“Are we going to Margie’s?” His eyes light up.
“We’re going to pick up a pie for home.”
“A whole one?” His eyebrows lift. Usually, we’ll just have a slice each.
“Yup,” I nod, turning off the ignition.
River chooses the pie we get—a caramel apple pie with crumble on top. Margie’s smile is wider than usual, and I’m guessing she knows about Ada and me. Thankfully, she doesn’t say anything, and the bakery isn’t full yet, so we’re not caught in the middle of the gossip.
When we get home, I set two plates on the counter and serve River a glass of milk. I opt for a beer, some liquid courage to get me through this conversation.
“How was your day?” I ask once we each have a slice and are sitting next to each other.
“It was good.” He shrugs, taking a huge bite. Everything seems to have been normal.
“I’m glad. I need to talk to you about something.” I turn in my stool, so I’m facing him.
“Okay.” His eyebrows pinch together.
I take a deep breath. “This is difficult, but ask me any questions you want.”
“What’s wrong?” He drops the fork on the plate and furrows his eyebrows.
I run a hand across my face, then look at my son. He’s the combination of Tessa and me. I smile, holding back my emotions, and just let it all out.
“I have been dating someone.”
River’s face scrunches up. “Like a girlfriend?”
“Yeah,” I sigh. “I hadn’t said anything because I wanted to make sure I really liked her before you knew. Having a dad who is single could be tricky, buddy. I’m doing the best I can,” I excuse myself without him even needing me to.
“Who is it?” He tilts his head, taking a bite of pie.
“That’s the tricky part… It’s Ms. Ward.”
River’s eyes widen, and his mouth drops, some bits of his bite falling out of his mouth.
“Seriously?” He smiles, and it’s my turn to be surprised.
“Yes,” I nod.
“Whoa…”
“Are you mad? Do you have any questions?” I wait for him to say something else.
“I’m not mad, Dad. I think it’s cool. I love Ms. Ward.” I frown, knowing this next part is going to be more difficult than telling him I’m dating his teacher.
“You see… There’s an issue though. Because I’m dating her, the principal thinks it’s best if you were in the other second-grade class.”
“What?” he calls out before I can continue talking.
“I know, but listen to me. Since she is a part of our personal lives, she can’t be your teacher. It’s against school rules. You’ll still be able to see your friends, and I’ll make sure you get lots of playdates. I couldn’t do anything about it, kiddo, or I would’ve.” I hope he understands. “Even if Ms. Ward and I would’ve broken up, they’d still move you.”
“You broke up?” His nose scrunches.
“No,” I shake my head. Guilt washes over me. Had I kept my distance, none of this would be happening. But then I see Ada’s smile and her carefree laugh in my mind and know there’s no way I could go without that in my life.
“I like Ms. Ward. She’s pretty.” River blushes, and I can’t help but smile.
“You're not mad?”
River shakes his head, but he’s not convincing me with the way his frown has become permanent.
“What’s wrong, then?” I eye him carefully.
“I’m nervous. What if those kids aren’t as nice? What if the teacher is mean?”
I stand and pull him toward me. I wrap my arms around my son and inhale a stabilizing breath.
“The kids will be just as nice. Everyone in Springville has been nice to us so far. I know it’s not easy being the new kid in a small town where everyone knows each other, but you’re smart, funny, and kind. Soon, you’ll have me begging to take you on all these playdates.”
“Dad,” River whines. “Not playdates…” I chuckle.
“You know what I mean. I love you more than anything.” I stand back and hold his face, smiling at him. “You’re my priority. That means your wellbeing and your happiness. As for Mrs. Banks, I’m sure she’s a great teacher.”
River nods, pensive. After a few beats, he looks up at me. “They’ll like me?”
“Of course. Hey, I don’t know any kid cooler than you. The same way you made friends in Ms. Ward’s class, you’ll make even more friends now. Just because you’re switching classes doesn’t mean you can’t keep the same friends. Maybe in third grade, you and Pete won’t be in the same class. That doesn’t mean you’ll stop being friends. It’s the same now.” I want River to know he can harvest friendships regardless of sitting next to them in a class or seeing them once a week.
“Yeah, maybe Pete can come over one day. He can see Blaze, too.”
“I think that’s a great idea.” I rub my hand through his hair, smiling when he laughs.
“I love you, River. Always remember that.”
“Love you, too, Dad.”
“Are you okay?”
He twists his hands together. “I think so.”
“Just make sure to talk to me about how you’re feeling and what’s going on at school, okay?”
“I promise.”
I hug him tightly, kissing the top of his head, and we finish our pie. I promise that after dinner, he could have another slice.
I’m thankful this conversation went better than I expected. I just hope that everything I told him is true once Monday comes around.
River helps me prepare dinner as we listen to music, and he asks me questions about Ada. I’m surprised when he suggests we have her over for dinner one day. I’m sure she’d love to know how accepting he is of our relationship. It shouldn’t surprise me since he got along with her right away, but it’s one thing when she’s your teacher and another when she’s your dad’s girlfriend.
After dinner, we check in on Blaze, feed him, and then River and I go over his homework. River’s an independent child, and he’s smart as heck, so he usually flies through his homework on his own.
I check my phone once I put him to bed and notice a message from Ada. Unlocking my phone, I call her instead of writing back.
“How’d it go?” she asks as soon as she picks up the call.
“Good,” I sigh. “Better than I thought. He’s nervous about being in a different class, but I think he’s happy about us.”
“Really?” I hear the surprise in her voice.
“Yeah,” I chuckle. “We talked about it, he asked questions, and I told him he’d still see his friends. I’m hoping he does adjust well, though. Mrs. Carroll said they’d be supporting us throughout the process.”
“She will. She’s a great principal.”
“How are you?” I know she had a rough day yesterday.
“I’m okay. More people know what’s going on, so some teachers were asking me questions I rather not have to answer. Others encouraged me. I did avoid the grocery store today. I didn’t want to hear any more gossip like yesterday. Not to mention, my mom called asked questions.”
“This’ll blow over,” I assure her.
“I know it will. I hope it doesn’t affect River or you, though.”
Her concern for us always squeezes my heart. “Babe, we’ll be okay.”
“You sure?”
“I’m positive.” I switch subjects to something that will hopefully make her smile. “River asked if you could come over for dinner one night.”
“Really?” she perks up. “He said that?”
“He sure did. I think he likes the idea of still being able to see you and spend time with you.”
“I love that kid,” she says softly. My smile widens.
“I want to see you,” I let out quickly. “And I guess now we don’t have to hide,” I smirk.
“We don’t, but…”
“But what?” I sit up straighter.
“Is it a good idea?
If people are talking?”
“Ada, who cares if they’re talking. If they want something to talk about, we’ll give it to them.”
“You’re crazy,” she laughs.
“About you. I wish you were here so I could hold you.”
“Me too,” she sighs.
“So it’s set, we have a date this weekend. I’ll ask Hunter if he can watch River, or I’ll call the sitter.” I’m thankful I have a few options, although I’m sure River would love to see Paisley.
“I guess we do.” I bet anything she’s biting down on her smile.
“This is gonna work out. Maybe it’s for the best that everyone knows, so we don’t have to hide.” I didn’t like the idea that I couldn’t be open with her in public. I much prefer to be able to hold her hand, dance with her, keep my arm around her shoulder.
“Maybe you’re right.”
“This weekend,” I remind her.
“Yes, sir.” She laughs when I growl.
Ada is definitely a shining light in my life. With River knowing about our relationship, I’m diving headfirst. Hopefully, she’s right there with me.
chapter 15
Ada
When I pick up my class from lunch, I notice some kids talking to River. He has his head cast down, shaking it. I go on alert, rushing toward them. When my students see me, they disperse, but I make a mental note of who was talking to him.
“What’s going on?” I bend down to look at River’s face. He hides from me, turning away. “River? What happened?”
“Nothing,” he says roughly, but I hear his voice tremble.
I instruct my students to line up against the wall, giving them a death glare so that they all obey. I pull River to the side, signaling to the cafeteria lady that I’ll be quick. She nods and keeps an eye on my class. My students should know by now that if I get one complaint, they’ll lose privileges.
“What happened, sweetie?” I tilt River’s face up, and my heart stops when I see tears swimming in his eyes. “Oh, River.” I hug him, running a soothing hand up and down his back.
“You have to tell me what happened.”
“Some kids were telling me…” He takes a deep breath. “That the only reason I get good grades is because you’re my dad’s girlfriend,” he sniffles. “Is that true?”
“Absolutely not. River, you’re such a bright boy. You work hard, you study, and you pay attention in class. Your grades have nothing to do with your father. I treat you the same as I do any other student. You’ll see how you’ll get just as good grades or better in Mrs. Banks’ class.”
“Really?” His hopeful eyes look at me.
I nod with a smile. “Yeah, kiddo.” I breathe in and pray that this is true. “You’re smart. Don’t listen to what they say. I’ll talk to them.”
“No!” He jumps. I furrow my eyebrows, but before I can question him, he says, “I don’t want them to call me a tattletale, too.”
I relax and smile. “They won’t, trust me.” They know better by now than to go against what I say. I love my students, but I don’t skimp on the discipline.
River resigns and nods.
“Are you better?”
“I think so.”
“Let’s go with the class.”
I lead him toward the line and eye my class with a raised eyebrow. They all widen their eyes and face forward. I’ve never had such a silent line than I do today. Once we’re back in class, I explain that it’s not their right to make assumptions. If they have questions, they come to me, but I won’t tolerate them treating a friend with hurtful words or actions.
With mumbled okays, we get back to work. I sigh, hoping that makes a difference. River still seems upset, and guilt is starting to eat at me. It’s not his fault two adults couldn’t stay away from each other.
…
It’s been a few days since the River incident, and it’s his last day in my class. Sawyer seemed okay when I explained what happened, but I can’t shake it. Parents have been talking, and I’m tired of it. I just want things to go back to the way they were. I’ve always treated children equally. Some of these parents are friends of mine, old classmates, it’s the way it is in a small town. When Sawyer brought up going out on Saturday, I brushed it off. He noticed something was off, but I don’t want to give people in town more ammunition to shoot our way. I’ve been quieter than usual, avoiding him these past few days.
Libby and Mackenzie went over my house yesterday to talk to me, and they assured me everything would work out once River was in the other class. I hope they’re right because the idea of him not making new friends and losing the ones he has because of me is more than I can handle.
I’m mindlessly stirring a cup of coffee in the teacher’s lounge during a break when Karen walks in, looking smug. I can’t stand her. I honest to God wish she’d quit and leave town. Her smile drips with falsehood, more than those ugly yellow highlights she thinks are stylish. Newsflash, Karen, you’re thirty-three with the fashion sense of a retired ninety-year-old in Florida.
“Next time you’re going to make out with your boyfriend, make sure the door’s fully closed.” Her voice breaks through my judgment, and my eyes snap to hers. Her smile turns evil now.
Something about that rubs me the wrong way. No one knows we kissed, only that we’re dating. Mrs. Carroll never mentioned a kiss, just a relationship with a parent. I thought maybe someone saw us when we went to the drive-in diner, or when he came over my house.
I narrow my eyes, and hers widen, realizing her mistake. I don’t hold back.
“You bitch,” I seethe. It all comes together. “You were the last one to leave my class. You stayed by the door watching us? You listened to the entire conference?” Sawyer and I didn’t kiss until we finished. It wasn’t until I went to my desk to put River’s file away that we gave in to each other.
I think about our confidentiality rules, our code of ethics and something goes off inside of me, a mix of anger and disappointment that a fellow co-worker would do this regardless of our differences. Knowing another teacher was listening in on a private conference, whether Sawyer or another parent, makes my skin crawl. This might not be the first time she’s done this.
“That’s so wrong.” I shake my head, ignoring her devious smirk.
I walk away and head straight to the office.
“Mrs. Carroll,” I knock and open her door without waiting. “I’d like to speak with you and Mrs. Banks. Now.”
She must sense my anger because Mrs. Carroll simply nods and calls Mrs. Banks through the loudspeaker. It doesn’t take her more than a minute to walk into the office, her confidence slipped away.
I tell Mrs. Carroll what I just discovered. “It was her that told you about my relationship, right?” Our principal doesn’t deny it.
“She was listening in on our parent-teacher conference, something that is extremely confidential.” I cross my arms.
“You told me the door was wide open.” Mrs. Carroll eyes Karen.
I gape. “What? No! We kissed at the end, I’ll admit it. It was wrong, yes, but it didn’t interfere with my work. If I wanted to meet with him privately, I wouldn’t do it where I work.” I throw my hands in the air. Do they think I’m that stupid?
“Karen…” Mrs. Carroll looks at her with a stern expression. Good.
“I… I…” Karen’s words falter as she looks between the two of us, her eyes narrowing at me. I smirk just to push her further. “Fine! I stayed by the door and listened in.”
“You know we have a strict confidentiality rule. If Mr. Brooks finds out, he could sue if he so wishes. I can’t let that happen.”
Karen’s mouth drops, her plan clearly backfiring. She looks at me, pleading I don’t tell him anything. A Cheshire smile takes over my face. I have the upper hand, and I’m going to make her suffer.
She swallows thickly and returns her gaze to our principal, who looks at me. “Ms. Ward, please leave me alone with Mrs. Banks.”
I nod, letting Kare
n think the worst for a little while. She deserves it. Even if I did tell Sawyer, I highly doubt he’d sue. He’s not that kind of person.
“I have one request before I go.” Taking advantage that I have the upper hand, I say, “Next year, I want to transfer grades. I’ve worked alongside Mrs. Banks for years, and it’s been miserable. I change grades, or she does.”
Mrs. Carroll nods. “We’ll talk about that later.”
“Thank you. And one last thing.” I look at Karen and shake my head. “Your action is now hurting a child. I don’t know what kind of educator would go through such trouble to accomplish that. Despicable. I remind you that I treated your daughter and you with respect despite our differences. You call yourself a real teacher?” I shake my head in disgust.
I leave the office, blowing out a deep breath, and punching the air. No one can remove the huge smile from my face.
chapter 16
Sawyer
I pound on Ada’s door, not meaning to sound so harsh, but I need to talk to her. She’s been avoiding me and acting distant. I brought up our date, and she brushed me off as if it were no big deal. It’s a big fucking deal. I want her. I want to spend time with her. If she’s having second thoughts, I need her to tell me. Preferably to my face.
“Hey, where’s the fire?” She answers the door with a big smile on her face. I lean back, confused. Have I been overthinking her attitude?
“No fire just…” I comb my fingers through my hair.
“Come in.” She opens the door wider so I can step in. “What are you doing here?”
“Are…we okay?” I tilt my head and furrow my eyebrows.
Ada looks down at her clasped hands and nods. When her eyes meet mine, I see sadness reflected in them. My heart speeds up, and I hold back my demand for her to tell me what’s going on.
“I need you to talk to me. You’ve been acting weird.” I lift her chin and stare into those gorgeous blue eyes.
“I know. I’m sorry.” She reaches for my hand and pulls me toward the living room. “Come sit.”
My mind races as I sit next to her, waiting for her to speak. This conversation could go any which way.
Because of You : A single dad romance Page 8
