Blake's POV

As the days went by and the week progressed, before any of us knew it, Friday had arrived.

Despite the personal tragedies I faced— losing my daughter and wife, hearing about my father's cancer, and searching for my missing dog— I remained a dedicated teacher to my students.

After missing a lot of work and needing a substitute to cover some of the days I was out, I arrived in class that morning prepared to announce the winner of the writing contest.

The competition had been fierce but well-deserved, unlike the frustrating experience of trying to find my dog.

My top two students, Mickey and Delia, arrived to class on time without rushing into the classroom and were even kind to each other.

       Well, that's a first!

        I hope their good behavior continues, even though they didn't win. "Let's all give a round of applause for... Tira! Please come up to the front and receive your prize!" I exclaimed, clapping my hands.

        Even though they lost the contest, Mickey and Delia were thrilled about Tira's win. Mickey clapped enthusiastically and shouted, "You did it, Tira! Woot woot!" while Delia hugged Tira tightly, her eyes shining with pride and joy.

        Tira walked up to the front shyly, her smile making a rare appearance. She didn't think she'd win.

       "You've earned extra credit points, the opportunity to publish your story in the school newspaper, and here's fifty dollars for anything you want. And here," I said, handing her the money and a slip of paper. "If you'd like, with a parent's signature, you can teach the class for an entire period."

      Tira's face pinkened as she looked down at her feet. "Thank you so much," she replied in a whispered tone. "I didn't expect this at all." She took the money and the slip of paper with a shy, hesitant smile, her eyes briefly meeting mine before looking away again.

     "You're welcome," I said as Tira returned to her seat, and then I began a new lesson.

      After finishing my teacher duties and sitting in my car for a moment, I went home to continue the search.

      It felt like a recurring event.

      ...

Emma's POV

By the break of dawn, I found myself throwing back on the trite black dress and slipping into a pair of shoes Blake had lent me for what seemed like the millionth time. Astoundingly, we were close to the same size. Who would've thought... Plus, they were probably missing out on work and school just to keep searching for their dog.

I should probably return the same effort...

We headed to the library, because we decided to set up flyers there next. It was snug and good-natured, tucked away on a quiet street. Blake went over to the bulletin board while I browsed through aisles and checked out some books.

Inside, the space was toasty and neighborly, with wooden shelves filled with books of all genres. Tender lighting created an exciting, fresh atmosphere, perfect for finding the next book to add to my TBR.

Liam must have found what his dad was doing boring, so he followed me around instead. It looked like he was really into what I was up to, and that got me all jittery.

His curiosity was too much to handle, and I couldn't let that happen. I quickly grabbed a few books to distract Liam.

"Hey, how about we check out this section?" I suggested, guiding him away from the fantasy books about shapeshifters and towards the children's area. His eyes glowed with gratitude at the sight of the vibrant covers and whimsical illustrations.

Blake returned with an ominously thick stack of flyers, ready to pin them up around the library. "Let's split up and cover more ground," he said, sounding just like Fred from Scooby-Doo, which any report could prove that never works out, and handed me a few.

As I walked around, posting some of them on the wall with clear tape, I felt a strange sense of community in this small library. Everyone seemed willing to help out in any way they could. Most of them said they'd keep an eye out for a dog matching our description.

"What if she's hungry?" Liam asked, his voice trembling, thick with emotion. "Do you think she's had anything to eat since we last fed her?"

"We'll find her, Liam," I responded gently. "Let's remain calm. We don't know anything until we locate her. We've put up some posters, and everyone in the neighborhood is on the lookout," I reassured him with a dilapidated smile. Just then, as we were wrapping up, a red-haired woman turned around after glancing over at fashion magazines and approached us. A flicker of something—perhaps agitation or desperation—crossed her face. I quickly recognized her—it was Cheryl, of all people.

         Paranoia from the vet's office set in...

If I thought her hair was dangerously bright red then, it's like blaring sirens now.

"Hey, there, little guy, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog going missing," Cheryl said to Liam while giving me a silent glance.

It felt like I was caught in a relentless onslaught, with every shot aimed directly at me. She casted me with a look of intensity.

"Thanks, but I'm not little," Liam replied, puffing out his chest and cheekbones. "My daddy said I grew an inch from last week. He says I'm becoming a big guy."

Cheryl smirked, wearing a white sundress that seemed a tad too revealing in the dimly lit library. "I'm not sure you're quite there yet," Cheryl remarked mockingly.

Liam's eyes narrowed at me, and I could sense his discomfort. The tension was a known intruder, but most certainly not a welcome one. He probably had a feeling that she had a rapt and viperous obsession with his father, and unfortunately her plans didn't involve him. I doubted she'd be much help in our situation.

I shook my head slightly at him, trying to communicate that everything would be okay—not only for his sake, but for mine, too. However, speaking to a child like that was uncalled for. I couldn't let that go, so I stepped in. My voice was fixed but impenetrable. "That was completely unnecessary, and you owe him an apology. Show some respect."

Cheryl raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow, her shock evident. "And who might you be?" Cheryl asked, her tone edging on sarcastic. "I've never seen you around before."

"I'm someone who cares about how people treat children, especially in a place like this," I replied, my voice low and unhurried. "Liam doesn't need any of your sarcasm right now. He just lost his dog." I thrust the flyer of the missing dog right under her nose.

      Her eyes, wide and startled, were a deep shade of emerald green, glittering with a hint of surprise and concern. She took a step back, clearly taken aback by the abruptness.

She quickly regained her composure and grabbed the paper from me. She crossed her arms, a smile not reaching her eyes. Then, with a conflicted expression on her face, she asked me why I was showing her the flyer in such a forceful manner. "Oh, I see. You're one of those. A protector of the innocent, is it?" Her head tilted, scrutinizing me. "Whoever you are, there was no need to shove it in my face! I've seen it posted all over the neighborhood!" she snapped, her tone bordering on aggressive.

Liam shifted his weight, looking to me for reassurance. He tried to keep looking at the colorful books, but his eyes kept drifting to our conversation that was escalating. The two of us were starting to feel restless.

       ...

Blake's POV

      I could have sworn I told her she was not my friend and that I never wanted to see her again.

       Cheryl was spotted talking to my son. I hurried over and saw that not only was she speaking to him disrespectfully, but Emma was also defending him. It was unclear how much she could achieve, given the way Cheryl's anger was intensifying.

        I cut in, "I already told you I don't have anything more to say to you, and that includes my son." I positioned Liam behind me. "I heard what you said to my child, and I could never be with someone like you; you're a bully. Ann would be so ashamed of you."

       Cheryl sneered, "It's no wonder your pretty dog ran away. Even it had better taste than to stick around someone who dresses like Emma."

        Liam quickly retorted, "Our dog's pretty, but so is Emma. My daddy thinks so, too."

        I couldn't let my son have the last word, so I added, "Cheryl, you might look nice, but you don't have the kind of beauty that Emma has. She's always helping others and making people smile. That kind of beauty is rare, which is something you wouldn't understand."

      Cheryl's face flushed with heat, and her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. "Whatever you say," she snapped, rolling her eyes in disbelief. "I don't need your approval anyway." She stormed out, her sensible white heels scratching jaggedly against the floor, muttering under her breath. She rammed the door open with more force than necessary, making a dramatic exit from the library.

      I felt a mix of satisfaction and guilt, knowing my words struck a chord but also feeling bad for causing a scene.

     I glanced over at Emma, curious to know how she felt. Standing there, she seemed as tense as I feel whenever a student calls me by my first name, looking down. She didn't want to be the center of attention, and perhaps we both felt sorry for Cheryl despite everything. Still, I couldn't help but look at her—taking in all of her delicate features and thinking about that kiss.

     The kiss we shared on the porch a few nights ago was an exhilarating and heartwarming moment. I longed to feel this close to someone again, and Emma made me feel so loved. She made me feel alive. I kissed Emma with a gentle, hesitant touch, as if I was testing the waters. When Emma felt at ease, our kiss deepened, and it felt as if the whole world melted away under her soft, innocent lips. We allowed our mouths to do the talking, leaving me speechless and vulnerable in a good way.

As the chaos subsided at the library, our fingers brushed against each other unintentionally. We both smiled, acknowledging the unexpected touch.

      How do I bring up that moment that changed everything for me?

How do I show her what she means to me?

      The unexpected can be very powerful.

      I took a deep breath, centering my thoughts and gathering the courage to speak. When I did, I couldn't believe how quickly everything fell into place. "Emma," I began softly, "about that night...it was incredibly special to me." Her eyes met mine, and in that moment, I knew she felt it too. The connection, the unspoken promise, the beginning of something beautiful.