Chapter 42
42
ROAN
“ R afe let’s go,” I called out.
I checked my watch and grabbed my briefcase. Rafe jogged downstairs, his backpack on and his hair combed.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yep.”
We loaded up in the car and headed for school. I was going into the office late today. It was the first day back to school after the break. The first day I was getting the chance to talk with the principal after that email from Kyle. I was done playing nice. I wanted the asshole held responsible or at least assured there would be no fallout that landed on Alaina’s shoulders.
“I’ll see you after school,” I said to Rafe.
I watched him walk down the hall to his classroom. Then I went to the front office to request a meeting with Trudy. After a few minutes, I was told to go in. Trudy was sitting at her desk, a sly smile playing on her lips as she motioned for me to sit down.
“Good morning, Mr. Lockhart,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “I had a feeling I’d be seeing you today.”
I didn’t waste any time. “We need to talk about Kyle Klein,” I began, my tone serious. “He’s been making threats.”
“I saw the email.” She nodded.
“It’s not just about the email,” I said. “On two different occasions I’ve had the misfortune to be near enough to him for him to talk to me. What he said about Ms. Callaway was pure filth. At the recent meeting about the trip to Florida, I overheard him saying some pretty vile things about Alaina to another parent. He’s a crass, disgusting, disrespectful man and I don’t want my son anywhere near him or his offspring. If that’s how he talks in public, what does he talk like at home? What kind of garbage is he dumping in his kid’s head? I don’t want that repeated to my son. I’ve always taught Rafe to be respectful of women, of everyone for that matter, but with Kyle’s vulgar behavior, I’m afraid that my son may be influenced by him. Or his kid. I’m here to ask for Kyle’s removal from the kids’ activities and to request a conversation between myself, you, and Kyle. I want him to know that we won’t tolerate such behavior around us.”
Trudy’s expression hardened, but she nodded. “I can understand your concerns. I’ll speak with Kyle and address the situation. However, you know our school policy is to handle such matters confidentially. I’m not at liberty to discuss the outcome with you.”
“I don’t care if you tell me what the outcome is, but I’m not going to sit by and let that man insult Alaina. His son has clearly got a target on my son. Why is that kid allowed to be in school?”
Trudy sighed and nodded, folding her hands on her desk. “I was afraid of that. Kyle Klein has been a thorn in our side for a while now. But it’s not his kid’s fault he has a jackass for a father. So, we won’t be punishing the student for his actions.”
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my frustration in check. “So what’s going to happen? He can’t just keep getting away with this.”
“We’ve sent Kyle a formal warning,” Trudy said firmly. “He isn’t allowed on school grounds for a while. If he continues this behavior, his family will be removed completely from our program.”
It wasn’t exactly the solution I wanted, but at least it was something. “Thank you. That’s a relief.”
Trudy’s eyes softened a bit. “Roan, you have our support. I’ve been keeping an eye on this situation, and I think you and Alaina are handling it well. I wasn’t aware of the comments made about her. I can’t police his speech, but if and when he is allowed back on school grounds, I will have a conversation with him. I appreciate you looking out for her.”
At the mention of Alaina, I found myself in an awkward position. “Alaina and I are just friends,” I started, though the words felt heavy and uncertain.
She looked at me.
“I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I’m not sure that’s the whole truth anymore. We have spent time together. She’s been to my house several times. We’ve been out.”
She nodded, trying to look serious, but I saw the hint of a smile. What Alaina had said was true. “I see.”
“It’s complicated. Rafe can be moved to a different classroom if this is a conflict of interest. I don’t want to jeopardize her job or make things harder for Rafe.”
Trudy waved her hand dismissively. “Nonsense. Rafe is thriving in her class, and I won’t hear of moving him. As for the rest? Well, sometimes life gets messy. You both care about each other, that much is clear. Don’t overthink it. It’s not like you are her boss. There is no rule that says a teacher cannot date a parent. In fact, I would venture to say it happens quite often.”
For the first time since entering her office, I found myself smiling genuinely. It wasn’t the answer I expected. It was much better. “Thank you, Trudy,” I said. “I appreciate your understanding and support.”
“Don’t mention it, Roan,” she responded, leaning back in her chair. “Our main concern is Rafe and ensuring that he continues to grow in a safe environment. It’s commendable how much you care for your son. Just remember, your personal life is just that, personal. As long as it isn’t affecting your son or his classmates negatively, we have no cause for concern.”
I nodded, relieved. On top of that, there was also a strange sense of revelation. “I’ll talk with Rafe and make sure he understands he still needs to call Alaina Ms. Callaway. I’ll let him know he doesn’t need to share the details of our time at home with anyone.”
She waved her hand. “I don’t think that’s going to be an issue. We don’t want him to think it’s a secret because it’s wrong or bad. Again, we have several students that have parents that teach here. It’s fine.”
I nodded, feeling a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. “Thanks, Trudy. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Roan,” she said with a kind smile. “Oh, and by the way, thank you again for your generous donation. It really means so much to the kids.”
“It was my pleasure,” I said.
I left Trudy’s office feeling a bit lighter but still grappling with my feelings for Alaina. I made my way down the hallway to her classroom. I couldn’t resist getting to see her even if it was just for a minute. I peeked through the door and saw the kids gathered around various workstations. They were deeply engrossed in their projects, working on the robots they’d been building for the upcoming convention next week. The sight brought a smile to my face.
I opened the door. Alaina looked up and smiled when she saw me. She gestured for me to come in. I scanned the room and quickly found Rafe. He was sitting with a few of his friends, animatedly discussing their robot design. His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. His entire demeanor radiated pure joy as he instructed his group. It was clear he was the leader, which surprised me a bit. Seeing him so happy and engaged made my heart swell with pride and happiness.
“Dad!” Rafe called out when he noticed me, waving me over excitedly.
“Is this okay?” I asked Alaina.
“Yes, please, check out what the kids are doing,” she said. “It’s exciting. They are putting the final touches on their projects for the convention.”
“Thank you.”
I walked over and sat beside Rafe. He gave me the rundown of his project. All of the kids were so full of ideas and energy, each one eager to show off their progress and share their thoughts. Rafe’s robot, a compact little contraption with intricate wiring and a bright LED display, was particularly impressive.
“Look, Dad,” he said, pointing to a set of gears he had just attached. “These will help it move faster. And we’re programming it to follow a maze!”
“That’s amazing, Rafe,” I said, genuinely impressed. “You’ve put a lot of work into this.”
He beamed at me. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride. This was exactly why we had made all those changes—moving to a new city, adjusting our lives—to give Rafe the chance to blossom in an environment where he could explore his passions and be himself. The other kids looked up to him. They appreciated how smart he was.
As I watched Rafe and his friends, I caught Alaina’s gaze from across the room. She was observing us with a soft, knowing smile.
She stepped away from the other kids and walked over to me. “Hey,” she said softly, her eyes filled with warmth.
“Hey,” I replied, following her to the front of the room away from the kids. “They’re really into this, huh?”
She nodded, glancing back at the kids with a proud smile. “They’ve been working so hard. I’m so proud of them.”
“I just talked to Trudy,” I said. “She’s handling the situation with Kyle Klein. Things are going to be okay.”
Alaina’s expression remained calm, almost serene. “I wasn’t worried,” she said with a shrug.
I admired her composure and strength. “I need to get back to the office,” I said reluctantly, glancing at my watch. “But I wanted to make sure you knew what was happening.”
“Thank you, Roan,” she said. “I appreciate it.”
I nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. “I’ll see you later, then.”
I said goodbye to Rafe, making sure he knew how proud I was of him. I was hoping to talk to Alaina later. Trudy seemed to be cool with me and Alaina dating. Now we had to figure out if we were up for the challenge. Mostly, I needed to know if I was prepared to handle it.
I left the school with my mind buzzing. Alaina possessed a beauty both inside and out that was hard to ignore, not just for me but for anyone who knew her. But more than that, there was an undeniable connection. A pull that neither of us could ignore.
Once I got back to my office, work was supposed to take precedence, but I found my mind wandering back to Alaina again and again. I knew I had to make a decision about us and soon.
Jake stopped by my office. “What’s the deal with that asshole?” he asked.
“Handled,” I said. “Alaina’s job is safe. Her boss is aware of the situation. There is nothing wrong with us being friends outside of work. Kyle is banned from school grounds. Although I’m still not sure I like the idea of his kid around Rafe, but the principal doesn’t want to punish the kid for his father’s bad behavior.”
“Sounds reasonable.” He nodded.
Deciding not to confide in Jake about my thoughts about the relationship with Alaina, I diverted the conversation back to work. “We actually have a bigger issue at hand,” I said, pulling out the files from the latest project we had been working on.
Jake’s eyebrows shot up, immediately shifting into professional mode. “What’s up?”
“I need you to take a look at this proposal and tell me what you think,” I said. “I’m thinking it’s time to pull back. But I’ll wait for your opinion.”
“Sure thing,” he said, grabbing the files from my desk and giving me a sharp nod before leaving the office.
Later that night, after Rafe had gone to bed, I found myself missing her. I wished she was there and we could sit on the couch and talk.
I picked up my phone and hesitated for a moment before sending her a text. Hey, just wanted to say you’re amazing with the kids. Hope you have a good night.
A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with her reply. Thanks, Roan. You’re pretty amazing too. Sleep well.
I smiled, feeling a sense of contentment settle over me. It wasn’t as good as having her in the house with me, but I liked having her at my fingertips.