Page 46 of Mr. Principal

Chapter Eight

I stretched gingerly and ignored the ache between my legs. Carter and I had made love most of the night and then again in the shower before I’d finally forced myself to go to work.

He had been a loving, sweet and caring lover, taking his time with me once I told him that I was a little sore from our shenanigans in his car.

Just thinking about our evening together gave me goosebumps and I could feel myself growing wet again as I lay in my cold bed alone, waiting for my alarm clock to go off.

I hadn’t seen Carter in a week since he’d gone out of town to some sort of conference. I missed him so much.

I reached for my phone and texted him that. Almost instantaneously, I received a text in response that said, “Missing you too.”

It made me smile and I had a feeling that if it could, my heart would be smiling too.

Humming, I made my way to the kitchen. Meredith surprised me. She was already up and when she saw me she gave me a big grin.

“Do you know what today is?”

I looked at her quizzically. “Hmmm let me think… let me think. I don’t know… is today something special?”

“Mommmmmm,” she said giving me a disappointed look. “It’s a week before my birthday.” She smiled up at me and said, “Sooooo what do you have planned?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “If I tell you then it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Her eyes widened, and she clapped her hands excitedly. “I knew it! I knew it! A surprise party!”

She hugged me around my waist and squeezed tightly. “Thank you thank you thank you. It’s going to be the best surprise party ever.”

I realized then that maybe she didn’t get the whole concept of what a surprise party was meant to be, but she was only five and I didn’t want to burst her bubble.

“Get ready for school, we don’t want you to be late.”

She skipped off humming, but then she turned around quickly and said, “Mom… um… you did invite Daddy and Becca to my party, right?”

I nodded. “Of course, sweetheart. Daddy and I love you very much. Of course he’ll be there.”

“And Becca too?”

I wanted to sigh but repressed it. Becca, for all her sweetness, was still not my favorite person. I knew that I was just jealous of her because she was nineteen, skinny, and beautiful. I felt petty, but she was Miss Perfect while I was Miss Kind of Good Enough.

“I’m sure Becca wouldn’t miss your party. She loves you too much to miss it. You’re like her number one person.”

Meredith beamed and then suddenly ran to me and gave me another big hug. “You’re the best mom. Danny Schultz’s mom won’t even let him see his dad. She’s crazy.”

I shook my head. Danny Schultz had lots of stories to tell. I was glad Meredith wasn’t exchanging crazy mom stories with him. Yikes.

“Well, that’s too bad. I’m sure Danny misses his dad.”

“I think he’s in prison. I think he robbed a bank.”

“Well that explains why she drives that fancy car and can afford private school,” I said to myself and then instantly remembered that kids repeated EVERYTHING. “Honey, please don’t repeat what mommy just said. It wasn’t nice.”

She looked confused but just shrugged it off. “Okay. I don’t know what you’re talking about anyway.”

The conversation already forgotten, she skipped to her room and shut the door behind her.

I dropped Meredith off at school and was pleased to see Carter there. He was in a deep discussion with the woman whose car I’d hit. When she saw me, she gave me a little wave. I guess she was done hating me.

Carter excused himself and made his way to the drop-off line and stopped at my car.