Tackling Love - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,24
is released?”
“Yes, please. I’m sure his family would like to be here when he‘s released.”
“Very good. Thank you, and have a nice evening.” The receptionist turns around and goes through another door leaving us alone.
“They are very cold, aren’t they?”
“I guess they have to be. Addiction isn’t a pleasant disease to treat. Now, how about you and I go and eat? Do you want to grab some takeout—”
“No! I made dinner, and it’ll be fine. All I’ll need to redo is the pasta, and that’s it.”
Colt grins at me. “Okay, sugar, let’s go home.”
He grabs my hand, and my heart melts some more at the mention of Colt calling my house, home.
Monday morning as I prepare for my class, Tony Wilson, the principal, knocks on my door. From the expression on his face, I can tell instantly he isn’t happy.
“Tony. Good morning.”
“Miss Hadley, how are you?”
At the formal tone in his voice, I feel my anxiety spike to all new heights. “Miss Hadley? I thought you and I were past formalities? Unless I’m wrong?” I reply cheerfully.
“It has been brought to my attention you are in a relationship with Colton Anders. The relationship you told me didn’t exist.”
My stomach falls to my toes as I try to understand what Tony has just said. “I beg your pardon?”
“I was sent an email from one of the parents showing you and Mr. Anders kissing. We can’t have any negative press showing the school in such a suggestive light. I’m afraid, Miss Hadley, as of this moment, you are suspended from teaching here until we can find a way around this… predicament.”
“What? No! I love my job. Who I date shouldn’t be an issue for the school.” Tears burn the backs of my eyelids, but I refuse to let them fall in front of this man.
“I did warn you, Skye. That first photo of you in the newspaper where Mr. Anders was practically naked didn’t help you at all. You have to see it from the board’s point of view. We don’t want to be associated with a known playboy who clearly doesn’t care about his public image, if he’ll allow those types of photos to appear in every newspaper from here to God knows where. I thought you had better morals than that.”
“Colt and I are in a relationship. I am not some crazed fan looking to get her picture plastered across the media. What we have is a lot more than a fling. Not that it’s any of your or the board’s business,” I snarl.
“I’m sorry, Miss Hadley, until the board says otherwise, you’re suspended. And as for it not being any of our business, you signed an agreement with us before you started. Perhaps you’ll take this time to reflect and think about your choices?”
A security guard, Charlie, walks into the room. My mouth falls open at his presence. I square my shoulders, pick up my bag, and look at Tony, no, Mr. Wilson, with all the professionalism I can muster.
I will NOT cry.
“This is completely unnecessary, and I will be fighting this decision. Could you please let my replacement know the children are working with numbers according to the class schedule I lodged with you.” I rush out of my classroom and head for the exit.
Charlie has to run to catch up with me. Once we are outside, he touches my elbow. “Are you all right, Miss Hadley?” asks Charlie in a sympathetic tone. He’s in his mid-fifties, and his job is only for show. There’s never been an incident at the school. To be perfectly honest, this is probably the only time he’s ever had to escort someone from the premises.
The tears that were threatening to fall topple over my eyelids and down my cheeks. “Oh, Charlie, what a mess.”
He places an arm around me and pats my shoulder. “He’s a jealous tool,” Charlie says soothingly.
“What?”
“Mr. Wilson. He’s had a thing for you for ages. After he got that email, he took it to the board last week.”
“He got the email last week? Do you know who sent it?” I ask, tears running down my cheeks.
“I’m not supposed to say, but it was Derek Geyser. Looked to me like he took the pictures on his phone. You appeared to be out at lunch, and I must say, you looked real pretty and happy in the pictures.”
“You saw them?”
“Yes, Miss Hadley. You going to be okay driving home?”
“Yes, Charlie, I’ll be fine and thank you. I’m so embarrassed,” I