Kids Is A 4-Letter Word by Stephanie Bond Page A

smile tickled her mouth as she watched realization dawn in the woman’s eyes.
    “I beg your pardon, I had no idea Mr. Sterling had gotten mar—I mean…”
    Say nothing that can’t be explained away later, Jo reminded herself. She donned a tolerant smile and bent to set Billy on his feet, then took his hand firmly in hers. “I’m still getting used to the children myself, Ms. Hook.”
    Cap’n Hook straightened and for a moment Jo thought the woman might salute. “Right this way, Ms. Montgomery. Mrs. Patterson is in the storytelling room.”
    Melissa Patterson sat on a tiny stool, reading aloud from a bright storybook to a group of preschoolers on the floor. She winked at them, then wound up the story with a flourish, and the children clapped their hands. Rising from her stool, she smiled and addressed Jo. “I’m so glad you brought the children,” she said, then bent over and patted Jamie’s arm. “You’ll like it here.”
    “No, I won’t,” he said simply. Jo winced.
    Mrs. Patterson recoiled in surprise and said, “But you just arrived.”
    “Me and my brother and sister were here for a while when we first moved here,” he explained in a bored voice.
    “Why did you leave?” she asked, concern on her face.
    Jamie jerked his thumb toward Carolyn Hook. “Ask Cap’n Hook.”
    “Um, Mrs. Patterson,” the woman began nervously.
    “Yes, Carolyn?”
    “These are the Sterling children,” she said politely, but distinctly.
    “The Sterling children?” Melissa Patterson looked confused.
    “Remember?” Cap’n Hook asked, her eyes wide with meaning. “The flood in the boys’ bathroom? The huge insurance claim?”
    Mrs. Patterson’s eyebrows went up. “Ohhhhh, you mean…” She pointed to Jamie, and Cap’n Hook nodded.
    Great, Jo thought I’m playing stepmother to impress these people and I pick the kid who nearly destroyed their day care. Jo sighed. “Jamie, why would you do such a thing?”
    “Because,” he said, shrugging, “it’s boring here. All they do is tell stories.”
    But before Jo could apologize, Mrs. Patterson raised her hand. The woman clasped Jamie’s hand and asked, “Would you come with me and tell me the kinds of things you’d like to do at day care?”
    Jo allowed herself a small smile at Jamie’s accidental coup.
    An hour later, Melissa Patterson followed Jo out to the car. Once the children were inside with seat belts fastened, she said, “I would appreciate it if you would incorporate some of your stepson’s ideas into the design bid—a multimedia room, a stage, a nature room—all of them. He’s a very creative boy…and that Peter Pan act is adorable.”
    Guilt tugged at Jo’s heart as she looked in the car at the children. “They’re all special,” she agreed.
    “I didn’t realize you’d married John Sterling,” the woman said, startling Jo. “I assume you still go by your maiden name?”
    Jo nodded numbly, then, very near panic, asked, “Do you know John?”
    “I spoke with him once over the phone about the flood incident, and he was a wonderfully gracious man.” She pursed her lips and frowned slightly in recollection. “In fact, I would have allowed the boy to come back, but poor Carolyn said she couldn’t take it, and I couldn’t afford to lose her.” She smiled apologetically, then brightened. “I’ll have a talk with her and see if we can work out something.”
    “That would be very helpful,” Jo said, smiling gratefully. “Mr. Ster—I mean, John a-and I—” she felt heat suffusing her cheeks “—would appreciate taking the kids to a place we feel good about, at least for the next few days until school starts again. After that, it’ll just be Billy.”
    “Consider it done,” Mrs. Patterson assured her in a professional tone, then changed the subject with an inquisitive tilt of her head. “Your husband just moved here from Atlanta and took over as head architect for Wilson Brothers, didn’t he?”
    Jo’s mind raced, then she