Free Love Lessons by Margaret Daley Page B

and retrieved her cell, then punched in Ian’s number. Jana stepped closer, concern etched into her features as the phone rang. When he didn’t answer and Alexa was switched to voice mail, the color in Jana’s face drained. “Ian, Jana and I are outside the store waiting for you. Call back.” Alexa flipped it closed and faced Jana, taking her hand.
    â€œI knew it. Something’s wrong. I…” The thickness of the child’s voice, the tears glistening in her eyes attested to her agitation.
    â€œHe’s probably still in his meeting and turned his phone off.”
    Jana shook her head. “No. No.”
    Alexa wound her arm around the young girl’s shoulders. “What animal would you like to investigate first?”
    â€œI—I—”
    Alexa’s cell rang. She quickly answered it and nodded toward Jana, mouthing the words your dad.
    â€œI was on the phone and missed your call. I’m only a block away. Be there in less than a minute.”
    â€œGreat. See you in a sec.”
    When Alexa hung up, Jana sagged against Alexa. “I thought something had happened to him.”
    â€œIt’s not gonna happen, Jana. Your dad loves you and will be here for you no matter what, but things do happen to delay people. It’s okay.”
    â€œBut what if something does happen to him? I’ll be alone.”
    â€œYou have a lot of people, me for one, who care about you. I’d never let that happen.” Alexa wasn’t even sure where that conviction came from, but as she said those words, she meant each one.
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    An hour later Ian nailed the last poster to the wall in the classroom.
    â€œIf I may say so, this room looks much better.” Alexa stepped back from the Brazil poster and tilted her head from one side to the other.
    â€œYeah, much better.” His daughter stood next to Alexa.
    â€œOkay. Okay, you two. I get it. I shouldn’t be in charge of decorating any place.”
    Jana giggled.
    â€œBut hot-pink walls? You two have to admit that’s a bit much.” Ian faced his daughter and Alexa.
    Jana lifted her chin. “Nope. Maybe I can paint my bedroom hot pink.”
    â€œOr at least add some posters,” Alexa said with a grin and a wink at Ian.
    The smile went straight to his heart. In that moment he realized he would really have to work to resist Alexa Michaels. She had been in his house for just over a week and already things were changing. And he didn’t likechange. The past fifteen months had been one series of changes after another—enough to last a lifetime. So why was it that all the changes Alex brought about made him want to smile?
    Jana crossed to the picture of the statue of Christ and ran her hand over it. “Yeah, like this one from Brazil. Alexa, I can see why you’d like to go there one day.” Then she turned to the one beside it. “Or this one. I’d love to see Australia.”
    â€œMe, too. And Africa. Think of the animals you could see there. One day I’ll go. That’s my dream.”
    The enthusiasm in Alexa’s voice made Ian scan each poster. Every one of them was of a different country in the world. He hadn’t really noticed that as they were putting them up. “You want to travel?”
    Alexa’s gaze fixed on the poster of Brazil. “More than just to visit, I want to live in other places. There is so much to experience and see. Have you ever been anywhere outside the United States?”
    â€œNo.”
    Jana’s forehead creased. “Why not?”
    â€œBecause…” He hadn’t ever thought about it. “I’ve been to Hawaii.”
    â€œDad, that doesn’t count. It’s part of our country.”
    â€œI know, but it took eight hours in a plane to get there. I discovered I don’t like to fly, especially that long.” He’d had to turn control over to a pilot and that hadn’t sat well with