Eloise

Chapter 1

Chapter One

The beginning of another day. The start of a new school year.

Ellie Hamilton pressed her palm against the wooden frame of the window overlooking the school grounds.

The glass reflected a pale version of herself back at her—shoulders straight, expression composed, every inch the capable headmistress her staff expected her to be.

The late summer sunlight spilled generously across the playing fields, warming the trimmed grass and empty pathways, and for just a moment…

the world looked peaceful. Promising, even.

Yet the air inside her office felt colder somehow.

With an exhale, Ellie pushed herself away from the window and turned her back on the view.

The sunshine streaming through the glass barely touched her.

It rarely did these days. It didn’t matter how beautiful the day looked outside; inside she felt numb, as though she’d been moving through the same quiet fog for months now.

Eighteen, to be exact. Eighteen months of waking up and stepping forward because stopping just wasn’t an option.

For Ellie, it was just another mindless day.

Another day of going through the motions, but she would push on.

She always did. There were bright young minds arriving here on Monday.

Children who deserved guidance, structure, and protection.

Children who walked through the halls trusting the adults around them to hold everything together.

As the headmistress of Park Haven High School, that responsibility had become the one solid thing left anchoring her.

You sure as hell have no reason to be at home.

That thought slipped into her mind uninvited as she crossed her office and lowered herself into the high-backed chair behind her desk. Even today, when the building was quiet and empty of students, Ellie had found herself unlocking her office door at precisely eight a.m.

She preferred to be here. Here she could stay busy, and here she could feel useful. Here she didn’t have to sit in the silence of a house that had once been full of laughter. Because home…wasn’t familiar anymore, and it hadn’t felt that way for five hundred and fifty-two days.

She’d thought about moving more times than she could count.

Downsizing, starting fresh somewhere that didn’t echo with memories.

But every time the idea surfaced, something inside her resisted.

Leaving the house would mean leaving the life she’d once had there.

The laughter, the music drifting from the kitchen, and those cosy evenings curled up on the sofa when everyone was together.

Ellie wasn’t ready to let those things go.

Her phone lit up silently on the desk beside her keyboard.

What time are you heading out tonight? I’ll be in the city with Samira and Adrian if you wanted to get a drink together before you put your academic face on and play the role. Love ya!

Ellie leaned back in her chair and let out a soft sigh as she reread the message.

Thirty-two years of friendship, and Danielle still knew exactly how to drag her out into the world when she felt like retreating from it. Did she want to meet with her best friend tonight? She didn’t know.

They’d grown up together, survived heartbreaks together, and celebrated milestones together. Danielle was the definition of loyalty and unwavering support, but drinks with her almost always led to the same conversation, and Ellie wasn’t sure she had the strength for it tonight.

It depends what time I get out of work. I may not get the chance to head into the city any earlier than I’d planned to.

Hopefully that would satisfy her for now.

You’re at work? Why? The summer holiday doesn’t end until Sunday night!

Ellie huffed out a quiet breath and closed her eyes.

Because I hate being at home.

The reply formed in her mind with brutal honesty, but she didn’t send it.

It would only open a door she wasn’t ready to peer through.

Even though Danielle came over at least once a week, her best friend still didn’t fully understand how heavy the house felt now.

How walking into the kitchen sometimes made Ellie pause because she could almost hear the ghost of laughter lingering in the room.

It’s the only place you feel connected to her…

Ellie cleared her throat and brushed the thought aside before typing another response.

Final preparations. It saves me doing it on Monday morning when I’m trying to deal with upwards of nine hundred children.

Nine hundred and twenty-three, to be exact. But who was counting?

So long as they arrived safely, settled into their classrooms, and gave their best effort, Ellie would make sure every one of them was supported.

Over the last year, she’d noticed something shift inside herself when it came to the pupils here.

It was more than responsibility now. It was protection.

Fierce protection. As though pouring everything she had into the school was the only way to keep moving forward.

Her phone buzzed again.

Rather you than me, El. Text me later if you can make it in any earlier. I’ll have a large rosé waiting with your name on it.

Ellie smiled faintly as she locked the screen and set her phone down.

Perhaps she would meet them after all. If Samira and Adrian were there, Danielle wouldn’t bring up the difficult topics.

Those conversations were reserved for quiet Friday nights when they sat side by side on Ellie’s couch with wine and too much honesty.

Opening a student file on her computer, Ellie was halfway through scanning the page when movement caught her eye through the window. A flash of dark hair rushed past. Ellie frowned, immediately recognising the woman moving quickly down the corridor.

Alba Clifford. The new Geography teacher she’d hired just before the start of the summer holidays.

Ellie pushed back from her desk and moved swiftly to the door, opening it just as Alba was nearing the end of the hallway. “Alba?”

Alba stopped suddenly. Ellie saw her shoulders lift slightly, as though she’d taken a quick breath before turning around. “Yes?”

“Do you have a few minutes?” Ellie asked, unsure why the atmosphere suddenly felt…different. Charged, almost. “I won’t keep you long.”

Alba smiled, though it was faint, perhaps even forced, and started walking back towards her. As she stepped into Ellie’s office, Ellie noticed something she hadn’t before. Alba’s hand was shaking, her phone trembling between her fingers. “I…is everything okay?”

“Of course. Have a seat.” Ellie gestured towards the chair opposite her desk, her voice calm and welcoming. As she rounded the desk and sat down again, she looked up, noticing how Alba blinked rapidly. Tears. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, fine.” Alba accepted the box of tissues Ellie held out, offering a small, grateful smile. “Thank you.”

“I know we don’t know one another yet, but if there’s something you need to talk about, that’s one of the things I’m here for.” Ellie sat straighter in her chair and crossed her legs.

When Alba didn’t answer, Ellie understood. She didn’t want to talk about it, and Ellie wouldn’t force it.

“If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll leave it at that.”

“I am. I’m fine. But thank you.” Alba dabbed beneath her eyes before lifting her head again, this time managing a brighter smile. “So, what was it you wanted to see me about?”

“I just wanted to check in with you. How is everything going today?”

“Oh, brilliant. I’ve met a lot of staff, and I’m going to spend the next few hours making my classroom my own.” Alba crossed her legs and settled more comfortably into her seat. “I have to say, the rooms here are far bigger than my previous school.”

“Yes, it’s one of the things I love about this place.

” Ellie steepled her fingers and leaned back in her chair, studying Alba.

“Can I ask why you applied?” It was normally a question she’d ask during interviews, but the truth was that she had been distracted that day.

Her mind had been elsewhere…caught up in memories she hadn’t yet learned how to escape.

“Your previous school has equally as good results as we do here.”

“I…wanted a change.”

Ellie nodded slowly. “Okay.”

“And my ex-wife is Head of Department there.” Alba cast her gaze to her hands in her lap. “Life isn’t so easy at the moment, so I chose to take myself out of that situation.”

“Good move.” Ellie leaned forward, offering a reassuring smile in the hope of easing whatever tension still lingered between them. “You’re aware that we’re all headed into the city tonight for drinks, yes?”

“Oh, yes. I can’t make it. I have things to do at home.” Ellie wasn’t convinced by that, but she didn’t know Alba well enough to delve deeper. “But maybe next time?”

“It’s nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow?

” Ellie asked, arching a brow. Keeping staff morale high was something she took seriously.

The job could be overwhelming at times, and friendships within the building often made all the difference.

Except when you need someone. “I think tonight would be a good opportunity to really cement your place here.”

Alba’s huge chocolate-brown eyes lifted to meet hers.

For a moment, the look between them lingered longer than expected.

Her lips parted slightly as though she had been caught off guard, and Ellie recognised the expression instantly.

Hurt, exhaustion…the aftermath of a breakup that hadn’t yet stopped echoing in every corner of her life.

“I’m only emptying the last of my boxes. I guess it could wait.”

“Excellent.” Ellie reached for a pen and scribbled her number down on a piece of paper before sliding it across the desk. “Take my number and send me yours. I’ll let you know the details once I know them myself.”