Chapter 31
Ainsley
My heart is in my throat as I walk down the hall.
Principal Morrison scheduled a meeting after school let out. Danbury and both the head of Human Resources and the union president will be in attendance.
I haven’t heard anything all week about Jayden or her mother. But I knew the quiet didn’t mean she was backing down.
My hands shake as I step into Morrison’s office. I clasp them in front of me so no one sees how nervous I am, and smile at everyone sitting around the oval table in the middle of the room.
“Hello, Ms. Morgan.” Morrison gestures to the empty chair at the end of the table. “Close the door behind you, and have a seat.
The sound of the door amplifies in my head like a prison door closing.
Pricilla from HR extends her hand to shake mine. “It’s good to see you, Ainsley.”
“Wish I could say the same.” I huff out a laugh as I lower myself into the chair. “Feels like I’m about to get some bad news.”
“We’re here to discuss your options,” Susan, my union president says, “and support you.”
Bile churns in my stomach as I nod. “My options...”
Harrison sighs and clasps his hands on the table.
“Mrs. Morales has made some claims that you manipulated her daughter without her permission. Based on the statement you gave me on the phone last week, it’s obvious that she’s overreacting to this situation.
But she’s a loud one, and she’s turning this into something bigger. ”
“All I did was listen when Jayden came to me, I swear. I told him he should talk to his parents about what he was feeling. I didn’t manipulate him in any way.”
I hate how unsteady my voice sounds. The last thing I want to do is cry in front of these people, but I can’t stop my emotions from bubbling over the surface.
“Did you talk to Jayden?” I ask. “He’ll tell you the truth.”
“The school counselor spoke with her, yes—uh, him. Sorry.” Harrison pauses, and I hold my breath. “We think it’s best to place you on administrative leave while we investigate the situation.”
My heart sinks. My eyes widen and my mouth falls open. “What is there to investigate? The woman is unstable. She’s mad that Jayden cut his hair without her permission, and she needs someone to blame.”
“When a parent makes a formal complaint, this is what we have to do,” Pricilla says. “It’s protocol.”
I swallow as my head spins. “Could I lose my job over this?”
“Like I said, you have options.” Susan slides a packet of paper across the table.
“Mrs. Morales wants you to step down as head coach, and she’s petitioning to have you terminated as a teacher from the school.
While she does not have the authority to do that, you do have to be removed from school property while we navigate this. ”
Tears burn behind my lids. Fuck. “I didn’t do anything wrong. She’s the one who should be ashamed of the way she’s treating her child.”
Harrison nudges a tissue box closer to me.
“As educators, you know we are caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to problematic parents. We’re damned if we do, and we’re damned if we don’t.
Mrs. Morales is the kind of parent who thinks she can flaunt her money around, and get what she wants. ”
This woman is like a terrorist in Lululemon, running around making demands.
“So, how long do I have to take leave for?”
“Until we reach a resolution,” Pricilla says. “You will be paid, of course, but you cannot attend practices or games.”
I choke on my spit. “But my team needs me. We’re going into the playoffs.”
“Coach Fletcher will take over for the time being,” Danbury says, finally speaking up. “Your team will be in good hands.”
Anger spikes in my veins. “Did you speak to him about this?”
“Not yet.”
“He won’t go for it.” My eyes dart around the table. “He doesn’t want to coach varsity.”
“Then we’ll find an alternative.” Harrison leans forward. “This is only temporary, Ainsley.”
A rogue tear escapes, and I’m quick to swipe it away. “This woman gets to dictate what happens to my livelihood, and then what? How do you plan on resolving this?” I swing my gaze to Susan. “You said I had options.”
She shifts in her seat. “Well, you could step down as head coach, and all of this will go away. Mrs. Morales is seeking what she deems justice, so if you’re no longer coaching the lacrosse team, then that’ll quell her.”
I cough out an incredulous laugh. “I will not be stepping down. I earned that position.”
Pricilla smirks. “Which is why you have the option to take the paid leave, and let us do our jobs.”
There’s more they’re not telling me. I hate this cryptic shit. It’s always like this when it comes to teaching. We’re the ones on the front lines, yet we get the least information.
“We will contact you after the formal investigation has been conducted,” Harrison says. “But should you be seen on school property, we will be forced to terminate you indefinitely.”
God, this is so unfair.
A knock on the door draws my attention.
“Come in,” Harrison says.
The door swings open, and Landon’s large body fills the frame. His brown eyes search mine, worry creasing his brows. “What’s going on?”
“Sit down.” Harrison gestures to the chair beside mine. “Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice.”
“We have practice,” Landon says, his eyes not leaving mine as he moves into the room and sits. “We’re going to be late.”
“This won’t take long.” Harrison clears his throat. “You’ll be taking over Ainsley’s spot as head coach of varsity for the foreseeable future.”
His chin jerks back like he’s been struck. “What?”
“They’re putting me on paid leave,” I say, my voice shaking as I push out the words. “Because of Jayden’s psycho mother. I’m not allowed near the team or the field.”
He shakes his head before the words are out of my mouth. “No. No way. I’m not taking over for varsity. That’s Ainsley’s team, and she deserves to be there. This isn’t right.”
“It’s only temporary until—”
“I don’t give a shit,” Landon spits. “If she goes, I go.”
I gasp. “Landon, no. What about JV?”
“We can’t let them do this to you. Either it’s both of us, or neither of us.” Landon crosses his arms. “This is bullshit. Ainsley didn’t do anything wrong, and you’re just sitting back and letting this woman take control.”
“This is protocol,” Pricilla says. “Until we conclude the investigation, Ainsley cannot be on school premises.”
“Don’t abandon the team,” Danbury says. “You’ve been doing a hell of a job with the JV squad. I know you’re the best candidate to take over for varsity while Ainsley is on leave. Think of it as being her substitute.”
“Let Raymond do it.” Landon pushes out of his chair.
“He knows those girls and is perfectly capable of leading them into the playoffs. I won’t play into Morales’ little game and give her what she wants.
She came to my place of work, did you know that?
She showed up while I was at work and threatened me.
I have a video recording of it.” He reaches into his pocket, and pulls out his phone.
My eyebrows pinch together. “When was this?”
“The other day. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to upset you, and have you get all hot-headed about it.” He taps around on his screen until he finds the video, and places his phone on the table before pressing play.
Mrs. Morales’ shrill voice fills the room, and we all lean in to watch.
I roll my lips between my teeth. “See? This is all part of her plan. Force me out and have Landon take over my position.”
“And you’re handing it to her on a silver platter.” Landon shakes his head. “I won’t be a part of that.”
“Or we let her think she’s getting what she wants, and Ainsley needs to bide her time until it’s over and she can return to school.” Pricilla leans her elbow on the table as she flicks her green eyes to Landon. “Please send me that video.”
Landon picks up his phone, his thumbs flying across the screen as he taps out an email.
“The girls said Jayden hasn’t been to school in days.
That’s truancy. You should have the police check up on him to make sure he’s okay.
This school should be doing everything in its power to protect that child. ”
Guilt burns a hole in my chest. Landon knows more about the ins and outs of truancy than anyone. He’d often stay home after his father hurt him, until the marks faded and he wouldn’t be questioned about it.
“Rest assured, we’re doing everything we can to help Jayden,” Harrison says. “Sh—He’s our number one concern.”
“Which is why we’re following protocol.” Pricilla leans back in her chair. “We have to dot our I’s and cross our T’s.”
I heave a sigh, and my lungs deflate along with my spirits. “Fine. But Raymond takes over my position if Landon won’t.”
“Deal,” Danbury says, nodding.
I sign the paperwork, and stand to leave with Landon.
“I’m looking forward to seeing you at states.” Pricilla shoots me a wink, and then walks out of Harrison’s office.
Landon and I exchange a glance.
He wraps his arm around my shoulder, and leads me out of the building. “You okay?”
“This is such bullshit.” I reach up and yank on my pony tail. “I know they can’t tell us everything, but it’d be nice to know what their plan is while I sit at home with my thumb up my ass.”
We stop at my Jeep and I look up at Landon. “You should’ve taken my position.”
Landon grips my face and holds me steady as he looks into my eyes. “I told you I wasn’t after your position, and I meant it.”
My heart melts under his intense gaze. “Thank you.”
“I’ll fill in Raymond when I get to the field. Go home and FaceTime him when you get there.”
My head tilts. “Why?”
Landon grins. “They told you that you can’t be on school premises, but they never said anything about being on the phone.”
I bark out a laugh. “Pretty slick, Fletcher.”
“No one will ever know.”
A smile stretches across my face despite my shitty news. I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and bring his lips down to mine. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Thanks for always having mine.” His hands grip my waist. “Even when I couldn’t see it.”
“No fucking way.”
I glare at Natalie through the phone. “Watch your mouth.”
“I’m sorry, but this is insane. They can’t fire you over this.”
“I didn’t get fired.”
Tori plants her hands on her hips. “We can go on strike. We won’t play unless you come back.”
“That’ll only hurt yourselves, and your chances at making states.” I point my index finger at my phone. “You guys have to prepare for playoffs. You can’t lose focus now.”
“But what about you?” Dominique says. “What will you do?”
“I’m an adult, and I can handle myself. Don’t worry about me.” My heart swells at their loyalty. “Coach Ray knows the plan. I know he can lead you. And hopefully this will all be over soon.”
After we hang up, I toss my phone onto my bed and rub my temples in small circles.
Sitting home isn’t my style. I need to be busy. Need to keep moving.
So, I throw on my sneakers and go for a run.
When my father died, I was eighteen. I hated being stuck in the house by myself, but I couldn’t afford to do much else.
Running was free. I ran every day, multiple times a day.
I got a scholarship to attend the community college just outside of town.
After class, I’d wait tables at as many restaurants as I could manage to get a shift at.
And when I wasn’t in class or working, I’d run.
Metaphorically, one could say I was running from my problems. Running from the overwhelming sorrow I experienced losing the only family I had left. But people have turned to worse things, so I’m okay with being labeled a running addict.
The house became a symbol of my grief. Waking up in the silence of the empty house was a daily reminder that I was alone. Still is, though I’ve come to enjoy the solitude.
Or maybe I don’t enjoy it. Maybe I had to learn how to survive it, so I convinced myself I liked being alone.
Landon has filled me with so many mixed emotions since he’s been back.
That’s what he’s always done. He challenges me. Pushes me. Flips what I think and shows me a different perspective. I think that’s why I’ve always been drawn to him. I crave the opposition. I crave the chance to grow into a better, stronger version of myself.
I run my usual route, and then I run a little more. When my legs are ready to give out, I head back home.
When I walk through the front door, my eyes land on the outdated China cabinet with random knickknacks on the shelves. I smile remembering how Dad used to complain, “There’s everything but China in this China cabinet.”
My eyes flick to the old couch with bright pink roses on it, donning a red stain on the corner of the cushion from the time I spilt fruit punch on it when I was five. Mom didn’t yell. “Stains just mean love lives here,” she said.
I stare at Dad’s favorite maroon recliner. I told him he should replace it because the springs poked him in the ass every time he sat, but he refused. “This thing will out-live me,” he said.
I hate that he was right.
Moving from room to room, I find something in each one, a memory tied to my parents, to my life here.
If I sell this house...I’d be letting go of a lifetime here.
And suddenly...everything becomes crystal clear.
My parents didn’t get to finish what they started. They didn’t get to grow old and gray. Their lives were cut short. But they fell in love, and they made a family. They built a beautiful life together. They made their lives worth something before they left this earth.
And what am I doing?
I need to make my time count. I need to build a life worth living, not one filled with fear, and missed chances.
Ivori and Evan are such great friends. I’m lucky to have people like them.
Marie is still here, smiling through all the horrors she’s gone through.
Even Jayden was brave enough to cut off all her hair and admit what she truly wanted.
Then there’s Landon.
His handsome face is all I can see. He kick-started my heart, even after all this time. He’s in my blood, coursing throughout my entire being, pumping life back into me. For years, I’ve been so lost. So alone.
But I don’t have to be.
Not anymore.
For the first time in a long time, I know what I want to do.