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I bent down to pick up some dropped paper and a pencil. Probably spilled out of someone’s backpack when they dashed from the room. I chuckled.
A throat cleared.
I turned, eyebrows lifting when I saw Principal Sanders. “Good afternoon.”
“Miss Jones.” Her lips were pinched. Her whole face looked pinched. I wondered, again, what it was that made her so unhappy.
“How can I help you?”
“I received your resignation this morning. I have to say, I’m disappointed.”
I moved to the next computer on the row. “I imagined you would be. And I am sorry. But I think it’s the best decision.”
“Best for whom?”
I powered down the final computer, walked to the trash can to deposit the scraps of paper, and gestured toward my office. “Would you like to come in and sit down?”
“No. I don’t have a lot of time. It’s a busy day, as you can imagine.”
“All right. Then I guess I’d say best for everyone. I’ll be working across the street at the learning center that Austin is building. I imagine you’ve seen the equipment. They’re making great progress and are on schedule to be able to open mid-September. The center will have more flexibility to meet students where they are, rather than teaching to an imaginary median. Better for the students. More fulfilling to me.”
“I see. I didn’t realize Mr. Campbell was recruiting from the staff here.”
“I don’t believe he is.” I pointed to the ring on my left hand. “We’re getting married in a couple of weeks. Overall, this move just made more sense. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a wonderful replacement. You have the whole summer to interview.”
“You ought to know that isn’t necessarily enough time.” Principal Sanders crossed her arms. “You really ought to have given more notice.”
“I didn’t want to risk being put on administrative leave instead of working out the rest of the year.” I couldn’t stop the words. I should have. I knew it even as I was saying them.
Her lips thinned. “That was a very unique case.”
“And still.” I glanced up at the large clock on the wall then back at the principal. “Was there anything else?”
“No. Please get your final grades submitted and then you’re free to go. There’s no need for you to attend the final faculty meeting.” She turned on her heel and stomped from the room.
My shoulders sagged. I shouldn’t be surprised. Especially not after my dig about Austin. But I’d thought, just maybe, I’d be allowed to participate in the farewell party that we had every year for departing teachers.
So much for that.
A tentative tap on the door made me stiffen. I didn’t want to deal with anything else. I forced a smile and looked over. My eyebrows drew together when I saw Lucy hovering in the doorway. “Lucy?”
“Miss Jones? Can I talk to you a minute?”
“Sure.” Maybe her father had relented and she was going to be able to focus more on math than computers. That would be a best-case scenario.
She slowly made her way over to where I stood and stopped. She twisted her fingers together. “Um. I wanted to apologize.”
“For what?”
Lucy swallowed and looked away. “I think I’m the reason Mr. Campbell got fired. And you.”
My eyebrows lifted. “Neither of us got fired, honey. And really, I don’t see how…”
She nodded. “I didn’t go to the press. But my dad…he was so angry that you said I shouldn’t do computers and Mr. Campbell had sent some information about actuaries home. I didn’t know he heard me telling Mom what I overheard that day when you and Mr. Campbell were having lunch. I just thought it was cool that he had all that money and still chose to teach. But Dad—”
My heart broke as Lucy began to cry. I wanted to be angry—it had cost us so much—but I couldn’t. I reached out and touched her arm. “It’s okay, Lucy. It really is. In a lot of ways, I think it’s working out for the best. Mr. Campbell can focus on his learning center and I’ll still get to work with him every day over there. Don’t take this on.”
“Are you sure?” Lucy swiped at her cheeks.
