“Not fair,” Bryony said. “You go first. Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

“I think you know a lot already,” he said. “You know I teach, and I have a dog, and I’m new in town. I could tell you many superficial facts, but let’s start with the deeper stuff. Agreed?”

“Okay.” She had never met anyone like Cal before. She knew that already.

“I find it hard to forgive adults who hurt my students,” he said, “and I become clumsy and awkward when I’m around attractive women.”

Why, oh why, had she pulled her hair into a ponytail tonight? She looked down and let the few stray locks hide the flush heating her cheeks and burning through her last remaining bits of courage. “You like flirting with women.” Was he looking at her? Did he see her discomfort?

“No!” he said. “I hate flirting. Is that what you think I’ve been doing? Oh, geez. Not how I want to be perceived at all.”

His answer scared her. He wasn’t flirting? What was he saying? Her thoughts tumbled forward, out of control. “What brought you to Fieldstone?” she asked, trying to steer the conversation back to a safer lane.

“I have an old friend who lives here,” he said. “He asked me to….”

Car tires screeched in the road beside them, and a horn blasted. A streak of feline dashed from the road across the sidewalk. Bailey barked once and charged after the cat. In doing so, he pulled Cal into Bryony, which knocked her off her feet. She landed in a muddy area with Cal dragging across her legs until Bailey broke free and ran with all his might after the cat, toward the crowd, leash flying behind him.

“Are you hurt?” Cal asked, breathless. He struggled to stand up, muddy water dripping from his hands and arms.

“I think I’m fine,” Bryony answered.

Cal’s head jerked in the direction of Bailey’s flight.

“Go,” she said as she brought herself to a sitting position. “Go find Bailey. I’m fine.”

“You’re sure?” Cal asked, jogging backward toward his disappearing dog.

“I’m fine. Go.”

Cal took off at a run while Bryony moved to her feet. Her right leg and the entire back end of her jeans were soaked. Mud covered her hands, and her wrist started to hurt. Maybe she had jammed it trying to break her fall, or maybe she fell on it.

Reaching up, she touched the muddy mess in her hair. She had left her purse in her car so she couldn’t use her tiny mirror to survey the damage to her face. When Bailey took off, his leash had scraped across her nose and chin. Those areas would be explored later. She didn’t want to touch any exposed skin because her hands were caked with dirt.

Face pointed downward, Bryony walked back to her car. She didn’t want to alarm anyone who might see her. She was halfway home when Cal called.

“Where did you go?” he asked. “Are you okay?”

The concern in his voice tugged at her. “I’m fine,” she said. “No worries. I’m going home to shower and call it a night.”

“I’m so sorry.” He sounded truly distressed.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked again.

“I am fine,” Bryony answered, and to deflect his concern, asked, “Did you catch Bailey?”

“Bailey won the lip syncing competition when he stormed the stage during a painful rendition of Cindy Lauper’s, ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun.’ I caught up with him before your brother could sentence him to a lifetime of detention.”

Bryony smiled. “He’s okay?”

“Mitch reacts with strong emotion to surprises, not what one would expect from a high school principal. I think he’ll be okay once he calms down. “

Bryony smiled again. “I meant Bailey. Is Bailey okay?”

“Oh! Bailey’s fine, a true hero to all the kids who like to pretend homecoming is one big joke.” Cal hesitated. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“For the last time, yes. I am okay.”

“Good,” Cal said. “That’s good. I hope we can try again soon, to take a walk, I mean.”

Bryony’s heart blipped. Shortly before Bailey crashed their moment, Cal had said something about not flirting with her. Did he mean his intention was genuine?

“Sure,” Bryony answered.

They said goodbye and ended the call, but her phone rang before she had time to put it on the seat beside her.

“Look,” Cal said. “I forgot to tell you something. Bailey offered to pay for any clothing that was torn or otherwise ruined by his unbecoming behavior. He’s really quite distraught and asked me to extend his most since apologies.”

Bryony laughed. “Tell him I’m fine. Nothing was damaged.”

“Well, thanks for walking with us, and I do hope we’ll be able to try again some time,” Cal said.

“We’ll see,” Bryony answered, smiling.

As soon as they ended the call, her cell rang again. Without looking at the caller ID, she answered with lighthearted indulgence. “I’m fine, Cal.”

“Me, too,” Mitch said. “But your friend, Mister Forster, made a fine mess of the festivities. I heard you were with him. What’s going on, Bry?”

“Nothing,” Bryony answered, her courage crashing. “His dog chased a cat. I fell in the mud. I came home.” She parked in front of her garage and turned off the ignition.

“Are you dating him or something? He’s not a good match for you. Cal’s a go-getter. He likes action. Did you know he was voted Teacher of the Year twice by the state teachers association?”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Bryony asked.

“He’s not like you. You’re quiet, reserved,” Mitch said.

“Boring?”

“I didn’t say that.” He didn’t have to.

“One of his students works in the coffee shop,” Bryony said. “We talked about the student.”

“Listen, Bry. If you’re ready to date again, I have a few ideas, much better suited for you than Cal Forster.”

Bryony bit her lip before saying, “I’m not dating Cal Forster, Mitch.”

Mitch started to say something, but Bryony interrupted. “How about a few pies to share with the office staff?”