She knew it was the wrong thing to say as soon as she said it, and she was right. Monica’s lips thinned, and she said, “I’m not interested in these sorts of petty disagreements. I’m interested in my teachers following our clearly stated code of professional conduct. So I’ll ask you again: are these allegations true?”
“You didn’t ask the first time.” Again, the wrong thing to say. She was a ginger, yet she never acted like one. She didn’t have a temper, or not one she couldn’t control. Or so she’d thought. Unfortunately, steam seemed to be coming out of her ears. It was the earthquake, probably, and not having her equilibrium back yet. Not the sex, because how could a little sex shake her up like this? She went on, “But I’ll answer now. Zane Mahuta and I are not getting married. That’s ridiculous.”
“And yet you holidayed together.”
“No. Yes. Partially.” Skylar had her hand in her hair now. “Look. His grandmother and my grandfather help look after our kids. They got to know each other meeting up here at school, andthey’reromantically involved. If marriage is in the cards, that’s who’ll be doing it. But, yes, I took my kids to Wellington for a week or so this holidays, because Granddad was down there already with Zane’s Nan. I took all the kids on outings and basically acted as … well, as the nanny. That isn’tprohibited, but I realize it has some potential for a conflict of interest. As I said, though, we’ve only just started navigating this. I saw Zane precisely three times down there: on Sunday for a few hours, on Tuesday, his day off, and then on Sunday again. Well, Saturday night and Sunday, because of the earthquake. The disruption. It was all pretty … pretty fraught down there. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but he’s an All Black, which means he was staying in the training facility in Wellington, except for those visits to his kids. Could some of the kids be seeing romance there? Possibly. They may also be doing a spot of wishful thinking. The grandparents certainly are. That doesn’t mean it’s happening.”
Did she feel good about lying? Or was this just obfuscating? Well, probably lying, or dangerously close. No, she didn’t feel good, but it had been one time! How could your career be jeopardized for a … a momentary lapse during a crisis?
You knew this could happen,her sober mind tried to tell her.Kids talk, and you know it.
But George and Georgia didn’t even see anything!her weasel mind protested.Not so much as a kiss! How can I be dragged onto the carpet for that?
Oh. She’d better not let Monica see her carpet burns.
Monica folded her hands on her desk. It looked ominous. “And that would be why,” she said, “I had Zane Mahuta in my office this morning, asking for Georgia to be moved to another classroom.”
“Y-you did?” Deer in the headlights. That was how she must look. It was certainly how she felt.
“I did.”
“But he must have told you why,” Skylar said, reaching for any fragile reed. “That he was concerned about her … her development, or something. Or the earthquake. She’s a sensitive child.”
“Are you saying,” Monica said, “that you’re not competent to teach her?”
“No. Of course not. She’s a lovely child. But if her father feels?—”
“If her father comes into my office,” Monica said, every syllable articulated perfectly, “and tells me that he wants to change out his child’s teacher because he wants to date said teacher and he’s heard that isn’t allowed, what am I to think? I find it hard to believe that he’s assumed the two of you will be having an intimate relationship just because he wants it, All Black or no. I’d have to conclude that there’s interest on both sides, wouldn’t I? And when I hear the children talking about the same thing, I?—”
“He didn’t.” It was all Skylar could say.
“He did indeed.” Monica straightened the folders on her desk. “But in fortunate news for you, he also said that your relationship was one of acquaintanceship only, due to that involvement of your grandparents. He said, ‘But I’d like to take her out, and I understand she can’t, so please move my daughter to another class so we can move this thing on. If you’d bung her into Skylar’s son George’s class, that’d be good, because they’re mates. Georgia will be upset otherwise. She’ll likely be upset anyway, because she loves Skylar, but I’ll explain.’” She looked straight at Skylar. “I’m not saying I believed him. On the other hand, I have no proof he wasn’t telling the truth. It would’ve been better ifyou’dcome to me, though, when this … acquaintanceship first arose. It looks a bit dodgy now, doesn’t it? Stacey Thompkins will certainly think so.”
“I—” Skylar said. “I—” Well, her lucrative career as a confidence artist was off to a fine start. She couldn’t manage a lie, and she couldn’t tell the whole truth, either.
“Yes,” Monica said. “I imagine you’re having a hard time coming up with an answer for that.” She put the folders down at last, put both palms flat on the desk, and sighed. “You’re an excellent teacher, Skylar. And a principled woman, I believe. I’m assuming you were going to tell me this yourself today—that you’d met the parent of one of your pupils through whanau ties, and feelings were developing between you, so it would be better if Georgia were moved to another classroom, as long as her father agreed. Would you say that’s a fair assessment?”
“Y-yes,” Skylar said. “That’s—obviously that would have been the right thing to do.”
“I thought so,” Monica said. “Now please go enjoy the rest of your lunch break. And Skylar?”
“Yes?” All she wanted was to get out of here.
“Feelings happen,” Monica said. “We’re not machines. We just have to follow proper procedure in dealing with them. You’ll remember that, won’t you?”
“Yes,” Skylar said. “Of course.” And got out the door.
Somehow.
35
ON THE DECISIVE SIDE
Zane had just sat down to his tea, happy to be home to do it. No Geoffrey today. Maybe he’d actually decided to spend some time with his own whanau.
He was thinking that, and then the doorbell rang.
“Bother,” Nan said, so she wasn’t expecting Geoffrey.
