Except for today, he thought, whistling softly as he walked the short distance to Dena’s classroom. He shifted the boxes from The Christmas Feast so he could pull open the door. Instantly all the students called out to him, waving and grinning.

Dena stood at the front of the room, shaking her head in mock dismay. “I have lost control.”

Her students laughed. She smiled back, then looked at Micah.

“You come bearing gifts.”

Her tone was light enough, but the second their eyes met, he knew something was wrong. He could see it in the half-hearted curve of her lips and the sadness in her gaze.

Aware of the students watching him, he put down the boxes of snacks and pulled Dena into the hallway. “What happened?” His gaze dropped to her stomach. “Is everything okay with the baby?”

“We’re both fine,” she said, offering him another smile that didn’t convince him of anything.

But this wasn’t the time or place to have the conversation. He would talk to her after class.

“Okay,” he said, holding open the door. “I have a surprise for the class.”

They walked inside and found everyone looking at them with a combination of curiosity and concern.

“You have a surprise?” she asked loudly, instantly shifting the mood of the room.

“I do.”

One he’d been excited about until just this second. Unexpected doubt swamped him. Maybe he’d gone too far. Maybe he should have—

Only there was no time to change his mind because just then, the school janitor showed up with a large pallet stacked high with boxes.

Dena stared at the writing on the side, eyes wide with disbelief. “You bought guitars for the class?”

All the kids started talking at once. A couple jumped out of their seats as if they couldn’t contain themselves.

“I thought it would be fun,” he said, trying not to sound defensive. “I thought I’d teach them a few chords, then let them take them home. I tuned them this morning.”

She blinked at him. “You bought everyone a guitar?”

“Is that against the rules?”

“I don’t think so.”

The students raced to the front of the room.

Micah had everyone form a rough circle on the floor.

He demonstrated “The First Noel” because it could be played with only three chords. The kids strummed along as best they could.

After he demonstrated the song, he drew the three chords on the board.

“We’ll use D, G and A7,” he said. “First I’ll teach you the three chords. Then we’ll talk through the song while using the chords.”

The bell rang for recess. Dena smiled at her class. “If you want to go out and play, you’re excused. If you want to stay and practice, that’s fine, too.”

A couple of students exchanged looks, but no one got up.