A Time to Bloom (Leah's Garden #2)(52)

“You are all doing well. Take out your reader, and we’ll start on page fifteen. Clarabelle, you read first.” When they finished, she stood and raised her voice. “Thank you all for working so well. Put your things away, and you are dismissed for recess.”

The instant hubbub made her smile. She watched John Kinsley stand very carefully and follow the others out the door. He was definitely favoring that left leg. What, if anything, could she do about this?

“Good morning, Del, I brought some goodies,” Beatrice Caldwell called from the doorway.

“Come on in. As you can see, they are out for recess.”

“How is your day going?”

Del paused. “I have a situation where I’m not sure what to do.”

Beatrice set her towel-wrapped plate on the desk. “What is it?”

“A child showed up injured today. Black eye, and something is wrong with his leg. His sister says he fell over a log, but I don’t know. Something doesn’t seem right to me.”

A frown creased the older woman’s forehead. “Which family?”

“The Kinsleys. I don’t know them, have never met the parents. But the boy never speaks. I think he can; he just won’t.” Del’s stomach knotted. Another way things didn’t seem quite right.

“I’ll speak to Henry, see if he knows who they are.” Beatrice patted Del’s hand. “In the meantime, at least we can pray about it.”

“Yes. Thank you.” The tension in Del’s middle eased a little. Mr. Caldwell had lived here longer than most and seemed to know more of the goings-on in the area than anyone. Thank you, Lord, for sending Beatrice just now.

“How are things going otherwise?” Beatrice asked.

“Well, I think we made good progress toward reading with the little ones this morning. I would like to do more with music and wish I were better on the piano or that you or Forsythia were available.”

“What makes you think I’m not?” Beatrice cocked a brow.

“Well, I mean, I didn’t want to presume. . . .”

“Goodness, dear, what do you think I do all day? Why, I’d play for you every morning if you’d have me.”

Del stared at her. “Truly?”

“We rent out much of our land, and I don’t have any children of my own. There’s only so much time I can fill with cleaning and gardening and cooking for two.” A wistful note crept into the older woman’s voice.

“Oh my.” Del clasped her hands beneath her chin. “That would be such a gift.” She glanced at the clock she’d brought for her desk. “I need to call the children in. Would you like to stay a bit and get to know them?”

Beatrice’s smile bloomed. “I’d love to.”

Del rang the bell, and the children laughed and chattered their way into the church. They settled back onto their benches, only quieting when Del fixed them with a look.

“Thank you. Now, children, I’d like you all to say hello to Mrs. Caldwell. She brought some cookies for you to have at our dinner break. What do we say to her?”

“Thank you, Mrs. Caldwell” came the dutiful chorus. Del smiled at the longing glances sent toward the covered plate on her desk.

“Mrs. Caldwell is going to join us in the mornings to help with music, so you’ll all get to know her much better. Now, before we start science, I have another special announcement for you. On Monday, we are going on an outing to the salt marshes. We’ll study the plant and animal life out there, and my sister Lilac will come along and teach you how to draw the specimens you find. Any questions?”

Thomas Dwyer raised his hand. “Will we be back for dinner?”

Del bit the inside of her cheek. “I believe we’ll head out right after dinner and spend the afternoon there. We’ll be back before your parents expect you home.”

Excited whispers and rustlings.

“Now, primers through grade three, I want you to draw on your slates what kinds of animals and plants you think we might see at the salt marshes. Then Monday we’ll see if you are right. Grades four and five, let me check your sums, and then you can do your reading. Upper grades, you check on the little ones if they need help, and I’ll hear your history lessons next.” Del had to stop for breath. Juggling so many levels still made her a bit dizzy at times.

———

“Miss Nielsen?”

Del looked up at the gentle touch on her shoulder some time later, just as she finished helping the last fourth grader correct a sum on his slate. “Mrs. Caldwell.” She straightened, her face heating. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize you were still here.”

“Not to worry. I’ve been enjoying watching you work with the children. But I’d best go see to Mr. Caldwell’s dinner and just wanted to say good-bye.”

“Thank you so much for the cookies and for your willingness to play for us.” Del had another thought. “Also, I meant to ask you—your property borders some of the salt flats, doesn’t it? I don’t know just where the lines are, but I don’t want to take the children onto your land without permission.”

“Goodness, you’re more than welcome, surely you know that by now. We do own some of that salt marsh area, but we don’t do anything with it. Not yet, anyway—I believe Henry had notions of getting into the salt business once when we first moved out here, but nothing much has developed in that direction. At any rate, you’re more than welcome to roam over our piece of it as much as you please.” She hesitated. “Could you use anyone else along to help with the children?”