In a flurry of excitement and activity, all of the children were reunited with their parents, and in no time her classroom echoed with silence. Annika straightened up the desks and chairs and tucked everything away for the weekend. A proud smile fell across her face as she thought of all her class had accomplished this year.
You’re a damn good teacher, Annika Mehta.She could almost hear Daniel’s voice beside her. Ugh. It was like she was a boy-crazy teenager who couldn’t get over a crush. She needed to get a grip. And anyway, shewasa damn good teacher. The thought made her a bit giddy. With a satisfied sigh, she turned off the light and walked out into the hallway.
Her heart nearly stopped as she recognized the muscular form of the man who was studying her class’s hallway display. It was as if he’d been conjured from her thoughts.
“Daniel?” It came out as a whisper that caught in her throat.
He turned to face her, green eyes alight with amusement. “Tulip cutouts.” He nodded, smiling. “I don’t think there’s a happier flower. The kids must love it. I was hoping you would add one more to the display.” He handed her a yellow construction paper tulip as if months hadn’t passed since they’d last spoken. As if he could walk into this building like anyone else. She automatically reached out and took it without looking at it, not knowing what shocked her more: seeing him, or seeing him inside this school.
“What are you doing here?” She searched his face for signs of pain. Most people would see the handsome smiling face with the twinkle in his eye. But she saw the slight twitch of his lip and the minuscule movement of his eye, the fidgeting of his right foot. His pain was hidden in those movements. But here he stood, inside this school building, waiting to talk to her. She couldn’t help her smile or the feeling of pride she had in him.
“I’m adding to your display—I mean, it’s five years too early, but I wanted to make sure he had a spot in your class.”
Annika had never been more confused, and Daniel was standing there talking to her like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t been away for months.
Like he still loved her.
It must have shown on her face, because he stopped rambling and put his hands into his pockets as he quietly jutted his chin at the flower cutout he had just handed her. His demeanor changed as if he had read her mind and decided that pretending nothing had happened between them was ridiculous.
She indulged him and looked at the tulip cutout in her hand.Aaron.This offered her no clarity. She looked up at him, and he met her eyes and nodded in the direction of the door, indicating she follow him. She sighed and started walking. He walked beside her, and she felt more than saw him glance at her.
“You look amazing.” His voice was low and intimate, and though she knew on some level that she should fight it, she melted into the soft rumble of the voice he used only for her.
Daniel reached to open the door for her and stepped back as a man entered from the other side, the school police officer at his side. “Excuse me.”
Annika froze, her pulse quickened and her back stiffened. It was Mitch’s father. She hadn’t seen him since the first day of school when he had insulted her. All of her interactions since then had been with Mitch’s mother, whose only interest had been getting help for her son;whohelped him seemed irrelevant to her.
He nodded at Annika, his lips pressed together.
Daniel drew himself to his full height, stepping closer to Annika, even as he made room for Mitch’s father and the officer to enter.
“Ms. Mehta.” Mitch’s father finally addressed her.
“Mr. Evans.” Annika kept her voice firm yet calm.
Mitch’s father flicked his gaze to Daniel and back to Annika. “I was hoping to have a word with you, about Mitch.”
“Go right ahead.” Annika did not move. Daniel tensed next to her.
“Well...” Mr. Evans glanced at Daniel and the officer, then turned his gaze to Annika. “I just wanted to...thank you. For everything you did for my Mitch.”
Annika couldn’t speak. Daniel and the officer were looking at each other, baffled, and the man simply stood there, looking abashed. Silence echoed in the hallway.
Annika finally managed to find her voice. “Well, Mr. Evans, it was my pleasure. Mitch is a wonderful child.”
“He has truly enjoyed being in your class.”
“Despite your best efforts, I assume.” Annika raised her chin.
Mr. Evans cleared his throat. “Well, now. That’s not necessary—”
Annika narrowed her eyes, her stomach jumping. She felt emboldened. This man was thanking her for doing her job, because his son had benefited. Not because he realized that her abilities had nothing to do with the color of her skin. He certainly had not been an active participant. “Actually, itisnecessary.” She seethed, but kept her voice measured. “It’sverynecessary, since you saw fit to insult me on my first day on the job, simply based on the color of my skin. And that is anything but okay.”
Daniel leaned even closer to her, tension vibrating from him.
“Well, now, what do you expect?”
Annika threw her shoulders back and took a step closer to Mr. Evans. “Iexpectto be treated with the respect and consideration afforded to any person who teaches your child. Regardless of whether I exceeded your personal expectations of what I should or should not be doing.”
