Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50043 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“If you need anything special to add an accent to your music videos, I’d love to offer you ten percent off the regular price of anything in my store,” Miranda announced, handing him a handmade coupon written on the back of a business card.
“Thanks, Miranda. I’ll pass it along to the magicians who work behind the scenes to make me look good.” Colt tucked it into his pocket as he guided Harper back into the cozy spot by his side.
“I’ll be glad to work with you personally, Colt. Just give those magicians a day off.”
“That’s not going to happen, Miranda. I’ve learned to delegate many things to teams I trust,” Colt answered.
“Oh, I could take over for them. Save you a few bucks,” Miranda suggested.
“Thank you, Miranda, but no. I have a team I trust and they’ve never given me a reason to replace them. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a day off to spend with my girl.”
“Your girl,” Miranda scoffed.
“My girl,” he assured her firmly. His stern tone made Harper shiver after witnessing it. Colt rubbed her back to reassure her.
“Come on, Harper. Let’s get out of here.”
As they walked away, Harper peeked over her shoulder to see Miranda stewing. “I’m going to pay for that,” she said with a sigh.
“You take care of her daughter, right? Rumpelstiltskin?”
“No, silly. Cinderella,” Harper corrected him with a laugh.
“Oh, yes. How could I get that confused?” he asked with a twinkle in his deep brown eyes.
“You are bad.”
“Seriously, though. If Miranda takes Cinderella to a different daycare, will that hurt you financially?” he probed.
“Not at all. It would make life easier for me. I have a waiting list ready to swoop in to take her slot.”
“You’re just a softy, trying to do something nice for a toddler stuck with Miranda as a mom?” he guessed.
“You always could see through me.”
“I could. I’m not going to mess around in your business unless Miranda steps too far over the line and hurts you. I won’t stand for that,” Colt assured her.
“Colt, I’ve survived without you for twenty years.”
“And I survived without you for the same length of time. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for more. I’d like to see your place if you’ll show it to me.”
“It’s a daycare, Colt. You wouldn’t be interested in that.”
“You spend most of your time there. I want to see it.”
“Then you have to show me your tour bus so I can picture where you are when the band’s on the road,” she countered.
“Done.” Colt picked her up and twirled in a circle, holding her close.
“Hold on to that one tight,” a familiar voice called.
Colt skidded to a stop, holding her tight against him. “Mr. Chamberlain?”
“I was hoping to see you, Colt. I see your lady all the time, but I figured I’d have to fight my way through your security forces,” the elderly man joked.
“No way. I’ll give them your picture so they send you right through,” Colt assured him, holding out his hand to shake his former teacher’s hand.
Harper watched them greet each other with a happy smile curving her lips. She wondered if everyone else had a favorite teacher who’d had such an impact on them. Crossing her fingers, she hoped so.
“So, are the two of you together now? I knew that was going to happen in the third grade. You’ve taken your time to claim her, Colt,” he teased.
“Oh, we’re not…” Harper broke off as Colt interrupted.
“Definitely, we’re together. I finally came to my senses about what was important to me,” Colt shared.
“I’m glad. She’s one of my favorite people in the world. Teachers aren’t supposed to have treasured students, but your group left a mark on me. It’s been fun to see where you all ended up—a country singing star, the owner of the most coveted daycare in the city, a brilliant scientist, the next president, and a skilled nurse.”
“Oh, I don’t think…”
Colt interrupted her gently. “We all know you have a special touch with kids.”
Turning to his former teacher, Colt added, “And you put us all together, Mr. Chamberlain.”
“I’d like to take credit for crafting that first seating chart, but it was totally random. I just put everyone’s names on a scrap of paper and tossed them in the air. Your names all landed together,” Mr. Chamberlain confessed.
“And you let us stay together,” Harper pointed out.
“I might have been a young teacher who didn’t know much, but even I recognized that if something wasn’t broke, don’t fix it,” Mr. Chamberlain answered with a laugh. “Now, you were ready to go enjoy your day. Go have some fun! I’m glad to see you, Colt. I’ll look forward to running into you frequently when you’re in town.”
With a wave, their former teacher walked briskly down the street, greeting people as he passed. Obviously, others recognized his impact on their lives and on their children.