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“He was threatening you.”
“I can handle it. I’ve dealt with parents like him before.”
Lincoln stared at her. “How often?”
“Not often, but it goes with the territory.”
“What if you were in real danger? What safeguards does the administration have in place for this kind of situation?”
“This is not a prison, for god’s sake.” She straightened, fisting a hand on her hip. “And you have no right to come into my classroom and confront a parent, especially after I’ve asked you to leave. Do you know what that does to my authority?”
“An asshole like that doesn’t respect your authority.” Lincoln paced to the whiteboard.
His blood was still hot. He wasn’t surprised by Oliver’s demands—he’d known plenty of entitled people who thought the world was there to serve them and their kids—but the idea of Grace being threatened had all of his defenses locking in place. “Does Spruce know about him?”
“This situation is none of your business!” She slammed and locked her desk drawer. “And if you think you can refuse to do what I askin my own classroom, then you’re going to have a very big problem teaching here. Real World Specialists are required to let the teacher handle student issues and administrative tasks. You cannot interfere.”
“If there’s a potential threat, I sure as hell willinterfere.”
Her mouth tightened. “Look, I didn’t expect this. I didn’t expectyou, and in all honesty, you’re going to be a huge disruption to my class and lesson plan. I really don’t need you protecting me from an unreasonable parent. I don’t need you here atall.”
Lincoln pulled in a heavy breath. When he’d agreed to the program, he’d figured he’d come in and talk to the kids, maybe inspire a few of them to pursue their own writing or go out into the world looking for stories. He’d join their book discussions, read their assignments, explain how different avenues of publishing worked.
He hadn’t expected this either. Hadn’t expectedher.
Despite his urge to do something during his enforced stay in Bliss Cove, he did not want to get involved. He didn’t want to care. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to walk away and craft his experiences into fiction. His ability toleavehad allowed him to become a good writer. It was also the reason he’d always be an outsider.
“Look.” He stepped away from Grace. “I didn’t know Spruce hadn’t cleared this with you in advance or that it would be a problem. I’ll tell him I can’t do it.”
She jerked her head up and stared at him. “No.”
“It’ll be easier on you if I quit.”
“No!” Horror widened her eyes. “You…you’re under contract.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He frowned at her strong reaction. “I don’t want to be a disruption for you.”
“You’re not…I mean, you won’t be.” Her color deepened. “I spoke in haste. I just need to get organized, that’s all. You can’t quit. I would be…well, the school gets a lot of funding for this program, and you’re a big deal, so if you quit, it would reflect badly on me and…”
She looked down and fidgeted with the strap of her book bag. Loose strands of red hair spilled over her cheeks. Under her sweater, her blouse was buttoned up to the neck with a little pin fastened at the collar.
She didn’t want him here, but for some reason, sheneededhim.
He backed toward the door. An old ache radiated through his shoulder.
Over the past few days, he hadn’t gotten her—the rhubarb-loving redhead from the diner—out of his mind. But the thing about his ruminations and reshaping strangers into potential characters was that he never saw them again. He didn’t know their names or any of therealreasons why they were the way they were.
But Grace Berry…
Embroidered floral sweaters and spine of steel.
She looked up at him. Even from across the room, he saw the plea in her blue-green eyes.
“You can’t leave,” she said.
In five weeks, hewouldleave. But right now…
He turned and walked out of the classroom.
