Chapter 5
BELLA
Iflop into the chair in the principal’s office the following Monday after school. “Are teachers allowed to date the parent of one of their students?”
“Well, that’s a fine how-do-ya-do!” she says as she lowers her bifocals and peers at me across her desk in her sternest face.
“Sorry.” I stand and act like someone is rewinding me as I walk backward to the door and try again. “Hello, Principal Adams. I would like to discuss a very important matter with you.”
“Cut the crap. When have you ever referred to me that way?”
“Sorry, Aunt Delilah.”
“That’s better. Now what can I do for you?”
“Could I, in theory, date the parent of one of my students and keep my job?”
“There is no school rule against dating a parent. Honey, this town ain’t big. Everyone’s kid goes through this school at some point, and it’d be impossible for you to date anyone if that was a rule. And it’d be impossible to enforce.”
“I’m sure Amber would help police it,” I say, rolling my eyes.
“That busybody would report her own shadow to the neighborhood watch. Don’t pay any mind to her. If you’re treating all students equally and not showing any favoritism to your beau’s child, we’re good.”
“I would never treat anyone any differently,” I say. I may be a hot mess at times, but I love my students deeply, and I would never do anything to hurt any of them.
“I know you wouldn’t. Just CYA as they say, cuz you know Amber’s gonna come sniffing around. She’s a handful as a parent, but she’s gotten insufferable as PTO President. Thank goodness her son is so easygoing.”
Nodding my head in agreement, I laugh. Amber’s son is a grade behind Isaac and is the exact opposite of his mom.
“So, I have your blessing?”
“Not that you need it, but yes,” Delilah says.
“Thank you! And don’t worry. I’ll keep it under wraps.” I jump out of my chair and lean across the desk to hug her.
She laughs. “You’d think I just handed you a pack of condoms and told you to mount the man.”
I shake my head. “Delilah, you can’t talk that way at school.”
“What? There are no kids around.”
“I will never understand who gave you this job.”
“No takesie-backsies!” she says to the ceiling as if there were cameras watching her.
I laugh, knowing this is just how she is. My mom and Delilah were best friends, and when my mom died at the tail end of high school, Delilah raised me well into adulthood. It’s safe to say the perverted little apple didn’t fall far from the family tree.
We know how to cut up, but when it’s time to be serious, Delilah is as professional as they come.
I, on the other hand, tend to vacillate between awkward weirdo and perverted weirdo, though my students get teacher weirdo.
Delilah runs our school with the utmost care, but she’s also a fun boss, and the teachers and kids love her.
“So, tell me all about this hot dad that you’re willing to risk your job over.”
“You said I wouldn’t get fired.”
“No, I just said there’s no rules against it,” she says with a wink.
I blow out a breath and opt for honesty. Chestnut Mountain is known for its gossip, and I’d rather her find out from me than the rumor mill. “His name is Hardy Williams. Avery is his daughter.”
“Ah, the widower.”
“Has everyone read her file but me?” I mutter out of the side of my mouth.
Delilah picks up a pen and grabs a sticky note. “Doesn’t follow directions,” she says slowly as she writes.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing, just making a note for your permanent record,” she says, ripping the note off the pad.
“You know those are made up, right? We just tell the kids they exist so they behave.”
“Oh, they’re as real as Santa.” She places the sticky note on my face.
Ripping it off, I flip it over and read it. “This says, ‘Get some’ and then there’s a doodle of a dick.”
“Did you get some dick yet?”
“No, I’ve been talking to you this whole time.”
“Like I said, doesn’t follow directions. So, tell me more about the hot firefighter.”
“I never said he was a firefighter.”
“This is a small town, you don’t think I’d notice when a hot new man moves to town and starts handling a big hose?”
“I’m gonna pretend like I didn’t hear that. And technically he’s an EMT too,” I say. “Great, now I can’t get the image of him holding his firehose out of my head.”
“You’re welcome. Bella, you’re still young and you have plenty of life ahead of you. Go hump the hot firefighter.”
I laugh as I grab my bag and head for the door, and then I turn back to her. “Got any plans tonight?”
“Why, honey, the world’s my oyster, and I’m gonna pop that puppy open with my sword!” Delilah says.
“I don’t think that’s how the saying goes, and nobody should be giving you a sword,” I call over my shoulder as I head out of the office.