Her in-laws had headed back to New Hampshire on Monday, and her father-in-law had promised to go to the eye doctor. E had driven Chloe home on Sunday night and been late getting back. She was trying very hard to give him space—after all, he was in college. But it didn’t make her worry less. Noah had tried calling Jillian Laughlin, but her phone didn’t seem to be working. And Mennie seemed to be ignoring them—was he going deaf or was he still put out by the new puppy? The week had flown by, and before she knew it, it was Friday again, and her six-year-old charges were lining up with their backpacks over their shoulders, ready to head home for the weekend. She stood by the door. “Don’t forget to do your reading. Reading logs are due Monday!” “Have a good weekend, Mrs. Coleman!” they sang as they filed out of the room. “Don’t forget to do your reading,” Charlie Lathrop teased with a grin that revealed his newly missing tooth. “I will, Mr. Lathrop,” she said, ruffling his hair.
