I waited with Sophia at the gate like usual, waiting for Ross to come and pick her up. I watched as my other kids, and students from other classes, got picked up by the usual large crowd at the gate, which had considerably dwindled by now.

Still no Ross.

“Sophia?” I called gently, looking down at the little girl beside me.

“Hmm?” she glanced up at me, looking unconcerned.

I hid my concern behind a smile. “Did your dad tell you he was going to be a little late to pick you up today? He’s later than usual…”

Her expression didn’t change and she just shrugged her shoulders. “He’s not late a lot, but it happens sometimes.”

I frowned, wondering if something had happened. I had been her teacher for months, and every day I waited outside until most of the kids, not just the students in my class, were gone. Ross was usually among the earliest parents, so it made no sense that he was this late.

Before I could get really worried, though, a car drove into the lot. I didn’t recognize the car, but I knew the driver. It was Cecilia, Ross’s mom. She parked and got out of the car, waving at us as she slowly walked across the road to us.

“Ma’am, I didn’t know you’d be coming today. Ross never mentioned anything about it.”

“Just call me Cecilia, Jessica,” she said warmly, smiling at me. “I’ve asked plenty of times, so you can't tell me you just keep forgetting. And he didn’t tell you because he didn’t know.” Then she looked down at Sophia. “I wanted to come see my favorite granddaughter.”

Sophia giggled as she let go of my hand and rushed forward to hug Cecilia. “I’m your only granddaughter, Grandma!”

Cecilia threw her head back in a laugh. “You know, you’re right. Though I am hoping for more, eventually.”

My face warmed in a blush when she winked at me as she said that, making the implications clear. I couldn’t even bring myself to tell her that her son and I didn’t have that kind of relationship. She would have known if we had, surely.

I knew it was probably her just making fun, but I didn’t find it funny at all, so I just stood there silently. She didn’t just take her granddaughter and leave, though. After they had their greeting, she turned back to me, smile still on her face.

“I wanted to invite Ross and Sophia for a picnic. That boy is either working or looking after Sophia and I fear he might have forgotten to live a little, so I thought taking them both out for some fresh air would be good.”

I smiled awkwardly, wondering why she was telling me this. “That’s a good idea. The weather is just perfect for a picnic.”

The smile she aimed at me then was triumphant, and it made me go still, because I realized a moment too late that I’d walked into some kind of trap.

“You know, I’m very glad you said that. I was just by the diner to pick up some food and to speak to your mother, and she happened to pick some of your favorite pastries. Why don’t you join us, Jessica? I’m sure Ross and Sophia would love to have you there.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but nothing was coming out. The invite came from nowhere, and I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be a good idea, anyway.

“Thanks, um, Cecilia, but—”

“Please, would you come?” a small voice asked, interrupting me. We both looked down at Sophia, who was pouting up at me, eyes widened cutely. Then she turned to Cecilia. “Grandma, can Jessica come with us?”

Cecilia smiled warmly. “Of course she can, sweetie. But only if she wants to.”

I wanted to grimace, but I couldn’t with Sophia watching me. I didn’t want to disappoint her by saying no, but I still hesitated a moment, before sighing. I gave Cecilia a frown, then smiled down at Sophia.

“I would love to come on a picnic with you guys.”

Immediately, Sophia’s eyes lit up, and she jumped with a whoop of excitement. “Then let’s go, already,” she said, impatient. “Why are we still standing here?”

Even taken off guard, I still laughed along with her grandmother at her sudden increase in enthusiasm.

“I’ll be driving us, so the two of you get to the car. I called Ross and asked him to meet us there so that we can go right ahead. If he’s late, though, we’ll start eating without him.”

Sophia just giggled at that, scrambling into the car when the door was opened for her. Cecilia leaned inside and helped her with the seat belt, and then we both got in the car.

We went to the park. It was a little over half an hour’s drive away. Sophia and Cecilia spent the whole drive chatting. I didn’t always understand what they were talking about, but I listened to their voices the whole way there.

When we arrived, I helped Sophia get out as Cecilia went to the trunk. She pulled a basket out, and I smiled at that. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been on a picnic, probably sometime before high school, or in my first year. Sophia bounced around us with excitement, unable to keep still.

“Daddy!” she suddenly screeched, scaring me.

But then she was running ahead. I was about to follow her, when I noticed Ross was there. He was grinning as he faced her, lowering into a crouch with his arms held open for her. I heard her squeal and break out in giggles when she jumped up on him and was caught in a hug as he picked her under her armpits and spun her around.

“Come this way,” Cecilia said.

I was distracted from watching the two of them have their fun, but, even as I followed Cecilia over to the picnic benches, I looked back at Ross. He still had Sophia in the air, holding her face close to his. Her hands were holding his cheeks, and they both seemed to be smiling and having some private conversation.

“The two of them are always like that,” Cecilia said with a chuckle. I turned back to her then, and she winked at me, leaving me flustered. “It was a bit of a shock when my boy came to me and told me I was going to be a grandmother. Even more when Sophia’s mother walked out on him. I was worried about the two of them for a while, but…” she didn’t finish the sentence, just gestured at them, like looking at them was an answer in itself.

I had to admit that it was. I already knew he was a good father, but like this, I could see Sophia’s adoration for her father. It made me jealous, just a little, that I wasn’t quite at that stage yet.

“How long has he been raising her on his own?”

“A few years. She was just barely old enough to understand what was going on, though I’m sure now she probably realizes that her mom left her. If it weren’t for Ross being so amazing with her… she would have been so much more depressed. I was worried about it for a little while until Ross proved to me they would be just fine.”

I could feel the ice in my chest warm a little, though I was mad at that woman who had left a good man and a beautiful daughter, whatever reason she’d had. It was a lucky thing that Sophia was doing so well, in spite of it all.

Cecilia had me help her set up for the picnic, although I would occasionally look away to see Ross and Sophia still playing. There wasn’t much in the basket, just some snacks, and pastries, enough for all four of us.

Once we were done, she turned to me with a smile.

“Would you please go and call those two? Tell them to come here so we can eat, already.”

I nodded quietly and headed over to them. I got their attention before I needed to be too close, thankfully, and I waved a hand for them to follow me as I turned back. They followed me over to the picnic table and we all sat to eat.

I got to see more of Ross being a good dad. He’d hand Sophia what she wanted, making sure she didn’t hold it in a way that she made a mess, and, when she did anyway, he wiped it up. She sat close to him at his side, though, once the snack was out of the way, she moved so she was sitting by Cecilia, yawning a little as she leaned against her.

Cecilia stopped what she was talking about with Ross to look down at Sophia with a chuckle.

“Feeling tired already? It’s still so early.”

Sophia just pouted and shook her head.

Cecilia laughed. Then she turned to Ross and me. “Why don’t the two of you go for a walk?” she suggested. “It is awfully good weather, no need to waste it. I’ll look after my little girl.”

Ross seemed all for it, rising before I could put my two cents in. Feeling resigned, I got up to follow along. Ross reached for my hand. It seemed like an unconscious movement, though my eyes still widened at it. I let him have my hand, though.

We walked far enough to make it to the cover of the trees, and he suddenly stopped and turned to face me. I looked up at him, flushing as our positions reminded me of that morning.

“I’ve been dreaming of doing this again,” he murmured.

His hands cupped my face as he took a step that brought our bodies closer, and there was no way I could misunderstand what he meant.

I frowned at him. “You know, we’re lucky no one at the school seemed to realize what we were doing, but that was dangerous. And besides,” I added with a scoff, “when have you had the time to dream, when it’s only been a few hours?”

He had the grace to look sheepish, though he made no move to step back. “Sorry about that. I just couldn’t help myself.” He smirked. “And I’ve been daydreaming about you since this morning. I almost hurt myself working with tools when I was distracted.”

I felt a wave of alarm. “Are you—?”

“I’m fine,” he said, cutting me off with a low chuckle. “Nothing bad happened while I was at work.”

I wanted to speak up, tell him he shouldn’t be so careless. I’d heard plenty of nightmarish accidents, and he could have ended up one of them.

But I couldn’t say it, because his eyes dropped to my lips, and I could feel my breath hitch. Ross took a step closer that had me taking a step back. He did it again, walking me backward until my back was against a tree, and he pressed his body close.

It was hard to believe I’d been mad at him just that morning. Because when he leaned closer to continue where we left off earlier, before we both went back to our jobs, I met his passion with mine in our kiss as I hung onto him.