Love Lessons by Margaret Daley

him.
    â€œI haven’t flown, but I would like to.” Jana moved from one poster to the next, studying each one.
    â€œWhere would you go first?” Alexa asked as she came up behind his daughter, standing in front of a picture of the Alps in Switzerland.
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œBy the time we learn about different countries, maybe you can answer that.”
    Jana whirled. “Yeah. Let’s start right now with Brazil.”
    â€œOkay. We can start with an online search. Maybe then go to the library and check out some books on Brazil.”
    â€œThe library.” Jana peered at her father, a shadow in her eyes.
    â€œI can go with you two when you’re ready if you like, or you can go with Alexa. It’ll be your choice.”
    Jana nodded then headed for the computer set up on a table before the window.
    â€œI’ll leave you all to work.” He glanced around the classroom. “I actually like the posters.”
    Alexa’s gaze seized his. “I do, too.”
    The smile that graced her lips tightened his gut. She covered the distance to Jana and sat beside her. He stepped toward the door, paused and peered back at Alexa—then forced himself to look away. Too young for him. What she wanted to do with her life was nothing like his. He’d never thought much about traveling, greeting each day with something different. He liked his familiar everyday existence—where he knew what to expect.
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    â€œDad! Dad, where are you?”
    Jana’s frantic tone sent a bolt of alarm through Ian. He surged to his feet and hurried into the kitchen. Her pale face and tear-filled eyes alerted him that something was definitely wrong. “What’s the matter?”
    â€œSugar ran off. I was sitting on the bench by the lake, watching the geese and ducks. She was sitting in my lap. A squirrel chasing another one came by, and she leaped off and began racing after them, barking. I tried catching her leash. I couldn’t. She ran into the underbrush by thewoods.” More tears welled in her eyes and a few slid down her cheeks. “I can’t lose her.”
    â€œWe’ll go search for her.”
    â€œJust us? She may be long gone. She hasn’t even been here three weeks yet. She probably doesn’t know her way home. Let’s call Alexa. She’ll come help.”
    Ian glanced at the kitchen wall clock. “Hon, it’s Sunday. Her day off.”
    â€œWe need people to help. I can go next door and get Kelly. She’ll help, too. Plee—ese, Dad, call Alexa.” Jana swiped at her wet cheeks.
    â€œFine.”
    He strode to the phone and dialed Alexa’s cell. Like Jana, he knew she would come if she could. Alexa and his daughter had bonded over the past three weeks. So much, he didn’t know how Jana would react when it was time for Alexa to leave at the end of April.
    Alexa answered on the second ring. “Yes,” she whispered.
    He heard people talking in the background. “This is Ian. Is this a bad time?”
    â€œI’m in church at a class. Is something wrong?”
    â€œSugar ran off. Jana and I are going to look for her. Jana wanted to know if you’d help us.”
    A long pause and a sound as if she cupped the phone, followed by muffled voices, then she came back on and said, “Yeah, we’ll be there. Mom wants to come, too.”
    â€œWe’ll be out back. I’m going to check along the lake-shore. Thanks, Alexa. It means a lot to Jana.” To me. She wasn’t just an employee but a friend, one who made him laugh, made him forget about Tracy’s betrayal. That scared him. What did they really have in common except he could tell she cared about his daughter?
    That actually meant a lot to him. Was it enough?
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    Alexa arrived at Ian and Jana’s house fifteen minutes later with her mother. After parking in the driveway, she threw open her door and hurriedly stood.