Page 84 of The Teacher

Skipper leaves the office. I follow him out the door, hearing Miss Tweed break down in tears after me. She’s blubbering out pitiful excuses to Mr. Brown, who’s completely ignoring her.

In the empty school hallway Skipper turns to me, acknowledging me for the first time since he stepped foot inside the principal’s office.

He gives me a wink. “So, Sandy, did you listen to every single damn word that came out of my stupid mouth, then?”

31

SANDY

“I don’t know what to say.”

Skipper smiles at me as I stutter out the words and it’s like a thousand fireworks explode in my chest all at once. I’m still processing what just happened in that office, but I know it was good.

I know that everything’s changed.

Skipper just came into the school, and Mr. Brown’s office, like a whirlwind changing the whole scenery. One moment I was hating him, the next I’m practically thanking him.

He’s a force of nature.

But there’s still so much to think about.

A million things rush through my mind in the school hallway as my man smiles at me. Skipper’s company is buying Poseidon’s Academy? Miss Tweed’s been stealing money? I’m to be reinstated? It’s all too much.

Too much to take in.

I honestly don’t know what to say.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he replies.

“But, last night, in that room… I thought that you…”

“I know,” Skipper says, reaching out and wrapping his arms around me in a strong embrace. “I would never cheat on you, Sandy. I’ve made that mistake once already and I’ve paid for it every day since then.”

“I can’t believe this.”

He was set up.

I’d seen the wrong thing.

I was lied to.

“You’re the love of my life, Sandy. I would never hurt you again.”

“Yeah?”

“All of this,” he says. “All of this was for you. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head for eight years. Eight long years. I’ve needed you every minute, Sandy, since I left you all those years ago. I made a big mistake back then, and I’ve come back to rectify it. I came back to New Water for you.”

“You did?”

“I need you, Sandy. My life is incomplete without you. I’m begging you to forgive me for what I did. You’re the love of my life, and I promise you I will never hurt you again.”

“I forgive you, Skipper. I do.”

And then I let go and I melt into his arms. He really does love me. I refused to see that he did, I was too scared that he was going to cheat on me again that I made up a whole other narrative in my mind. It was like I was waiting for him to cheat again when I should’ve been watching what he was actually doing. Everything he was doing was for me. The financial records of the school. Miss Tweed. Him being here. This was all for me. I should never have doubted his love. Skipper places a finger under my chin and lifts my face so that we’re staring into each other’s eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” he says. “For everything. I love you, Sandy.”

Those are the words my heart’s been aching for eight long years to hear, and I know they’re true. Skipper has shown his love for me in so many ways.