Free Romancing the Schoolteacher by Mary Davis

She’s my half sister. She’s the one who married a British officer during the Pig War. They have nine children. I’m next oldest. Alice is married with four children. Winnie just got married. Edith is engaged. Priscilla is almost eighteen and has several admiring suitors flitting around her, and Todd is thirteen.”
    Success. He’d forgotten all about inquiring after her relations.
    So many siblings and nieces and nephews. He spoke about them with warmth and a smile.
    She longed for that kind of closeness. She had left her family behind and now had only herself.
    After dessert, Mr. Thompson made his way to the door with his children. “Thank you for another delicious supper.”
    â€œYou’re most welcome.” She had been an atrocious cook when she’d first arrived in Roche Harbor three years ago. But she had been determined to feed herself edible meals, so she had pored over cookbooks. Though much improved, she still had a lot to learn. With Mr. Thompson and his children dining with her each evening, she prepared only tried-and-true recipes.
    Gabe and Dora scampered out onto the porch.
    Mr. Thompson hung back and worked the brim of his hat around and around. “I was wondering if I could…I mean…if you’d allow me to…um… Would you like to use my given name? I mean, I’d like it if you used my given name. Lindley.” His ears had turned red.
    â€œLindley, I’d be honored. And you may call me Bridget.”
    His smile broke wide, and he tipped his hat. “Good evening, Bridget. Thank you again. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Things were progressing quite well with Mr. Thom—Lindley.
    * * *
    Lindley turned to leave Bridget’s porch, but only Gabe stood next to him. “Where’s your sister?”
    Gabe pointed through the doorway.
    Dora stood by the table.
    Lindley held out a hand. “Come on.”
    His daughter shook her head. “I wanna stay at Teacher’s house again. She has a soft bed.”
    Lindley couldn’t believe his daughter’s boldness. He stepped forward with one foot inside and the other still out. “You can’t. Now come along.”
    Dora grabbed his hand and pulled to keep him in the house. “You can stay, too.”
    He couldn’t believe Dora said that and jerked his gaze to Bridget. Her cheeks were a pretty shade of pink, and she avoided eye contact. He picked up his daughter. “Time to go.” He would have to have a little talk with Dora about appropriate and inappropriate things to say. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
    â€œGood evening,” Miss Greene said as he stepped off the porch.
    On the walk home, Lindley’s thoughts remained on Miss Gree— No, he could call her Bridget now.
    Dora shifted in his arms. “Why didn’t you want to stay at Teacher’s?”
    â€œIt’s not that I didn’t want to—I mean, I didn’t…” He took an exasperated breath. “Dora, you can’t invite yourself to stay at someone else’s house.”
    â€œWhy not? We stayed before. And you didn’t get to. You would have liked it. Her bed—”
    â€œDora. Stop.” He would push that thought right out of his mind. How to explain it to a four-year-old? “Darling, I can’t stay at Miss Greene’s house. It wouldn’t be right.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    He took a deep breath. “Well, we aren’t married. A man and woman can’t live in the same house if they aren’t married, unless they are already family.”
    â€œThen we need to marry her.”
    We? She obviously didn’t understand the concept of marriage. “A man and woman need to be in love before they get married.” Even though he hadn’t been in love with Doreen. Not really.
    â€œDon’t you love her, Papa?”
    â€œWell, I don’t know. I haven’t known her very long.” But he knew his