Chapter Thirty-One
Clara
The school car park was a flurry of activity as Clara pulled her car into it on Monday morning and searched for a space.
‘This is what happens when we’re late,’ Sam said.
‘We’re not late.’ Clara checked the time.
‘Late for us. We’re normally the first ones in.’
She smiled. The extra-curricular activities that morning were much more fun than an extra coffee. But when Sam had got an upset message from Kaleb, they’d been held up even longer.
Apparently, Kaleb had argued with his mum about moving in the future. Sam had attempted to smooth it out by text, but she could tell he was still anxious.
When they got out of the car, Clara adjusted her bag on her shoulder, casting a glance at Sam.
‘Are you ok?’ She raised her eyebrows.
‘Fine, yeah. I’m just worried for the boys. Kaleb said Olive had told them she applied for something last week. A permanent job… but he didn’t say where. What if it’s London or somewhere even further?’
She took his hand and squeezed it. ‘I’m so sorry, but I’ll do anything you need.’ Letting go of his hand, she glanced around. ‘Oops, people will be suspicious.’
‘So what? I’m ready to confess.’
Before she could respond, Lissa’s loud, exuberant voice rang out.
‘Hello, my favourite pair!’
Clara barely had time to react before Lissa barrelled into them, flinging her arms around both of them in a dramatic hug. Sam staggered a little.
‘Lissa.’ Clara laughed. ‘You’re going to suffocate us.’
‘Worth it.’ Lissa released them and stepped back, her eyes sparkling with unfiltered glee. ‘Did the two of you just get out the same car? Is there something I should know about?’
Clara looked up at Sam.
‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘We’re together.’
‘Oh my god!’ Lissa screamed and did a wild dance. ‘I knew it. You two are so made for each other.’
Sam shot Clara a glance, and they both burst out laughing.
‘We haven’t told anyone yet.’ Clara patted Lissa’s back as she seemed about to choke with glee.
‘Oh, you won’t have to.’ Lissa waved a hand. ‘Your faces say it all.’
‘Really?’ Sam looked a little shocked.
‘Oh for sure. Everyone will be thrilled. This will be the best thing that’s happened in the school since they replaced the dodgy kettle with the urn. Let’s shout it from the rooftops, girl.’
‘Er… let’s not,’ Clara said, though the corners of her mouth twitched at Lissa’s uncontainable excitement.
Sam raised an eyebrow. ‘Probably not our style.’
‘But it’s mine, baby.’ Lissa shot him a finger gun. ‘If you let me loose, I’ll start with a subtle announcement over the tannoy. Or, wait, how about a flash mob? That would be spectacular.’
Clara laughed, shaking her head. ‘You’re crazy.’
‘You love it,’ Lissa countered with a wink. ‘But seriously, you have to tell everyone. People are going to figure it out anyway. Wouldn’t you rather take control of the narrative? And I’m available to MC. Just saying.’
‘We’ll manage,’ Clara said.
‘Suit yourselves,’ Lissa said. ‘But don’t come crying to me if you say nothing and the rumour mill turns it into something weird. Like secret stationery cupboard banging sessions.’
Sam rolled his eyes. ‘Seriously what? Does anyone?’
Lissa waggled her eyebrows. ‘Are you telling me that’s not what happened here?’
‘It certainly isn’t.’ Clara tugged Lissa towards the main doors. ‘Now behave yourself.’
‘You must know that’s not possible.’ Lissa winked at them.
As they entered the staff room, Clara’s eyes swept over the familiar faces. Isaac stood in the corner, looking a little spaced out, almost as if he wasn’t sure why he was there. He offered Clara a shy smile, which she returned with a wave.
‘Morning, my lovelies.’ Clara waved to everyone. She approached Isaac and put her hand on his arm. ‘You ok, my sweetheart?’
‘Yeah, fine, you?’
‘Good. How was your weekend?’
He frowned. ‘Entirely unspectacular.’
‘Oh dear.’
Mirren came over, tugging her long blonde hair into a ponytail. ‘I hate Mondays, especially when we have early meetings.’
‘So true,’ Clara agreed. ‘Though I assume this one is because the official inspection report is in.’
‘I guess so,’ Mirren said.
‘Morning, everyone,’ Gil’s authoritative voice cut through the chatter. Clara hadn’t even noticed him. ‘This won’t take long.’
The staff shuffled towards their seats. Clara took her seat next to Sam, Brenna on her other side and Isaac on Sam’s other side.
As Clara opened her notebook, Adele burst into the room, looking as utterly stunning as always.
Her warm brown skin glowed, and her black hair was pulled up in an elaborate updo.
She had on a gorgeous red dress, but with her current expression, it made her look kind of terrifying and very fiery.
‘Unbelievable.’ She stormed up to Gil and, without troubling to lower her voice, she went on.
‘That was Max Lyndell’s father on the phone again.
That man is driving me mad. I think if I have to see him before the end of term, I will actually kill him.
So just a quick heads up, that you might be a deputy down next year.
I’ll be rotting in a prison cell after being charged with homicide. ’
Gil was smirking as he nodded. ‘Ok, we’ll get this sorted.’
Clara exchanged a glance with Brenna.
‘Poor Adele,’ Clara said, watching her as she took her seat.
‘Yeah, nightmare.’ Brenna raised an eyebrow.
Clara didn’t get a chance to comment as the staffroom door opened, admitting a flurry of familiar faces, including Polly, Finlay and Matthew Gilchrist, the physics teacher.
‘Morning, all.’ Matthew’s voice carried across the room. ‘Sorry we’re a bit late.’
‘Take a seat,’ Gil said.
The door swung open yet again. This time, Kerr and Eddie came in joined at the hip, as always. There had been a time Clara was almost jealous of that friendship, but not now. As Kerr looked for a seat, his eyes swept the room, and for a moment they settled on Clara.
For a heartbeat, her breath caught in her throat.
She braced herself for the familiar flutter in her chest, the quickening of her pulse that had always accompanied Kerr’s presence.
But as his eyes moved on and she watched him chat easily with Eddie, she realised that…
nothing happened. Kerr was still handsome, but he was really nothing to her.
The man who was everything was sitting right beside her.
Slowly, almost experimentally, she leaned closer to Sam. She felt the solid warmth of his arm against hers, the subtle scent of his cologne wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. He glanced down at her, his lips tugging into a gentle smile.
‘You ok?’ he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.
Clara nodded. ‘Never better,’ she whispered back, and she meant it.
Across the room, Kerr caught her eye again and offered a friendly wave. Clara returned it easily, then waved to Eddie.
Sam’s phone buzzed, and Clara watched as he pulled it out. He frowned, his thumb swiping the screen, and she was certain it was Kaleb with more bad news.
A smile cracked his face, and his eyes sparkled. He passed the phone to Clara, and she read.
KALEB: So, you won’t believe this. Mum just had a call.
The job she applied for was with a local theatre company.
She didn’t think she’d get it, which was why she didn’t want to tell us where it was.
She wasn’t thrilled about me saying I didn’t want to move again, but I don’t think she really does either.
Now we won’t have to. Yayyy!!! It’s a different job than she usually does, but it’s a permanent contract!
!! Thank F**k (I never swear *angel emoji*) Better head into school. Have a good day.
‘Oh my god.’ Clara beamed at Sam. She wanted to grab him and hug him, laugh and cry, but she was all too aware of where they were, so she just kept smiling as she handed the phone back to him. ‘But that’s amazing.’
‘I know.’ His eyes were shining, and Clara had to resist hugging him so hard. ‘I mean, she could try to stop me seeing them, but I don’t think they’ll allow that.’
‘They won’t.’ She patted his arm. ‘They love you too much.’ And without saying it aloud, she let her eyes tell him that she did too.
‘Right, let’s get this show on the road,’ Gil called out, clapping his hands to bring the room to order, and Sam winked at Clara before looking at the headteacher.
‘Just a very quick chat to let you all know that the official inspection report is here. It’s all as we expected from the verbal feedback.
I’d even go so far as to say, it’s better.
Many of you are mentioned for the wonderful work you do, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the stellar job you all did both during the inspection and every day. ’
A ripple of chatter made its way around the room.
‘You’ll all receive email copies of the report today,’ Gil continued. ‘And we’ll also be sending it out to parents. There are a few areas that have been identified for development, and I’ll discuss these with the department heads during the week.’
Sam shifted beside Clara, his knee brushing against hers.
A little thrill burst through her at the contact, even as she fought to keep her expression neutral.
From the corner of her eye, she glanced at him, catching the slight quirk of his lips.
Nothing would stop them smiling today after that message from Olive.
‘Right, that’s all for now.’ Gil clapped his hands together. ‘Any other business anyone wants to discuss before you go to class?’
There was a moment of silence, and then—
‘Actually,’ Lissa’s voice piped up, a mischievous glint in her eye, ‘I think there might be someone – or two someones – who’d like to make an announcement.’
All eyes in the room swivelled towards her. Clara’s cheeks flushed hot, her heart hammering in her chest. She glanced at Sam, who looked equally caught off guard. He looked like he was chewing his tongue, possibly planning numerous ways to get Lissa back for this.
‘Oh, yes.’ Gil looked around, clearly wondering who and what.
‘Um.’ Clara raised her hand. ‘I assume you mean us?’ She eyeballed Lissa. ‘For which I’ll be having words with you later.’
‘Us?’ Gil frowned at her.
‘Yeah, me too.’ Sam raised his hand too. ‘We’re guilty of causing the intrigue.’
‘Intrigue?’ Adele blinked at the two of them. ‘Holy shit… Pardon my French. But are you two together?’
‘Guilty as charged,’ Sam said.
‘Very guilty.’ Clara looked at him and smiled.
‘But that’s amazing!’ Brenna squealed, leaning over and hugging Clara.
Finlay wolf-whistled and Clara laughed.
‘Way to go, man.’ Isaac clapped Sam on the shoulder. ‘That’s like… wild, but so nice.’
‘Aw.’ Polly got up and came over to hug them too once Brenna moved back. ‘I love this news.’
Clara laughed, hugging Polly.
‘Well…’ Gil shook his head. ‘That got more response than my announcement. But I’m not downcast. In fact, I’m downright delighted.’
Clara smiled at Sam. No one could be more delighted than her. Her heart was ready to burst with joy.
‘Congratulations to you both,’ Gil said. ‘Just don’t let it interfere with work.’
‘No danger,’ Sam said, though he gently nudged Clara. Yup, there was every danger, but Gil didn’t need to know that.
Looking up, she caught Kerr grinning at her. ‘Wow, you two. That’s so great.’ He nodded like a penny was dropping, and she knew he was thinking about the day last week when he’d seen them picnicking.
Hopefully she could go back to having an easy friendship with him now, minus the awkwardness. Because no matter what she’d once felt for him, it would never be anything compared to what she felt for Sam. He was her everything.
She’d first seen him in this room just last year. From day one, they’d been friends, and now to the year dot, they’d be so much more.
Gil dismissed them all, and Clara went to close the notebook on her lap. But before she did, she scribbled on it.
Sam and Clara, from friends to forever, and pushed it towards Sam. He grinned, put his hand out and rested it on her knee.
‘Forever,’ he whispered.