On the way back home she decided to stop at Lees office. He looked up and smiled as she came into the office. "Hey sweetheart, how was your day?"
"Draining"
"Why, what's wrong?"
"I just feel like a failure as a teacher!" Lee looked up from the books he'd been studying. "You, a failure? I just can't imagine that"
"It's true. I just can't seem to get through to them. They are there sitting in my classroom so I know they are there but somehow it still feels like they aren't really there." She looked up and saw her husband looking through a pile of papers on his desk. "Lee!" She exclaimed in frustration "Did you even hear a word I just said?" Lee checked himself. "I'm sorry sweetheart." He sat next to her and kissed her hand "of course I was listening" It was true, he had been listening, it was just that over the last few days he kept himself busy as much as possible. He had been so involved in his work that he hadn't given himself any time to really listen to his wife.
"It's not your fault Rosie. It's just everything that's happened. If you made just one of those kids smile today then as far as I can see you are doing your job splendidly." Rosemary thought back to earlier when they had all been singing in the class, they had all been smiling then. She smiled as she thought about it. Maybe Lee was right, maybe what the kids needed now wasn't someone who could teach them long division, it was someone who could make them smile until Elizabeth got back and then she would be able to do both. She turned and kissed her husbands cheek "Thank you, Lee." He smiled "Anytime sweetheart"
Rosemary stood up and sighed "Well, i should be heading home, you clearly have a lot of work to do" As she stood up to leave Lee grabbed her hand. "No im sorry, stay, I want you to stay." He embraced her as she enjoyed the closeness and comfort she felt. "I really miss him Lee"
"I know you do. I miss him too" He moved backwards so they were stood lookig at each other. "He was one of the best friends i ever had."
"This town wont be the same without him."
"No." He looked down at her hand which he was holding in his. "Rosie? I'm sorry"
"Dont be"
"No i need to say this, Im sorry ive been so wrapped up in my work, i havent given you the time you deserve from me."
"Your work has been your way of coping Lee" he nodded. "It has been yes, but we should be coping together." She squeezed his hand "We will. We'll do more than cope. Its what Jack would have wanted us to do."