Page 47 of My Single Dad Biker

She leaves and I sit at my desk with my head in my hands trying not to cry. I'm good at my job. I know I'm good at my job. But Mrs. Patterson just spent fifteen minutes telling me I'm not and even though I know she's wrong it still hurts.

I hear footsteps in the hallway and look up expecting the janitor. It's Holt.

He's standing in my doorway in jeans and a t-shirt and he's looking at me with an expression I can't read.

"How long have you been there?" I ask.

"Long enough." He walks into my classroom. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine."

"I'm just frustrated. That parent was difficult."

"That parent was an asshole."

I almost laugh but it comes out wrong. "You can't call parents assholes."

"I just did." He sits in the desk chair across from mine. "She was wrong. You know that."

"I know. But it doesn't make it easier to hear."

"Her son is the problem. Not you."

"You don't know that. You've never been in my class."

"I've watched you teach."

I look up. "What?"

"I've stood in your doorway three different times watching you teach Louis's class. You're good at it. You're patient and you make it interesting and you actually care if they're learning. That parent was wrong about you."

My throat feels tight. "You've never said anything."

"I'm saying it now."

We look at each other and I don't know what to do with this. With him sitting in my classroom telling me I'm good at my job when I needed to hear it most. With the fact that he's been watching me teach and noticing and remembering.

"Thank you," I say quietly.

"Don't thank me. I'm just telling you the truth."

Louis appears in the doorway then. "Dad, are we going?"

"Yeah. One second." Holt stands and looks at me. "You going to be okay?"

"Yes."

"Good." He walks to the door and turns back. "Katherine."

"Yes?"

"That parent is going to complain to your principal. When she does, you tell them exactly what you told her. Her son is choosing not to participate. You've tried multiple approaches. The problem is his refusal, not your teaching. You stand your ground."

"Okay."

"I mean it. Don't let her make you doubt yourself."