“Uh, Holly, Mrs. Violet would like to see you when the children go out for play,” she says, avoiding my eyes, raising my suspicions even more as a bad feeling swirls at the pit of my stomach. I’ve felt this way since my father’s call about Aunt Lyra, since I was nearly arrested and my boyfriend wouldn’t let me take the breather I needed to see if it’s a good idea to bring all this drama around our kids.
I love him, don’t get me wrong, and I want to fight for him but our children need to come first.
I nod before looking back at the kids, who are all nicely lined up, which has me smiling softly, while you can hear Mrs. Jones shouting at her kids from across the hall, which has me flinching.
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, she shouldn’t be a teacher.
Shaking my head, I call, “Okay my little gremlins, follow me,” and they all giggle making my smile go wider.
I turn to see Mrs. Trivers grinning at the kids before she steps aside and I swear I hear her mutter, “Those people have it so wrong,” as I guide my kids to the side door three doors down from mine and I frown in confusion.
Clearing my throat, I nod for the kids to go out as I open the door. “Make sure you play nicely,” I say, just as Lyra hugs me, then Caleb and I chuckle as I watch them go.
Mr. Saint is already outside, so I know they aren’t alone while I go to the office and as soon as he gives me a wave, I turn and follow Mrs. Trivers. I don’t miss the smirk on Mrs. Jones’s face as she walks toward the door, her kids running around and shouting which just shows the few days with me they had have worn off.
Why does the bad feeling in the pit of my stomach suddenly grow?
I swallow the lump forming and follow the receptionist toward the head’s office, but I tense up as we get close to the crowd before me.
At least five angry parents are there. None have kids in my class. All are in Mrs. Jones’s class. But the thing that has me silently cursing is Cheryl who is clearly out on bond, standing front and center with a smirk on her face, wearing mini shorts, high heels, and a crop top—in a school.
“And here she comes, the teacher who is favoring her own child and using my son to get to his dad,” she claims, and I raise a brow as everyone looks at me with anger.
Okay, so the woman is completely crazy and clearly didn’t hear me the other week when I introduced myself as Ms. Robins, not Mrs. Jones.
“You are aware that I don’t teach any of your kids, right?” I confirm as I look at the parents and Mrs. Trivers snorts but coughs to hide it.
One mother with dark hair and blue eyes frowns and confirms, “You’re not Mrs. Jones?”
Does it surprise me none of these parents have met their kids teacher? Nope, not one bit. Normally Mrs. Jones gets her teaching assistant who in my opinion should be the teacher of her class, to take over after three.
I shake my head and answer, “No, I’m Ms. Robins,” and another mother gasps, “You’re the teacher my daughter wants to have but Mrs. Violet explained your class is full.”
I give the woman a polite smile while a man steps forward and asks, “If our kids want to be in your class, why are you here and not Mrs. Jones, about whom the accusations have been made?”
Cheryl’s face pales and I chuckle. “Because that woman who clearly doesn’t even know my name even though I’ve introduced myself to her,” I nod to Cheryl, “doesn’t like that I’m in a relationship with her son’s father, who she never sees, I’d like to add. She is also breaking her bond by being near me after she tried to have me arrested two days ago for kidnapping and ended up hurting my daughter.”
The parents all gasp as they look at Cheryl and I shake my head. "I never favor any child. If I did, your children would come home complaining when I teach them, but I’m guessing they don’t. I’m sorry, but all of your time has been wasted by a womanwanting to ruin not just my life, but also my career—all because a brother she tried to trap didn’t claim her."
The man looks at Cheryl sharply when I say brother, causing her to take a step back, just as Mrs. Violet walks out, her suit pristine but her face sharp with anger.
“Ms. Robins, can you please come into my office?” she demands, her voice sharp and I raise a brow and cross my arms over my chest, standing firm in the doorway.
"Actually, I think I'd rather have this conversation with witnesses," I reply with conviction, already seeing where this conversation is going all because of the woman before me.
The parents straighten their backs and turn to the principal, who was friendly to me when I first started. Now, she looks ready for murder, and I’m guessing Cheryl’s accusations are what have turned her against me despite the fact every child has begged to be in my class.
Did I mention I have a bad feeling? Because I think I’m about to lose my job on hearsay.
“Uh, very well,” she stutters, clearly confused. She clears her throat and says, “There have been accusations from parents and another teacher. They claim you have begun a relationship with a child’s parent in your class. They also say you are favoring that child to ensure his father stays with you. For that reason,” she gives me a sorrowful look, “I’m going to have to suspend you pending investigation.”
I swallow my scoff, pending investigation my ass. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?
I nod while Cheryl grins widely, clearly believing she’s getting her own way, not realizing that one, she’s going to get arrested again and two, the school is asking for a lawsuit.
“There's nothing in my contract that says I can't have a relationship with a student's parent and for the record, Mrs. Violet, I teach my own daughter as you are very much awarebecause of the treatment she got in Mrs. Jones’s class. If there was favoritism, you'd have heard something before now," I say firmly and she sighs, clearly not expecting a fight with people around.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Robins, but it is out of my hands,” she replies, and I chuckle darkly as I look at Cheryl, then the head.
