AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Now that he was finally here, she felt like she was going to burst waiting for his report. He seemed to be enjoying keeping her in suspense as he took his time adjusting himself in his seat, taking his wallet and phone out of his back pocket, and looking up at her with laughing eyes.
“Liam! What happened?” Sadie begged. “I’m dying over here.”
“Well, rest assured—just like she said she would, Rose talked to them about our plan,” Liam reported confidently before pausing for another dramatic moment. “And they were completely on board.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Sadie said immediately as she let out a sigh of relief, relaxing back into her chair with her hand on her heart. She didn’t want to admit how much she’d worried about how this would shake out. What if Liam got in trouble? What if their only option was to leave Lake Conrad?
The week after Annie’s birthday, she and Liam had gone to the Lake Conrad Public Schools central office together and met with Rose in human resources.
They’d been ready for a fight, holding hands and boldly announcing they were in a relationship before nervously waiting for Rose’s wrath to come down on them.
Rose had simply rolled her eyes and pulled out a couple of clipboards, attaching a form to each of them.
“Calm down, love birds,” she’d said. “Fill these forms out reporting that you’re engaging in a personal relationship, and I’ll pass them onto the school board for evaluation at their next meeting.” She frowned at them deeply before considering them. “What grade do you teach?” she asked Sadie.
“First grade,” Sadie responded.
“I just got word today that Ms. Shultz at Bear Forest Elementary is retiring next school year—she teaches second grade. I’m sure the school board would look kindlier on this situation if you offered to move to a different school.”
Sadie was instantly elated at the news—that sounded like the perfect plan. It was tampered down a bit by the thought of leaving Lake Conrad Elementary, Annie, and the co-teachers and students she’d grown to love. But looking over at Liam standing next to her, a hopeful glint in his eyes, she felt awash in confidence.
“That sounds perfect, Rose,” she said brightly, smiling over at Liam and squeezing his hand. Rose had rolled her eyes once again and pushed the clipboards toward them.
“Great, I’ll talk to them,” she said flatly as she settled back in her chair, staring at her computer, evidently dismissing them.
Returning her focus to Liam sitting across from her, Sadie reached over to grab his hand. “I’m so relieved,” she confessed. “I admit, my thoughts have been going crazy the past couple of days … wondering if we’d have to leave Lake Conrad.”
“We’re good,” he said, squeezing her hand. “The school board does want to talk to you and theoretically interview you for the Bear Forest job. But they were so relieved that there was a ready solution that I don’t think you’ll have much of a problem.”
“Yeah,” Sadie agreed. “I guess this is much better than trying to figure out which of us to fire. It’s such a relief to not be worried about this anymore.”
“It sure is … I’m going to go get a coffee to celebrate,” Liam announced, rising from his chair. “Want anything?”
“Maybe just a glass of water,” Sadie said thoughtfully. “And one of those fancy fruit tarts.” She added the last bit with a winsome smile, and Liam chuckled at her appreciatively.
“Coming right up,” he said as he turned and walked toward the counter.
Sadie sighed as she watched him walk away. Itwasa relief to have this behind them. She’d known it wasn’t going to work with them both being at the same school, and it seemed like fate that a position just happened to open up, making their life together in Lake Conrad seem all the more attainable.
Not only was their future in Lake Conrad looking a lot more certain, but Sadie also had not heard from Tyler since the night of the play. Even when she’d been back in Antelope Grove, he'd been mercifully absent. Although she was sad that their long relationship had had to sputter and die so painfully, it was such a relief to officially move on.
“Hey, Sadie.” Interrupted from her reverie, Sadie looked up to see Lena making her way forward on crutches—purplecrutches, to be exact. She was dressed simply in a pair of jeans and a teal sweater, her long hair pulled back in an elaborate braid. Her face was bright and open as she approached, which was something Sadie was going to have to get used to—the friendliest look she’d ever received from Lena in the past had been a wary look of disapproval.
“Lena!” Sadie proclaimed. “I haven’t seen you since Annie’s party. You’re oncrutches?!”
“Yeah,” Lena said, looking down at the purple cast on her ankle. “I fractured a bone. It’s no big deal, though.”
“Looks like a pretty big deal,” Sadie said, eyeing her skeptically.
“I don’t ski,” Lena said, waving her off and wobbling on her good foot slightly. “So, I’m not missing anything. Sitting is the perfect position for an artist.”
“Do you want to sit down now ... and join me and Liam?” Sadie asked. She looked up to see Jake chatting with Liam in the line that led to the counter. “Liam and I are just celebrating our win with the school board.”
“Oh, sure! I’d love to hear how that went,” Lena responded with a smile before awkwardly lowering herself in the wooden chair next to Sadie. Sadie hurriedly rushed over to grab a free chair so that Lena could prop up her foot. Lena shot her a relieved look as she delicately raised her mangled foot to rest on the chair.
“So you guys are good to go?” Lena asked expectantly once they were both settled.
“Yes,” Sadie answered excitedly. “It sounds like I’m going to be transferring to Bear Forest next year, though.”
