Page 2 of All in for Christmas

Beth enters the cafeteria wearing her Paws and Read ID badge on its matching lanyard.

Adrian’s with her, and his dog Bailey’s at his side.

The mellow golden retriever spots me and Cooper, leading the others our way.

As my volunteers join me, Principal Peabody remarks, “We have some special guests here tonight, volunteers with Paige Pierce’s new literacy program, Paws and Read.

” I asked them to make a brief appearance.

Employees and students will get a chance to officially meet them and the other Paws and Read participants at our launch party on the twenty-third.

People turn toward our group and smile. I hand Cooper’s leash to Beth, and she and Adrian give hand signals prompting their dogs to obediently sit and stay. Dean nods in greeting at the newcomers and they do the same.

“But first,” Principal Peabody continues, “I have a new faculty member to introduce: our new physics teacher, Dean Burton.” I blink when Principal Peabody extends her microphone and Dean starts striding toward her.

“Dean, why don’t you come on over and say a brief hello?

” she says before ceding the floor. “Dean will begin at Walton after the break, but I’ve invited him here to join the party and meet you all beforehand. Please help him feel welcome.”

“Thank you,” he says. He’s in the spotlight, amid a sea of waiting faces.

He holds the mic, surveying the cheery decorations.

“Happy holidays, everyone!” I’d forgotten how I love the sound of his voice, a smooth baritone.

Plus, he’s smart and great-looking. If he’s not married by now, he’s bound to have a girlfriend at least. Which is natural and to be expected.

He no doubt assumes I’m involved with somebody, too.

It has been six years. A thought bubble containing my nightly routine while working out on the treadmill blooms in my mind.

Dating app letdowns. Swipe left. Left. Hard left.

A chorus rings back at Dean. “Happy holidays!” Teachers listen and watch politely.

Everyone seems in great spirits. I’m sure winter break being right around the corner helps their mood.

I know it bolsters mine. I’ve invested so much time in getting Paws and Read off the ground, it will be awesome to kick back and relax. Have chill time. Peace and quiet.

“Like Principal Peabody said, I’m Dean Burton, and it’s so nice to be here.” He beams brightly. “I look forward to meeting you all.” He seems to notice nobody wears a nametag. “Just don’t expect me to remember names right off the bat.” Light laughter.

Dean finishes speaking and Principal Peabody beckons me forward.

I approach her with my volunteers and their dogs accompany them in lockstep while others look on, impressed.

“I’d like to thank you all for your support!

” I state to pleasantly interested faces.

“Our fall fundraiser was a hit and I’m happy to report—” I visually check in with Principal Peabody and she gives me a nod to go ahead.

“—our superintendent’s given us the greenlight to pilot the Paws and Read high school program at Walton. ”

Cheers and whistles erupt and I flush happily.

I’ve wanted this forever. To make a real difference with struggling students.

So many are in circumstances like I was in as a child, with working, single parents who are unable to help them with their schoolwork.

Others come from homes where English is not the native spoken language.

A few have skated along on such bare-minimum academic skills, if they’re not helped soon, they’ll be at risk for dropping out.

By the time I reached high school, I’d gotten really good at hiding my deficits.

I was hardworking and articulate, so I could charm my way into passing grades.

Then my caring English teacher realized I could only read CliffsNotes, and she taught me not to take shortcuts.

To stay on the road. She set me up with a reading specialist and spent extra hours with me after school.

I decided I wanted to be her one day, so I could help others.

“The evidence is clear,” I tell my colleagues.

“Research supports the positive impact of having learning-challenged students read aloud to pup partners. What we haven’t seen enough of is this sort of initiative taking root in the upper grades. I’m hoping we can change that here.”

Several teachers have already signed up to have our dogs work with particular students or small groups in January and February, and my list for March is already filling up.

“I’d like to introduce two of the volunteers in our program, Beth Chambers and Adrian Kearns, along with their dogs, Cooper and Bailey.

” People ooh and ahh at the sweetness of their canine faces, as Beth and Adrian smile and wave.

Despite his sprightly gait, Cooper is a senior dog, nearly ten years old, while Bailey’s an even-tempered youngster of four.

I continue my presentation. “Every volunteer with Paws and Read is a trained therapy dog handler and each dog is fully accredited. The volunteers have also been vetted by our school system with complete background checks and will wear Paws and Read program IDs”—Beth lifts hers up and pivots it toward different areas in the room—“along with T-shirts like these.”

I motion to my T-shirt and those of my volunteers, then say sunnily, “We’ll have T-shirts for sale at our launch party next week.

Paws and Read buttons, too. I hope you’ll all join us in the gym after the assembly on Tuesday to get better acquainted with Cooper and Beth, and Bailey and Adrian, and our other dogs and volunteers. ”

After my talk, I thank Adrian and Beth for attending before squatting down to address their dogs. “And thanks to you too, Bailey.” I scratch him behind his ears and he tilts his head sideways, laying his cheek in my palm.

Adrian grins. “Bailey likes you.”

“And I like Bailey!” I say looking up. I turn my attention on Cooper. “That was very sneaky,” I whisper, leaning forward and patting his head. “But don’t worry, I won’t tell.” Cooper yaps merrily, bouncing on his front paws, and the bells on his vest jingle.

Beth’s light eyes twinkle. “Cooper likes you too.”

I stand upright, feeling happy and fulfilled.

“Cooper’s special,” I say to Beth. I glance at Bailey, then Adrian.

“So’s Bailey.” I deliver my heartfelt praise.

“So are the two of you.” Both are experienced with dogs-in-the-schools programs and served as my guiding lights by giving great advice.

“Thanks for everything you’ve done, and thanks for coming tonight. ”

I bump into Dean by the punch bowl later. The light green punch has a frothy crown on top. “I think that’s great about Paws and Read, Paige. Sounds like such a worthy cause.”

I help myself to some punch and stand beside him, then we scoot out of the way as others crowd in, making our way to the treats table.

“The idea of dogs working in schools has been around for a while,” I say and take a small sip of fizzy liquid.

It’s tangy and tart, ginger ale with lime sherbet mixed in.

“What’s novel is expanding the concept beyond the elementary and middle grades.

There’ve been some ninth grade programs, but those are fewer and farther between, because it’s harder to get funding for the older age groups.

But it’s never too late to reach out to those in need. You know what I’m saying?”

He views me admiringly. “Yeah. I think I do.” He selects a gingerbread person along with a red-and-green checkered napkin that says Ho, ho, ho!

I grab a napkin and an angel cookie, still in stunned disbelief that Dean Burton is here at my workplace and we’re conversing after all this time. “So, ” I ask casually, as we stand by a column wrapped with garlands, “how are your folks? Jenny?”

“All good.” He takes a bite of gingerbread cookie. “Jenny graduates college this year.”

“Does she? Wow. Exciting.” I remember her as a teenager, but of course now she’s grown up.

“How’s Rosemary?” he asks about my mom.

“Great.” I laugh and roll my eyes. “Same.”

“Glad to hear it, I guess?” Dean knows Mom meddles in my life. He also understands how much I love her. The two of them really got along. She was very sad when we broke up.

The memory floods me like an old film reel in faded colors.

Dean and I stand on the stoop of my apartment building saying goodbye.

Springtime breezes blow and flowers scent the air.

A full moon hangs overhead. He’s been granted an internship at the new STEM facility built on the site of the famous Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico.

He wants me to go with him, but I’m applying for summer jobs, so busy.

Plus, I need to finish my degree, like he’s finished his.

He’s two years older and graduated this year.

Dean lays his hand on my cheek. “Won’t you please reconsider? You can take classes there and get them transferred—maybe complete courses online?”

“Dean, I can’t just drop everything and go with you. What about Mom? If I leave, what will happen to her?”

He takes me in his arms and holds me. “Then I’ll call and text every day.”

Hurt wells in my throat when I share my hard truth. “You’ll be gone a whole year, Dean. I don’t think either of us should wait for the other.”

“Wait.” His eyes mist over. Are you saying we should end things?” His broken look ruins me. Shoots an arrow through my heart. But I’ve been thinking about this all week and I believe it’s for the best. For him, for me. We’re so young and our lives are just starting. We can’t possibly last.

No man that Mom has loved has ever stayed, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Dean might be the right guy, but this isn’t the right time. I gently touch his arm. “I’m sorry.”

He sets his chin and turns away. “Yeah, me too.”