She smiled. Career Day was months away, but he’d already said yes to her request.
“Good news?” Daniel was gathering his things.
“Yes. Sajan can do Career Day. So I can check ‘doctor’ off the list.” She grinned.
“That’s great.” His smile may have faltered a bit, but he was supremely worried about her day tomorrow.
She stepped closer to kiss him. “Now, go. Save lives.”
DANIELSTILLREFUSEDto talk to a therapist, insisting he was fine now that he had Annika. And while that warmed her heart, it also scared her. Not dealing with such a loss could do things to a person. Destructive things.
Though, to his credit, no matter how often Annika broached the subject of therapy, Daniel never asked if she had told her parents about him. “All in good time” was Annika’s approach. All this with Daniel was so new; she didn’t really know where it was going. And really, why tell them if she didn’t have a plan?
Annika was up early that next morning to get to school and set up for her first ever Parents’ Visitation. A glance outside confirmed the light January snowfall that had been predicted, but nothing was sticking, so it would be school as usual. Parents’ Visitation was the day all the parents came to the classroom to observe their children. She had discussed this with the children, how they were supposed to do their work like normal, so their parents could see how well they worked in school. Annika couldn’t help but feel that the success of this day was a reflection of her abilities as a teacher, so she wanted to be there early enough to get things together and gather herself.
She was particularly concerned about Mitch, the little boy who would not speak or interact with the other children. He’d been evaluated and had exhausted the school’s considerable resources but still was not showing improvement at school. She’d had a meeting with Mitch’s mother and learned that he spoke nonstop at home. Annika had done some research and had requested an IEP meeting, which would involve the parents and school officials. The meeting was for tomorrow.
Her heels clacked loudly in the empty hallway, and had she been alone, she might have found it eerie. But she was accompanied by the soft-shoed officer who patrolled the school. Police presence had become commonplace at the school, and she generally did not spend too much time concerned about it. But with Daniel’s concerns fresh on her mind, she looked at the school through different eyes as she followed procedure and walked behind Officer Keely.
“Big day today?” Officer Keely grinned at her.
“Does it show? I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been.”
Officer Keely chuckled and shook his head as they reached her classroom. “You’ll be great, Ms. Mehta. The kids love you. I’ve heard talk around the school that every one of your kids loves you the best.”
Annika inhaled deeply and smiled at the man. He was probably about her age and wore a wedding band. Putting himself in harm’s way for the school. For the children. For her. The thought made her shudder. “Thanks for saying that. I appreciate it.”
Officer Keely walked into her classroom while she waited at the door. This was protocol now. Her heart grew heavy as she glanced down the familiar hallway and into her classroom. She had still been a student in teachers college watching the news in horror as grim journalists covered the shooting that had ripped terror through this place. The walls had been repainted, repairs had been done and Officer Keely had been employed.
Teachers should not have to be concerned with gunmen while trying to develop the minds of the future. Children should not have to learn drills in case of an active shooter. Parents should not have to consider purchasing bulletproof backpacks for their children’s protection. Annika shuddered at the thought that there even existed such a thing as a bulletproof backpack. Children shouldn’t die because they had wanted to give their teacher a homemade birthday card.
Officer Keely flicked on the lights, looked around and must have found everything in order, because he beckoned her in.
The name of the school had been fresh enough in her parents’ minds that when she was offered the job here, they were solidly against it. She’d taken the job anyway. Hence the texting. She really did not do things that made her parents’ lives easier, did she? She pulled out her phone and texted Daniel.
I’m at school. Safe and sound.
The response was almost immediate.
OK. Great. I’ll see you at Phil’s. Good luck!
She could almost hear his sigh of relief.
It was no wonder Daniel had suggested the fire station instead of coming to the school. How could he ever enter this building again? Tears burned at her eyes, and her heart ached for him.
“I only hope you’re still teaching here when my little one enters kindergarten.”
Annika’s eyes flew open. “Meg is pregnant?”
He nodded, his happy grin filling his face.
“That is fantastic news! Congratulations!”
“Thank you. Well, you have a great day, Ms. Mehta. I’m sure all will go well.”
She watched Officer Keely leave and then turned to her classroom. The chairs were arranged in a circle for circle time, then the children would put them with the desks that were in groups of four around the room at different stations. There was the reading-writing area, the math area, the science area and the history area. Each area had materials for the children to use and work on. Annika would go over the lesson for each area, and the children would rotate throughout the morning. The feeling was almost Montessori, but it wasn’t true Montessori, as she—and not the students—determined when the children moved on to the next area.
Today they would work on the letterF, learn addition using beads, color frogs in science and build log cabins like Abraham Lincoln’s. She made sure each station had all the supplies it needed and all was ready to go when her first students started trickling in. The parents were asked to stay in the office until all the children had arrived and were ready for the circle.
