the remaining shortbread, leaned down to Elisa, who was clutching her Raggedy Ann doll, and held it out.
The girl’s eyes lit up. “Thank you.”
Thomma started to pull out his wallet, but Jeannette shook her head. “Gift.” She put her fingertips on her chest, then extended her hands, palm up, toward the family.
He hesitated, but after Mariam elbowed him he put his money away. “Thank you.”
“Monday?” Mariam raised her eyebrows.
“Yes.”
“Time . . . four?”
Someone had been practicing the material she’d left yesterday.
“Yes.”
In her peripheral vision, a familiar male face and another little girl appeared.
Logan and Molly had come to the market too.
Her pulse accelerated, and she frowned.
For heaven’s sake, Jeannette, get a grip. You may not be able to dictate the content of your dreams, but you ought to be able to keep your waking emotions under control.
The duo strolled over to the booth, and she gripped the edge of the counter, hiking up the corners of her mouth. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“We didn’t expect to be here.” Logan’s return smile warmed her like a balmy tropical breeze—and she had to fight the urge to fan herself. “We came to town for tacos and found out there was a party.”
The Shabos took a step back, and she turned to them and held up a finger before addressing Logan. Focus, Jeannette. “Let me introduce you to the newest arrivals in town—even newer than you.” She gave him a brief explanation about their background.
“I saw a reference to them in the Grace Christian bulletin.” He nodded to the family.
Logan had attended church?
Another check mark in his plus column.
He must have gone to the later service, though, or she’d have seen him.
“They know very little English, so don’t expect a conversation.”
“Got it.”
She drew the family forward, indicating each one as she said their names, then did the same with Logan and Molly.
Logan extended his hand to Thomma. “Welcome.”
The man clearly didn’t understand, but he returned the shake. “Hello.”
Logan also shook hands with Mariam, who bobbed her head in acknowledgment.
Molly edged close to Elisa, fairly quivering with excitement. “Hi.”
“She doesn’t speak our language, sweetie.” Logan rested his hand on Molly’s shoulder. “Elisa is from a different country. She won’t understand what you say.”
Molly ignored him and spoke to the girl, never breaking eye contact with her. “Elisa is a pretty name.”
Thomma’s daughter offered her a shy smile. “Thank you.”
Molly sent Logan a boy-were-you-wrong-about-that look and refocused on the other girl.
While the two children concentrated on each other, Father Murphy strolled by and stopped to pantomime a conversation with Mariam and Thomma.
“You seem chummy with the family.” Logan tipped his head toward the two adult Shabos as they tried to communicate with the priest.
“I’ve gotten to know them a little. I volunteered to help them learn English.”
Now why had she brought that up?
His eyebrows arched. “I saw the appeal in the bulletin on Sunday. That’s a big undertaking.”
“Um . . . I have some spare time.”
“Have you ever done anything like that?”
“Tutored English? Yes. A number of years ago. And as you can see, the need is great.” She shrugged and changed the subject. “How’s everything going on your end? Have you been settling in?”
“Trying to. The electric fence has been installed, and I’m getting ready to train our friend here.” He dipped his chin toward the dog, who was bouncing around as he watched all the activity. Then he lowered his voice. “I’m having a bit of difficulty with the preschool arrangements, though. Molly didn’t last in the Coos Bay facility even to the end of the orientation day—and I’ve got forty-eight hours left to find a new one.”
“Ouch.”
“Tell me about it.”
“What was the problem—if you don’t mind me asking?”
“The director’s take was that Molly’s had to cope with too many changes too fast and suggested I set up more one-on-one daycare, in our house if possible. I’ve spent the past four days trying to come up with an arrangement that will work.”
Jeannette listened while Logan explained about the woman Reverend Baker had found, as well as his reservations.
She couldn’t argue with his concerns, based on the background she’d read in Marci’s Herald article. Molly had endured more than her share of trauma, and if she bonded with the woman the pastor had proposed, it could exacerbate her issues when Logan found a more permanent arrangement.
“I wish I could offer some suggestions, but I don’t know that many people here either.”
“It’s not your worry—and I didn’t mean to dump it on you.