Hope in Our Hearts by Lydia Proffitt

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.

- Desmond Tutu

There was something about Jason, but Lucy could not put her finger on it. He was chivalrous she had to admit, and he was a head turner if one were looking. She could see his short brown hair sticking out under his cap, and when he took it off and ruffled his hands through it she could see it was pretty thick. His tight shirt highlighted his muscles. She could not help but notice how he was analyzing her. His eyes looked as if they were memorizing details, not her physical appearance details, but details of everything around her as well.

He looked about thirty she concluded. He seemed nice enough, but she assumed something must be horribly wrong with him. He didn't wear a ring, and Lucy had already concluded that most guys her age were single for a reason. Lucy then opened her car door and smiled seeing Kale sleeping like a rock in his car seat in the back. She said a silent prayer thanking God for keeping them safe.

During her prayer, Lucy routinely placed her hand on her chest and reached for her necklace. She rubbed her wedding band that she kept on the gold chain back and forth like she was cleaning it off. The necklace always made her feel safe.

When she opened her eyes, she took a look at her messy car. The car was full of water bottles (from her morning runs) and Kale's toys. Shaking her head at the mess, she pulled out and continued to the house. She shook her head the whole way home, but it was not at the mess. She was trying to shake away the thought of Jason's crooked smile.

By the time she got home, the thoughts of Jason finally slipped from her mind and was replaced with what occupied her mind every day. She tried to busy herself by making lesson plans for the next few days. Fractions were the first things she wanted to teach her students. She wanted the activity to be fun and hands-on, so she made a mental note to swing by the store on the way to school to buy cookies.

Thomas Elementary was a new start for Lucy. She felt today started a brand new chapter, or better yet, a whole new book. One with empty pages waiting to be filled. Today was a blank canvas wishing to be covered in paint. Lucy was eager to see where life took her.

Lucy felt she was right where she was supposed to be. Her co-workers were the best––even Margaret for the most part. Lucy attended elementary school there, and couldn't wait for Kale to go there as well one day. She knew most of her students' parents. That's how things were in a small town. You knew someone somehow (either by their older sibling or aunt), and if you weren't careful, you could just be looking at a distant cousin.

For the first time since James died, Lucy felt like she might have found a family in the school. She was optimistic about what the school year would involve. The school was filled with teachers who loved their jobs and most importantly, the kids. They all welcomed Lucy with opened arms and she was very appreciative. She felt like Dorothy, there really was no place like home.

The remainder of Lucy's afternoon was spent trying to occupy her mind with cheerful thoughts. She tried to get Kale to take his first steps. She couldn't believe he was getting so big. She blinked and suddenly instead of bringing him home from the hospital, she was holding his fingers urging him to walk.

While sitting on the floor with him, Lucy was amazed by how much Kale resembled James. He definitely had her eyes––no mistaking that––but he was completely James made over. Lucy thought Kale might have her smile, but the rosy cheeks and nose were definitely not from her. What little hair Kale had, was a light shade of brown, and his blue eyes were huge compared to his face, but he was cute nonetheless. Though Lucy thought her opinion may have been a tad bit, just a smudge, one-sided.