Chapter Four
June
Days passed and I didn’t hear anything from Mr. March. As much as it pained me to admit, Brett was doing much better in school and that meant I didn’t have any reason to interfere. Oh well, I thought one afternoon as I dismissed my class. That’s probably for the best. I’ve already embarrassed myself enough around him. No need to make a bigger idiot out of myself.
“June, I’m going to go,” Ruth said. “You okay to wrap things up on your own today?”
I nodded. “I’m fine,” I said. “Thanks, Ruth. You’ve been a big help – I really appreciate it.”
I’d intended to leave school early that day – before four – but once Ruth was gone, I realized that I felt like working. I pulled my schoolbag up to my desk and shuffled through papers. Normally, I didn’t feel much motivation at the end of the day, so I decided to seize it and grade that week’s math quiz.
I was almost halfway through the papers when my door banged open. My heart leapt. Thomas! I thought irrationally. He’s come to talk to me about Brett!
But when I glanced up, I saw that a gorgeous redheaded woman was making her way through the desks. She wore a luscious fur coat, sunglasses perched on the top of her head, and her pointy features were perfectly made up. She was beautiful in the way that an older movie star is, the kind of woman who would play the “hot mom” in some stupid teen comedy. But she wasn’t smiling. Her face was a tight mask of anger.
“I need to speak to my son’s teacher,” she said, her nostrils flaring. “Can you call her in, please?”
I frowned. “Who is your son?”
“Brett March.”
I cringed. “I’m Brett’s teacher,” I said. “My name is June.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “Marlene,” she said. “Marlene March.”
I bit my lip. “What can I do for you, Mrs. March?”
“I demand to know why my son has been acting out,” she said sharply. “Why aren’t you taking more of an effort to reign him in? Do you know that he’s barely even speaking to me about school anymore?”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not really sure those two problems are relat—“
“Shut up,” Marlene growled. She put both hands on my desk and leaned close, glaring at me with her icy green eyes. “I demand you help him!”
“I’m trying,” I said quickly. “But Brett – your son – has been an incredible disturbance in class, and I can’t spend as much individual time with him as I should.”
“Why not?” Marlene’s voice was high and indignant. “This is supposed to be the best public school in the city!”
“It is,” I said. “But ma’am, I have over thirty students in my class. If one of them keeps acting out, I have to send them to the principal. I can’t just pause the education of twenty-nine other children because one of them is misbehaving!”
“You’re a bad teacher,” Marlene said. “My child is in school to learn, not to get pushed aside just because he’s acting out!”
“And he will learn, as soon as he can behave himself and control his anger,” I said firmly.
“You little bitch,” Marlene spat. “You don’t give two shits about these children!” She crossed her arms over her chest and tossed her red curls. “I should have you fired!”
A stab of cold fear pierced my belly and I shivered.
“Yeah, you don’t like that idea at all, do you,” Marlene growled. “But I think it’s only fair. You’re pushing my son to the side, I push you to the side.”
My lip began to quiver and I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes.
“Please, ma’am, I’m doing the best I can with your son,” I said quickly. “I really, really am! I swear!”
“I bet you are,” Marlene said. “You’re weak. You can’t even handle an angry parent! How the hell am I supposed to trust that you’ll handle my son?”
I stood up and glared at her angrily. Hot tears streamed down my face. I’d never felt more humiliated in my life.
“Your son is a child,” I spat. “And children listen to their teachers, unlike you!”
“Oh yeah?” Marlene smirked. “Then explain why you have to keep sending him out of class! My son is a perfect little boy, and you and this goddamned school have been treating him like he’s some kind of delinquent!”
When I opened my mouth to speak, nothing came out. In frustration, I buried my face in my hands and cried.
“You can’t even handle the lightest of criticism,” Marlene spat. “You are not fit to teach my son!”
I wanted to scream at her. I wanted to slap her, to stamp my foot, to throw a fucking fit. But I knew that wouldn’t accomplish anything. I knew that would only make myself look worse, and possibly open myself up to a lawsuit.
“I’ll be in touch,” Marlene said smugly. She turned on her heel and clacked her way out of the room, humming under her breath.
I flopped down in my chair and wiped my face with tissues. Just as I was starting to calm down, the door burst open again and my heart sank.
But this time, it wasn’t Marlene.
It was Thomas March.
He strode towards me, smiling and looking sexy…until he saw my face. Once he realized how distressed I was, he rushed closer.
“June! What the hell happened?”
I sniffed. “Your wife happened,” I said flatly.
Thomas’s face fell. “Let’s get out of here,” he said darkly. “There’s a coffee place around the corner. Come with me and I’ll tell you everything.”
--
Ten minutes later, Thomas and I were sitting side by side, sipping cappuccino.
“I’m so sorry about Marlene,” Thomas said, after I’d told him the whole bloody story. “She’s angry with me right now, and she’s taking it out on you.”
I licked my lips and shivered. “She threatened to have me fired,” I said, trembling. “She sounded serious, too.”
“She won’t do that,” Thomas said firmly. “And if she does, you bet your ass I’m going to your boss and telling him that she’s full of shit. Marlene likes to throw her weight around to get her away. She’s not going to win this time, June. I won’t let that happen.”
“Why is she so angry?” I turned to look at Thomas, to stare at his gorgeous face and hair streaked grey and silver.
“Fuck if I know,” Thomas said bitterly. “She’s the one who cheated on me.”
My jaw dropped.
“Oh, yeah,” Thomas said casually. “She was thrilled when we first split up, she said it meant she could finally get everything she wanted.”
I took a long sip of my coffee. It was both creamy and bitter, just the way I liked it.
“What a horrible woman,” I said softly. “Sorry,” I added quickly. “I know you were married to her and everything.”
Thomas shrugged. “I had no idea what she was capable of when we first got together,” he said. “Trust me – if I’d known, I’m not sure I would’ve gone through with it.”
I shivered. “She’s really gunning for me,” I said. “She’s doing everything she can to make me doubt myself.”
Thomas nodded. “I swear it won’t happen again.”
“Oh god,” I said. I could feel my cheeks growing pale. “Please, please don’t say anything! It’ll look like I went and tattled to you!”
Thomas chuckled. I blushed – the sound of his voice was so melodious, so deep that I couldn’t stay afraid for long.
“June,” Thomas said heavily. “You’re an adult. You’re not a little kid. What the hell do I care if you ‘tattle’ or not? My ex is being a nasty bitch, and she’s not going to get away with it.”
I slumped down against the seat. “I really am trying,” I said softly. “But Brett keeps acting out, and I can’t take time away from the rest of the class in order to discipline him.”
“I know.” Thomas sighed. “This is all really hard on him. I’m sure he blames me – hell, he might even blame himself.”
We lapsed into silence. “Thanks,” I said quietly. “I just don’t want you to think that I’m ignoring your son, or anything like that.”
Thomas smirked. “You’re a good teacher, June,” he said. “I know you wouldn’t do something like that.”
I shivered. “Thanks,” I said softly.
Thomas got to his feet and sighed. “I hate to rush off,” he said. “But I need to pick Brett up. You want a ride home?”
I shook my head, too embarrassed for Mr. March to see where I lived.
“No thanks,” I said softly.
Thomas grinned. “Okay, June,” he said.
I blushed. The way he said my name always made me shiver with happiness. He had such a beautiful voice. My body always responded to him. At least he didn’t ask you for a drink, I thought. Then you really would’ve made a fool of yourself.
“See you, June,” Thomas said. He winked at me and I blushed.
“Bye,” I stammered.
Thomas whistled as he walked away. I couldn’t tear my eyes off his tall, handsome silhouette. I knew it was wrong, but I wanted him so badly.
I need a distraction, I realized. I just need to find someone my own age, who won’t belittle me. Someone who doesn’t have an ex-wife and tons of baggage.
But the problem was, I didn’t want someone like that.
I wanted someone like Thomas March.
That evening, I was lying on my bed and grading papers when my phone buzzed. Angela hadn’t come home yet, and I didn’t even have to look at the caller identification to know that it was her.
“Hey,” I said. “Could you pick up a pizza on the way home? I’m starving.”
A deep masculine laugh filled my ears and my cheeks burned bright red.
“I’d bring you a pizza, but I don’t know where you live, June.”
I blushed even harder. “Mr. March! I’m so sorry!”
Thomas chuckled again. “How many times do I have to tell you – call me Thomas, June.”
I gulped and swallowed. “Okay.”
“Look, June, I was calling to ask you out to dinner on Friday night.”
I bit my lip. “Did something happen with Brett? Is everything okay?”
Thomas laughed. “Brett’s fine. He’ll be with his mother this weekend.”
“Oh,” I said quietly. “Why, then?”
“Because I want to take you out,” Thomas said. “On a date. A real date, to a nice restaurant.”
I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head.
“You can’t be serious,” I said quickly. “Me?”
“Yes, June, you.”
I bit my lip.
“So, are you free? Can I pick you up at seven-thirty this Friday?”
I nodded quickly, forgetting that Thomas wasn’t in the same room to see me.
“Yes,” I said quickly. “Yes, yes!”
Thomas laughed. “That’s the response I was hoping for,” he said in a deep growl that sent a shiver of arousal crawling down my spine. “I’m looking forward to it, June.”
I blushed hotly. “Me too,” I said softly. “Me, too.”
When we hung up, I had to pinch my arm to make sure that I was really awake. It stung, but I still felt delirious and happy. I couldn’t believe that Mr. March had asked me, of all people – me! – out for a fancy dinner date night. I was grinning so wide that both of my cheeks ached.
I couldn’t believe it. Me and Mr. March…together, out on a date!
Suddenly, life was really looking up.