I stand there, watching in awe, until Raegan spots me. She drops her hand into her lap and smiles.

I walk toward the bench. “Ms. Donahue, is everything okay?”

“Peyton’s mom is running a little late. I’m keeping her company until she gets here.”

“Did Beth call her mother?”

“No, I did. I told Beth that I’d handle it. It was time for her to go home for the day.”

Always worrying about others. I remove my jacket and wrap it around Raegan’s shoulders. “Peyton, you should tell your teacher how important it is to wear a jacket now that it’s getting colder.”

Peyton’s eyes widen as she nods. “Yes, Mr. Waters.”

Raegan smirks. “I’m fine. I don’t mind the fall weather. It’s actually my favorite season.”

“Mine too,” says Peyton. “Do you like to jump in the leaves?”

Raegan smiles. “No, but I used to when I was your age.”

“How come you don’t do it anymore? Is it because you’re a grown up?”

“I guess adults don’t do the fun things kids get to do.”

Peyton turns to me. “Do you jump in the leaves, Mr. Waters?”

I puff my chest out. “Of course I do.”

“You do?” both Raegan and Peyton ask.

I look around the bench and spot a decent pile of leaves. “How about that pile? Want to go jump in it, Peyton?”

Her eyes light up. “Yes!” She takes my hand and pulls me onto the grass.

“On the count of three.” I squat down low beside Peyton. “One, two, three!”

We dive into the pile and Peyton’s squeals fills the air. We roll out of the leaves and stand. I help Peyton brush the leaf bits off her jacket. Then a silver Honda pulls to a stop in front of us and Peyton bolts to the passenger door.

“I see you’re having fun,” Peyton’s mom says through her open window.

“Yeah, Mom. Mr. Waters is the coolest principal ever.”

My chest squeezes. I love this job. I wave as they drive off.

“You really are something else, you know that?” Raegan says, standing and walking toward me.

“Something else? I suppose I’ve been called worse.”

“Oh, you should hear the names I’ve come up with in my head.”

I can’t fight the smile that tugs at my mouth. “Sounds like you spend a lot of time thinking about me.”

She rolls her eyes. “You would hear it that way.”

“Were you … were you doing Sign Language before I came outside?”

Her cheeks turn a deeper shade of pink. “I was just showing Peyton what I’ve learned.”

“You’ve been learning how to sign?”

“Kerry has been teaching me. I figured I could communicate with your grandfather the next time I visited my grandma.”