"What the hell did they want?" he growls.
I take a breath and look to him to give him this part. "First, the principal informed me that he was concerned about a rumor he heard about me being in a relationship with one of my students' parents. He didn’t ask about my pregnancy, but theway he looked at my stomach in question spoke volumes. He claimed that someone reported seeing the two of us together at the doctor’s office. Which also confirmed he knew.”
I hadn’t spoken a word of it to anyone, but knowing the community around here, I shouldn’t be surprised that speculation has started after my appointment Tyler went with me to, and my trip to the ER. For all I know someone could have heard Tyler announce it to the nurses’s station in the ER waiting room when he got there that he was the father of my babies. I just can’t be sure of it. He might not have even heard, and I’m seeing things.
“He called you into the office all because you’re involved with one of your students’s parents? That doesn’t make sense. People have relationships all the damn time.” Tyler’s voice causes a shiver to run down my spine at the deep rumble of it. The way his eyes darken in anger doesn’t help.
“It wasn’t the only reason, but he said it didn't look good for the school for a teacher to be involved with a parent.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Nope,” I mutter, shaking my head and keep going. “To make it worse, he called in the superintendent.”
“What did he have to say about all of this?”
I suck in a breath and tell him, “Well, he decided to inform me of his concerns about my home going up in flames and a strange man confronting me outside the school. Not to mention my missing days due to my attack. He claimed they didn't need a teacher at the school that could bring a threat to their students.”
“What the hell!” Tyler's voice speaks volumes for how pissed he’s getting on my behalf. “How do they even know about the fire? Do they even know that it wasn’t your fault? And why the hell would you being confronted outside of the school have anything to do with this?”
I feel the same way about everything he’s questioning.
“I don’t think they really care. It’s a matter of the image the school wants to portray to the public.” I sigh, lowering my head. “They’ve decided that it’s in the best interest of the school at this time that I am suspended without pay after finishing out the day. The school board will be meeting to decide whether I'm a risk they're willing to take having on staff at their precious school."
"You've got to be kidding me," Tyler bites out. "They can't do that, can they?"
"I’m a new hire. They can do what they want. Granted, their job is to look out for the safety of the children in the school. Right now, they see me as a liability to them."
"How the hell are you a liability? Did you ask to be attacked? For your home to be burned down. Were you throwing yourself out there demanding someone hit you? Inviting strangers to the school?" The anger all but rolls off Tyler in waves. "Who are they to say who you can and can't be with? They don't know a damn thing about our relationship and when it started. It's a small town, and it's not like there's no talk about other teachers and what they get up to."
"Yes, but people frown upon teachers dating the students' parents who are in said teacher’s class. Some might see it as favoritism," I point out.
"Bullshit, it's them sticking their noses in our business. You don't pull that shit in your class. I'm sure of it without a doubt, you treat each student the same as you do Dash."
I did do this. I’m not one for playing favoritism in my classroom. I believe every child should be treated equally, and I don't want anyone to feel neglected in any way, shape, or form.
"They're not going to see it that way. All they care about are appearances." I shrug and let out a heavy breath. “Maybe it’s a good thing.”
“Did anything else happen?” he asks.
“Dustin called,” I tell him about the fire marshal’s report. When I finish, Tyler’s anger seems to skyrocket.
“Someone set your house on fire,” he snarls through gritted teeth.
“Yeah.” I nod, swallowing nervously as I look back to watch Dash riding his bike, not seeing him. "Where'd he go?" I ask, lowering my feet.
Tyler stops the swing and hops off the swing, yelling, "Dash."
I follow Tyler as he heads for the stairs and down them, though I take them at a slower speed than he does. The last thing I need is to trip and tumble down.
"Dash, where are you?" Tyler shouts.
"Look, Daddy," Dash yells from around the side of the house.
I come to a stop as Dash points at what looks like a dead fox. "Is that . . ."
"Dash, you know you're not supposed to be where no one can see you," Tyler mutters, scooping Dash up. "No more riding your bike the rest of the week."
"But I just wanted to see what was lying on the ground," Dash whines, clearly upset at his punishment. "There's no one around to worry about stranger danger."
