Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
Something shifted between Josh and me that night. I wasn’t sure what it was, but in the days that followed, we were nearly inseparable. We spent every night together, some nights passing out after countless orgasms, other nights enjoying each other’s company without sex.
My time in Amethyst Bay was quickly ticking by, and if I didn’t get a job within a few days, I needed to return to MacKellar Cove.
I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t move without a way to support myself.
Worst case, I would go back to MacKellar Cove for a year and apply for jobs in Amethyst Bay until I got hired.
The Tuesday after Josh took Evie to college, I got a call from the principal at Amethyst Bay Elementary School.
She asked if I could come in for an interview that afternoon, and I tried to contain my excitement.
Ashlyn and Josh were both at work, so I had no one to share my news with, but that was better. I didn’t want to get ahead of myself.
The school was a little smaller than MacKellar Cove, but had the same feel. Old red brick, one-story, with long hallways extending off a central hall that housed the administrative offices. I smiled when I walked in, already feeling more like me inside a school.
“Hello, Ms. Smith. I’m so happy you could come in.
I’m Bethany Camara. It’s so nice to meet you.
” Principal Bethany Camara appeared to be close to fifty, with silver-gray hair in a neat bob.
She had a friendly smile and kind brown eyes.
She wore a casual cotton dress that looked like it had been finger-painted by students. I loved it.
“You as well, Ms. Camara.” I followed her down the hallway from the secure front door to the door marked Main Office.
“You can call me Bethany. We’re pretty casual around here.
Especially in the summer. Come on in. Have a seat.
” She gestured to a comfortable chair across from her spotless desk.
Stacks of books filled the low shelves behind her.
Windows looked out on the front circle where buses would drop kids off in just a few weeks for the first day of school.
I wanted to be there to see it.
“Tell me a little about yourself, Reegan. Is it okay if I call you Reegan?”
“Oh, yes, of course. Um, well, I have a degree in elementary education. I have taught kindergarten through third grade mostly, but I’ve filled in for up to sixth grade. I’m certified in New York State, and I have some special education classes, although not enough for a certificate.”
Bethany nodded. “I know all that from your resume, Reegan. You’re an excellent candidate.
And I’ll be honest and tell you we’re in a bit of a bind here.
I’ve been looking for a permanent replacement for a while, and no one has fit into our school very well.
This position has been a challenge to fill. ”
“Can I ask why that is?”
Bethany chuckled. “My husband would tell you it’s because I’m too picky, but I choose to believe it’s because I’m careful about who I hire.
A lot of people are desperate for a job, any job, but they don’t want to stick around a town like Amethyst Bay.
Most of the teachers we’ve had in here end up moving to Albany or farther away.
We don’t meet the requirements for loan forgiveness, and I understand college is expensive.
I can’t ask about your financial situation, and I’m not trying to ask on the sly, just making sure you are aware that your time teaching here would not get you closer to the five years you need to qualify. ”
I shook my head, not answering her unasked question but also not not answering. “That isn’t something I’m worried about.”
“Okay. Good. I didn’t want you to be blindsided by that.”
“Can I be honest with you?”
She leaned back. “I would prefer that, yes.”
“I moved to MacKellar Cove because it was where I got a job. I was looking for a change, and I ended up there because they had an opening, and I wasn’t sure where I wanted to be.
I met someone, and I tried to make it my home.
There was always something missing for me in MacKellar Cove, even before my relationship ended, but when I came here at the beginning of summer, I felt like I’d found that something. ”
Bethany’s eyebrows shot up high.
“My best friend lives here. I have been staying with her, and I’ve started seeing someone.”
Bethany’s eyebrows dropped, along with her smile. “Oh.”
“I know what you’re thinking, but the man I’m seeing doesn’t know I’m talking to you today. I’m not making this decision for him. I’m making it for me.”
“And if things don’t work out with him?”
I swallowed the pain I felt at the idea it wouldn’t and pressed on.
“I still want to be here. I haven’t felt this at peace in a place in a very long time.
At my age, I have learned a few things about myself and about life.
And I’m done waiting for someone else to bring me happiness.
I’m creating my own, and a big part of that is being in this town and, I hope, this job. ”
Bethany smiled. She tried to hide it with a twist of her lips, but she was more than pleased with my answer.
After my declaration, she dove into more typical interview questions. An hour later, I thanked her for her time and for showing me around the school and headed to my car.
I nailed it. I knew I did. Bethany said she’d call me by the end of the week, but I was fairly sure it wouldn’t be that long before I heard from her.
To celebrate, I treated myself to lunch at Daily Ritual. Kannon was behind the counter, but so was an older woman who looked like she could be related to him.
“Welcome back, Reegan,” Kannon said when I walked in.
“Hi Kannon. How are you?”
“Good, thanks. What can I get you today?”
“Who is this?” the woman asked, getting closer with each word we spoke until she was right next to Kannon.
“Mom, this is Ashlyn Whittier’s friend, Reegan. Reegan, Elna Ruth is my mother and the owner of Daily Ritual.” Kannon grimaced slightly but covered it well with an apologetic look.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Elna Ruth,” I said, offering a full smile. “I love coming here.”
Elna Ruth’s smile was a deceptive one. “You do? Would my son have something to do with that?”
“Mom!” Kannon hissed.
“Your son is very kind and truly talented, but my attention has been caught by someone else.”
Elna Ruth scowled. “No matter. You’re not wearing a ring so there’s time for you to change your mind.”
“Mom,” Kannon groaned. “I am so sorry, Reegan. Please forgive her. She’s old and senile.”
Elna Ruth whacked him with an oven mitt. “You hush, boy. I want grandkids. And you haven’t gotten out from behind this counter long enough to make some for me.”
“I’m going to die now. Please say nice things at my funeral, Reegan.”
I laughed at their antics, loving them. “You two are too much. And sorry Elna Ruth, but I don’t want kids so I’d be disappointing you if we got together.”
Elna Ruth snorted. “Do you have a sister?”
“Oh my God, Mom. Stop.” Kannon exhaled a laugh.
I snickered and shook my head. “No sisters. Sorry.”
“What can I get you?” Kannon asked before Elna Ruth could say anything else.
“I’ll take a Mel to drink and a turkey and bacon club sandwich.”
“Iced or hot?”
“Ooh, iced, please.” A caramel latte sounded good, and iced was even better.
“Anything sweet?” Kannon asked.
“Oh, jeez. You shouldn’t have asked me that.”
Kannon laughed. “My mother might be a pain, but she’s incredibly talented when it comes to sweets.”
I looked at Elna Ruth, who was still hovering. “What’s your favorite?”
“The lemon bars are my best work. If you’re partial to chocolate, go for the brookie sandwich cookies. Brownie on the bottom, cookie on top, icing in the middle.”
“My mouth is watering.” I looked back at Kannon. “Now I need both of those.”
Kannon grinned. “She gets people every time.”
“How can you resist?” I groaned and handed over my card to pay the total.
“If you want to sit, I’ll bring everything to you,” Kannon said.
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Daily Ritual was fairly quiet. Most tables were empty, but I didn’t want to sit in the middle of the place, so I chose a table on the far side. I sat on the booth side of the table, setting my purse next to me and pulling out my phone to check for messages.
A minute later, movement on the other side of the table brought my gaze up. A smile was forming on my lips in expectation of Kannon being there with my food, but it wasn’t Kannon.
It was Josh’s ex, Hannah.
“Can I help you?” I asked her. We’d never met, so even though I knew who she was, we had no reason to speak.
“You can stay the hell away from my family.”
“Excuse me?” I set my phone down and folded my hands in front of me.
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. My daughter told me all about you, Reegan. Stay away from Evie, and stay away from Josh.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because Josh isn’t yours. He’s still in love with me, and we’re getting back together.”
A tiny piece of me wondered if she was telling the truth, but I dismissed the idea as quickly as it formed. “That’s news to me.”
“Yeah, well, you’d do well to remember that you’re breaking up a family if you continue to insert yourself between us.”
“Last I heard, your family is already broken. You’re married to someone else.”
She scowled at me as if I wasn’t supposed to know that. “Josh and I are still in love. What do you think happened when we took our daughter to college? We reconnected. Talked about getting back together.”
I almost snorted. Did she really think I was going to fall for her bullshit? “Good for you. And you’re delusional if you think that’s what happened.”
“How dare you?”
“No, Hannah, how dare you? You have no claim to Josh anymore. You married someone else. You don’t get to ruin all his relationships because you know you screwed up when you ended things. That’s not fair to him.”