Free Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury Page A

resisting them. “I guess I can see both sides. Your parents just want you close by.”
    “I know.” Kristin nodded at the packet. “There’s a form inside. You can fill it out.” Her smile returned. “I want to be a teacher. Like you.”
    Emma fought her emotions. She put her hand on Kristin’s shoulder. “I have a feeling,” her eyes found a deeper place in Kristin’s soul, “you’ll be a very … very good teacher one day.”
    Kristin beamed from the glow of the compliment. Impulsively she rushed forward and hugged Emma for a long time. “Thank you. I won’t forget that.”
    Emma drew back and clutched the folder to her chest. “I’ll have this filled out for you next time you come.”
    Kristin glanced back in the classroom and then at Emma. “You know what I wish?”
    “What?” Emma could feel the tears again. She willed them away.
    “I wish I could be you for just one day. Already grown up, my heart transplant behind me, and teaching a group of great kids like this.”
    She waited until she could speak. Then she coughed a little. “Hold on … to that dream.”
    Kristin hesitated, as if there was something else she wanted to say. But whatever it was, she seemed to change her mind. “I will.” She had her camera in one hand as she hugged Emma once more and waved good-bye. “See you next week.” She held up the camera and grinned. “We’ll have your gift by then. The class and I.”
    The idea put a brighter smile on Kristin’s face than anything in the last few minutes. Emma watched her walk down the hall and out the double doors. Very few teenagers on the brink of summer would be more concerned with college applications and creating gifts for others than hanging out at the beach. Even with her weak heart, Kristin could’ve spent her time like most kids her age. But she wasn’t like most kids.
    It was time for the students’ painting project, so Emma returned to her class. She handed out sets of paint, smocks, and colorful construction paper. All the while she couldn’t stop thinking about Kristin, her compassion and conviction, her desire to live life regardless of the odds. To make the tough choices in faith.
    Emma certainly hadn’t been that type of teenager. She’d been faced with tough choices the summer after her junior year, but she’d … well, she’d taken the easy way out. At least it had felt that way at the time.
    There was a tug on her arm and Emma blinked back the past. Frankie was standing there grinning, as if she were completely unaware of the trail of bruises on either of her arms. “Teacher, know what?”
    “What, sweetie?” Emma turned so she was facing the child.
    “See this?” Frankie held up her painting. The picture showed two girls, one tall with long brown hair, the other small, with short hair the same color. The older girl had something black around her neck and a big heart painted on her shirt. “It’s me and Kristin.” Frankie pointed to the black object. “That’s her camera, and next to it is her big heart.”
    An ache grabbed at Emma. “Kristin definitely has a big heart.”
    “My mommy says kind people always have a big heart. So that’s Kristin. It’s a ’prise for her when she comes next Monday.” Frankie handed the drawing over. “You keep it for her, okay?”
    “I will.” Emma opened her top desk drawer and slid the painting inside. “It’ll be safe here.”
    Emma carried the image of Frankie’s picture with her as she left school and long after she was home and changed into her running gear. That and the conversation she’d had with Kristin. It was always like this midway through May. The end of the school year had a way of making her dread the emptiness of summer. The loss of all that might’ve been was never more painful than during May’s good-byes. She headed to the beach with Riley keeping pace beside her. Three miles down the sandy stretch she veered up and away from the water. She’d placed the cross at the top of