Chapter 5
Elaine had a good first week of school. She’d been able to get their names straight on the first couple of days, and their seating chart was easy enough to remember after that.
Today was the beginning of her second week, and she was having so much fun that she was giddy when she got home.
The best part of her day was when they had spelling of the words they had to work on, and they were catching up well after having a sub for so long.
Elaine had lunch duty today, so she was able to hang out with all the kids while they had their lunch. Her favorite part of the day.
Once her class was ready to go outside, her assistant took them out.
She’d be on lunch duty until all the kids were fed, about another hour and a half.
However, she didn’t mind. It was a way for her to meet the other teachers while getting to know the upper grades of students as well.
Just as she was taking a break to run to the bathroom, her cell phone rang. It was Knox.
“You’re working, so I’ll keep this short.
You owe me dinner. I was wondering if you were busy tonight.
” She told him she had papers to grade, but that wouldn’t take her all that long to do.
“Good. I’ll pick you up at five, and we’ll have a nice dinner at the Crockery Pot.
My brother owns it, but he’s not cooking tonight, so we might have some fun. ”
“Is your brother not fun?” He laughed and said that he was, but he could also be intrusive as well. “I see. All right, I’ll see you then. I have to finish up my day here, and then I’ll be ready at five for you.”
“Great.” He rang off, and she put her phone back in her pocket.
They frowned upon you using your phone while in the classroom, but it was all right to use it in the hallway.
She’d never abuse that rule and would keep it to a minimum.
She was glad that Knox didn’t keep her on the phone all that long, as she was sure he understood that she needed to keep her job.
By the time she got home, it was a quarter to five.
There had been a meeting after classes were let out, and she’d had to attend.
Then David, as he insisted that she call him, cornered her and asked her if she was doing all right.
For some reason, he was starting to get on her nerves, and she didn’t like that.
He was creepy, too, the way he tried to stand close to her when he was talking to her.
She noticed that he didn’t do it to the other teachers when they were talking to him.
When her doorbell rang at five o’clock, she was finished getting dressed and was ready to go.
She’d been looking forward to this all day and was excited to be able to spend more time with Knox.
He was a funny guy, and she loved hanging out with him.
He’d given her a lot of help when he’d helped her move her things into her place.
Now she had a table and chairs as well as a couch to sit on.
Things were moving quite nicely for her, and she couldn’t be happier.
The Pot was busy, yet they were seated right away.
He must have made reservations for them, and she was glad.
She was hungry and couldn’t wait to be seated.
As soon as they were settled in their seats, bread and butter were brought out for them to munch on, and she was glad.
The bread was a good appetizer as well as something to tide her over until they could order their meals.
She ordered the salmon with the rice pilaf and salad, and he ordered a steak with French fries and a salad.
When their salads were brought to them, he took off his croutons, and she did the same for the cucumbers.
They both traded what they didn’t want to eat, and it worked out well. The house dressing was delicious.
“This is nice for our first date.” She asked him if he thought that there would be more than this one. “I hope so. I’ve been looking forward to your calling me for our date since the night that you said you owed me. When you didn’t call, I did, and I’m glad that I did.”
“I am as well. However, I don’t know about this going any further than tonight.
You’re well out of my league.” He laughed so hard that she could see tears in his eyes from it.
“I’m serious. You’re the wealthy Ericksons, and I’m a lowly school teacher who was barely making it when you came by to help me out.
You should be dating people more in your tax bracket. ”
“I don’t want to date anyone in my tax bracket, as you called it.
I want to date you. You make me laugh, and I enjoy talking to you.
You’ve been a good friend too, and I’m glad to have gotten to know you.
” She pointed out again how wealthy he was.
“It’s just money. It doesn’t define me. I’ll admit that it does have its perks, but I do want to see you again and again.
Besides, you’re not a lowly anything. Teachers are the ones who make our future what it will become, and I’m proud to know you. ”
Just as they were being asked if they wanted dessert, Knox took her hand into his.
She didn’t pull away like she thought she should have, but allowed him to hold her hand.
Elaine thought him to be a romantic and was glad that they had this time together.
When he figured out she wasn’t the person for him, she was going to be heartbroken and decided that she was going to get as much as she could from the relationship while it lasted.
Just as their desserts were being put on the table between them, David came out of nowhere and sat down at the table with them.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She didn’t know what to say to him as he was drawing unwanted attention to them. “You’re mine, and you’re not to be going out with anyone else.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.
” He actually growled at her. When she tried to pull her hand away from Knox, he held her firmly and didn’t let her go.
“I’m out on a date. There is nothing that says I can’t date while I’m working for the school.
And as far as being yours, I have no idea where you got that idea.
I belong to no one.” He told her again that she was his.
“I will allow you this one time because I’ve not made myself clear when it came to you.
When we were interviewing, there was a spark, and I’ve since decided that you’d be the perfect match for me.
” She asked him if he was married. “I am. But she doesn’t have to know about us.
And there will be an us, Elaine darling. Because it’s what I want.”
“I want you to leave.” She looked over at Knox, who had told him again to leave. “You’re disrupting our plans, and if you don’t, I’m going to call the police.”
“Call them. I’ll just tell them that she’s not working out, and I came here to fire her.
See what that does for her money coming in.
” She decided that she’d had enough and was actually afraid of the principal now that he was showing his true side.
Standing up, so did Knox; he never let go of her hand while they were standing either.
“Where do you think you’re going? I’m not nearly finished talking with you.
You there, you’re an Erickson. You know that she’s only seeing you because you have money, don’t you? All women are like that.”
“I think you’ve said enough.” Knox pulled out his cell phone only to have it knocked away by David.
When she handed him hers, he tried to do the same, but was unable in his attempt to do so.
Almost as soon as he called the police, they were coming into the restaurant.
“I’m pressing charges against this man for knocking my cell phone away and interrupting our dinner. Not to mention he embarrassed my date.”
It wasn’t much, but it was enough to get him taken out of the restaurant. She sat down and tried to calm her nerves when Knox asked her if she was all right. She stared at him for several minutes before she could answer.
“I’m sorry about this.” He asked her what for. “I’ve been thinking he’s been creepy for the last week. Then today, he stood too close to me and had me backed up against the wall. I felt dirty when I got home and had to take a shower. That’s why I was late in getting ready.”
“I’ll take care that he doesn’t bother you again.” She asked him how he was going to do that when he was her boss. “I don’t know, but I’ll do what I can. Are you sure you want to work for him after this? I mean, he seems a little unhinged if you ask me.”
“I think he’s more than a little unhinged, but I think I can handle him.
If he gets too bad, well, I guess I’ll have to quit.
I won’t allow him to hurt me like he has tonight and get away with it.
” She thought about what he’d said about her belonging to him.
“I don’t know what he meant by that. I mean, we’ve never even had a personal conversation since I’ve been working there. ”
“As we said, he’s unhinged. I’m going to do a more extensive background check on him when I get home.
I can’t believe that I haven’t done it before now.
I guess I just assumed that one had been done on him before he’d been hired.
I’ll make sure I dig deep, too.” She played around with her dessert, no longer interested in it as she’d been before.
“Have a bite or two, and I’ll take you home.
I’m worried about you if you want to know the truth.
Just be extra careful at school tomorrow.
There is no telling what he’ll do when he has you all to himself. ”