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Chapter 28
Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie.
Though Grace didn’t yet know how she would solve the problem of getting suspended and facing a potential hearing, she intended to finish the school year strong.
After she said goodbye to Lincoln. She’d been dreading the date of his departure for the past five weeks, but now she couldn’t wait for it to get here. She wouldn’t be able to avoid him for much longer, and his suspicions were getting sharper by the minute.
She took full advantage of the end-of-the-year chaos to keep busy, which she told herself was also for her own preservation. She needed to ensure she had a solid armor around her heart the day he left.
Wednesday was his last day in her classroom. He was scheduled to leave on Friday morning.
Grace had a hard time even looking at him as each class threw him a little “thank you” party complete with cards, cupcakes, and, from several students, copies of short stories and works-in-progress that he’d promised to read and critique.
At the students’ request, she played the ukulele and sang several “farewell” songs during the festivities, though she struggled to muster up the right notes. Lincoln left her room early to visit the other classrooms, and she hurried to rehearsals right after the last bell rang.
She could do this. She’d been the one to assure him she didn’t want a relationship, even though she hadn’t entirely convinced herself of that either.
Yes, she’d been scared of dating and all that went along with it, but these weeks with him had shown her how lovely it was to have someone at your side. To wake up every morning knowing there was a person in the world who knew exactly how you liked your coffee and cereal. A partner who, instead of laughing at your lack of superhero knowledge, ordered all the Marvel movies and sat down to talk you through the intricacies of the universe. A man you wanted to do everything with.
She arrived at school early Thursday morning to finish up several tasks and to continue her research into what recourses she had regarding Spruce’s threats. She could fight, of course, but she was terrified of what kind of rumors might spread about her. And Lincoln.
Some people would defend her, but others wouldn’t—and gossip spread like poisonous weeds, getting bigger and more encroaching with every passing second. She couldn’t bear to think what might come of all that or how it would affect her chances of future employment.
“Grace.”
Her heart thudded against her ribs. Lincoln stood in the doorway, his expression inscrutable but his eyes dark with…anger?
“Good morning.” Forcing an upbeat note into her voice, she rose to her feet. “I didn’t know you were coming to school today.”
“I had some things to finish up.” He stepped into the room. She drank in the sight of him—so beautiful in black trousers and a tailored gray shirt not unlike the one he’d been wearing that night at Lou’s Diner.
Oh, fortune.What if she’d known then that he would come to mean so much to her? Would she have asked him to sit down and share the pie, or would she have been too nervous and scared to offer? Had she only done so because she’d known he wouldn’t turn her down? Had she trusted him even then?
“Haven’t seen much of you this week.” He slipped his gaze over her embroidered sweater and forest-green skirt.
“I know. The end of the year is just so chaotic.” She pushed a lock of hair from her forehead and smiled faintly. “And dress rehearsals always take more time than I expect.”
His mouth tightened. “I’m sorry I’ll miss opening night.”
“That’s okay. I didn’t expect you to be there.” Realizing that might sound callous, she added, “I mean, I’ve known all along you’d be leaving before the play opens.”
He approached, resting a hand on the well-worn copy ofThe Complete Works of Shakespeareshe kept on her desk. “Agreeing to participate in this program is one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
“I…” Her throat constricted. “For me, too. You being here. I didn’t think it would work, but you’ve been incredible. The kids have learned far more than they’d have learned from me alone. I hope you come back one day.”
“I’d hoped so too, actually.” He picked up the book and thumbed through it. “After dealing with Folio and my overseas plans, I’d intended to look into contributing to the Real World Specialist program. I think other schools would benefit too, especially in rural communities. And I was going to talk to you about coming back to your class next year.”
Grace couldn’t help noticing he was using past tense. “When were you going to talk to me?”
“I don’t know.” He dropped the book back on the desk with a thud. “When were you going to tell me you’ve been suspended?”
All the breath rushed from her lungs. “How did you find out?”
“A good bit of digging, after Brooke inadvertently tipped me off. Not much goes on around here that she and her grandfather don’t know about.” He met her gaze, and only then did she see the fire burning behind the hard topaz. “What the hell, Grace? They’re suspending you on some shitty charge of corruption and insubordination?”
God. Did he knoweverything?
“Hank Spruce and I have been locking horns for years.” She stared past his shoulder at a poster on the wall. “I’m sure he’s been looking for a way to get rid of me.”
