The Monarch Room

by Danielle James

  “Rome, don’t worry. I didn’t say anything to indicate a relationship. I played it cool. No worries.” He finished his beer and looked at me for a while. I sat silently on the other side of the room. “What’s wrong?”

  “Matt, do you think I’m fucked up for falling for Zuri?”

  “It’s not ideal and anyone else would tell you that it was fucked up. She’s your student and she’s seventeen.”

  “What would you say though?”

  “If I didn’t know Zuri and if I didn’t know you…I’d say it was fucked up too. Zuri isn’t like a lot of the other seniors though. She’s on a different level and you’re not a predator. You’re a good guy that happened to fall for a girl he didn’t realize was a year too young. It’s bad timing.

  Love is love though. When it’s your turn to fall, you fall. You and Zuri fell.”

  I nodded my head and took in what he said. He was right. The timing of falling for Zuri was awful. If I’d met her just a year from the moment in the hallway, life would have been perfect. I would have found the girl of my dreams.

  Now, I was in so much hot water I couldn’t see straight. All because I couldn’t hold myself back.

  “Maybe I should have waited to be with her,” I said, staring into the distance.

  “You could have. You didn’t though and now you have to stand by that choice, Rome. You and Zuri both made a mutual choice.”

  “I know. I just hope I didn’t fuck things up for her with her dad. He’s a real dick. He talks to her like she’s nothing and I hate it. I’m sure she’s on his shit list after hearing about all this. I wish I could protect her from it.”

  “You can’t. She doesn’t have much longer to be there with him. When she turns eighteen, she’s going to leave.”

  “I know but in the meantime, she’s stuck there with a man that verbally abuses her and treats her like shit. She doesn’t deserve that. Nobody does.”

  Matt nodded in agreement and shrugged. “I don’t know, Rome…I think everything will work out for the better. I know it’s dicey right now but it won’t stay this way.”

  “Thanks, Matt. Hey, how are you and Eve?” I asked. A smirk found its way to my lips and he laughed, tossing his head back.

  “I don’t think there is a me and Eve . We’re…fucking. That’s it. I can’t keep creeping around The Moreau Estates. I know that much. It’s stressful.” He grabbed another beer from the kitchen, tossed me one, and sat down on the couch with a hefty sigh.

  “How do you sneak around with Palmer in the house all the time?”

  “He’s not in the house all the time. Sometimes he goes off for nights at a time and we have the place to ourselves but when he’s home we have to sneak around. I don’t like it but I’ll take her however I can get her. She’s addictive.” I knew the feeling. “No need to tell me I’m fucked up. I already know.”

  “Maybe that’s why we’re friends. We’re both good at getting into fucked up situations with women,” I offered, raising my bottle in the air.

  “No denying that. Are you coming back to work tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there. I think Palmer wanted me out of the way so he could interview you.” Matt nodded and finished his second beer then fumbled around for his phone when it began to ring. I could tell it was Eve by the way his entire demeanor changed.

  The second he ended the call he was on his feet, telling me he’d see me at work in the morning. I slapped hands with him and wished him luck because I knew he was walking into the devil’s den. I’d be walking into my own devil’s den tomorrow morning.

  **

  It felt weird without Zuri being in the Monarch Room with me. I’d grown used to looking at her, feeling her closeness, hearing her laughter and smart remarks. Without her, it was a boring mass of minutes that ticked by at a snail’s pace.

  I perked up when students began filtering into the school. My eagerness died down when I saw Palmer planted at the mouth of my hallway, stationed there like an officer. Like he was going to catch Zuri coming into my class ass-naked or something.

  Krissy walked in and went to her locker, unpacking her backpack while glancing at me discreetly. I smiled at her and waved and she waved back before making her way over to me. “Mr. Clermont, can I ask you something?” She said so Palmer could hear. I let her in my room and she looked around before leaning in. “Riri is coming in a few seconds so I’m gonna be the buffer while you two do…whatever you need to do. Nothing crazy though.” I nodded my understanding.

  “Okay, Miss Lucas. I can help you with that. I’ll talk to Wilmore,” I said loud enough for the principal to hear.

  My eyes were drawn to her mocha skin and mink brown eyes the moment I saw her walk in. Everything slowed down. Time moved to the thump of my heart, it seemed.

  Zuri took her time putting things in her locker. She never carried much but I figured she didn’t want to call attention to herself in case she was rushing. When she walked into the classroom, I stood near the door, careful not to move too quickly. I still needed to get to her before the class filled up with students though. Krissy and Zuri peppered the air with laughter, making it sound like any other classroom on the hallway.

  Palmer was still there watching from the corner of his eye. I moved further into my room and gave Zuri a hug. It was quick but it sufficed.

  The way she stared at me made my chest tight. I saw so much sadness in her eyes. I wondered what happened after we got off the phone. “Miss Okolo, is everything okay?”

  “As okay as it can be, I guess. Family problems.”

  “Is everything okay in the home? Do we need to set up a conference?” I knew Zuri sensed the double meaning to our conversation.

  “No, Mr. Clermont. Everything is fine. There’s no need to do that. This is regular, everyday stuff.”

  “You’ll let me know if I need to intervene, right?” My eyes pled with her.

  “Right.” She nodded. I reached out and held her hand for a brief second and she smiled warmly. I liked seeing that smile.

  “Okay, I gotta get to class,” Krissy said, sucking in a breath. “I’ll see you at lunch Riri.” They hugged and Krissy whispered something in Zuri’s ear then disappeared. Brittany Sawyer walked in next. She wore a grin from ear to ear when she saw me.

  “Mr. Clermont, I didn’t know if you were coming back,” she sighed with her hand over her heart.

  “Miss Sawyer, it’s only been one day. I had a sub. It happens.” I sat behind my desk and glanced at Zuri. I still felt sadness pouring off her and it wasn’t just because she missed me. We’d been apart for days before. This was nothing.

  It should have been nothing.

  It felt different though.

  “Kids were saying some awful things about you Mr. Clermont but I set them straight. I told them you’d never mess around with a student.” Brittany leaned over my desk trying her best to show off her cleavage. I stared into her eyes and frowned.

  “Take your seat, Miss Sawyer.”

  “Well, anyway, I’m glad you’re back.” She sat down and crossed her legs.

  The entire class period, I made it a point not to look at Zuri but I could feel her every move. With thirty minutes left to spare, principal Palmer walked in and took a seat in the back of the room near the monarch mural on the brick wall.

  “Hello, Principal Palmer, nice to see you today.” I gave him a phony smile and a nod.

  “Good morning, Clermont. I just came to sit in on the last part of your class.” He looked at Zuri who was busy working on a watercolor painting of a man walking down the street. We were focusing on the movement of the background.

  I asked the class to paint a picture where the background was in motion also. Most of them chose to paint a city background with moving cars and people. Zuri chose a man walking alone in a snowstorm.

  I wanted to sit beside her and talk to her about her choice but I knew it would seem like I was showing her special attention. I was honestly curious though. “Good choice, M
iss Okolo,” I said, walking by her desk.

  “Thank you,” she smiled.

  “Nice work on those cars, Miss Sawyer.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Clermont,” she purred. I hated the way her words sounded. They were too sultry. She’d have Palmer thinking I was screwing the entire student body.

  I was only partially relieved when the bell rang signifying the end of class. Everyone turned in their papers by clipping them to a clothesline running across the back of the room so the paint could dry. Zuri left with a few other students and Brittany left last.

  Once I was alone with Palmer, he sighed and shook his head. “Roman, this entire thing is a mess. I’ve interviewed several other teachers and haven’t heard anything too alarming which is good but Dr. Okolo is calling for your termination.

  My mouth turned to sand.

  “Okay, does that means he gets what he wants? Didn’t you inform him that an investigation had to be conducted and finished before a decision was made?”

  “I did, Mr. Clermont but Dr. Okolo is a very prominent man in the Aspen Grove family and we want to keep him happy. Honestly, it does look bad. It wouldn’t be a terrible idea to find other employment.”

  I stared into Palmer’s eyes, making him shift around and look down at his shiny, expensive loafers. “All I’m hearing is that since Okolo is rich, he gets his way.” Students filed into the classroom and I composed myself for a moment.

  “Come see me before you leave today, Mr. Clermont.” He exited quickly and I went on about my day, trying to teach without my impending termination looming in the back of my mind. It didn’t work.

  **

  “Roman, I don’t want you to think I’m being unnecessarily tough on you. This accusation isn’t one we take lightly though.” I sat in Principal Palmer’s office after school let out, trying to face the inevitable music.

  “I get that. I’m not trying to diminish the importance of the situation. I’m just wondering why the accusation from a woman that you’ve never seen before in your life warrants such haste. Also, why is it that when Okolo says jump, you say how high?” I couldn’t exactly stand rooted in my lie of not sleeping with Zuri for much longer.

  I thought about my situation with her all day long and realized that I had to deal with whatever consequences I got. Matt was right, Zuri and I both made clear choices. The blowback was ours to deal with. Besides, I’d take termination over jail any day.

  Zuri was worth whatever bullshit came my way. I only wanted her.

  It didn’t mean that I wouldn’t question Palmer’s motives though. I knew he wasn’t letting me go because it was the morally upstanding thing to do. He was letting me go to appease Okolo.

  “Dr. Okolo is a respected member of our community as well as a respected contributor to Aspen Grove High. So, yes, if he makes a suggestion, especially one concerning a teacher and his child, his suggestion is taken heavily into consideration.”

  We stared at each other in a stand-off of sorts until I let out a chuckle, smoothing my hand over my chin. “Okay, Palmer. When do you want me to leave? Should I do it before winter break and leave my students hanging or just blind-side them after winter break?”

  “Don’t be dramatic, Clermont. I’m sure you’ve worked jobs your entire life. This one should mean nothing. Go do whatever people do when they need jobs.” He flicked his hand at me like I was a pest and I stood to my feet.

  “You are aware that you have a job, right, Ray? This office, this school, and your title all indicate you have a job. A nine to five at that.”

  “I choose to fulfill students. It’s a choice to make the world a better place. I don’t need a job like you do.” I laughed and nodded my head in response. Maybe I was better off without that stuffy job anyway. “Put in your notice immediately and inform your students as you wish. I’m sorry things turned out this way, Roman. You were a great teacher.”

  “Yeah, just not wealthy enough, evidently.” I walked out of his office, slamming the door. I didn’t have time to process my thoughts about anything that transpired because my phone was ringing. I didn’t get to it the first time but it rang again directly afterward.

  It was my father. I wondered if something was wrong with River. “Hey, Dad. Is everything okay?” I asked in a panic.

  “River is fine. I need to speak with you face-to-face, son.”

  “What happened?” I rushed to my classroom and locked up so I could head straight to my parents’ house.

  “I had Michelle subpoenaed today. We’ll talk more when you arrive.” He ended the call, forcing my mind to run wild with possibilities. Maybe she wanted to voluntarily give up custody of River in exchange for a set amount of money every month? I had high hopes as I raced toward my parents.

  The moment I walked in, Maurice handed me a champagne flute. Maybe there was a cause for celebration. “Dad, what’s up? Where’s River?”

  “He’s with your mother. They went toy shopping.”

  “Because he always needs more toys.”

  “Of course,” my father smiled. “Nothing but the best for my grandson.”

  “What happened when you had Michelle subpoenaed?” I asked, bringing the flute to my lips.

  “Ah, yes. Well, I was patiently waiting to hear the news that she’d been served and instead I got a call that she was found dead. My guy went to Michelle’s last known location. Some house in the trashiest part of town. I mean absolutely run down. I don’t know how people live that way.”

  “Dad. Get to the point,” I grumbled.

  “Oh, yes. He knocked, nobody answered. He tried the knob and it opened right up. Imagine that. Who would ever leave their door unlocked in a neighborhood like that? Anyway, he found two dead bodies. One of them was Michelle. She still had the needle in her arm.”

  I was numb. I didn’t know how or what to feel.

  “She told me she was going to a party. That’s the last thing I remember.” I rubbed my face and stared at the floor.

  “A party? I guess they enjoyed themselves to death, huh?”

  “Do you have anything in your chest? Any kind of heart? River’s mother is dead. She was a shitty mother but now I have to explain this to him.”

  “Roman, lighten up. This just made everything a hell of a lot easier for you. I’m sorry I don’t have compassion for a druggy that let my grandson put needles in her arm. I’m sorry I don’t care that the poison she injected into herself finally did its job. If you want to let your heart bleed for her, then you go right ahead. I’m sure River won’t miss her and he’s better off.” He shook his head at me like I was ridiculous.

  “My heart is not bleeding for her. Fuck her. I just don’t know how to tell River.”

  “Take him somewhere nice and let him know. It doesn’t have to be such a heavy thing. River asks me every morning if he’ll have to go back with her. He was terrified of being taken away from us.”

  “From me . He was terrified of being taken away from me , Dad.”

  “You don’t honestly think that you’re going to cut us off again after telling us about River, do you?”

  “I don’t know,” I sighed. “I don’t really know anything right now. I need to think.”

  “I understand, son.” He placed a heavy hand on my shoulder and grew quiet. The moment neither of us was speaking, my brain ran rampant with thoughts.

  With Michelle out of the way, River was mine and my life just got a hell of a lot easier. I hated that I thought of Michelle’s involvement in River’s life as an inconvenience. I also hated that she’d already fucked my son’s head up at such a young age. I couldn’t deny the fact that he was better off without her.

  “Roman, how are things with Zuri? Is the principal being fair in his investigation?”

  “No, he’s not being fair but it’s fine. I’m going to have to find another job. Zuri’s dad wants me gone. The thing is, I don’t think it’s because he’s upset that there’s a suspicion I’ve been with her. I think he’s exercising his power. Principa
l Palmer is no better. He’s just as classist as Okolo but he’s also an ass kisser on top of it all.”

  “Palmer?” Dad frowned and stroked his chin like he was trying to put the pieces together.

  “You may know him. He probably runs in your circles,” I rolled my eyes.

  “I’m sure he doesn’t. Not if he’s a principal,” he laughed. “his name sounds familiar though. Who are his parents?”

  “Not sure. Don’t care.” I settled into my seat, letting my spine relax. Michelle was dead. She was out of the picture. River would be well taken care of, I’d personally see to it. I’d raise him the best I could.

  After hearing my father mull over Palmer’s name and why it sounded familiar, I was reminded of Eve. I lifted a finger in the air and he paused to look at me. “His wife knew our family immediately.” He looked impressed and nodded his head.

  “Who is his wife?”

  “Geneviève Palmer. She spoke French fluently. Even had an accent.”

  “Geneviève…Palmer ? No, no, no. Her last name is not Palmer. Is she tall with dark hair and a stare that can see straight into your soul?”

  “Um, I wasn’t paying attention to her stare…but yes, she’s tall with dark hair and gray eyes. She’s the color of honey.”

  “Moreau.” Dad snapped his fingers and pointed at me. “Geneviève Moreau. Her father owns the Moreau Development Corporation. I’m very familiar with him. I must have heard him talk about Palmer before. That’s why his name sounded familiar.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I leaned forward and let out an involuntary laugh. “Wait, Geneviève Moreau ? As in the Moreau Estates?”

  “Yes.” Dad gave a nod. “Her family’s legacy runs deep. They’re good people. She ended up marrying a principal? What on Earth? Her father must loathe that man.”

  “So Eve is the one with all the money? Not Palmer?” My sides hurt from laughing. At that point it made sense. He was able to move in the circles he moved in because of his wife. That’s why she was so unimpressed at the faculty party and why he was so eager to be a show-off.