The Deputy's New Family. Jenna Mindel

boy still grieving. Corey might latch on to you as a maternal replacement, so it might be wise to stay in teacher mode.”

      Gracie’s words whispered through Beth’s mind. Maybe you’ll get a new mommy. And something deep inside twisted, wishing...

      Not going there. Beth cleared her mind with a firm nod. “Gotcha.”

      “We should compare notes in a week or so to see how he’s settling in. Check for improvement.”

      “Sure. That’d be great.” Beth knew the routine.

      Because it was a small elementary school, grade-level teachers worked together as a team sharing lesson-plan notes and progress reports. But Diane seemed more careful than usual with Corey. Was it because of Nick’s position or Corey’s transcripts?

      Beth gestured toward the classroom. “He’s working with Grace Cavanaugh right now. And Thomas Clark has taken Corey under his wing, too. They’re all tablemates in the classroom.”

      “Good.” Diane gave her a nod. “Good pairings there.”

      Beth wanted to roll her eyes. That was why she’d placed Corey at their table. “I thought so.”

      Diane nodded again. “Okay, then, I’m heading home. We’ll meet soon.”

      “Sure thing.” Beth slipped back into the art room.

      “Miss Ryken, can you help us?” Gracie’s hand was in the air with a tube of paint. “We can’t get this open.”

      Beth popped the plastic top and handed it back. Both kids had donned aprons. Each one held a paintbrush.

      Corey looked nervous as he stared at the blank white paper clipped to a tabletop easel.

      Beth stood next to him and stared, too.

      Corey looked at her, his eyes unsure.

      “Let it fly, Corey.”

      “I don’t know what to make.”

      Gracie was busy painting big red flowers.

      Corey seemed too tentative. He did fine coloring preprinted pictures like the tall-ship work sheets in class, but the blank page intimidated him. Was that the result of his previous school making too much of the dark pictures the boy drew?

      “Sometimes playing with the colors creates something special all by itself. Give it a try.”

      Corey thought about that a moment and then dipped his brush into Gracie’s red paint. He slathered the paper and then rinsed the brush to try another color. Blue.

      “There you go.” Beth patted his shoulder. “Nice.”

      Corey looked at her again and smiled.

      “You got it, Corey. Now have fun with it.” Maybe he’d paint what was inside his heart.

      Beth made her rounds, helping other kids and doling out encouragement. But she made her way back to Corey, curious.

      “Wow!” She stared at his painting and smiled. “That’s beautiful.”

      Corey had made a sloppy rainbow that ran off the page, but it arched over a corner painted black. None of the white paper showed. He’d filled it all with color. Did it mean something good? Beth couldn’t help but think it did.

      “You can have it.”

      Beth hesitated in accepting. Teacher mode, Diane had said. Her kids made pictures for her all the time. She had a slew of them in her desk. But this one was special. Like the boy in front of her. “What about your dad? He might like it, too.”

      Corey shrugged and looked away.

      Beth regrouped. She didn’t want to hurt the boy’s feelings by refusing. Nick wouldn’t mind, would he? “Thank you, Corey. I know right where it’ll go.”

      His eyes brightened. “Really?”

      “Really. Would you like to make another one?”

      “Nope.” Corey gathered up his brushes and headed for the sink. “I’m done.”