Its simplicity and cheerful primary color scheme impressed her. Whoever was currently maintaining it was doing a good job.
“Naomi will provide you with regular updates to the page and all related images. Your job will be to post them and make us look good.” Without pausing to solicit her feedback on the matter, he added, “I’d also like you to co-chair our yearbook committee.”
Oh, boy!Halle’s contribution to the yearbook at her last school had required a significant amount of elbow grease after hours. It would be difficult to juggle the same time commitment with the twins’ baseball schedule and everything else on her plate.
After an elongated pause, Dr. House raised an eyebrow at her, clearly expecting some sort of response. “Well, Miss Garrett?” His expression was impossible to read.
Her thoughts were as tangled as spaghetti noodles. She didn’t know where to even begin, but she gave it her best shot. “I assume you’ll be updating my job description with the website management and yearbook responsibilities?”She didn’t want him thinking he could pile more work on her at a whim.
A flash of displeasure crossed his features. Then it was gone. “If that’s what you prefer.”
“It is, sir. Please make my extra duties contingent upon my smaller class size for the current school year.” Once her class size returned to normal, she intended to negotiate additional stipends for the extra work.
“Done.” He curled his upper lip sardonically at her. “We’ll also be issuing you a hard hat and a tool belt to help with the construction of a new computer lab.”
What in the world?She stared blankly at him.
“I’m kidding, Miss Garrett.” His nasally chuckle grated on her nerves.
She forced a smile. “Very funny, sir.” She stood and moved to the door of his office, which she’d left cracked. She pulled it open wider, feeling like a prisoner making an escape. “When may I expect to see the updates to my teaching contract?”
His laughter faded. “As soon as I can get to it, Miss Garrett.” For a moment, he sounded just like her ex-fiancé, who’d expected her unequivocal agreement to everything he proposed.
And look where it got me.Thanks to James, her ability to extend blind trust to anyone other than God was a thing of the past.
As difficult as it was, she forced herself to meet Dr. House’s hard gaze. “I was hoping it would be by Monday, sir.” Surely he didn’t expect her to accept such a drastic change in her marching orders on nothing more than a handshake.
“Like I said, Miss Garrett, I’ll get to it as soon as I can.” His tone didn’t invite any further discussion.
“Thank you, sir.” Her insides felt queasy as she exited his office.
Naomi glanced up from her desk and gave Halle a worried look as she trudged past. “How did your meeting go, love?”
Halle’s efforts to maintain a smile felt like it was going to crack her face as she stopped and fluttered her hands with false excitement. “Ta-da! You’re looking at the new school webmaster and yearbook co-chairperson.”
Naomi blinked in surprise. “I thought maintaining the website was my job.”
Halle shook her head in puzzlement. “It’s news to me, too, ma’am.”
Naomi frowned, making papery lines form at the edges of her mouth. “It’s no trouble keeping the website updated. I enjoy it. I’ve also enjoyed having the extra stipend in my paycheck.” There was a strained edge to her voice.
“Maybe I misunderstood what Dr. House said.” Halle backed away from Naomi’s desk, feeling more unsettled than ever.
“You didn’t.” His hard voice carried from his desk to the main office where Naomi worked. Moments later, he materialized in the doorway. “Having a certified web designer take over the task only makes sense now that we have one on staff.”
Halle’s support for what he was proposing plummeted at the realization that reassigning the task would result in a pay cut for Naomi. Her respect for him plummeted along with it. It was a cheap move on his part that wouldn’t materially offset the cost of a new teacher’s salary. To make matters worse, it was a decision that would almost certainly create ill will between the tenured staff membersand the newest staff members—herselfand the other kindergarten teacher.
Naomi hunkered over her keyboard, typing furiously and fighting tears.
Unable to bear watching her, Halle fled the main office and speed-walked to her classroom. Her excitement for her new job was quickly fading.
In the past, she’d loved every minute of teaching. Kindergarteners were like little sponges, ready to soak up the world. They worked hard, played hard, and zonked out during nap time.
However, the thought of reporting to a man as callous as Gavin House was a huge damper on her enthusiasm. If she added Naomi’s pay cut to the mix, along with the countless hours she’d undoubtedly be spending on the school yearbook, it almost didn’t feel worth it.
She reached her classroom, stepped inside, and nearly collided with a curvy blonde.
“There you are!” The woman’s shrill voice jangled across Halle’s already-raw nerves. “You must be the Halle Garrett I’ve heard so much about.”
