Page 40 of The Ex Next Door (Charming, Texas #8)

“H ere, David, catch!”

The paper lunch bag went sailing past Naomi and he caught it midair. There were some advantages to having a baseball player in the house.

“Peanut butter and jelly?” David asked, stuffing it in his backpack.

“Of course.” Amy turned nervously for one last check in the mirror before all three of them were out the door.

Conservative royal blue dress. Check. Low heels.

Check. Hair tamed and pinch of lipstick and blush for color.

Check. A month into the school year, they had a nice routine going but this was the first time Amy would be working at Charming Elementary School as a substitute teacher.

She’d gotten the call last night and hardly slept.

“Are you seriously going to be a teacher today?” Naomi asked in awe.

“Not your teacher, of course. I’m teaching the second graders today. Their teacher is sick with the flu.”

“Oh, this is so exciting!” Naomi said with her classic enthusiasm.

“Yeah. I hope none of my friends figure it out,” David muttered.

He would get used to it. He couldn’t fool Amy.

Deep down he was proud that his mother would now be a teacher even if he’d prefer it be another school.

He probably worried he’d be demoted all the popularity points he’d scored by being good friends with the Declan Sheridan.

The school district practically threw a parade in his honor when he accepted the position as varsity head coach.

In the end, David took the return to their new normal in stride.

He confessed to Amy that he’d guilt-tripped Rob into trying to get their family back together.

And Rob, being Rob, saw an opportunity to stop doing the hard work in a new relationship with Shannon and wanted to return to the safe cocoon of the old, tired and worn. Thank goodness she’d chosen herself.

The truth was David liked Declan so much he felt guilty about it.

Rob finally grew up a little when he told David it was okay to like “mommy’s new friend.

” Of course, mommy’s new friend was a whole lot more than a friend and the kids knew it.

Rob continued to simplify things when it suited him, and he probably wouldn’t believe Amy had moved on until she remarried.

She wasn’t in a hurry, except that she wished she and Declan could live together.

Every time she got her nerve up to suggest it, Declan changed the subject.

She was a little worried but not seriously so.

It was difficult to doubt his love for her when he reminded and showed her every day.

Usually, he was off to his job as head coach and teacher a lot earlier than they were and it would be nice to see him every morning, but that would come in time.

Amy and her children separated in the hallway and went to their individual classes.

She checked in with the principal, a nice man in his fifties who had already promised to hire her full time as soon as a position was open.

For now, Amy filled in as substitute teacher and still worked at the Salty Dog.

“Boys and girls, this is Mrs. Holloway,” Mr. Boone announced. “Let’s welcome her.”

“ Ms. Holloway,” Amy corrected him.

No longer married to Rob Holloway, thank you.

“Hi, Miss Holloway!” the kids said loudly.

They were adorable, the little angels. Except for the one boy who asked if she’d marry him. He seemed a tad precocious. The morning passed quickly, and she took them out to recess, read to them, then helped them through a spelling worksheet.

An announcement came over the PA. “Amy Holloway, please come to the front office.”

Amy had no idea what could have gone wrong. Perhaps there was an issue with her certification.

Valerie Kinsella, the third-grade teacher, appeared in the doorway. “I’ll handle them until you get back.”

“I’ve no idea what’s wrong.”

“Probably something with the paperwork, you know how it is.” She winked.

Amy did not but chose to trust the process.

Ahead of her and just before she reached the office was a bit of a crowd and…

Declan in the center of it. Oh, good grief, had he scheduled a visit or something and she’d been unaware?

Perhaps a spirit meeting? Did they do those in grade school?

But then the crowd separated, and she saw her mother, and Lou, Dan and Lorna Sheridan, Finn and Michelle, and…

her children. Both of them, one on either side of Declan.

“What’s happening…?” she said.

Then Declan dropped to one knee and there was no more confusion. No doubts. Only the joy of seeing her person, the one she loved the most, giving her another one of her dreams.

“Mommy, I didn’t know this was happening today!” Naomi squealed.

Declan chuckled, as did everyone else.

“Amy, would you marry me?” Declan said, producing a little black box.

“Yes!”

She didn’t need to see the ring, she didn’t need to have a lavish wedding, she didn’t need anything but this man and the new family they’d have together .

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from The Forever Wedding Date by Tif Marcelo.