Aaron woke up the following morning with a renewed sense of purpose. It was time to find the orphans homes. The sooner he made arrangements for each of them, the sooner they could begin their new lives and the sooner he could return to New York.

Although the people of Nowhere had been mostly sweet and charitable to Aaron, he could not imagine himself staying in such a small town for a long time. He looked forward to returning to his life in the city.

But somehow, some way, every time Aaron tried to do anything, he thought of Katie. He thought of her as he fell asleep and as he woke up, as he ate Sarah Jane’s cooking for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and as he delivered lessons to his students.

He found himself wondering if other men were courting her, and if so, what she thought of them. Often his thoughts bordered on the inappropriate, and once, he had to splash cold water on his face to wake him up from his silly fantasies.

After all, Aaron reasoned, a beautiful, friendly, and talented girl like Katie would certainly have many suitors. Why would she be interested in a strict, rule-abiding bore like him? He didn’t stand a chance.

Plus, he had to focus on finding the boys homes. The latest update from the town was that a few of the men in town would work to expand the schoolhouse to accommodate more students. Aaron's pupils would start to attend school with the other children.

However, there were no clear answers about where the boys would live. There were families in town who were willing to take them in, but that meant the boys would be split apart.

For some of the boys, like Jacob, the orphanage had been the only home they’d ever known. Aaron shuddered as he thought about Jacob being torn away from the only brothers he’d ever had.

Aaron wondered if Katie and her sisters had ever been separated. He decided to ask her about it the next time he saw her. Then, maybe he’d ask her if she was being courted by anyone in Nowhere. And then maybe he’d finally work up the nerve to dip her backward and kiss her.

Aaron’s pulse quickened when he thought about Katie this way. Every time he saw her, she brightened his day. He was curious whether or not she would ever consider going back to New York. He allowed his mind to wander, dreaming up situations where Aaron and Katie walked hand in hand through the park.

Aaron sighed as he realized he was thinking about her again. This had to stop. He needed to focus and forget all about Katie Sanders. He had just decided to go to the Barton’s living quarters for breakfast when he heard a loud knock on the front door of the church.

Aaron walked quietly to the entrance, careful not to wake any of the children sleeping in the pews. He opened the door and his jaw dropped open in shock.

Standing at the front door was Katie Sanders. It was as if his mind had somehow made her appear. “What are you doing here?”

Katie held a basket in her hands. “I was thinking about you all and I baked you some blueberry muffins.”

Aaron accepted the basket. “You didn’t have to do that. Thank you, Katie.”

“You’re welcome.” Katie blushed. “You should try one.”

Aaron looked back at the sleeping children and motioned for Katie to move outside. The pair walked out into the dewy fall morning. Aaron took one of the muffins from the basket and popped it into his mouth. “Oh, my,” Aaron breathed. “This is delicious. Thank you!”

Katie beamed with pride. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”

“Is there anything you can’t do?” Aaron teased. “You sing, you bake, you’re wonderful with kids...”

Katie looked down. “Oh, those are nothing. I just enjoy them.”

“It’s not nothing to me,” Aaron said, drawing Katie closer.

Katie gasped as Aaron leaned in. She closed her eyes and waited for his lips to meet hers.

Suddenly, Katie heard a loud croaking noise.

Aaron groaned. “Freddy!” He picked up a frog from the steps to the church and shook his head. “I’m so sorry about this. I need to find Freddy’s hat box.”

Katie felt impatient, but she couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. “I’ll help you look for it.”

Aaron led her into the church, and together they walked softly and checked row by row for the missing hat box.

“Are you sure it’s in the church? Maybe Jacob hid it outside,” Katie suggested.

“That’s a good idea,” Aaron remarked. “Jacob likes to go outside.” He frowned. “In fact, sometimes he goes outside when he really should be studying!”

Katie smiled. She wasn’t surprised to hear that. Although she knew Jacob sometimes displayed less than ideal behavior, he had made a strong impression on her. She knew his heart was in the right place.

Outside, Katie and Aaron looked near the church entrance, under rocks, and behind trees, but they could not find the missing hat box. Aaron carried the frog in a handkerchief, holding it a few feet away from his body as much as possible.

“I should just let this creature free,” Aaron grumbled.

Katie knew he didn’t mean it. Jacob had grown awfully fond of Freddy the Frog, and she could tell that Aaron was awfully fond of Jacob. Just then, she noticed a small pile of stones stacked in a pile near some logs. “Look, over there!”

Aaron followed Katie to the stones and they both began to dig through the pile. Sure enough, Jacob’s hatbox was there. Aaron slid open the box and tipped the handkerchief inside, then quickly snapped the lid shut. He wiped his brow and panted. “I’m glad that’s taken care of.”

Katie laughed. “Me, too.” She wanted to ask Aaron if they could pick up where they had left off before Freddy had interrupted them, but she wasn’t sure what to say without seeming too forward.

Aaron thought about the piles of work ahead of him. He kept a detailed file on each boy so that in the event of an adoption, the boy’s new family would know everything there was to know about his history and education. Each day, Aaron added various notes to his files and prepared for the following day’s lesson. Later that day, he also planned to meet with several Nowhere families to see if they would be interested in taking some of the boys.

“I should get back to work now. Thank you for stopping by and bringing your delicious muffins,” Aaron said politely.

Katie felt her heart sink. Aaron spoke to her as if she were nothing more than a baker. He didn’t have feelings for her. She thought he had come close to kissing her earlier, but now she realized that it was all in her imagination. “You’re welcome.”

“Do you have a way home?” Aaron inquired.

Katie shrugged. “I’ll just walk.”

“Walk? You mean your parents didn’t drive you over?” Aaron couldn’t believe that a young woman of Katie’s means would walk if she didn’t have to.

“It was nothing.” Katie waved her hand.

Aaron shook his head. “Nonsense. I’ll walk you.”

A shiver of anticipation tingled up Katie’s spine. “Thank you.”

Aaron found Jenkins inside the church, reading a book. “Jenkins, you’re in charge until I get back. I won’t be long.”

Jenkins nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Katie smiled at Aaron’s consideration. She admired how he was so thoughtful, always taking time to determine how his actions might impact his pupils.

“I’m afraid you’ll have to guide me,” Aaron admitted. “Sense of direction isn’t my strong suit.”

“That’s not a problem,” Katie assured. “I’ve lived here so many years I know these roads like I know my own sisters!”

They walked in silence for a while, admiring the late morning sun.

When they started talking again, they both spoke at once.

“It’s a beautiful day—” Katie began.

“I’m worried about—” Aaron said.

They both laughed nervously.

“You first,” Aaron offered.

Katie drew in a breath. “It’s nothing. I was just saying what a nice day it is. This close to Christmas, it’s usually a bit colder.”

Aaron nodded. “In New York it would be snowing by this time of year.”

“I love the weather here, but sometimes I do miss the snow,” Katie admitted.

“There’s nothing like it,” Aaron agreed. “Especially the first snowfall of the year.”

“Yes. It’s almost magical,” Katie smiled. “But Nowhere has its perks, too!”

“Such as?” Aaron prodded.

Katie took a deep breath. “I love how spread out everything is here. I feel like I can really breathe. I can climb trees here and get dirty without anyone scolding me. But my absolute favorite is the starlight. In the city, I could barely ever see the stars.”

Aaron stopped walking and stared at Katie.

Katie blushed. She wasn’t normally shy, but she felt self-conscious when speaking to Aaron. She wanted him to think highly of her. “What is it?”

“When you say things like that, you make me want to kiss you,” Aaron admitted. As he heard the words coming out of his mouth, he tried to take them back, but it was useless. He had said it out loud. He was disappointed at how weak his willpower was.

Katie gasped. “It does?”

Aaron stepped closer and put a hand on the small of Katie’s back.

Katie’s heartbeat quickened in her chest. Aaron leaned closer to her, and Katie shut her eyes. Suddenly, Aaron was kissing her passionately. He moved his hands to encircle her waist, and Katie felt a rushing sensation in her stomach. She broke away from Aaron for a moment to suck in a breath of air, then pushed her lips back against his.

Aaron pushed his body into hers, desperate for some control. He had never had a problem before with keeping his urges intact, but Katie inspired a wild streak in him. His mind raced with inappropriate thoughts about the young woman standing before him, and he wasn’t able to remove his hands from her body.

Katie felt as if she were spinning through the air. Aaron made her feel like all of her wishes and desires would come true. She didn’t want to stop kissing him, but she had to take breaks to breathe! She laughed at the thought.

Aaron stepped back. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Are you all right?”

Aaron’s perplexed expression made Katie giggle even harder. She tried to tell him she was fine, but she doubled over in laughter.

Aaron bent down so he could see her face. “Are you ill?”

Katie shook her head, feeling her cheeks turn an even brighter shade of red. She continued to laugh.

Aaron lost his balance and fell over, and suddenly, they were both on the ground, laughing hysterically.

After a long while, Katie and Aaron finally quieted.

Aaron spoke first. “I can’t remember the last time I actually laughed.”

“You don’t often laugh?” Katie asked, turning her head to look at him. They both were on the ground, staring up at the sky. Katie estimated that they still had a good twenty minutes before they would arrive at the Sanders home.

Aaron shook his head. “Usually I’m too busy worrying about the boys to have time for luxuries like laughter.”

“That’s sad,” Katie declared, grabbing Aaron’s hand. “I hope you will start to laugh more often.”

Aaron smiled. “Thanks to you, I already have.”

Katie felt warmth rush to her cheeks once again.

Suddenly, Aaron’s expression grew serious. “I should get you home to your parents. They’ll worry about you. Plus, I need to get back to work.”

Katie tried to keep a smile on her face, but the corners of her mouth slumped. She wanted to stay with Aaron and enjoy the beautiful winter day. “Do you have to work today? I didn’t think you held class on weekends.”

Aaron nodded. “I work every day of the week. Many of the boys came to the orphanage behind where they needed to be in their schoolwork. I’m doing everything I can with the time I’m given.”

“You’re so dedicated to your work.” Katie was impressed by Aaron’s commitment to the boys. She wished she had something in her life that she cared so much about. She could think of one thing, and he was standing right in front of her.

Aaron continued talking as they began to walk again. “I don’t teach formal classes on weekends, but I often tutor the boys individually on subjects in which they need extra help. Today, though, my job is different.” He stared off into the distance, his face set solemnly.

“What’s that?” Katie asked.

“I need to find homes for the boys,” Aaron explained.

“Have you made any progress?” Katie looked down at the ground. She was torn. She hoped Aaron would find a loving home for the boys, like the one Edna Petunia and Cletus had provided for Katie and her sisters. At the same time, she hoped that it would take a little longer. She didn’t want Aaron to leave Nowhere.

Aaron sighed. “It’s not as easy as anticipated. They all need homes, but most families seem to have room for only one child, not fifteen all at once.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I guess my sisters and I were lucky that we found a home when we did, and one that could accommodate all of us.” Katie looked over at Aaron. He seemed lost in thought.

“I agree. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t suppose your parents want to take in another set of orphans, do they?” Aaron said. He was joking, but Katie seemed to take his question seriously, pausing before she answered.

“I know Edna Petunia would adopt an orphan every day of the week if she could, but I have a feeling that their adopting days are over. They love to spoil their grandchildren, though,” Katie said gently.

“That’s what I thought. Cletus has been very helpful to me, though. He’s arranged meetings with different men and women from Nowhere and Bagley who may be interested in adoption.” Aaron put his hands in his pockets. “But no paperwork has been signed yet. I suppose I’m waiting for someone to say that they’ll take the whole lot, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

Katie felt a surge of joy pulse through her body. “If you feel that’s really what’s right for the boys, maybe you should stay in Nowhere a little while longer.”

Aaron frowned. “I’m afraid I’ll have to. I hope to return to New York by Christmas.”

Katie was upset at how disappointed Aaron looked. “Do you hate it here in Nowhere? Why are you so anxious to leave?”

Aaron realized what Katie was asking. “Oh, Katie. I hope I haven’t misled you in any way. You’re a wonderful person, and I’m so grateful for all of your help with the boys. But my life is in New York. My career is there, and I have never wanted to live anywhere else. I’m embarrassed at my behavior. I hope you don’t think I’ve been dishonest.”

Katie shook her head slowly, her heart pounding. She felt sad, but she wasn’t cross with Aaron. She understood his position. “No, you haven’t been dishonest at all. I suppose I was just hoping...that you might stick around a bit.”

As they walked, the sun cast beams of light on Katie’s face, highlighting her delicate nose and long eyelashes. Aaron wondered if he had enough time for a detour.

“Aaron?” Katie asked as she noticed Aaron had stopped walking. They were just outside the Sanders home, but she didn’t want to say goodbye.

Aaron snapped back to attention and grimaced. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. I hope you have a wonderful day.”

“You, too, Aaron.” Katie smiled politely, but inside, she was glowing with happiness. No matter how much Aaron said otherwise, she knew that he liked her. Katie said a silent prayer that Aaron would stay in Nowhere a little while longer. She knew that fate had brought them together, and with a little more time, she could ensure that they would never have to part again.