Good potential mother material, she decided. God knew her little lamb deserved one. As for potential wife material, well, she would see what she would see.

“Everyone’s talking about your ballet school,” she began, flushing slightly at her husband’s soft snort. “You must be excited.”

“I am. I’ve got several students lined up, and classes begin in just a few weeks. If you know anyone who might be interested, I’d appreciate it if you’d spread the word.”

“Shepherdstown’s some different from New York City,” Bob said as he reached for the sugar.

“It certainly is.” Kate’s voice was smooth and easy—though she’d heard the snort. “I enjoyed living in New York, working there. Of course it helped considerably that I had family there as well. And I liked the traveling, seeing new places, having the opportunity to dance on the great stages. But this is home, and where I want to be. Do you think ballet is out of place here, Mr. O’Connell?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know anything about it.”

“It happens I do. And I think a good school of dance will do very well here. We’re a small town, of course,” she added, sipping her coffee. “But we’re also a college town. The university brings in a variety of people from a variety of places.”

“Can I have a cookie?”

“Please,” Jack’s grandmother added.

“Can I please have a cookie?”

Kate started to rise, then let out a gasp as she saw Brody through the glass on the back door. With a shake of her head, she walked over to open it. “You gave me such a jolt.”

“Sorry.” He was a little out of breath, more from excitement than the quick jog around the house. “I tried to call you,” he said, nodding in greeting to his parents. “To head you off. You must’ve been on the road.”

“Said we were coming to pick the boy up at three,” Bob said. “Got here at three.”

“Yeah, well. I had a little change of plans.” He looked at his son who sat with his eyes on his plate and his chin nearly on his chest. “Did you have a good time with Kate, Jack?”

Jack nodded his head, slowly looked up. His eyes were teary again. “I’m sorry I was bad. I’m sorry I hurt your heart.”

Brody crouched down, cupped Jack’s face. “I’m sorry I can’t take you to Disney World. I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

“You’re not mad at me anymore?”

“No, I’m not mad at you.”

The tears dried up. “Kate said you weren’t.”

“Kate was right.” He picked Jack out of the chair for a hug before setting him on his feet.

“Can I go back to work with you? I won’t be bad.”

“Well, you could, except I’m not going back to work today.”

“Man knocks off middle of the afternoon isn’t putting in a good day’s work.”

Brody glanced over at his father, nodded. “True enough. And a man who doesn’t take a few hours now and then to be with his son isn’t working hard enough at being a father.”