CHAPTER 2

The brain, when processing something new, tends to compare it to something else you have experienced. For this reason, you may be forgiven for assuming Emma was an entitled trust fund baby. The semiotics of her tastes - the leather trimmed Goyard bag, the quiet Rolex, the Barbour jacket that fended off the March rain - all certainly pointed in that direction.

But if you'd spent a moment in her presence, you'd know something was amiss with that first impression. Hazel eyes flashed with curiosity about the people she met. Poise gave way to warmth, especially during heated arguments over a glass of wine or two. She was always the first to offer and the last to take. And still, there was something innately inspiring about her - that quiet whisper of, She's going places.

Right now, that place was the Surrey Early Academy in downtown New Haven, where Emma spent 2 afternoons a week counseling qualified families on educational resources, social services, and access to nutrition. The program, which she had designed as a part of her doctoral work at Yale, was in its 3rd year. She worried regularly about the families she saw, and even more about the families she couldn't see.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep meditative breath. When she opened them, there was someone in the entry. "Hi, I'm Hannah Smith and I'm here about the daycare role and I'm so sorry I'm interrupting aren't I? I thought my interview was at 1:00, but now I realize it may have been 2:00 and-"

"Hi," replied Emma, marveling that Hannah had yet to take a breath. "Welcome. I'm Emma Woodhouse, and I assist with family services. I'm sure Robbie, our executive director, is close by."

Hannah's dark curly hair was frizzy with moisture, and her cable knit sweater was slightly too short for her torso. There was a small stain - tomato soup? - on the right sleeve. These observations were noted and discarded in favor of the generous smile that currently lit her face. "Oh, thanks! Is there somewhere I can hang my coat? It's been drizzling non-stop, don't you think? I normally don't have any issues with choosing outerwear, but I spent 10 minutes debating a rain coat or a wool coat because of this interview. I'm glad I went with the rain coat."

"Absolutely the right choice, given the weather. And here's Robbie." Emma nodded toward the sandy-haired man who had entered the daycare floor from the back office.

Robbie Martin's large hand clasped Hannah's smaller one, while his smile showed the dimple in his left cheek. "Pleased to meet you. Hannah, right? Come on back to the office. I'm glad you're here."

As they left her in the entry, Emma briefly wondered about Hannah Smith. Did she always say exactly what was running through her head? What was that stain on her sweater? And how would her hair look if it was straightened? Sophisticated, she was not. But the brightness of Hannah's presence hinted that she could be an intriguing new friend.

Emma shook her head to clear her thoughts, and smiled as her first appointment walked in.