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I sigh. There’s no point playing dumb. “I heard Penelope came to see you?”
“Yes.” Her lips are pursed as she shuts the door. “And we might have a problem.”
“She can’t fucking do that!” Shane explodes.
“Submit a formal complaint to the school board? Yeah, actually, she can.” What happens next is in the air. It could be dismissed as nothing more than a parent’s grievance. It could end up a mar on my employment file. Two months into my career, that file is too new to be collecting these sorts of red marks, but it’s not the end of the world.
Or I could lose my job.
“But it’s not a rule!” Shane picks up his dish rag, only to toss into the kitchen sink.
“Maybe not, but my moral conduct could be an issue. Especially when you throw in our families’ history.”
Wendy was candid about her meeting with Penelope. In a nutshell, Penelope questioned my moral character, given I “so quickly” moved in on a student’s father with no regard for her son’s well-being. She had the gall to suggest that me buying the house beside Shane wasn’t a coincidence and poked at my mental stability, pursuing a man it was well known I was infatuated with years ago—I’d all but admitted it the night of the parent orientation. But Penelope made it sound like there were serious concerns that I might be a stalker.
The latter accusation, Wendy squashed quickly, highlighting how it could be construed as defamatory. But the question of moral character was not so easy to sidestep. Wendy informed her that she has had a discussion with me on the matter so I am aware of the conflict and have chosen to continue pursuing my relationship. She did make the argument on my behalf that so far, we’ve kept our relationship private and quiet, and it doesn’t seem to have had a negative effect on Cody at all.
Still, Penelope insisted that, as the principal of Polson Falls Elementary, Wendy is obligated to fire me. Wendy countered, saying this wasn’t grounds for dismissal. That’s when Penelope threatened to go above her.
My fists were clenched with rage, my insides burning with worry and fear as Wendy detailed their conversation.
“This is bullshit,” Shane mutters. “Who cares that we’re together?”
“Some parents won’t care.” Some will think there are far bigger issues than their child’s teacher’s sex life. Or they’ll hear our backstory and think, “Okay, I get it. They have a history. Ms. Reed isn’t using parent-teacher night as a speed-dating service.” “But there are parents who will agree with her and will be up in arms over this,” I say. Likely a few teachers too. And I know firsthand how noisy and poisonous Penelope can be when she’s on a mission to defame someone. I’ve lived through her wrath once. She may have no grounds for demanding my dismissal, but by the time she’s done with me, I’ll probably want to quit.
Shane paces around his kitchen, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t think she was being serious about this.”
My mouth gapes. “Wait, you knew she was going to push for Wendy to fire me and you didn’t warn me?” My tone is full of accusation.
“She flies off the handle when she’s angry and says all kinds of shit she doesn’t mean.”
“But she told you she was going to go after my job that night we picked up Cody?” It’s been weeks.
Shane sighs and shakes his head. “No. We got into it the other night again, over the phone. I figured she’d let it go.”
“Well, clearly not because she’s going after my job. And even if she doesn’t get me fired, she’ll ruin my reputation again. You of all people should know how big a deal that is to me!” I spent my childhood chased by glances and whispers that she bred and fed until the glances became stares and the whispers became laughter and jeers. I was the punch line in so many cruel jokes, thanks to her.
“Oh my God. By the time she’s done with me, I’ll be Dottie Reed two point O.” Now I’m the one pacing his kitchen.
“No one’s going to buy that.”
“I can already hear it. I’ll be known as the Daddy Fucker or something equally trashy!”
Shane lassos me into his chest with his arms. “Take it easy, Scar. You’re getting hysterical.”
“Hysterical?” I hiss. “Your psychotic, Red Devil baby mama is threatening my career and my reputation, and you’re calling me hysterical?”
“I didn’t mean it that way.” He groans. “I wish that word didn’t exist.”
“What way did you mean it, then?” I don’t know when this became a fight between us, but I sense the air shifting quickly.
He must sense it too. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling no matter what I say, it’ll be wrong.”
