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Hope sat down on the edge of her desk. “So, we’ll get a supply in.”
“It’s not that easy,” Jake said, leaning up against the wall. “I can’t find anyone who’s willing to do the whole year, or even the whole term. Which would mean having different teachers in at least every week, and that’s not good for the kids.”
“You’re not making me feel good about this, Jake.”
The headmaster ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ve got a solution, but it might not be completely ideal.”
“What’s that then?”
He sighed. “Listen, I talked with her and she’s willing to stay on. I mean, she’s not happy about it, but when I pointed out that the alternative was to go back to the States, she said that she’d spent the money to come here and couldn’t go home yet.”
“Fair enough, I suppose,” said Hope. She sighed. “I suppose this isn’t really her fault either, is it?”
“It’s not,” Jake agreed. “It’s not anyone’s fault. Let alone the kids’. And that’s what’s important here, you know that. I’m sure you agree, especially with Alice in Ava’s class.”
Hope lifted an eyebrow. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re winding up to ask me something I’m not going to like?”
“Ava can stay, but she’s obviously unable to control that classroom by herself. At least right now until she gets a bit more experience. We can agree on that, can’t we?”
“I suppose,” Hope said.
“And yet, having her stay is the best option that we’ve got at the moment.”
“I suppose,” Hope said again.
Jake pinched the bridge of his nose between his forefinger and thumb. “And the only way I could persuade her to stay on was if I got her some help.”
“Like a classroom assistant,” Hope said, nodding. It was a fair idea. Ava could do the teaching, the assistant could help out with the extras, like ensuring the kids wore painting aprons and making sure Ava was doing age-appropriate lessons.
“Well, Amy’s agreed to help Ava with her lesson planning and making sure she’s sticking to the curriculum,” said Jake. “But she can’t be in the classroom, obviously, she’s got a class of her own. Which is why I thought of you.”
“Me?” Hope said, jumping up. “Are you kidding? I’ve got a job, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“I know, I know,” said Jake. “But it’s the best solution I can come up with. You’re great with the kids, Hope, you know you are. You’ve been here forever and you know how things work here. You’re sensible and anyone here would trust you with their kids. You’re in the perfect position to help.”
“And what about my actual job?”
“Getting a temporary secretary is a lot easier than getting a temporary teacher.”
“Well, thanks a lot,” Hope said, stung.
Jake straightened up. “Look, I know it’s not the greatest thing in the world, but I can’t come up with anything better. I need your help. We need your help. The school needs your help. Please, Hope. I’m begging you.”
Hope sighed. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t want to have to go around fixing Ava Stanford’s problems and cleaning up her messes, which was exactly what Jake was asking her to do.
On the other hand, she wanted her daughter to have a decent education, and at least if she was in the classroom she could make sure that that was happening.
“You’ll just have to be in the classroom during teaching hours,” Jake said. “And, well, I’m sure I can squeeze something out of the budget to make the salary a little more attractive.”
“A raise?” Hope said.
Jake nodded.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “A pay raise that I get to keep after the year is over when I return to my normal receptionist slash secretary duties?”
He sighed but nodded.
“Fine,” she said. “It’s a deal.”
