Pia. I don’t know.”
He looked uncomfortable. His gaze lingered on the door. Reality returned and with it, a sense of embarrassment.
“I’m so sorry,” she murmured, standing. “We’ll reschedule. I’ll compose myself and be much better next time. Let me look over my calendar and give you a call.”
He reached for the door handle, then paused. “Are you sure you’re going to be all right?”
No, she wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure of anything. But that wasn’t Raoul’s problem.
She forced a smile. “I’m great. Seriously, you should go. I’m going to call a couple of girlfriends and let them talk me down.”
“Okay.” He hesitated. “You have my number?”
“Uh-huh.” She wasn’t sure if she did, but she was determined to let him escape while she still had a shred of dignity. “The next time you see me, I’ll be professionalism personified. I swear.”
“Thanks. You take care.”
“Bye.”
He left.
When the door closed, she sank back into her chair. After lowering her arms to the desk, she rested her head on them and did her best to keep breathing.
Crystal had left her the embryos. There were only two questions that mattered. Why, and what the hell was Pia supposed to do now?
RAOUL ARRIVED AT RONAN Elementary shortly before two. He parked in the lot by the playground. No surprise—his was the only Ferrari in the parking lot. He was a guy who liked his toys, so sue him.
Before he could climb out of the car, his cell phone rang. He checked his watch—he had a few minutes before he was due inside—then the phone number on the screen. As he pushed the talk button, he grinned.
“Hey, Coach.”
“Hey, yourself,” Hawk, his former high school football coach, said. “Nicole hasn’t heard from you in a while and I’m calling to find out why.”
Raoul laughed. “I talked to your beautiful wife last week, so I know that’s not why you’re calling.”
“You got me. I’m checking on you. Making sure you’re moving on with your life.”
That was Hawk, Raoul thought with equal parts frustration and appreciation. Cutting right to the heart of what was wrong.
“You had some bad stuff happen,” the older man continued. “Don’t wallow.”
“I’m not wallowing. I’m busy.”
“You’re in your head too much. I know you. Find a cause. Get personally involved in your new town. It’ll distract you. You can’t change what happened.”
Raoul’s good humor faded. Hawk was right about that. The past couldn’t be undone. Those who were gone stayed gone. No amount of bargaining, no sum of money, made it better.
“I can’t let it go,” he admitted.
“You’ll have to. Maybe not today, but soon. Believe in the possibility of healing, Raoul. Open yourself up to other people.”
It seemed impossible, but he’d been trusting Hawk for nearly twenty years. “I’ll do my best.”
“Good. Call Nicole.”
“I will.”
They hung up.
Raoul sat in his car for a few more seconds, thinking about what Hawk had told him. Get involved. Find a cause. What the other man didn’t know was how much Raoul wanted to avoid that. Getting involved is what had caused the problem in the first place. Life was much safer lived at a distance.
He got out of his car and collected the small duffel he’d brought with him. Whenever he visited a school, he brought a few official NFL footballs and player cards. It made the kids happy, and that’s why he was here. To entertain and maybe slip in a little motivation when they weren’t looking.
He glanced at the main school building. It was older but well-kept. He usually spoke to high-school-aged kids, but the principal and class teacher had both been persistent to the point of stalking. He was new to small-town life and was figuring out the rules as he went. As he planned to settle in Fool’s Gold permanently, he’d decided to err on the side of cooperation.
He stepped toward the main walkway, then made his way into the building. Unlike the inner-city schools he usually visited, there weren’t any metal detectors or even a guard. The double doors stood open, the halls were wide and well-lit, the walls free of graffiti. Like the rest of Fool’s Gold, the school was almost too good to be true.
He followed the signs to the main office and found himself in a big open area with a long counter. There were the usual bulletin boards with flyers for book drives and after-school programs. A dark-haired woman sat at a desk, typing on an ancient-looking computer.
“Morning,” he said.
The woman—probably in her midthirties—looked up. Her mouth fell open as she stood and waved her hands. “Oh, God. You’re here. You’re really here! I can’t believe it.” She hurried toward him. “Hi. I’m Rachel. My dad is a huge fan. He’s going to die when he finds out I met you.”
“I hope not,” Raoul said easily, pulling a card out of the bag and reaching for a pen.
“What?”
“I hope he doesn’t die.”
Rachel laughed. “He won’t, but he’ll be so jealous. I heard you were coming. And here you are. This is just so exciting. Raoul Moreno in our school.”
“What’s your dad’s name?”
“Norm.”
He signed the card and passed it to her. “Maybe this will help him deal with his disappointment.”
She took the paper reverently and placed a hand on her chest. “Thank you so much. This is wonderful.” She glanced at the clock, then sighed. “I suppose I have to take you to Mrs. Miller’s class now.”
“I should probably get started talking to the kids.”
“Right. That’s why you’re here. It’s been wonderful to meet you.”
“You, too, Rachel.”
She came out from behind the counter, then led him back into the hallway. As they walked, she chatted about the school and the town, all the while glancing at him with a combination of appreciation and flirtatiousness. It came with the territory and he’d learned a long time ago not to take the attention seriously.
Mrs. Miller’s class was at the end of the hall. Rachel held the door open for him.
“Good luck,” she said.
“Thanks.”
