Chapter Two
Sam
Sam returned to the staffroom with Isaac at the end of the day, took a seat and cast a quick glance at his watch. They’d been asked to attend a brief meeting after the in-service activities, but neither Gil nor Adele was here, and nobody seemed to know what it was about.
‘I hope it doesn’t overrun. I wanted to be out of here sharp,’ Sam said to Isaac. He’d promised Kaleb an evening run now that the days were lengthening, and that meant driving into Perth, where Kaleb lived, which was about thirty minutes away.
‘Sometimes my son is the bane of my life.’ Lissa flopped into the seat next to him. ‘That’s the childminder messaging to say he toppled off the step again. But I miss him. I miss both of them when I’m here late.’
‘Yeah. It’s not easy. And they grow up so fast.’
Sam knew that as well as anyone, despite his unconventional family.
No one here knew the truth of his circumstances, and it was easier to keep it that way; otherwise, it led to awkward questions.
And while he liked his colleagues, that was all that they were.
He was closer to some than others, which was to be expected, but they weren’t exactly bosom buddies.
‘…and last week we were in the middle of the high street, and he decided it was the perfect time to throw himself on the ground and wail as if I’ve banned him from biscuits for life.’
Sam pulled himself back into the room, realising Lissa was still talking. ‘Oh no, the dreaded tantrum in public.’
‘Pretended he wasn’t mine,’ Lissa deadpanned, folding her arms as she shook her head. ‘Gave the people a right show.’
Sam laughed, but his attention snagged across the room. ‘I bet that freaked him out.’
Kerr Halley had leaned into Eddie Caldwell, and they were whispering and laughing about something.
Despite what must be at least a twenty-year age difference, they were always thick as thieves.
Sam had caught kids talking about their ‘bromance’ and had to chivvy them along, but they weren’t wrong.
Kerr’s smile split his face, and he rocked forward, chuckling, while Eddie patted his back and smirked.
‘What are they like?’ Lissa arched a brow, shaking her head. ‘Kerr, you’re worse than the kids.’ She threw him a fake glower.
‘Blame him.’ He pointed at Eddie.
‘Me?’ Eddie pulled a completely angelic face.
‘They’re impossible to work with,’ Mirren added, sitting down with a mug of coffee.
‘I resent that.’ Kerr folded his arms, then started laughing again.
Mirren’s cheeks went a little pink, and Sam adjusted his blazer.
Kerr had what the kids called ‘the rizz’.
He was tall, dark, handsome, fun, smiley, kind, and basically everyone’s ideal man it seemed.
He certainly attracted a lot of attention, though he never seemed to notice, or maybe he was just so used to it he didn’t care.
The door swung open, and Clara swept in with Polly, cheeks flushed as though she’d been running. She closed the door with that usual bright smile of hers and cast him a little wave as she glanced around looking for an empty seat.
‘I thought I was late,’ she said to the room at large.
‘Not as late as our overlord.’ Kerr checked his phone, then glanced at the empty seat on his left. Clara gave him a tiny smile and blinked before edging in and sitting next to him. Polly took the one on her other side.
‘Why are we here?’ Lissa mumbled. ‘And no sign of Gil or Adele.’
‘Adele was on the phone to a parent.’ Sam’s eyes trailed across to Clara and Kerr. He noticed the way her gaze flicked briefly toward Kerr, and she blinked. Yep. She was another one under his spell.
‘Who was the parent?’ Lissa frowned. ‘Not that poor Isabella girl? She’s not in my class, but that was such a sad thing to happen.’
‘Oh, absolutely. Just dreadful.’ The girl’s father had died just after Christmas, and she hadn’t been back to school since.
Sam understood the pain only too well. He’d been in his early twenties when his dad died, and although it was more than twenty years ago now, not a day went by when he didn’t think about him or remember him.
‘But it wasn’t her. It was Max Lyndell.’
‘Oh, him.’ Lissa let out a low groan. ‘If anyone’s heading directly from school and into a cell, it’s Max.’
‘He’s definitely not the easiest.’ Thankfully Sam didn’t have him in his class this year, though as principal teacher of English, he had to deal with many complaints.
His gaze settled on Clara again, taking in the way her irises burned when she looked at Kerr, then she smiled a little over brightly.
She blinked, and her eyes met Sam’s. He gave her a half smile, and she returned it, looking almost shy, or perhaps feeling she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t.
‘I do apologise.’ Adele stormed in. ‘Clara, we need to talk tomorrow about a certain pupil.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Sure.’
Clara was the principal guidance teacher, and really, there couldn’t be anyone better suited to that role. She was so smiley and warm that Sam couldn’t imagine any of the pupils not liking her.
‘Gil’s been held up talking to the council’s head of education,’ Adele went on.
‘And he’d like me to speak to you. I’m really so sorry about keeping you waiting, but you’re all going to want to hear this.
’ She made a pained expression and brushed something from her slick black trousers.
She’d teamed them with heels and a sharp white jacket that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the catwalk.
Her black curls were loosely pinned back to the side with a clip, and her lips were crimson.
She had a commanding presence, but she looked unusually edgy.
Clara frowned at her, clutching a thick notebook stuffed with papers and a green pen with a bendy end and something that looked a bit like a koala bear hanging from it.
Sam grinned. That was so her. She crossed her legs and adjusted the skirt of her blue dress.
It had tiny white flowers on it and looked like a spring garden.
‘Unfortunately, in two weeks’ time, we’re getting a visit from His Majesty’s Inspectors.’
Everyone groaned.
‘Indeed.’ Adele let out a sigh. ‘Gil is going to give you a proper briefing tomorrow, but just so that you’re all aware, they’ll be here for the first week in March.’
‘Dang it,’ Eddie said. ‘I was hoping I’d be retired before they showed face again.’
‘I hope they don’t come to my class when I’ve got Max,’ Mirren said.
‘Same,’ Isaac muttered.
‘Try not to worry about that,’ Adele said. ‘We’re doing what we can to figure out what’s best for everyone.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘Now, I know you’re all keen to get away, so I’ll let you go.’
Getting two weeks’ warning was different from the English system, which Sam was used to, and he wasn’t sure it was a good thing.
Eddie pinged a teaspoon on the side of his mug and cleared his throat. ‘Before you go, can I have your attention, please? Just before you all leave, there’s one more thing, and this will definitely cheer you all up.’
Kerr hid his face in his hands and shook his head.
‘I’ll hand you over to Kerr, who has a very special announcement to make about something that happened at half term. Had I known about this earlier, you could have announced it on the stage.’ Eddie clapped his back.
Kerr shot Eddie a playful glare, but it quickly melted into a grin. ‘Ok.’ Kerr raised his hands in mock surrender. ‘I, er, yes. Georgie and I…’ he paused, glancing around the room, ‘got engaged on Valentine’s Day!’
‘Yay!’ Finlay McBride, the P.E. teacher, sent up a cheer, and others joined him.
Kerr grinned, his cheeks a little pink under his stubble. He glanced at Eddie, who gave him a side hug.
‘Aw, congratulations, Kerr!’ Lissa clapped her hands, her face lit up with a huge smile. ‘That really has cheered me up. Have you got a ring? Any photos?’
‘Er, yeah.’ Kerr pulled his phone from his pocket and swiped through his photos.
‘Ooh, let’s see.’ Clara turned to him and smiled, but Sam saw what Kerr didn’t. Her eyes, usually so bright and sparkly, were flat.
Kerr angled his phone, and she peered at the picture.
‘Stunning. And she’s so pretty.’
‘And she’s waiting for him,’ Eddie said. ‘So, let’s all get out of here.’
As Kerr stood, he passed the phone across to Lissa.
‘Gorgeous!’ she cooed, holding it out so Sam could see too.
‘Congratulations.’ Sam passed the phone to Isaac. As it made its way around the table, Sam’s focus shifted back to Clara. She was still smiling, but she was flexing her fingers and fiddling with them.
‘I’ll, er, need to dash.’ She patted Kerr on the arm with a quick smile. ‘Congrats again, but I need to go. I don’t want to leave Skye much longer.’
‘Sure, no worries.’ Kerr gave her a return smile.
She pressed her lips together, still maintaining her happy face, but either she was moved to tears by the news or she wasn’t loving it as much as she was making out.
‘See you tomorrow, duckling.’ Lissa waved to her.
‘And you.’ Clara’s gaze flicked from her back to Kerr, and she gave a final wave before slipping out of the door.
‘I should head off too.’ Sam packed up his notes. ‘I promised Kaleb a run tonight.’
‘Enjoy.’ Lissa patted his arm. ‘And try not to think about the inspection… no need to worry yet.’ She pulled a grimace, indicating that she was already in an advanced state of panic.
‘I’ll try not to. See you all tomorrow.’ He lifted his backpack and headed into the corridor.
He scanned the length and spotted Clara at the far end.
She couldn’t be going straight home if she was going that way.
Maybe she was getting something from her room.
Sam checked his watch and sighed. He didn’t really have time to spare, but he had a weird feeling, and he knew if he went straight home and did nothing, he’d regret it and not be able to rest.