Chapter 6
Chapter Six
ADAM
Iwalked into the elementary library for the business fair meeting.
I was a few minutes late, which I hated, but it couldn’t be helped at this point.
Danny’s teacher was brief in her reply but said she would be happy for my help.
I hoped this meeting was short. I still needed to grab a few things from my office, and I promised Danny we could get pie from Merritt’s tonight.
Among the staff sitting at the round wooden table was Jessica, rolling her pencil back and forth along the scuffed surface. The minute our eyes locked, she lit up and smiled. “Adam!” She motioned eagerly to the seat beside her.
I’d tried to talk myself into dating Jessica once, just to appease Mom. But every time I tried to get myself to feel “more” for her, I couldn’t. She was solidly placed in the friend zone. That didn’t surprise me; the thought of dating anyone made my skin itch.
I walked toward the empty chair. My eyes flicked to Ms. Lyons—I shook my head, I mean Ms. Faith.
Where Jessica was demanding attention in bright neon colors and dark makeup, Ms. Faith was the opposite, avoiding eye contact and attempting to dissolve into the background.
Maybe that was why Ms. Faith stood out to me. She wasn’t yelling for my attention.
She was beautiful with her petite frame, hair pulled back into a messy bun, blue eyes, and quiet vibe. I knew better though. I’d seen the fire in her gaze when we were discussing Danny. She could hold her own when necessary.
I glanced in her direction, and she gave a barely perceptible nod back, but then avoided eye contact. It was obvious she was happy to avoid me. I chuckled.
“What’s funny?” Jessica asked.
“Hm?” I refocused on Jessica. “Oh, it’s nothing.”
Jessica’s forehead creased, then she cleared her throat and pivoted to face me.
“Sorry, practice ran late.” I announced to the room.
“Oh, that’s fine. The sports program does so much for this school.” Jessica reached out and laid her hand on top of mine. “Do you guys think you will make it to the state basketball championship again this year?”
Wide eyes around the table went to Jessica’s hand over mine. I gently pulled my hand out from under hers. “Hope so, and hope to actually win this year too.”
“No one blames you. It was so close last year, even going into overtime.” Jessica leaned back, looking a little hurt that I’d pulled my hand away.
I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Maybe I’d grown too lax in allowing physical interactions between us. Not much beyond hugs and arm brushes, but I also didn’t want to make a big deal about things either.
“Oh, plenty of people blame me.” I had many emails that proved so. Sam, the man who ran the only bakery in town, had cornered me the following weekend and let me know I could no longer buy his maple bars if I didn’t win next time. I never was sure if he was joking or not.
“As I was saying…” Helen Sparks, one of the fourth-grade teachers, cleared her throat.
She was a no-nonsense spinster sort and had scared me to death when she was my fourth-grade teacher.
I could still feel her eyes boring into my soul as she gave me papers covered in red that said DO OVER.
Her last name of Sparks I always thought was fitting.
She seemed moments away from combusting.
Maybe that’s when I would officially be a grown up, when I looked at Ms. Sparks and did not feel fear.
“There will be one more mandatory group meeting where we go over the finalizing details, but you will mainly work with your assigned teacher, and often.”
I glanced at Ms. Faith, and her cheeks turned bright red as she stared at the table. How would it be, working with Danny’s teacher? We hadn’t parted on good terms, but I knew Danny liked her, and although Danny was blunt for some people, he was an excellent judge of character.
Ms. Sparks scowled then turned her piercing eyes on Ms. Faith. “Ms. Lyons, have you been able to get your two assigned volunteers?”
“It’s Faith, and not yet. I have sent out emails, but—”
“No excuses.” Ms. Faith shrank in on herself, and I tried to shoot her a commiserating smile. She didn’t see it.
Why didn’t she mention I was a volunteer?
“Adam, why are you here? This is an elementary fundraiser, are you a volunteer?” Ms. Sparks turned on me.
Jessica’s hand shot into the air. “He can help me!” She bounced in her chair.
I panicked and looked at Ms. Faith.
“Adam has offered to help with my class since his son is a student of mine.” Her eyes flicked to me.
I nodded, grateful that she had spared me an awkward situation. A small smile formed on her lips before she focused down on her papers again. When she blushed, I could see her freckles better.
Ms. Sparks sighed. “Very well.”
Jessica looked between Ms. Faith and me, her eyebrows drawing together.
“But, Adam.” Ms. Sparks pushed her glasses up her pointy nose. “I know life has been hard with Cassie and whatnot, so don’t tell Faith that you can do something if you can’t.” She raised her eyebrows.
I leaned back, still shocked that everyone in town felt they knew all the pieces of my failed marriage and that they didn’t hesitate to comment on it. I wanted to tell her to butt out, and that I was an adult. Instead, all I managed was a nod and a “Yes, Ma’am.”
“I’m right here…” Ms. Faith muttered as she gestured with upturned hands. I pursed my lips against the naughty smile I didn’t want Ms. Sparks seeing form on my face.
“All right, teachers, I suggest you use the rest of the hour to set up schedules with your volunteers and organize. At next month’s meeting I would like a list of the class’s chosen business topics and any materials you require.” She waved in dismissal.
Principal Dotty rushed in, flustered and with flushed cheeks. “I’m so sorry, my timer was set, but it didn’t go off. What did I miss?” The new principal missed most things. Her wide eyes took in the room, and her head lowered.
Ms. Sparks, Dotty’s aunt, rolled her eyes and power-walked toward her. “Dotty, you missed everything.” She growled.
Everyone stood and wandered around the round tables. We had seen this family situation play out before. I nodded at Jessica, stood, and walked over to Ms. Faith. Standing over her made her shoulders shrink more, but I couldn’t do anything about my size. “All right, where to?”
“Um.” It came out barely above a whisper. “We can go to my classroom?” She gestured about my height. “But I think we learned you won’t fit at the tables.” She grinned at her joke and looked around the room. “Maybe we just find a table in the corner?”
I was glad to see she wasn’t afraid to tease me. I needed to apologize, and all apologies are better with food. I snapped my fingers. “I know, let’s go get pie. I need to apologize for our last meeting.”
Her left eyebrow raised. “You already did in your email. Also, I wasn’t exactly the picture of controlling one’s emotions. I’m still so embarrassed.” Her cheeks turned pink, and I couldn’t stop my answering smile.
“Yes, well, I wanted to apologize in person, and all apologies are more sincere with sugar. Let’s go grab a slice at Merritt’s. You can bring the planner”—I gestured to the stack of papers in front of her—“and I can get out of this building.”
She shrugged. “No arguments here.”
We stood. “Perfect. Want to meet me at Merritt’s or ride together?”
Her eyes widened. “Um, I can drive.” We walked toward the exit.
“Adam…where are you going?” Ms. Sparks called out.
I felt like I’d been caught passing notes in her class, and my spine went rigid. I cleared my throat.
“We are still planning, don’t worry.” Ms. Faith chimed in and speed-walked to the door.
I held the door open for Ms. Faith, she rushed by me with her arms loaded with papers. Jessica caught my eye and her gaze narrowed at Ms. Faith’s back. I gave her a small smile and closed the door behind us.
Ms. Faith took a slow, deep breath. “Thanks.” She sighed. “She makes it hard for me to breathe.”
“She terrifies me too. All right, Danny is waiting for me in my office. I’ll go grab him and meet you at Merritt’s.”
Ms. Faith’s eyes brightened. “Oh yes, please bring Danny. He’s so excited and will love planning with us.” She shrugged. “Plus, then it won’t look like a date.”
I stopped walking, and Ms. Faith bumped into me with the sudden change of pace. Ms. Faith didn’t think I meant it as a date, right? My gaze flicked to hers.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she fidgeted with her ring on her right hand. “I know it’s not a date, but this town has a lot of opinions and well… Ugh, never mind.” Her head dropped as she closed her eyes.
I raised my right shoulder. “I really don’t care what others think.” I added in a flat tone. I lived too long trying to be who someone else wanted.
Well, honestly, that wasn’t completely true.
I had found I was starting to worry a little about Jessica, but it was less about me caring about people’s opinions and more I didn’t want her to trust the gossip and think we were more than friends.
She was nice to talk to sometimes, and she was a good listening ear when I first came back and needed to work through some things about my ex.
“Must be nice.” Ms. Faith grumbled and rolled her eyes.
She sighed. “All I do is worry about others’ opinions.
” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m going to turn off the lights and grab a few things from my room.
I’ll meet you at Merritt’s.” She called over her shoulder, rushing away from me, avoiding eye contact and avoiding me.
I chuckled and tilted my head to the side. I had a feeling I wouldn’t mind spending time with Ms. Faith. I enjoyed watching her switch from shy to bold and then right back.