Chapter 7 Proposals #2
Gavin House’s sooty gaze met hers. “Relax, Miss Garrett. I think you’ll find my forthcoming proposal right down your alley. On your resume, you stated you’re proficient in web design and website management.”
“Yes.” She’d studied web design for her elective coursework while earning her teaching degree.
“The district devotes an entire webpage to the elementary school.” He turned his computer screen around so she could view the website he’d pulled up. “I’d like you to maintain it.”
Its simplicity and cheerful primary color scheme impressed her. Whoever was currently maintaining it was doing a good job.
“Naomi will provide you with regular updates to the page and all related images. Your job will be to post them and make us look good.” Without pausing to solicit her feedback on the matter, he added, “I’d also like you to co-chair our yearbook committee.”
Oh, boy! Halle’s contribution to the yearbook at her last school had required a significant amount of elbow grease after hours. It would be difficult to juggle the same time commitment with the twins’ baseball schedule and everything else on her plate.
After an elongated pause, Dr. House raised an eyebrow at her, clearly expecting some sort of response. “Well, Miss Garrett?” His expression was impossible to read.
Her thoughts were as tangled as spaghetti noodles. She didn’t know where to even begin, but she gave it her best shot. “I assume you’ll be updating my job description with the website management and yearbook responsibilities?” She didn’t want him thinking he could pile more work on her at a whim.
A flash of displeasure crossed his features. Then it was gone. “If that’s what you prefer.”
“It is, sir. Please make my extra duties contingent upon my smaller class size for the current school year.” Once her class size returned to normal, she intended to negotiate additional stipends for the extra work.
“Done.” He curled his upper lip sardonically at her. “We’ll also be issuing you a hard hat and a tool belt to help with the construction of a new computer lab.”
What in the world? She stared blankly at him.
“I’m kidding, Miss Garrett.” His nasally chuckle grated on her nerves.
She forced a smile. “Very funny, sir.” She stood and moved to the door of his office, which she’d left cracked. She pulled it open wider, feeling like a prisoner making an escape. “When may I expect to see the updates to my teaching contract?”
His laughter faded. “As soon as I can get to it, Miss Garrett.” For a moment, he sounded just like her ex-fiancé, who’d expected her unequivocal agreement to everything he proposed.
And look where it got me. Thanks to James, her ability to extend blind trust to anyone other than God was a thing of the past.
As difficult as it was, she forced herself to meet Dr. House’s hard gaze. “I was hoping it would be by Monday, sir.” Surely he didn’t expect her to accept such a drastic change in her marching orders on nothing more than a handshake.
“Like I said, Miss Garrett, I’ll get to it as soon as I can.” His tone didn’t invite any further discussion.
“Thank you, sir.” Her insides felt queasy as she exited his office.
Naomi glanced up from her desk and gave Halle a worried look as she trudged past. “How did your meeting go, love?”
Halle’s efforts to maintain a smile felt like it was going to crack her face as she stopped and fluttered her hands with false excitement. “Ta-da! You’re looking at the new school webmaster and yearbook co-chairperson.”
Naomi blinked in surprise. “I thought maintaining the website was my job.”
Halle shook her head in puzzlement. “It’s news to me, too, ma’am.”
Naomi frowned, making papery lines form at the edges of her mouth. “It’s no trouble keeping the website updated. I enjoy it. I’ve also enjoyed having the extra stipend in my paycheck.” There was a strained edge to her voice.
“Maybe I misunderstood what Dr. House said.” Halle backed away from Naomi’s desk, feeling more unsettled than ever.
“You didn’t.” His hard voice carried from his desk to the main office where Naomi worked. Moments later, he materialized in the doorway. “Having a certified web designer take over the task only makes sense now that we have one on staff.”
Halle’s support for what he was proposing plummeted at the realization that reassigning the task would result in a pay cut for Naomi.
Her respect for him plummeted along with it.
It was a cheap move on his part that wouldn’t materially offset the cost of a new teacher’s salary.
To make matters worse, it was a decision that would almost certainly create ill will between the tenured staff members and the newest staff members—herself and the other kindergarten teacher.
Naomi hunkered over her keyboard, typing furiously and fighting tears.
Unable to bear watching her, Halle fled the main office and speed-walked to her classroom. Her excitement for her new job was quickly fading.
In the past, she’d loved every minute of teaching. Kindergarteners were like little sponges, ready to soak up the world. They worked hard, played hard, and zonked out during nap time.
However, the thought of reporting to a man as callous as Gavin House was a huge damper on her enthusiasm. If she added Naomi’s pay cut to the mix, along with the countless hours she’d undoubtedly be spending on the school yearbook, it almost didn’t feel worth it.
She reached her classroom, stepped inside, and nearly collided with a curvy blonde.
“There you are!” The woman’s shrill voice jangled across Halle’s already-raw nerves. “You must be the Halle Garrett I’ve heard so much about.”
Halle found herself face to face with none other than Brooke Aspen. She gasped, “What are you doing here?”
The woman’s penciled eyebrows flew upward. “Uh…I work here, the same as you.” She did a little jig. “Co-kindergarten teachers, co-chairwomen of the yearbook committee, and whatever else Dr. House decides to throw at his kindergarten power duo.” She thrust out a hand. “I’m Blaire Aspen.”
Aspen? Halle’s trepidation blossomed to the size of a mushroom cloud. “I take it you’re related to Brooke Aspen?”
“I’m her younger sister,” Blaire confirmed cheerfully. “She invited me to stay at the ranch until I can find a place of my own, so you and I will be neighbors as well as co-teachers. How fun is that?”
Fun wasn’t the word Halle would’ve chosen.
Now that she knew the connection, she could more easily pick out the differences between the sisters.
Blaire had a rounder face. She was also shorter and curvier.
However, her red pantsuit looked as expensive as Brooke’s wardrobe.
She also possessed the same conniving glint in her eyes.
Halle’s heart rebelled at the thought of Ryder and Cooper being subjected to whatever the woman in front of her was planning. Her presence in Heart Lake wasn’t random. It was entirely possible she was involved in the trouble Brooke had been causing for Garrett Farm.
“Cat got your tongue?” Blaire’s laugh had a snide ring to it. “I was hoping we could discuss the twins Dr. House is moving out of your classroom into mine. I hear they’re a real handful.”
Something inside Halle snapped. She’d heard enough.
“If you’ll excuse me. I have an errand to run first.” She hurried to her desk and yanked open the bottom drawer to retrieve her purse.
If she had any say in the matter, Owen’s sons wouldn’t be coming within a country mile of Blaire Aspen’s classroom!
Blaire watched her curiously. “Is everything okay?”
Far from it! “All good,” Halle lied, “You’re so sweet to ask.” She stepped around Blaire, anxious to put some distance between them.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?” Blaire called mockingly after her.
Halle didn’t bother answering. Nothing was okay about what had just transpired—neither her appointment with Dr. House nor the way Blaire had been lying in wait for her afterward. It felt strangely coordinated and ominous.
She kept her head down when she reached the main entrance, refusing to turn around when a woman called her name. It sounded like Naomi, but Halle was in no mood to rehash the website management issue. She bolted past the glass double doors into the parking lot.
When she reached her car, she yanked the door open and slid behind the wheel.
She pushed the ignition button, but nothing happened.
She pushed it a second time with the same result.
No sputtering to life of the car’s motor.
Nothing. Either her battery was dead, or the old car had finally given up the ghost. It had been on its last leg for months.
She should’ve replaced it when she had the chance, and now she couldn’t afford to.
Feeling like the universe was against her, she stepped out of the vehicle and gave the hood a harried look. Smoke seeped out from beneath it. That figures. While she was debating whether to call a tow truck, her phone vibrated with an incoming call.
It was Owen. She eagerly accepted his call and lifted her phone to her ear. “Hey!”
“How’s your first day at work going?” The worry in his voice amplified the alarm zinging through her.
“Um…it’s not a short answer.” She debated how much to tell him over the phone. What she had to say was best said in person.
“Any chance you can break away for coffee or an early lunch?” Urgency resonated in his voice.
“Funny you should ask.” She confessed she’d been in the process of leaving campus before discovering her car wouldn’t start.
“I’m on my way,” he shot back. “The boys and I are already in town.”
No way! It was a relief to hear that something about her morning was finally going right.
“I’ll call for a tow truck,” he continued, “and have your car checked out by a mechanic.”
In no time, his pickup truck turned into the school parking lot.
She could’ve wept from happiness when he braked beside her and leaned her way to push open the passenger door.