits.
"Well, though most people don't believe it, I do," Carly said. "I have a whole body of crafty bones. For instance. . ." She opened the bag and pulled out a huge bag of what appeared to be orange juice lids. "These will be very cute punched-tin ornaments when you're done. All you need is a basic pattern, a nail and a hammer. And this. . ." She held a bag of pipe cleaners, and a couple spools of glittery thread. "These will be ornaments. I thought we'd do a bunch for the younger kids, and the older ones can do the craft on their own. And I printed a poem that goes with them."
She took out a stack of red and green papers and read the top one.
"I'm a little spider.
No matter where I roam,
I'm lucky, for you see
I'm never far from home.
So put me in your Christmas tree,
I'll make a pretty guest.
My web will shine and sparkle there
Along with all the rest."
She pulled another stack of papers from her bag. "And here's a great legend, The Christmas Spider. I stapled the pages together into a booklet form. The kids will each get one when they buy the spider ornament, and they can color the pictures in it and give it along with the ornaments."
"You are a crafty goddess," Samantha said in awe and gave a mock bow.
"I like making things." Carly shrugged. "I don't know what it is about me that makes people think I'm not very domestic. I love to cook, and crochet."
"I don't know. Maybe it's the arson charge?" Samantha teased.
"Hey, accidental arson, if you please?" Carly insisted with a grin. "And before you ask, yes, everything's still fine with that. Henry Rizzo called and my hearing's the same day as the Christmas Fair."
"I wanted to be there for you—" Michelle was desperately trying to decide how she could manage the Christmas Fair from a distance, even as Samantha said, "I'll be there."
Carly shook her head. "I appreciate that, both of you. But Michelle, you're running the fair, and Samantha, we're a committee. Someone needs to be here helping Michelle. Henry assures me this is a formality. The judge just has to rubber-stamp the plea deal. I've already paid restitution, and if I don't commit any more accidental arsons, they'll eventually erase the conviction. Since I never plan to marry again, there's no worries about being cheated on and needing to burn another couch." She was trying to make a joke of the incident, but Michelle knew how badly Carly had been hurt by her ex and her heart ached for her friend.
"It's first thing Christmas Fair morning," Carly continued. "So, I'll get that out of the way, then be here in time to help with lunch."
Every year, volunteers working the Christmas Fair were treated to a potluck lunch. In addition, Michelle had called Urbaniak's a couple weeks ago, and they were very generously donating a meat-and-cheese platter. The neighborhood meat market had always been willing to help out Erie Elementary. As for the potluck part, the mothers would each bring a dish. She'd already sent a sheet around.
"So, what do you want to start on?" Carly apparently wanted to change the subject. "Spiders or punch-tin ornaments?"
Michelle didn't press her, but simply said, "Why don't we do the spiders? I think the ornaments are pretty straightforward. Punching holes. Even I can do that. The spiderweb thing sounds more complex."
Carly ran them through the very basic design. Black pipe cleaners made the spokes, and the glittery thread was the webbing itself. The spider was a black foam half-ball with little googly eyes glued on, and pipe cleaner legs.
After a couple attempts, Michelle and Samantha got the hang of it, though their spiders for some reason didn't look as good as Carly's. But Carly seemed satisfied, and must have decided they'd progressed enough to weave webs and talk. "So, tell us about Daniel."
Michelle had known it was coming, and had been mentally preparing her response. "He's sweet. He's a gifted artist. He'd probably say craftsman, if asked, but I've seen his work—he's an artist. He's kind. He's got a good sense of humor, and he makes a mean stew. To be honest, if circumstances were different, I might like him a lot."
Samantha stopped winding her spool of thread. "Why can't you like him a lot now?"
"This whole thing with Brandon is complicated enough. I wouldn't consider becoming attracted to Daniel and muddying the waters even more."
"Oh, you meant, like," Carly said. "Like, as in ooh, that man's so hot, sort of like."
"I didn't say that, and as I said, I don't plan to like him. I have to keep my distance."
"Have to? Or is it just safer to?" Samantha pushed. "You can't control who you're attracted to."
"Sure I can." Michelle knew her friend didn't want to hear it, but she could.
Samantha and Carly laughed.
"I can," Michelle insisted.
"I didn't want to fall for Harry, and yet. . ." Samantha shrugged. "Love happens."
"How did we get onto the subject of love?" Michelle asked. "We were talking about attraction, and how I'm not going to allow myself to be attracted to Daniel McLean, no matter how wonderful he seems. I can guarantee you that love wasn't even in the realm of consideration." She wound the glittery thread around the pipe cleaner with far more force than was required.
"I'm with Michelle on this one, Samantha, at least about the love part," Carly said. "Even though you're all head over heels and topsy-turvy in love, that doesn't mean the rest of us are going to fall. I tried my hand at love, and it so did not work. I'm not planning to go that route again. Although, unlike our Michelle, a little attraction and a whole lot of lust are definitely on my list of possibilities."
The sound of a throat clearing had all three PTA parents turning around and catching sight of Harry and Daniel. "Sorry to interrupt, but we're here to help."
"Pardon?"
"Daniel and I stored the new beanbag tosses and lollipop tree and we thought we'd lend a hand with the crafting."
Samantha looked at Harry with skepticism in her eyes. "Really?"
"Are you doubting my crafting abilities, woman?"
"Hey, don't feel bad, Harry," Carly said. "They doubted mine. Seems a little bit of arson—"
"Accidental arson," Michelle reminded her. "It wouldn't do to forget that important part when you're up in front of the judge."
"Right. It seems a little bit of accidental arsonage leaves your friends doubting your ability to craft."
"Should I even ask?" Daniel stage-whispered to Michelle as he sat down next to her.
He was a little too close for comfort, especially considering the recent conversation. Michelle couldn't think of any way to put distance between them without being obvious, so she sat still.
"Of course you should ask," Carly told him. "Long story short, I caught my rat-bastard husband—who's now my ex, by the way—on a couch I'd spent months shopping for with his very clichéd secretary. I won that couch in the divorce settlement. And I decided to purge all my anger and bitterness, and start the new year fresh by burning it. The couch, I mean.
So, as I burned the couch, hoping to put the past behind me, my shed accidentally caught fire."
"Oh, accidental arson," Daniel said.
Carly nodded. "And my shed set my neighbor's shed on fire."
"Ouch," Daniel said sympathetically.
"Well, my neighbor was very nice about it. I paid for a new one and replaced all his tools and stuff, but it seems the law isn't quite as forgiving. Although, the ADA gave me a deal, and my appearance in court the morning of the Christmas Fair is a requirement."
"I have one more question, if you don't mind?" Daniel asked.
Michelle caught the smallest hint of a smile as he asked.
Carly nodded.
"Was it worth it? Do you feel as if your past is behind you at this point?"
"You know, I do. Or at least I will as soon as I have my day in front of the judge in a week and a half."
"A week and a half until the fair. We'd better get going on these crafts," Michelle said, hoping to take the focus off Carly. Despite her cavalier attitude, she had to be worried about the hearing.
Carly gave Harry and Daniel instructions, and they all went on to work on their pipe cleaner spiders and webs, talking and laughing as they did.
The kids ran amok in the gym. Shooting hoops, playing tag. Even doing homework.
About five, they began clearing up the mess, a healthy pile of spiders sitting on webs to show for their afternoon's work.
As Daniel and Harry carried the folding table and chairs to the back of the stage, Michelle turned to her friends. "Thanks for coming in and helping."
"The Social Planning Committee is just that. . .a committee. We're here to help. No one expects you to do it all." Samantha dropped her voice. "You're right, he's nice."
"Very nice," Carly echoed softly.
The guys came back. "We'll go round up the kids," Harry said. "Come on, Daniel. You start on the left, I'll start on the right."
Daniel followed Harry down onto the gym floor and soon the men were grabbing basketballs and storing them as they prodded kids into collecting coats, boots and book bags.
"Yes, he is nice," Michelle agreed with a sigh.
"Do you need us tomorrow?" Carly asked.
"No. I'm going to do the actual shopping tomorrow, I think."
"As much as no one can believe I'm crafty," Carly said, "I need to point out I don't shop. Unless you really need me, I'll bow out."
"I've got a list, so I'll be fine."
"And I suspect that you'd prefer just taking Brandon to trying to drag my four along on the shopping expedition," Samantha said with a grin.
"I love your kids, Samantha, but you're right, one would be easier than five."
"Well, if you change your mind and need help tomorrow or Friday, call," Samantha assured her.
"Oh, wait a minute, I have something else for you two." Carly dug through her huge bag and handed them each an envelope. "I graduate next Wednesday night. I know it's short notice, and graduations are boring, but—"
Before Carly could uninvite them, Michelle said, "I'll be there."
"Me, too," Samantha promised. "You've worked hard for this, and I'll sit in the audience and preen over you. Oh, and I just got a new camera."
Carly groaned. "Really, you don't have to feel as if. . ." Her sentence faded and she looked at Michelle and Samantha. "No matter what I say, you're both coming, right?"
She tried to look disgruntled, but Michelle could see how much it meant to her.
"Yes," they assured her in unison.
"Will the rest of your family be there?" she asked.
Carly shook her head. "Mom and Dad are in the Bahamas. But my kids will be there. Then they're going to spend the night at their dad's. Maybe we could go out?"
"A girls' night out," Samantha said, rubbing her hands together. "As a mother of four, I need all the nights out I can get."
"We'll just skip our regular meeting next Friday," Carly said.
They'd finished making their plans as Daniel and Harry came back.
"The kids are ready," Daniel announced. "And for the record, I rounded up more than Harry. And here I thought principals were good at intimidating."
"My four know Harry too well to be intimidated, but you're new. Give them a couple days and you'll lose your ability to scare them, as well. Then watch out," Samantha warned Daniel.
The adults gathered their coats and bags. Harry wrapped his arm around Samantha. "The kids bribed me into asking if we could do Patti's for dinner."
"What did they bribe you with?" she asked with a laugh as they walked toward the door.
"Let's see, all four promised to behave and be polite. Stan promised not to hit his younger brothers, Seton promised to eat some salad, Shane wouldn't go that far, but he promised no unnecessary burping, and Stella promised not to set the table on fire."
"Those are impressive bribes, all right. Patti's it is." She turned to her friends. "See you later."
"The door's locked, just make sure you close it behind you," Harry added. He dropped his arm from Samantha's shoulder and took her hand instead. They gathered the kids and left.
"Samantha and Harry," Carly said with a sigh that might have been wistfulness. "Who'd have thought when we got together in September that the two of them would be like that—" she nodded at the doorway they'd just gone through "—in December?"
It was clear she didn't expect an answer, because she didn't even pause before saying, "I'll see you, as well. If you want another craft day, let me know when," Carly said as her kids, Sean and Rhiana, appeared in the doorway, and called to her, "Come on, Mom."
Carly waved and left with them. Which left Daniel and Michelle. She busied herself gathering her things. "Daniel, thanks so much. I suspect making a beanbag toss is closer to your comfort zone than making spiders, and you didn't get to spend much time with Brandon."
"Hey, it turns out I make a mean spider. And I enjoyed getting to know your friends. I liked them. Harry seems like a real down-to-earth guy."
She walked to the door and switched off the lights. "I confess I don't know him well, but he makes Samantha happy and that makes him pretty okay in my book. And your spiders were pretty good."
"So, want to do dinner?"
"Daniel, you don't have to feel as if—"
He cut her off. "I want to. I like spending time with you and Brandon, and as you said, I didn't get to spend much time with him this afternoon. And eating dinner with the two of you sure beats eating all alone."
"I'm glad Chloe wasn't around to hear that. You'd have hurt her feelings." It was lame, and she knew it, but she didn't know what else to say.
"Chloe's good for keeping my feet warm at night, but she's not much for conversation."
Closer and closer. There didn't seem to be any way to maintain her distance from Daniel. And at the moment, Michelle couldn't remember her reasons for wanting to. She knew she had a list, but all she could seem to concentrate on was Daniel's eyes. Dark. So like Brandon's.
She was never able to say no to Brandon when he looked at her with that kind of want, and she was finding it hard to say no to Daniel, as well. "Dinner it is. I've got it all set up at home, if you don't mind eating in, rather than out. I did taco meat up last night, and only have to reheat it and set out the taco fixings."
"Sounds great." He started toward the door, but when she didn't follow, he stopped.
"Daniel, I do worry though. At first it was just for Brandon, and how he's going to feel if you're not his dad. But now, I worry that you're going to get hurt, as well." And if she was honest, she worried about her own feelings. Despite what she'd told her friends, she was beginning to care about Daniel. It was impossible to maintain as much distance as she ought to.
"Thanks for worrying, but, Michelle, even if I'm not Brandon's father, I was his mother's friend. I'm not planning to disappear, no matter how the test comes back, as long as that's all right with you?"
Michelle was saved from answering when Brandon ran up and joined
them. "I beat Sean and Seton playing PIG." He paused. "Do you play, Dan?"
"I was on Prep's basketball team, back in the day, and I'm pretty sure I remember how it's done."
"Could we toss the ball a few minutes before we go, Aunt Shell?"
The door was locked, and all they had to do was shut it behind them and she was sure Harry would understand. "I don't mind, if Daniel doesn't?" She ended the sentence as more of a question for Daniel.
"Mind?" Daniel chucked Brandon's shoulder. "I appreciate the opportunity to show him how it's done. Come on, Bran. One quick game of PIG, then your aunt's promised me tacos, if you don't mind my coming to dinner?"
Brandon's grin just about cracked his face. "I don't mind." He turned to Michelle with appreciation in his eyes. "Thanks, Aunt Shell."
"Go shoot your PIG so we can go eat." She shooed them down onto the gym floor. She sat on the stage and watched the two of them shoot around. Daniel set up ridiculous shots. "This one's over the back and to the right," he called as he made his shot backward.
"Wow," Brandon called when Daniel made it.
Michelle liked that Daniel didn't condescend to losing for Brandon's benefit. He beat her nephew fair and square, but didn't gloat as Brandon lost with a PIG to Daniel's PI. He just clapped him on the back. "Good game."
Brandon looked up and said, "I'll beat you next time."
Side by side, they walked toward her. So much alike.
Michelle hadn't seen the similarities at first, but they were there. Brandon was all gangly legs and arms, yet in that ungainliness he had a way of moving that was reminiscent of Daniel. A potential for a shared height and structure there.
But it was more than that. The shape of the eye. Their expressions.
It wasn't so hard to believe they could be father and son.
The thought was a comfort in a way it hadn't been before.
DANIEL HAD BEEN SURPRISED, after his game of PIG with Brandon, when Michelle had offered to let the two of them go pick up Chloe and bring the dog back to her house. She said she'd start dinner.
She'd let him have Brandon on his own before, but it had never been her suggestion. Daniel took it to mean she was finally starting to trust him.
