“These students deserve more than a substitute who knows nothing about art. Besides, we tried to hire an art teacher two years ago, but we weren’t successful. We could try again, but it could take months.”
Jessie watched the horses graze in the nearby pasture as she remembered what Robert said about no one being willing to tie themselves down in a one-horse town.Didn’t I complain to my mom about the opposite problem just last week?
Teaching—she still found the thought ridiculous and horribly overwhelming—would be the anchor she needed to support herself and her baby in Providence, and she could do it while teaching a topic she loved.
She turned to Hope and pasted a smile on her face. “When would I start?”
“Tomorrow.”
Jessie dropped back onto the swing. How would she teach without making herself more of a target to Patrick?
* * *
Jessie chewedon her fingernails as Robert brought his Tahoe to a stop in front of the high school.
He shut off the engine and turned to look at her.
“I don’t think I can do this.” She pressed a hand to her stomach, unsure if morning sickness caused her nausea or the fact that she had to walk into a classroom of students and pretend she was a teacher.
Or maybe she felt like she might lose what little breakfast she’d been able to choke down because her designer jeans had grown too tight over the past few weeks. She needed to buy maternity clothes soon. She was almost halfway through her pregnancy.
Emily and Jake had announced their pregnancy a few weeks ago, and Emily was now wearing maternity clothes. Although Jessie wasn’t keeping her pregnancy a secret, she wasn’t ready for maternity clothes yet. Even though Dr. Young assured her everything looked great, she still feared she might lose this baby.
Robert took her hand, distracting her from her nausea. He laced his fingers with hers and squeezed. “Yes, you can. You’re going to be an amazing teacher, Jess.”
Warmth crept up her arm, and she squeezed back. “What if the kids don’t like me? Or won’t listen to me?”
“I can pretty much guarantee all the boys are going to have a major crush on you by the end of the week. And the girls will definitely admire your talent.”
Warmth filled her cheeks. She wasn’t sure if Robert was teasing or flirting. Or just being Robert. He’d always made her feel talented and beautiful.
He had sounded so pleased last night when she called and told him she had a job. There had been something in his voice that sounded a lot like relief. Was he thinking the same thing Jessie had? That this might make a second chance between them more plausible?
Despite the spark of hope the thought ignited in Jessie, it hadn’t brought relief. In fact, her anxiety had flared, and she’d spent the evening fighting waves of nausea. What if this made it easier for Patrick to get to her? She’d never left the ranch by herself yet; Robert, her mother, or Emily always accompanied her.
Robert had sensed her hesitation and promised to drive her to and from school each day. When she protested, he held firm. “Just until we’re certain Pendleton is nowhere around.”
It had been over a week since Robert told her Patrick was in town. Since that day, he’d not been spotted again. That he’d been here at all made Jessie ill. She didn’t know what kind of mind games he was playing, but he was planning something. She was sure of it.
He pressed his lips to the back of her hand and the sensations that rippled through her effectively distracted her mind from teaching. “You’ve got this, sweetheart.”
Jessie’s breath caught at the endearment. The last time he called her sweetheart, she was certain he hadn’t meant to let the endearment slip out. But today, he smiled and winked at her after saying it.
She sucked in a slow, steady breath, gave him a smile, and tugged her hand from his before reaching for the door handle. Facing a bunch of teenagers seemed a lot safer right now than staying in this truck with Robert. She couldn’t afford to let herself get too carried away.
Yet.
Providence High School was relatively quiet when Jessie stepped through the front doors on shaky legs. She had forty minutes to get started on some of the paperwork Hope said needed to be filled out before the bell rang. The rest would have to be done during third period—her prep time.
Jessie’s hand shook as she filled out the papers Hope and the secretary put in front of her. She kept repeating Robert’s words,‘You’re going to be an amazing teacher,’as she focused on taking slow, steady breaths.
By the time Jessie walked to her classroom—ten minutes before the bell rang—the halls were filled with loud, active teenagers. Her chest tightened as she read over Mr. White’s lesson plan for today’s classes. There wasn’t near enough information there to fill a full class period. Nor was there any clear assignment for the students to work on.
I guess that’s what happens when you’ve taught for thirty years.You become so comfortable teaching you hardly need any notes.
Jessie fought the urge to give in to the panic rising in her and concentrated on remembering the details of the get-to-know-you art activity her favorite professor had done on the first day of one of her advanced art class.
Before she knew it, the room was full of curious students whose faces looked skeptical, as though questioning whether their new teacher knew anything about art.
