pulled sweat from their limbs. Kate watched Sage crouching between two middle school boys. He showed one of them how to grip his pencil properly, then laughed when the boy put it in his left hand and mimicked the grasp perfectly. He came up on his feet and reached around the other boy, holding his hand as he guided it along his drawing. The boy turned thankful and excited eyes up toward him. Sage was so easy with them, as if he’d been teaching children all his life, which made Kate wonder about his past. He had five siblings. Did he have nieces or nephews? Had he spent time with children somewhere, or was he just naturally kind?
Or naturally a womanizer?
She watched him cross the yard toward her, and her stomach tightened. He flashed a smile as he came to her side.
“Wow, they’re incredible. What a rush this is.” He ran his hand through his hair. His face and arms had already begun to tan.
“I know. This is what makes me the happiest, watching them enjoy something this much.” And watching you, but I blew that one big-time .
His voice grew serious, as if he’d just remembered that he was supposed to be mad at her. “Yeah, well I can see why.” He made another sweep of the tables, helping a teenage girl and two more elementary-school-age boys.
“Miss Kate?” Javier looked up at Kate with wide eyes.
She crouched down to speak to him. At seven, Javier looked just like his father, with thick wavy hair and eyes as black as night. But it was his sweet demeanor that stole Kate’s heart. He handed her a picture he’d drawn.
“Javier, this is beautiful.” She looked at the drawing of his family.
“Mr. Sage showed me how to draw the eyes better. Bigger. He said they show more feelings that way.” He used his pencil-thin index finger to point to the eyes of the woman. “That’s my mother. See her happy eyes? That’s how I remember her.” It had been almost a year since his mother died, and from what Kate could glean from the psychologist she’d spoken with about Javier, the fact that he remembered what she looked like at all was a blessing. His mother’s sisters, Sylvia and Louisa, now shared caring for Javier and his siblings, as their father spent many hours working in the fields. From what Kate had seen, Javier had adjusted well to the difficult situation.
“I think your mother would be very proud of you, Javier.” She patted his shoulder, and he wrapped his arms around her neck.
“I will draw you next time.”
“I would love that. And I think your aunts would like to be in a picture, too.”
“Mr. Sage says we’re gonna paint the school pretty colors. He said we can help.”
Sealing the deal through the children. Very sneaky . “Yes, we’re very excited to begin the project.”
Javier flashed a bright smile and then ran to Sage. He held up the picture, and although Kate couldn’t hear what they were saying, when Javier wrapped his arms around Sage’s legs and stared up at him, her knees weakened.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Sage Skyped his mother and arranged for the art supplies to be flown in. As an artist, his mother would know exactly what he needed, and as a mother, she’d ensure that he didn’t miss anything that the children would need as well, like smaller brushes. He asked her to pick up a few other items, avoided her questions about Kate, and he shut her down when she’d apologized for Rush’s behavior. It wasn’t her job to clear the air for Rush, and he knew that Rush hadn’t meant any harm. He was just doing what they’d always done to each other. No harm, no foul. Only, the call had harmed Kate. What’s done is done . Fame had taught Sage a valuable lesson. He wasn’t in control of what others believed. He could only be the best man he knew how to be and hope it was enough. And that’s exactly what he intended to do.
While in town, Sage replenished Kate’s secret stash of beer as well as picked up a few for himself. He was carrying them to the kitchen when
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