Chapter 15
Cienna
Getting to know the students in my classroom on the first day of school was one of my favorite parts about being a teacher, and despite this morning’s events, I did a decent job of focusing on my work.
Each child brought a new energy, and I loved learning about them and brainstorming how I was going to make their school experience memorable.
The only time my mind reverted to Reed was the few times Abigail spoke or when I’d see flashes of her auburn hair in my peripheral.
She was a quiet child who liked to observe before engaging with other students.
During our circle time, she was timid and didn’t share or make comments about the stories we read or the conversations we had.
When the children were excused for lunch, she dragged her feet while grabbing her lunch box, peeking around at the other children as they lined up with Michelle to walk to the cafeteria. Leia, Lunchables in hand, told her to bring Cheeto to lunch, and she looked up to me for permission.
“Of course,” I told her with a bright smile. “Foxes get hungry too.”
A heartwarming giggle slipped from her lips before she walked to the lunch line with Leia, happily squeezing her little stuffed friend by her side.
With the classroom quiet, my thoughts strayed to Reed. His eyes, his voice, his lips. Fuck him.
My trance was broken by the sound of Karen’s voice. “Cienna, do you have a moment?” The formality of her tone made me gulp down my breath. Earlier this morning, she was elated, a proud grandma sharing baby pictures. This Karen was in down-to-business mode, and it appeared I was the business.
I braced myself with a deep inhale as she waltzed through the classroom and settled on one of the tables facing me, motioning for me to join her. She flipped through a child’s file, a look on her face I couldn’t define. “I scheduled a parent-teacher meeting for us this afternoon.”
That’s easy enough.
Relief washed through me, letting my breath slow, until the question occurred to me. “Which child?”
Her face told me before she even named “Abigail Marsh.”
I tried to keep my composure while she continued to flip through her file. “Mr. Marsh has requested we meet to go over some concerns he has.”
In my lap, my fingers coiled into tight balls. Part of me wanted to unleash and tell Karen about the entire situation. She’d totally get it. Mr. Fucking Marsh could suck it.
Instead, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. The first day of school was not the day to unpack a shitload of drama on my boss. Her daughter just had a baby, and she barely flew home in time for the first day, her mind still in Grandmother land.
“I’m sorry we weren’t able to discuss this sooner. With Naomi going into labor…” She trailed off before clearing her throat. “The file is here if you have time. We’ll meet in the classroom at dismissal.”
All I could muster was “Mm-hmm, sounds good.”
“I know you can handle this, Cici,” she offered with a wink.
On shaky legs, I stood and walked out without another word.
How was this even happening? How would I face him without exploding expletives in my boss’s presence?
The promotion. How would this affect my candidacy?
Better yet, how was I still daydreaming of his lips on mine, even with all of this conference garbage churning in my stomach?