Page 49 of Where We Stay
“I’ll take good care of them.”
The words leave my mouth before I can second-guess them.
Walter smiles. “I believe you will.”
He shows me where the children keep their belongings and explains the morning routine before checking his watch.
“You have about forty minutes before the first bell,” he says. “Patty or I will be close if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Walter.”
“Welcome to Hartwell Elementary, Blair.”
He leaves me alone in the classroom.
For a moment, I simply stand there.
I take in the sunlight, the tiny chairs and the colorful drawings Mrs. Ranford hasn’t yet collected from the walls.
An overwhelming warmth settles over me.
This is where I’m meant to be right now.
A classroom. A new beginning.
Something that is entirely mine.
And no ridiculously attractive mechanic—no matter how annoyingly kind he is—is going to distract me from it.
* * *
When the first bell rings, I stand at the front of the classroom and look at the little faces staring back at me.
Some are smiling. Others look deeply suspicious, as though I personally forced Mrs. Ranford into retirement.
Fair enough.
“Hello, my little people,” I begin, clasping my hands together. “My name is Miss Morgan, and I’m going to be your new teacher.”
Twenty pairs of eyes continue watching me.
God, they’re so stinking cute.
“I’m sure you all have some questions before we start our day,” I tell them. “Is there anything you’d like to know about me?”
Almost every hand shoots into the air.
“Oh.” I laugh. “I see we have lots to say.”
A boy near the back stretches his arm so high that he’s practically lifting himself out of his seat.
“Let’s start with you, little dude.” I point toward him. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Zack,” he announces. His fire-red hair falls across his forehead as he looks seriously at my blouse. “Why is your shirt white? Won’t it get dirty? My mama doesn’t let me wear white things.”
I look down at the outfit I spent two hours choosing.
“You know what, Zack? Your mama sounds like a very intelligent woman.”
