Chapter 7 Proposals
August
It was never a good thing to get called to the principal’s office, not even for a twenty-eight-year-old kindergarten teacher who was decently sure she had done nothing wrong.
Halle shifted uncomfortably in the blue-and-white striped chair outside Dr. Gavin House’s office, waiting for him to finish his current meeting.
She heard laughter on the other side of the door and hoped it was a good sign.
Maybe it was a summons he gave to all the new teachers on staff—a mentoring session of sorts that was part of the school’s onboarding process.
If that was the case, they’d be riding the learning curve together since he, too, was new to Heart Lake Elementary School.
The hallways were abuzz with whispers and smiles from the mostly female staff of teachers about the dignified and handsome new principal in his mid-fifties.
He was a transplant from a posh school district in the northeast, and the absence of a wedding ring on his hand was creating no small amount of interest and speculation.
The rumor receiving the heaviest circulation was that he had recently been divorced.
For all Halle cared, the distinguished Dr. Gavin House could be Prince Charming’s older brother.
In her mind, it still wouldn’t erase the major strike he had against him—having the same last name as her ex-fiancé.
Her only comfort was that the two men looked nothing alike.
James was tall, dark, and as wiry as an Olympic skier.
Dr. House was a few inches shorter, with broad shoulders and a sleek hairstyle that Jack Frost would approve of.
Both men, however, dressed with remarkably similar pizzazz.
Both of them could star in advertisements for men’s suits.
Both accessorized with tie clips, cufflinks, pinky rings, and bracelets.
Just stop! Halle wasn’t sure why she was in such a lather over the similarities and dissimilarities between Dr. House and her ex, but it couldn’t be healthy. The name of House was far from obscure. Across the country, thousands of people shared it. She forced her thoughts to something else.
It was the first Wednesday in August, her first official day on the job.
She’d started her morning with an orientation meeting for new hires and had spent the last few hours decorating her classroom.
Though it was a task she enjoyed immensely, it had barely put a dent in her long list of things to do before her students arrived on Monday.
Owen had taken today off to spend with Ryder and Cooper. For the most part, her teaching schedule would mirror the boys’ school schedule. She and Owen were still coming up with a plan for childcare when her schedule didn’t mirror theirs—for sick days, teacher planning days, and such.
The door to the principal’s office opened, and the school secretary exited.
“Good morning, Halle!” Every strand of Naomi’s short gray hair was in place, and her creamy blouse looked freshly pressed. She was holding a clipboard with a pen poised over it. “Dr. House is ready to see you.” She’d worked for the school district for as long as Halle could remember.
“Thank you, Naomi.” Halle stood and smoothed her hands down the sides of her pinstriped gray trousers, feeling woefully unready to meet with her new boss.
She hoped there was no chicken down clinging to her lightweight green cardigan, suddenly wishing she hadn’t agreed to a last-minute trip to the chicken yard to peek at the latest batch of chicks.
Her willpower against Ryder and Cooper’s pleading green gazes was nonexistent.
Stepping through the doorway, she paused on the other side and waited to be acknowledged.
“Hi, Halle!” Dr. House stood and walked around his desk with his right hand outstretched. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice.” His tone was jovial, his movements relaxed and unhurried.
“No problem, sir.” She should’ve been reassured by his jovial tone and unhurried movements.
Nothing about his demeanor suggested he was in any way disappointed with her performance—not that she’d been on her new job for long.
However, the unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach notched up a few degrees as they shook hands.
Maybe it was because of the gold pinky ring he had on today. Or the pale lavender dress shirt he was wearing, which happened to be a color her ex was fond of. Or maybe it was something else entirely.
She took a seat in the chair he ushered her into, glad to have an excuse to break eye contact with him.
But not for long.
Instead of returning to the chair behind his desk, he hiked a hip on the edge, facing her. “I prefer to make my expectations of new employees clear on day one. It avoids the potential for misunderstandings down the road.”
Unsure how to take his ambiguous opening statement, she bit her lower lip and watched him expectantly.
“I appreciate you notifying the school district about your job as a nanny this summer.” The way he cleared his throat sounded like he was doing it for emphasis—not for allergies or sinus congestion.
“You appear to have followed all proper procedures for engaging in additional employment outside your teaching contract.”
Appear to have? His choice of words felt like a lead-in to an accusation, making her tense all over again.
“Absolutely, sir.” The process had entailed filling out a few forms, and she’d received the authorization back pretty quickly.
She hoped he didn’t intend to quibble that she’d technically begun her nanny position a few days ahead of the district’s rubber stamp of approval.
His gaze dropped to the diamond solitaire on her left hand and turned calculating. “Your engagement to Owen Tolliver, on the other hand, makes your situation a little more…unique.”
She bit down harder on her lip, bracing herself.
“Congratulations, by the way.” The corners of Dr. House’s eyes crinkled at her, though the piercing glint in his eyes didn’t change.
“What I’m about to say in no way diminishes how happy the administrative staff is for you and Mr. Tolliver.
The Heart Lake School District backs its employees and their families—no sunlight between us. ”
No sunlight between us.
Her insides grew cold. It wasn’t just the unique turn of phrase he’d used, or that it was a phrase her ex had also enjoyed using. It was the same pause he’d given before uttering it. The same cadence in which he’d delivered it. The same faint smile. The same lofty hand gesture.
There was no more denying it. The two men were connected somehow.
Her throat turned dry, making her long for a drink of water. “Thank you, sir.” She inclined her head to accept his congratulations, hearing the unspoken but that was coming.
“To avoid any perception of favoritism or unfairness in the classroom, most schools avoid having teachers teach their own children. Our district is no exception to that well-established norm.” His tone was brisk and matter-of-fact.
“For this reason, I’m transferring the Tolliver twins into the other kindergarten classroom.
That is all. No need to look so alarmed, Miss Garrett. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
Despite the reassurances he tacked on at the end, his announcement made her wince. “I didn’t realize there was more than one kindergarten class, sir.” Although she respected his decision, Ryder and Cooper were going to be wildly disappointed to find out she was no longer their schoolteacher.
“There wasn’t at the time of your initial interview.” He pursed his lips. “There is now. I was able to bring another kindergarten teacher on board at the eleventh hour.”
“Oh, wow!” Questions flooded her. Had the enrollment numbers truly justified hiring another teacher? Would the school budget be able to absorb an additional salary?
Dr. House’s expression lost some of its warmth. “Do you disagree with how I’m handling the situation, Miss Garrett?”
“Not at all, sir.” It was a fair ruling.
No question about it. “It’s just that the twins knew I was going to be their teacher, and they were very excited about it.
Owen and I will need to break the news to them about their transfer to another classroom as gently as possible.
” She drew a deep breath. “And we will. We are fully invested in their education and want their first year of school to be the best experience possible.”
Dr. House nodded blandly. “I can tell you care a great deal about the well-being of these boys. On that, we are the same.”
We are the same.
It was another feel-good phrase her ex had enjoyed tossing around like confetti. Hearing Dr. House say it sent an electric jolt of dread through her. It was starting to feel like he was toying with her—the way a feral cat might toy with a captive mouse.
“I have enjoyed getting to know the Tolliver twins, sir.” She focused on her breathing to control her rising panic.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.
“I hope the other teacher enjoys working with them just as much as I have. Ryder and Cooper are bright, inquisitive children. Eager to learn and quick to pick up new skills.”
“I’m sure she will.” He stood and moved behind his desk once again.
“Since we now have more than one kindergarten class, your class size will be smaller—approximately half its original size. To justify the expense of two salaries instead of one, both of you will take on additional responsibilities.”
Uh-oh. Halle’s inner radar waved a red flag.
She could only hope whatever he had in mind wouldn’t cut too heavily into her lesson-planning time.
Regardless of the number of students in her classroom, she would spend the same amount of time preparing each lesson.
The only thing she would spend less time on was grading.