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Mrs.Z was notoriously tactless.
“That will remain to be seen.Obviously, I’ll have to start the school year by seating them as far from each other as possible.”
“Or you could see how they handle a big change in their lives like kindergarten.”My long-lost temper pounded against my skull.My voice came out hard as steel.“Or you could make their learning environment so difficult from the beginning that they start acting out and fulfill your low expectations.But it sounds like that’s what you want.”
Mrs.Z blinked at me, but I didn’t want to waste one more minute with her.I breezed out as airily as she’d come in.I stormed down the hall, spun like a soldier on parade, and marched down the shorter hallway to the exit.
I was about to push out the door when the principal peeked out of his office.“Kennedy.Everything okay?”
I whirled on him, and he reared back.I couldn’t see my reflection, but it must have been fierce.Gone was the slightly lost widow or the placating young teacher.“No, actually, it’s not, Mr.Gilding.I’m tired of the way Mrs.Z treats kids she doesn’t think are worth her full effort.I’m tired of her laziness, and I’m sick of her attitude.Most of all, I hate how we all accept that’s the way she is and ignore it.Then the rest of us have to undo all the damage she does to those young minds, thinking they read too slowly or can’t do math, so they might as well not try.And God forbid, a five-year-old kid acts like they’re five and have a meltdown.That must be shitty parenting, and why bother trying to do her damn job?”
Ohmigod.
Oh my God.Had I just said all that?Had I just berated my boss for something he was as guilty of as the rest of us?Ignoring Mrs.Z was a job skill we’d developed after our first months here.
I pressed my lips together.“Have a happy Fourth.”Pushing out into the sun, letting the heat fold around me, I dragged in a deep breath.
I didn’t think I’d get fired, but I hadn’t wanted to create a work environment full of tension.Still.Mrs.Z had messed with my kids.
I angrily paintedthe office until I’d finished it.I probably looked a lot like Bruce had feared when he’d let himself into my house thinking I’d collapsed or something.
Deano from the bank had called yesterday.He’d said Bruce had asked that the mortgage payment come out of his account instead of mine.Deano couldn’t, since Bruce wasn’t on my mortgage.
Because it was my goddamn house.
I put my hand on my chest.Breathe in, two, three.Out, two, three, four.I’d have to ask for my key back sooner than later.And I had told Deano that in no way, shape, or form was anyone else responsible for my accounts.
I’d been unleashing hell on the old paint job ever since.And if I didn’t get that key back, Bruce might see that I was working on a new project and step in.
This had gone on too long, and it was all my fault.
I glanced around the room, inspecting it for spots I’d missed.Looked good.My bedroom was next, but I had to rip off the blue hummingbird wallpaper behind my bed.
I pushed a hand through my hair and redid my bun.Someday, I’d get it to stay in place while I worked.Today was not that day.
My doorbell rang.I jumped and yelped, putting a hand to my chest.My heart raced.I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I’d been stuck in my head.
I went to the door.Liam wasn’t going to be home for two more days.If it was Bruce, I was upset enough to have words.I just didn’t want to say something I would regret.He was only looking out for me, but he obviously wasn’t going to learn where to butt out if I didn’t tell him.
I peered out.Laney leaned against the railing, sunglasses on, staring down the street.I opened the door.“You look like you’re modeling that beer you’re holding.”
I could snap a picture and sell it.Her hair was in a classy bun, nothing like mine.Casual, but cool, and I doubted it slipped one millimeter from where she’d secured it.She had on short pink shorts and a sheer white blouse that showed off her pink bra.
“It’s all in the attitude,” she said and pushed off the railing.“You free?”
“If you don’t count my date with wallpaper from the seventies, yes.”
She pulled off her sunglasses, her blue eyes sparkling.“Is it demolition time?”
“Only of the wallpaper.”
She vibrated like she was ready to destroy something.“Good enough.Want help?”
I eyed her outfit.“I can lend you something to wear so you don’t get those dirty.”
“I’m not worried about it.”
“I am.At least borrow one of my shirts.”
