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“I don’t know just what happened.”
She smiled. “Well, it appears that Mollie Mathers father is in love with you.”
“So, you heard and saw that too?”
She laughed. “Yes. We all did, including Mrs. Snyder, who didn’t look too happy about it.”
I looked to where Mrs. Snyder had been, but she was gone. Thank goodness. I wasn’t sure I could deal with her right now.
“But we have nineteen other children that need teaching, so maybe you can refocus.”
“Yes, yes, of course. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. I loved it. It felt like I was in a real-life rom-com.”
“You think he loves me?”
Ms. Hatcher rolled her eyes. “He said he could find another teacher for Mollie but there was only one you, so yes, I think he’s in love with you.”
I couldn’t stop the huge grin. I felt giddy and I wanted more than anything to run home, but I still had a few more hours of teaching. I shook my head and worked to refocus. The next few hours seemed to take forever, but somehow, I got through it.
I rushed through cleaning up, not leaving it to Ms. Hatcher alone even though she offered. I wanted to leave her to it, but a part of me worried that my job was in jeopardy, even though Mollie wasn’t my student anymore. I didn’t want to leave before my job was done and give Mrs. Snyder a reason to fire me. Otherwise, Will’s grand gesture would have been for naught.
As I grabbed my purse, ready to bolt out to my car and rush home, Mrs. Snyder walked into my class. Oh, great!
“Need me to stay?” Ms. Hatcher mouthed from across the room.
I shook my head. “See you Monday.” At least I hoped so.
“Have a good weekend, Ms. Hatcher,” said Mrs. Snyder.
“You too.”
I inhaled a deep breath to steel myself against whatever Mrs. Snyder might say. Then I saw a manila envelope and realized it was likely the papers to withdraw Mollie from school.
“I take it from the surprised look on your face today, that you didn’t know Mr. Mathers’ plan today.”
I shook my head. “No. I haven’t seen him for weeks.”
“You’re neighbors.”
Did she think I set this up? “I did as you asked. I didn’t like it, but I did it.” I was getting tired of trying to be polite.
“Why did you do it, if you loved him?”
I sighed. “Because I didn’t know he loved me and it seemed unwise to risk my job on that.”
“And now that you do know how he feels?”
What did she want? “If Mollie isn’t here, it doesn’t matter now, right?”
“Yes, but it’s not smart to use Mollie—”
“Your policy uses Mollie, not me.” I corrected her. “Until today, nothing Will or I did has impacted her or any of the children’s education.”
Her eyes narrowed and I’d thought for sure I’d just earned my pink slip. She walked around the classroom, looking at the children’s work I’d hung on the wall.
“I didn’t make that policy, although I do support it. However, Mr. Mathers’ has a point.” She turned to me. “A school, that works to teach love and friendship, shouldn’t have a policy that keeps people who really care about each other apart.”
I didn’t respond. Maybe if I let her talk, she’d get it all out and then I could rush home to find out if Will really did love me.
“So, I’ve decided that you can keep your job and Mr. Mathers, and have Mollie in your class. It’s just two weeks, and as you’ve said, until today, there haven’t been any issues.”
My breath caught. “Thank you.”
“Just don’t make me regret it, Ms. Webb. I don’t want to see any preferential treatment of Mollie or have your personal life impact the classroom.”
“I won’t let you down.” That giddiness was growing again.
“I can see that you want to get home. Two weeks is a long time to be away from someone you love.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Be sure to let Mollie and Mr. Mathers know what I said. But in case he still wants to move her, here are the papers.”
I took the envelope she handed me. “I will.”
“See you Monday, Ms. Webb.”
“See you Monday.”
The minute she was out of my classroom, I locked up and rushed to my car. I tried not to speed, but I couldn’t seem to get home fast enough. I ran up the stairs to Will and Mollie’s condo. I rapped on the door and waited. And waited.
My heart thundered. Where were they? Had I dreamt all this? They weren’t at the pool or I would have seen them when I arrived home. Maybe he had an errand?
Deciding to not panic yet, I went to my condo across the hall. That’s when I saw the paper taped to my door. It was another picture drawn by Mollie of the three of us on the beach. On it, Will scrawled a note:
