“By including the arts, we reach those students whose minds and interests are challenged by creativity. We nurture those freethinkers who don’t always flourish in STEM subjects. By doing this, we give all our children our support and teach them that whatever their interests, there’s a place for them in this district and that we will help them explore and refine their abilities, no matter which subjects they have an affinity for.”
Adam’s gaze slid across the room, watching for change in body language that might give him a clue as to how his message was received. He could see some of the members giving small nods while other’s expressions softened. But when his stare landed on Dr. Brent’s impassive face, yet again he was having a hard time reading her.
“Dr. Henderson,” she began slowly, “you’ve given us much to think about. I’ll ask you to step out of the room and give us a few moments to confer before we render our decision on this matter.”
He nodded, walking out of the room with his shoulders straight and his eyes forward. He needed them to see he was a man in control of himself and by extension, this district. He needed theirconfidence if he was going to keep his job, but more importantly, serve his students.
He stood in the hall, certain he’d done all he could to help save the arts program. Then a thought hit him square in the chest, forcing him to lean against a nearby wall for support.
Have you done all you can to save your relationship with the woman you love?
Without a moment’s hesitation, he knew the answer to that question. He had not given Janae his all. He’d given her up without a fight, just like he had in the past when it came to his dad. He’d just accepted that his father’s assessments were just a father trying to do right by his son. Whether that was true or not, he knew he’d have to answer to his father.
Confronting Grady Henderson had been a cleansing balm for his soul. He’d faced his father and he’d survived. He was finally his own man. He was just missing one thing, the woman he loved.
The door to the conference room opened and one of the members gestured for Adam to re-enter the room. When the members were seated, Dr. Brent looked at him.
“Considering the progress you’ve made in such a short time, the board is inclined to allow you to continue your current plan of action. Let’s hope that progress continues into our next scheduled meeting.”
Although her words were brief and sharp, Adam’s heart couldn’t help squeezing in delight. He’d make certain his current plan of action would work. At this point, failure wasn’t an option. Not for his students, and not for him either. Whatever he had to do, he’d make sure of it.
Now, there was only one thing left to do. Get Janae back.
Chapter 30
“Hey, Ma!”
Janae was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of James’ excited voice. When she looked up from the tea she’d been sipping, she found her son walking through the back door and his father following closely behind him.
“Hey, baby.” She mustered up a smile for him, glancing down at her watch quickly so he wouldn’t see the hurt she was trying hard to bury since she and Adam had had their blowup two weeks ago.
When James turned to his father without noticing something was off in her mood, she was grateful. “Thanks for the ride, Dad. You’re still coming to the variety show at the end of the week, right?”
“The only thing that could keep me away is an order from my CO.” Their son nodded, giving Marq a broad smile before he dove in for one of their tight hugs.
“See you then, Dad.”
The boy turned toward the door leading to the living room, stopping briefly to plant a sweet kiss on Janae’s cheek before leaving the room.
“Everything okay?”
Janae looked up at Marq slightly bemused. He’d never been particularly intuitive when it came to her moods when they were together. It was almost odd that he seemed to have a deeper understanding of her emotions now.
“If you’d asked me something like that when we were married, we might still be together.”
He shook his head. “No, we wouldn’t. I was too much of a self-centered ass to see or care about anyone else’s emotions other than mine. It took me losing everything to change my thinking, my ways, and my views.”
She chuckled. “So, you’re saying losing me made you a better man?”
“It did,” he admitted. “I hit rock bottom when I lost you and our family. I knew if I didn’t make some changes, I was going to lose everything else I had going for me: our son, my job, it would all be gone. You having the courage to leave me changed my life. So, the least I can do is be an ear when something’s going on… if you’ll let me.”
Her heart warmed at this version of her ex-husband. This man was intuitive and patient in a way that the old Marq never was. This Marq was a man she wanted to trust with her inner thoughts.
“I’ve been seeing someone.” She waited for his reaction, looking to see if any remnants of the old Marq were there.
“The new superintendent?” Before she could form the question of how he knew on her lips, he shrugged. “It wasn’t obvious.” He smiled as he grabbed a chair and sat down at the kitchen table next her. “But I could see the subtle glances you two kept giving each other when you and I were talking after the fashion show.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
