AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He nodded, despite knowing she couldn’t see him. “I’ll be there right away.” Ending the call, he swiftly changed his route, driving toward the school.
After pulling into the parking lot, he leaned back and closed his eyes.
Maybe there was some sort of misunderstanding, like at the police station.
Luke reminded himself of what he wished he had done differently in that situation. Ask questions first. Don’t assume it’s his fault.
He turned off the car and walked toward the school entrance.
I wonder if Emma knows what happened.
Stepping into the front office, the scent of freshly waxed floors met Luke’s nostrils. The distant bell signaled a class change alongside the muffled conversations of students in the corridors.
He approached the secretary, trying not to notice the curious glances from other staff in the room. “I need to see Principal Kennedy.”
“Yes, Mr. Grayson. I’ll let him know you’re here.”
Turning, Luke noticed Jeremiah sitting quietly in a corner. “Jeremiah, what’s going on?”
Jeremiah glared at his father, then looked down at the floor.
“Mr. Grayson, the principal is ready to see you now.”
“Come on, Jeremiah,” Luke said, waiting for his son.
Jeremiah rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath before walking into the principal’s office.
“Thank you for coming in so quickly, Mr. Grayson.” The principal stood, shaking Luke’s hand.
“Of course,” Luke said. “Now, can you tell me what happened?”
“Ms. Wright came into my office in tears, and...”
After hearing the principal’s account of the incident in Emma’s classroom, Luke’s veins bulged in his neck.
“Jeremiah will be suspended for the rest of the week. There will be more to follow. I’ll ensure you’re the first to know, Mr. Grayson.”
“I understand. I’m sorry about all of this, Mr. Kennedy. Is Ms. Wright still here?” Luke asked as they got up to leave.
“She’s gone home for the day.”
He nodded, then left the office with Jeremiah trailing behind. Luke marched out of the building, his steps quick, not speaking a word to Jeremiah until they got into the Range Rover.
“I need you to tell me why, Jeremiah. Why’d you do this to Emma?”
“You lied. When I got the lunch money, your phone went off. I saw the texts and the stupid bracelet you gave her. How could you forget Mom?”
Luke turned toward his son. “I could never forget your mom. That couldn’t be farther from the truth—“
“Now it all makes sense. I know why you’ve been out late all these nights. You never really loved Mom, did you?”
Jeremiah’s words knocked the wind out of him. He had to fight to take a deep breath.
With an aching chest, Luke tried to keep his voice calm and steady, eyes fixed on the road. “Jeremiah, you’ve got it all wrong. I loved your mom more than anything. I wish I would’ve told you earlier about me and Emma, but—“
“Just stop, okay? You know what? When I move out next year, you’ll never hear from me again. I hate you.”
“Son, I know you’re hurting,” Luke said. “I promise we can work through this. I never intended for you to find out this way.”
