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wouldn’t mind taking advantage of it.
    Dalma is waiting for me by the flagpole outside the rink. She’s shivering. She’s not used to what we call spring around here. I open up my jacket and wrap her in it.
    â€œWhere do you want to go?”
    â€œSurprise me,” she says.

Jade’s Diary
    Chapter Twelve
    April 18
    I feel sorry for Dalma. She’s just moved to a new country. She barely speaks the language. She’s vulnerable. Mick should be careful not to lead her on. She could easily mistake his kindness for something else.
    I saw that today. I had a spare period. Everyone was hanging out by the back door. I went over to say hi to Mick, and my phone rang. Two o’clock on the nose. Gavin’s preschool. He was having another migraine. When I mentioned our car was still in the garage, Mick didn’t hesitate. Not even for a second. He said, “I’ll take you.”
    Dalma said, “I hope your little brother is okay”—or at least something more or less like that—but she had this strange look on her face, as if she was surprised Mick would just up and go. It made me wonder if he’s told her about us.
    I was trying not to cry, so we didn’t talk much on the drive over to the daycare. The only thing I really remember is Mick putting his hand on mine and saying, “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.” And of course once he said that, it was.
    When we got to Tiny Tykes, Shirley was sitting with Gavin in the rocking chair. He was white as a ghost. Mick covered his eyes from the sunlight and brought him to the car. He put him in his car seat, told him to hug Kanga, then drove really slowly to the apartment. I didn’t need to tell him a thing. It’s like we have one brain. He knows exactly what to do.
    Gavin vomited when we got upstairs. Mick cleaned it up while I gave Gavin a bath. He was feeling a little better by then, so I left them together and went off to pick up a frozen mac and cheese for our lunch. When I came back, the two of them were sound asleep on the couch.
    I don’t want to have babies yet.
    I really don’t. I want to get my nursing degree and start my career, but…but…seeing Mick lying there with Gavin in his arms, I couldn’t help thinking what a great dad he would make. Especially if the kids got his eyes.
    And his hands.
    And that funny smile of his.
    (I’m bad…)
    Note to Self
    1. Arrange for babysitter for spring dance.
    2. Decide about long hair or updo.

Mick
    Chapter Thirteen
    We’re in my car in front of her place. I’ve turned off the engine. I lean over to kiss her, but I can tell something’s wrong. I sit back and look at her.
    â€œDalma?” I say.
    â€œYes?” Even yes is funny when she says it.
    Her arms are folded on her lap.
    It’s not the most inviting pose.
    â€œWhy you smile?” she says.
    â€œI like you.”
    She turns and looks out the windshield, as if there’s something to see other than some garbage bags out for tomorrow’s pickup.
    â€œNo,” she says. “I think you like Jade.” She pronounces it “Yade.”
    I shake my head. I say, “No, no, no, no, no.”
    I reach over and take her hand. “I know that’s what this looks like, but that’s wrong. It’s just Gavin. Her little brother. He’s sick. She needs my help. That’s all this is.”
    I yammer on for a while. Dalma’s hand has gone kind of limp in mine. She doesn’t believe me. I tell her how long Jade and I went out, how we’re still friends, how I’m really close to Gavin—but that only makes it worse.
    â€œDalma, please,” I say.
    I sit there, holding her hand, looking at her. After a while, she turns and looks at me too. I get the feeling that if I can say the right thing, it’ll be okay.
    Her father’s strict. I’ve got ten minutes to make my case, then she has to be inside.
    I think of