Continuing as though he’d missed their close interaction entirely, he pointed towards the paper she’d been scribbling on. ‘Laptops. I understand they’ve seen better days, but that’s another resource saving. The money for the new ones was ringfenced but we’ll just have to scrap it.’
‘Right, yes, laptops.’ Keeping her eye fixed on the paper, she wrote his suggestion down. Of course, there’d be uproar. Diane Norton had been promising to replace the laptops for at least three years now, but the staff would understand. She looked up and caught his eye. ‘I think we should tell everyone. Well, not everyone, but the staff.’
He shook his head firmly. ‘That’s not a good idea. I’ve been in schools in similar situations to this one, and once everyone knows their jobs are on the line, the whole atmosphere of the place changes. It’s not pleasant.’
‘No, I can imagine, but it would help people to understand why these cuts are being made.’ She indicated the papers in front of her. Hehadtaught and led in schools before then. She’d been wrong to assume he’d come into this fresh from a business background. ‘Plus, they might also have ideas on how to save money.’
‘No, not yet. If we hit a miracle and figure out how we can save the money without putting anyone out of a job, sure, we’ll tell them, but until then, I’d appreciate this being kept between ourselves.’
‘Okay.’ She didn’t agree, but he was the headteacher and the buck stopped with him. Besides, she’d had no experience of something like this before, and he’d just said he had. She’d just have to believe he knew best.
‘I have a letter going out on Monday to ask if any parents would be interested in before and after-school clubs. If there’s a market for them, I’ll see about setting the provision up.’
‘Oh, that’s a good idea. Sophie, Florrie’s mum, has mentioned how much easier life would be for her if we offered before and after-school clubs. I bet there are loads of parents who are thinking the same.’ She smiled as she wrote that down. Sophie would be pleased. Gemma knew how much she hated relying on other people to look after Florrie when her shift patterns changed. Maybe some good could come from this whole sorry mess after all.
‘Hopefully.’
‘If the hall can be hired out for kids’ clubs, then what about for other things? You know, like Pilates lessons or...’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know, but I’m sure there must be a lot of other clubs operating out of Nettleford-on-the-Wold which would find it easier to have a base in the village rather than traipsing to Nettleford?’
‘Perhaps.’ He nodded thoughtfully. ‘You might have something there.’
‘Great.’ After adding it to the mind map, she held it up towards him. ‘See, we’ve found loads of savings and ways to raise money already.’
Dragging his hand across his face, he nodded. ‘We’re still a long way off.’
‘Yes, but it’s a start.’ It was, wasn’t it? And that had to count for something. The grumble of her stomach reminded her she’d not eaten that cottage pie, and she locked her eyes on the paper, hoping it hadn’t been loud enough for him to hear.
Pushing himself to standing, he stretched his arms above his head before lowering them again. ‘Right, I’ve not had dinner yet. I was going to get a pizza delivered. Did you want to join me? Hopefully, we’ll strike gold on a full stomach.’
He had heard. She nodded, hoping the fierce warmth spreading across her cheeks wasn’t noticeable. ‘Pizza sounds good.’
Throwing the crust of pizza back in the box, Gemma wiped her hands down the legs of her jeans before leaning forward and plucking the pen from the coffee table. She felt shattered, and since moving to the sofa, she was fighting the urge to lean back and close her eyes. Alfie gave a little snore from where he was lying between them, having wedged himself into the small space in the middle of the sofa. ‘Reducing supply staff could be an option?’
Picking up a paper serviette, Jonathan wiped his mouth. ‘If no one gets ill, it could.’
‘True.’ She slumped back against the sofa cushions and flung the pen back onto the coffee table. This was impossible. ‘You’re right. There aren’t a lot of options.’
Looking across at her, Jonathan sighed. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to be so dismissive. You’re right, it might be possible to reduce supply for training purposes and things like that.’
‘Especially if training is being cut back, anyway.’
‘Exactly.’ Twisting to face her, he gave her a small smile. ‘I’m sorry I dragged you into this. I shouldn’t have blurted the problem out as I did in the office. It was unprofessional.’
‘Oh, don’t be sorry. Yes, it’s an awful situation, and if I had the choice, I’d have perhaps preferred to live in blissful ignorance until staff were cut, but I’m glad you told me now. I really am.’ She straightened her back again and retrieved the pen. ‘There’s one thing you should know about me, though.’
‘Oh yes.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘And what’s that?’
‘I don’t give up easily. I’m not going to roll over and accept this unless it really is the only way forward.’ Looking across at him, she caught his eye and smiled. He wasn’t the arrogant person she’d thought he was. In fact, he was quite sweet. After all, he’d been carrying this problem on his own all week and had been trying his best to think of a way to rectify things which would save the jobs on the line and also the structure of theschool. She wasn’t so sure other new-to-the-school headteachers would be trying quite so hard.
‘Me neither.’ He didn’t look away.
Gemma could feel something had shifted between them. It felt as though the gap was closing and a surge of electricity was sparking between them. She leaned forward towards him, watching him mirror her movements. Freezing, she blinked and jumped up, dropping the pen with a clang onto the coffee table. The spell broken. What had she been thinking? She was a teacher, and he was the head. And more importantly, he was faced with the decision of whom to choose to make redundant. Nothing could happen between them. ‘I should go.’
Looking up at her, Jonathan nodded slowly. ‘I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have presumed...’
‘No, you didn’t presume anything.’ She shook her head firmly. ‘I wanted to... I... We can’t.’
‘Of course.’ He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.
