Page 155 of Enzo

I nod. “Okay.”

We sit and talk, about the future. Not about the past. About places Enzo wants to take his mom to, and he talks about us, as if we'll be taking her out.

She talks about having a family get together, with everyone. I wonder what that will be like. The entire family here.

We have lunch, and oh my days! I'm back in culinary heaven again. Isabella serves us far too much food, all of it delicious.

We sit around the dining table, talking more, and I understand at last what family means to Enzo. How full this table would be if the others were here. How easily Isabella asks after Jett, Dex and Zach, and little Brooke.

I see how relaxed Enzo is.

I envy him this world, and I yearn for something like this.

My phone rings, and I'm about to send it to voicemail when I see that it's Miss T. Calling me from her personal number. I excuse myself and step away, my heart thudding harder with every step. Have they made a decision? Suddenly, I'm terrified to find out.

“How are you, Molly?”

The sound of her familiar voice makes my heart ache. I didn't realize how much I missed her until now. “I'm good, Miss Turlington. I miss the children, and Oakleigh, and I miss you.”

“We miss you.”

A knot sticks in my throat. Given the time, I imagine she's at school. It must be afternoon and my children will probably be sitting on the rug for story time, squirming around and interrupting every other page with something they desperately need to tell the teacher.

The thought claws at something inside me. I can see their little faces. Hear their voices. I miss them so much that for a moment I have to close my eyes. I want my classroom back. I want the noise and the mess and the endless questions. I want my ordinary life back.

“The board is reviewing things, Molly. The press intrusion has lessened somewhat. And something else has happened.”

My stomach knots.

“The parents of the children you teach have been coming to the school. They aren’t happy.”

My stomach turns. “About me?”

“About the decision to place you on administrative leave.”

For a moment, I can’t speak.

“They want you back, Molly. The children are upset by the change. They're asking when you're coming back, and their parents are asking the board to reconsider.”

My hand flies to my mouth and my eyes fill so quickly I have to blink. “They did that for me?”

“They did.” …”

“But you said parents complained. That was part of the reason I was sent away.”

“Some did,” Miss T says gently. “But many more have spoken up in your support. Not just parents from your class. Parents from other years too. People who know how much you've done for this school.”

My eyes turn moist.

“They want you reinstated.”

“Really?”

“It looks promising. Nothing has been decided yet, but I wanted you to know. Don't lose hope, Molly.”

A sob catches somewhere in my throat. There's a chance I can return. A chance to go back to Oakleigh, where I belong. It's not about the income, or needing to make rent. Oakleigh has my heart.

“I won't.” My voice cracks and tears replace the ones I've brushed away.