Page 54 of Mr. Principal

Chapter Nine

I sat in front of my computer screen, not really seeing what was on the monitor. My mind was elsewhere. I felt like a lovesick teenager. I couldn’t stop thinking of Carter. We’d gone on a couple’s retreat for the weekend and I’d had the chance to meet some of his friends.

A few months had passed since Meredith’s birthday party and it seemed that Becca had reconsidered the whole leaving Tom idea. I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to her because she no longer answered her phone and Meredith told me she’d gotten a job.

I had a sneaky suspicion that maybe Becca was just trying to get her ducks in a row before she decided to up and leave Tom. At least, I hoped that’s what her plan was. She definitely deserved more than Tom, just like I’d deserved more.

The few short months Carter and I had been together really contrasted with the type of relationship I’d had with Tom. Tom and I had never been laidback or fun. I’d spent most of my time just trying to prove that I deserved to be with him. I’d been devoted and stupid.

Even when I was miserable, I’d still blamed myself. I told myself that I should have been happy, that a million women would love to have my life. I’d been fooling myself. I’d been miserable married to Tom, but too stubborn and pitiful to just quit living a lie.

My boss walked by at that moment and touched my shoulder. She was the nicest person. She was the opposite of Mr. Baxter and I was happy that I was finally full-time with the company. Not only that, I’d technically been promoted and I was now their social media strategist. I guess all I’d needed was a little exposure and now all of a sudden, I was an expert. And my paycheck reflected it. It was exciting to be able to buy things for Meredith. We’d probably gone on a bit too many impromptu shopping trips since my income increased.

“Isn’t it time for you to pick up your daughter?”

I looked at the time and swore softly. It was an early drop-off today, Becca had insisted on it which was unusual. Normally, she always asked for more time.

I waved goodbye to my colleagues and walked quickly to my car. I planned to meet Becca at the grocery store near my home. I arrived just in time to see her arrive. She pulled up in her little Mercedes and Meredith hoped out.

She happily walked to me and gave me a big hug. “See you later, Becca!” She climbed into the car as Becca said to me, “Can I talk to you?”

“Sure, what’s up?” I said stepping out of the car and out of earshot.

“I’m going to do it tonight. I chickened out before. But I’m going to do it. I have a new job and now I can support myself instead of living off my dad which was my original plan.”

“Oh yeah, how’s the job going?”

“Oh, it’s great! It’s at the local community college, so I get to work in the bookstore and go to school at the same time. I start next semester. I’m kind of nervous but excited too.”

“Great, that’s really great, Becca.”

“So anyway, that’s why I wanted to drop Meredith off a little early. I didn’t want her home for when Tom found the note.”

My mouth fell open. “You left him a note?”

“Oh yeah. I hate confrontation.” She shrugged. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

I didn’t know what to say so I just gave her a nod and wished her good luck.

“Meredith doesn’t know yet, does she?”

Becca looked sad. “I didn’t know how to tell her. So I kind of just wrote her a note too.”

“What!” I shrieked. “You didn’t give it to her yet, did you?”

“Nooooo,” Becca said as if I were stupid. She reached into her pocket and said, “I hoped that you would?”

She handed me the piece of paper and I groaned to myself. Why was Becca making me do the hard part?

As if reading my mind, she said, “I’m sorry that I’m making you do the hard part, but I just can’t.”

And then she started crying and I stood in front of her and desperately begged her to stop. “Stop crying unless you want to explain to Meredith right now what’s going on.”

Becca continued crying. I peeked over my shoulder and said, “If she sees you crying, she’ll know something’s up and then things will REALLY get awkward.”

“Okay, okay,” Becca said, sniffling.

I awkwardly reached out and hugged her. She held me like she was going to break and then said, “Thanks for everything.”