‘I’ll take that, please, young man.’
Gemma snapped her head up from the notes she was taking on Freddie’s progress. Yep, she’d been right, Mr Rise-and-Shine had indeed marched into her classroom. She glanced at Freddie, who stood frozen to the spot, obviously unsure whether to follow his teacher’s instructions on what to do with his book or the strange man talking to him. ‘It’s okay, Freddie. You can give MrHiggs your book. He’ll be so proud of the work you’ve completed today.’
Nodding, Freddie held his book up, waiting until Jonathan had taken it before hurrying towards an activity station set up on the next table.
‘Remember, they don’t know you. You’ve not introduced yourself to the pupils as their new headteacher.’ Gemma lowered her pen. ‘I take it you’re here to collect the books you want to scrutinise?’
‘A letter will be sent home to parents today and I’ll be speaking to the pupils in Whole School Assembly before the end of the day today.’ Jonathan turned slowly on the spot.
Narrowing her eyes at him, she watched as he looked from table to table, more than likely judging her for the noise and movement in the classroom. Well, if he thought for one second that she should have every child in the class sitting at desks in rows whilst she dictated what they should copy into their books, he had another think coming. The children in her class were four and five years old. The best way they learned was by doing and experiencing, and for learning to happen, there needed to be talking. ‘They’re all engaged in what they’re doing. They’re all learning.’
‘I was trying to figure out where you kept your other books, Miss Murray.’ Still, he did not look at her. Still, he kept his eyes focused on the rest of the classroom.
Gemma picked up her pen again. If he couldn’t be bothered to have a proper conversation with her, then she wouldn’t even try. What was wrong with him, anyway? Had he been so horrified and disgusted to find her in her dressing gown this morning with her hair dishevelled and not a scrap of make-up on that he couldn’t even look her in the eye? He’d been the same this morning during the staff meeting. He’d spoken at her, yes, but he hadn’t given her the grace to look at her whilst he did so.She waved her hand towards the drawers and the books. ‘They’re over there, on top of the drawers. Help yourself.’
‘Thank you, Miss Murray.’ Without another word, he turned and walked across to the books, flicking through them for what felt like forever before finally selecting the few he wanted and heading towards the door.
‘You’re welcome.’ She mouthed at his back before she frowned. Huh, he’d stopped and was now chatting away to Tania as though he had all the time in the world. And he actually looked as though he was interested in what she was saying. Shaking her head, she rolled her eyes at herself. She didn’t care. Why would she? Yes, she had to at least attempt to get along with him on a professional level, and she would, she would make the effort. Just not today. She was too tired, and she didn’t have the energy reserves to plaster a mask on and pretend she held anything other than contempt for the man who had given her a rubbish start to the day.
‘Ooh, you never told me he was charming as well as drop-dead gorgeous.’ After watching Jonathan leave the classroom, Tania strolled across to her.
‘Charming?’ Gemma couldn’t help but scoff.
‘Ah, yes, Annie did mention you and he had got off on the wrong foot.’ Tania grimaced. ‘Give it time. Things will work out.’
So Anniehadtold everyone then. Word that Jonathan was her new neighbour would have been spread across the school by now. Huh, she supposed it would have got out soon enough, anyway. After all, when you lived and worked in a small village, everyone quickly learned other people’s business. Annie had just happened to speed up that process. She glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes until they’d need to start getting ready for home-time, and it couldn’t come quickly enough. Not that she’d have any freedom from Mr Higgs when she did get home. But atleast she’d be able to relax a little without feeling as though he was about to walk through the doors. ‘I hope so.’
‘It will. Give him a chance. He’s just trying to find his feet.’ Tania patted her on the shoulder before turning away. ‘Trudie, would you like to come and read with me?’
Turning back to her list of children still needing to complete the task, she shook her head. Maybe Tania was right, perhaps she should give him a chance to settle into his new role. Perhaps when things had calmed down a little, and he’d had the chance to assert his authority, he might show a different side to himself. It couldn’t be easy coming into a school such as Woodland Primary, it was small enough that all the teachers knew all the pupils, whether it was because they’d taught them in a previous year, because they’d taught a sibling or simply because they’d spoken to them whilst on break duty or around the school. Plus, with all the rumours flying around about Diane Norton’s departure, it was bound to take him a little time to feel as though he belonged. Diane had been loved by parents and children alike. Yes, there had been the odd issue between her and a staff member, but nothing like Gemma had heard of at other schools.
‘Miss Murray, can I do the counting?’ Harrison wiped a sponge of blue paint across his forehead.
‘Yes, of course you can, Harrison.’ Standing up, Gemma held out her hand to him. ‘Let’s just clean up that paint first, though, shall we?’
Chapter Nine
‘Alfie-bear, come on, buddy.’ Pushing the front door open, Gemma threw her keys onto the shelf next to the door and turned back around. Where had he gone? He’d been right behind her. She’d only dropped his lead so she could fish out her keys from her pocket, and she’d closed the wrought-iron gate behind her, so she knew he had to still be in the front garden. She’d needed their after-school walk today. Despite the wet weather, or perhaps because of it, she’d been able to clear her head and begin to put recent events into perspective.
Standing on the doorstep, she shielded her eyes from the setting sun with her hand as she looked around. The garden was small, just a short path leading to the front door, so how she’d been able to lose sight of him she’d never know. She slowly walked the length of the path, bending down to peer beneath the hedges growing along the fence between her and Jonathan’s cottage. ‘Are you hiding from me?’
Still nothing. Straightening her back, she placed her hands on her hips. Where was he? She literally couldn’t have lost him. She could feel her heart begin to hammer inside her chest as the gnawing urgency of panic stirred inside her. Hehadto be here.There was nowhere for him to go. A few hedges, some terracotta plant pots she had filled with herbs when she’d moved in and then forgotten about, and that was it. Nothing else. The back garden was even smaller, just being a courtyard with a set of metal table and chairs, complete with peeling paint and sodden fraying cushions she’d forgotten to take in for the winter. Not that Alfie could have got through there anyway, the only way out the back was from the kitchen door at the back of the cottage.
‘Alfie, please. Come on, show yourself.’ Gemma bit down on her lower lip, the panic beginning to spiral. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called him again, ‘Alfie, come. Come on, Alfie. Dinner time.’
Filling her lungs again, she was just about to shout his name again when she heard the creak of next-door’s front door opening.
‘You’re not content with your dog keeping me awake all night, you now feel the need to stand on the doorstep and holler his name too?’ The growl of Jonathan’s voice reached her before he’d even stepped outside.
Twisting to look at him, she tried to slow her breathing. She hadn’t even noticed his car parked out the front, she’d just assumed he was still at school, but that wasn’t the point. She needed to find Alfie. Turning her back on him, she walked to the gate and looked up and down the road. There was no way he’d have been able to escape back out onto the street. Absolutely no way. Even so, she cupped her hands around her mouth again and shouted his name, ‘Alfie, come. Alfie.’
Jonathan cleared his throat before raising his voice. ‘Is this what you’re looking for?’
Twisting on the spot, Gemma darted her eyes across to him, her eyes landing on the image of him holding Alfie in his arms. ‘Alfie, you found him.’
‘He was in my garden.’ He scowled as he walked the few brief steps towards the fence and hedge partitioning the two front gardens and held him across the hedge towards her.
‘Thank you.’ Rushing across to him, she took Alfie and hugged him against her chest. ‘Thank you.’
