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I swallowed. No pressure.
“That includes how the people of Crescent Cove see our teachers. We must uphold outward appearances, just as much as those inside our classrooms.”
I blinked. She wasn’t even bothering to sugarcoat that one. As one of the handful of single women working at the school, I recognized the anvil hanging over my head.
No fuckups.
The rules were a bit antiquated and provincial, but I didn’t want to try to buck the system. That wasn’t me, and besides, my students were too important.
I wondered if Sister Gentry knew how many of the teachers mixed it up at socials. I hadn’t been with St. Agnes long, but some of the teachers acted more like it was a college campus. Only they had the married cloak of invisibility and I so did not.
Folding my hands in my lap, I nodded. “Understood.”
“I sent all the details of your classroom to your tablet. Beth has your new keys and updated security codes for the supply cabinets.”
“Thank you.” I stood and resisted the urge to curtsy.
Good grief, pull it together, girl.
I slipped out into the chaos that was the admin room. A few more teachers were gathered at the edges of the room and into the hallway.
I waved to one of the teachers I knew. Admittedly, I didn’t know many of them besides names from the gossip circles. From the sounds of malcontent around me, I wasn’t the only one who had gotten unexpectedly reassigned.
Avoiding a particularly loud group of middle school teachers left me on the fringes of the room. No way to get near Beth. Great.
“Are you Kelsey?”
I turned toward the male voice. “Yes?”
“I’m Caleb Beck. I teach second grade in the classroom across from you. Welcome, new neighbor.”
“How did you—?” I shook my head. Gossip ran faster than water in this place. In the entire town. “Never mind. You probably knew before I did. Pleased to meet you.” I shook his hand.
He smiled and the corners of his blue eyes crinkled. He waggled his iPad. “They sent out a roster of teachers. Unfortunately, it went out before a few people had their meetings.”
I winced.
“Yeah, welcome to St. Agnes. Well, a true welcome. I know you covered for Judy when she went out on maternity. We lucked out when they hired you on.”
I resisted the urge to cross my arms. “You certainly know a lot about me.”
He gave me a sheepish smile. “The pretty ones are worth finding out about.”
“Oh. Well, thanks.” Yeah, I didn’t know what to say to that one. Not to mention the principal’s voice was still echoing in my ear. Talking to the resident flirt was definitely not a good idea. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”
“I hope so.”
I resisted the urge to scrunch up my shoulders. I barely knew anyone in the school, but I’d heard plenty about Caleb. Enough that there was no level of desperation I could reach to believe a charmer like him.
I managed to make my way to Beth’s desk and got my room assignment and details. Unsurprisingly, there was already an update happening on my tablet.
This place was no joke.
I followed the troupe of teachers down the hall to our next assembly as I scrolled through the pictures of the kids in my new class. I stopped when I came to Laurie. Her sweet smile made me instantly smile back. She was such a cute and precocious child.
A kid with a smirky grin filled my screen next and I instantly knew he was trouble. Hints of the devil lurked in his super blue eyes. And the faux hawk from his previous year’s picture just might have been a further clue. Weston. Cute kid for sure. Onto the next ones. Emily and Jenny were twins.
God help me.
