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The curriculum for today was identifying colors, practicing printing their names, and starting seedlings for a science project. All that was just before lunch. The afternoon would consist of reading from a new book, the kids making masks of their favorite animal, some simple math, and playing a game if time allows. Teaching was everything she imagined it to be, and Anne was grateful she didn’t let her self-doubt years ago destroy her vision.
She organized her desk and remembered a new student was arriving today and another later in the week.
The principal had already briefed her on the two boys.
One child lived with his mother, who had a restraining order against her husband. The husband wasn’t allowed anywhere near the child.
The other boy would come in soon with his foster mother. Anne was always concerned when foster kids came in. Usually, the foster parents provided for them, but sometimes they didn’t, so she always kept extra supplies in her desk as well as a backpack and snacks, if needed. She firmly believed no child should ever be embarrassed by having less than the others.
Anne was concerned about the husband causing problems, but security could handle it. As for the foster child, they came with their own set of problems, which she tried to handle discreetly. But she was always concerned that parts of their past would interfere with the kids’ learning.
Just a short time ago, a foster parent had to deal with the biological mom, who lost the right to have her child at home because she was abusing drugs.
The mom had found out where the little girl was going to school, and there had been a ruckus in the playground.
When the police arrived, the two moms were screaming, the child was crying, and Anne felt terrible for all the parties. She would have to keep her eyes open for threats. One never knew when or where they would come.
She couldn’t imagine never seeing her child again. It had to be extremely painful. But Anne believed if you did drugs or screwed up your life, you shouldn’t be responsible for kids until you cleaned up your act.
She sighed—enough negative thinking.
The little ones were entering the classroom, and she had a job to do.
It would only take a second for the kids to find paints and open them, write on the walls, or who knew what else their evil little minds could think of. She laughed to herself. Even when the kids got into trouble, she enjoyed their energy.
The classroom door swung open.
The principal entered and introduced her to the new student. He was adorable, with blond hair and big blue eyes.
After instructing the boy to find a cubby, the principal asked Anne if she had questions. She didn’t. The mother left, and Anne walked over to the boy to ensure he was settled.
With the prospect of an abusive husband hanging overhead, Anne prayed all would go well today, at least in the classroom. When the foster boy arrived, there would be other concerns.
Tonight, however, was another story—she had a date.
Another man to talk to, to get to know. Another man to discover if they had common interests and whether they clicked. More importantly, Anne was looking for a man who was truthful and one she could trust. Someone who would have her back.
She wasn’t holding out for a miracle, though, and she was never settling again.
CHAPTER FOUR
Anne leaned back in her chair and tried to keep her attention on the man in front of her. It was difficult because for the past hour, maybe an hour and a half, all he talked about was himself. No pausing for breath and all she heard was blah, blah, blah.
Every attempt to get a word in or ask a question resulted in him cutting her off.
He was also the king of one-upmanship. Anne mentioned an overnight hospital stay. Jim gave her a blow-by-blow description of his sepsis infection and his three weeks in the hospital.
Anne mentioned a success one of her students had in reading; Jim said his niece was only six and already doing fifth-grade math.
She glanced around the fancy French restaurant and at the white-clothed tables with a single candle flickering on each. Baroque music played softly in the background. It was romantic, everything she imagined. Even the conversations were muted, although occasionally, someone would laugh. Anne wondered if Jim ever laughed. He talked too much to laugh, she decided.
Anne kept stealing glances at her watch, not that Jim noticed. She vowed the next time she saw Carol at school, she would ask her to never to fix her up again on a blind date.
Just because Jim had a decent job and was good-looking was no compensation for being a bore.
But then again, maybe Carol didn’t know what he was like. Jim was a friend of Carol’s brother.
Anne contemplated an escape.
