Only You (Adair Family #5)(26)

Her eyes brightened. “Really?”

“Of course. I’ll give you my number.”

“I’d like that. Callie is right. You’re the nicest.”

Sloane left with my number, and I hoped to have discovered a new friend. It had almost, but not quite, distracted me from Thane and Regan Adair.

I held the door open for them and closed it. I’d met Regan at the start of school, and she’d been lovely. According to village gossip, she was thirteen years younger than Thane.

We shared the red hair gene, but that was about it. Regan was taller, elegant, and intimidatingly beautiful. Thankfully, she was friendly and down-to-earth, so it wasn’t her I was worried about.

My eyes met Thane’s as I gestured to the seat across from the desk.

But he surprised me by taking a step forward, his gaze searching, as he held out his arms. “Would it be inappropriate to hug you?”

The question was like a trigger on my emotions, and a choking sensation squeezed my throat, rendering me unable to speak as I fought back tears. I stepped into his embrace, and his tight hug reminded me of Brodan. All the Adair men gave the best hugs. Like they really meant them.

“It’s nice to see you, Monroe. It’s been too long.”

I squeezed him back, grateful for his kindness. I’d assumed all the Adairs hated me after what happened between me and Arran. It was nice knowing at least Arran and Thane did not. I definitely knew Brodan despised me after the way he’d walked out on me at William’s without uttering a word. He’d looked at me like I was a stranger. An irritating bug of a stranger. But I couldn’t think about that.

As for Arro, she hadn’t reached out, but she’d also just given birth to her first baby, so she was a bit preoccupied.

Thane released me and flashed a handsome smile surrounded by a thick but neatly trimmed beard. “Are you well?”

I nodded, a little dumfounded by his warmth. “You?”

“Aye, very.” He stepped back to smile adoringly at Regan. “I know you’ve met my wife.”

“I have. It’s nice to see you again.”

Regan beamed, pretty dimples appearing in her cheeks. “You too. Lewis loves you.”

I blushed at that, delighted. “That’s always lovely to hear.” Taking my seat at my desk, I faced them as Thane sat down too. “He’s a wonderful boy.”

Taking them through Lewis’s schoolwork, his strengths, and his weaknesses, I noted both parents listened attentively. They also engaged, asking questions about how they could help at home to improve where work still needed to be done. I gave them some advice and then we moved on to his behavior. “Lewis is quiet and respectful. I have a few children in this class who are always the ones answering my questions and are loud about it.” I smiled. “So, it’s not often easy for my quieter children to put themselves forward to answer questions. But I would like to see more of that from Lewis.”

“He’s quiet at home too,” Regan said, taking a hold of Thane’s hand and resting their clasped hands on her lap. I felt a pang of envy at their obvious closeness. “His sister is very gregarious and loud in the best way, but I do think, perhaps, he’s just used to stepping back. Letting her shine. Perhaps that’s why he is like that in class too.”

“Possibly. But interestingly enough, there is one thing that Lewis gets very chatty about. Perhaps it’s in the Adair genes.” I teased, and they leaned in, intrigued. “Lewis is very enthusiastic about our upcoming Christmas play. It was announced this week that there will be two plays this year, one organized by the lower school, P1 to P4, and another by the upper school, P5 to P7. Lewis is excited about it. We got together with the other classes on Friday to discuss ideas because we enjoy having the kids’ involvement, and Lewis was brimming with suggestions.” I leaned toward them now. “And he told me he’d not only like to help with set design but that he’d like a part, too, and wondered if he could do both.”

Regan grinned from ear to ear as she nudged her husband. “Part architect, part actor, huh?”

Thane chuckled but appeared surprised. “The set design part doesn’t shock me. Lewis has always been interested in my work. But the acting takes me aback.”

“It’s good, though, right?” Regan studied him. “It could bring him out of his shell a little. Give him confidence.”

Thane nodded, contemplating it. “Aye, aye. I’m just surprised he wants to. But that’s great.” He looked at me. “Can he do both? Set design and acting, I mean.”

“I aim to make sure my kids can follow their passions, whatever that may be. We’ll give him space to do both.”

“Good. Thank you, Roe—I mean, Ms. Sinclair.” He gave me an affectionate look.

“You can call me Roe.”

Regan chuckled. “Then you have to stop calling us Mr. and Mrs. Adair.”

A few minutes later, I bid them goodbye, turning to my last parent of the night and catching words I don’t think Regan Adair meant me to hear.

“Okay, my curiosity is killing me now. You have to tell me how you all know her.”

My stomach flipped at the thought of Thane telling her my story.

“Ms. Sinclair.”

The parent standing before me drew me from my panicked thoughts. Staring into his dark eyes, I searched my befuddled mind for his name. “Mr. Barr?”