Polly’s cheeks went from pink to pinker. It was kind of heartening the way available and unavailable men flocked around Polly like so many knights in shining armor. Maybe that thing about men needing to feel needed, to have a purpose, was actually true. I wondered if John would dust off his coat of armor if I ever got pregnant. He was just dorky enough to literally have a coat of armor. In high school, I probably wouldn’t have given him a second look, but I’d matured enough to think that John’s residual dorkiness was a part of his charm.

A picture of John parading around our new master suite in his shining armor and nothing else popped into my head. I wasn’t much of an armor expert, but in my version the suit of metal was open in the back like a hospital johnny. I had to admit John looked pretty fetching from that angle.

I shook my head to dislodge the image, checked the time on my big analog teacher’s watch. Then I slid out of my faux UGGs so I wouldn’t track slush into our classroom while I hunted down my teacher slippers.

The outside doors opened, and the first of the students blew in with a cold blast of air.

Polly ripped the tiny heart off the door.

“Good reflexes,” I said. “If anybody sees that, we could be brought up on Valentine’s Day candy charges.”

“I have to get up every hour to pee anyway, so if one of us has to go to prison, I’ll go.” Polly held up the miniscule pink heart. “Shall I put this in the teachers’ room with the rest of the contraband?”

“No way.” I held out my hand. Polly gave me the heart.

I tossed it up in the air. We both opened our mouths. Polly caught it, possibly because she was eating for two now.

Four-year-old Juliette kicked a Gucci Kids boot toward her cubby. “Is that candy?”

Polly giggled. She started to choke, which made her giggle harder.

“It’s just a vitamin, honey,” I said to Juliette while I thumped Polly on the back.

Keep Reading—Buy Must Love Dogs: Hearts & Barks (#7).

Have You Read?

The Wildwater Walking Club (#1)

After losing her boyfriend and her job in one fell swoop, Noreen has no idea what her next step is. So she puts on a new pair of sneakers and a seriously outdated pair of exercise pants, and walks. Join Noreen, Tess and Rosie as they walk and talk, talk and walk, tally their steps, share their secrets, and discover that even big changes happen one step at a time. You’ll be lacing up your own sneakers in no time!

Buy The Wildwater Walking Club (#1).

Seven Year Switch