Читать книгу Stand-In Mom - Megan Kelly, Megan Kelly - Страница 9

Ginger gasped, feeling the blood drain from her face. Scott stood in Mr. Bushfield’s office, apparently the father of her new midterm arrival. Her flesh felt like ice, but she couldn’t blame the early January weather.

“This is Scott Matthews,” Bushfield said. “He’s brought in his daughter Shelby, who, as you know, is enrolled in your class.”

Scott held out his hand.

He wants to shake hands? Ginger pressed her lips together to suppress the hysterical bubble waiting to erupt. Shake hands, after what they’d done together? After the ecstasy that hand had brought her?

Or maybe that feeling of connection had all been on her part. Maybe he’d lied to her about being married. He hadn’t mentioned having a child. Had everything between them been an act? Ginger wanted to rush out, sick to her stomach.

She forced herself to focus and placed her hand in his, trying to behave as though he were any other father. Warmth zinged up her arm, raising more goose bumps. “Hello.”

He nodded. “Ginger.”

“You know each other?” Bushfield asked.

She snatched her hand from Scott’s but couldn’t tear away her gaze. His hazel eyes held none of the passion she remembered. She couldn’t read his expression at all, as though he were a stranger. And really, wasn’t he? “We met a few weeks ago.”

“At a party.” Scott’s gaze trailed over her as though he’d never seen her before.

Of course she looked different, she thought crossly. She couldn’t wear a slinky cocktail dress to school. Besides the kids ruining it before half an hour passed, she’d never be able to rise from the floor, where she spent much of her time. If Scott didn’t like her black slacks and snowman sweatshirt, too bad.

“This is my daughter Shelby.” His soft Southern accent had nearly vanished in the past weeks. Except for a slowness to his words, he sounded as hard and flat as a native Midwesterner.

Ginger peered around him as he pushed the girl forward. Dark brown eyes dominated Shelby’s pale skin. Her nearly black hair had been pulled back with purple butterfly barrettes on each side of her head. She may have inherited her darker coloring and delicate features from her mother, but the scowl on her face was pure Scott.

“Hello, Shelby. I’m happy to have you in my class.” She smiled, wishing the girl had a different father. One who didn’t make Ginger’s skin tingle. One who didn’t make her stomach clench with excitement.

One who didn’t know of her extracurricular activities.

“Would you like to see your new classroom?” Ginger offered. “The other children should be arriving in a few minutes.” She glanced at Scott. “You’re welcome to come, too. It sometimes helps for a parent to be able to visualize his child’s environment.”

She hid her grimace, fearing she sounded as condescending as Bushfield. She led them down the hall, overly conscious of Scott and his sullen daughter. Was the universe out to get her?

She strove for composure, but her mind had become a glaring white screen bordered by fuzzy screams she tried to ignore. Just as she tried to ignore Scott’s presence at her elbow. How long before she could look up Shelby’s guardian information and discover whether the night of passion she couldn’t forget, the night that had changed her way of thinking about herself, was actually a night of adultery?

She pointed to the right where she heard children singing. Hopefully the playground monitors would work off some of the children’s excitement about being back at school. The first day after Christmas break could be stressful. “There’s the gym. The students are inside today because the weather’s bad. Most mornings you can play outside. You’ll also wait for the bus after school in the gym.”

Neither Scott nor Shelby answered.

She could imagine the questions in his mind but wished she knew his thoughts. The woman he’d enjoyed a one-night stand with was his daughter’s new teacher. Amazing bad luck.

She passed the third grade rooms and neared hers, glad the discerning eye of Cindy Grady wasn’t on her at the moment. The woman stalked her every movement, waiting for a slipup. Cindy’s sister had lost her teaching job at the beginning of the year. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who Cindy had in mind for Ginger’s replacement, as soon as she could get her dismissed.

Maybe it was unreasonable to wonder why Scott hadn’t mentioned having a kid. To be fair, she hadn’t mentioned being a teacher, either. They’d met too near Christmas, a time she tried to avoid all thoughts of children, even those just under her care during work hours. Adding in her bad news from the adoption agency that day, she’d been less likely to discuss children than usual.

The man she’d slept with after the Christmas party had been sweet and gentle and considerate. She couldn’t believe he’d faked the loneliness she’d seen in the ballroom. Yet here he was with a child. Where was the girl’s mother? He deserved the benefit of the doubt until he had a chance to explain.

“Here we are.” She waved Shelby in.

The girl studied the room, not budging from the doorway. Ginger walked past them, trying to see the room as Scott might. Colorful walls, enough visuals to stimulate without overwhelming the children, and the basic white boards, with a number line, and both a print and cursive alphabet chart over them. Pull-down maps anchored each board.

“This will be your desk.” Ginger tapped a finger on a desk in the second row. She’d put Shelby by two of her nicest girls. One was outgoing and would instantly declare herself Shelby’s best friend; the other was quieter but just as sweet. Judging by Shelby’s reticence so far, Ginger guessed the soft-spoken Maria would be more to her liking.

Ginger glanced at Scott, who stood in the hall behind his daughter. “We have a reading corner for spare time, a library.” She pointed as she named the areas. “A writing area with huge sheets of paper donated by a certain local computer firm …”

He smiled faintly.

Tough crowd. Still, she didn’t teach incorrigible seven-year-olds because she was a pushover. “And a math center with fairly decent computers. Do you use a computer at home, Shelby?”

“My real school has a computer lab where we go to every week.”

Ginger suppressed a grin. Despite the intended slight, or perhaps because of it, this girl appealed to her. Not giving an inch and putting her new teacher in her place.

Scott set his hand on her shoulder. “This is your real school, Shel.”

Although she nodded, the girl’s mouth firmed. She’d take some winning over. Maybe the more gregarious Jean would be closer to Shelby in attitude than Maria, after all. “Your records haven’t arrived from your previous school yet. Do you have a favorite subject?”

Shelby’s teeth glinted in an angelic smile. “I liked computer lab a lot.”

Ginger bit back another grin at Shelby’s polite rebellion. By year’s end, this girl would either delight her or be her biggest headache. Glancing at Scott, Ginger decided to withhold her guess at which. His influence would be vital.

Ginger couldn’t tell what Scott thought of her classroom and hated that his opinion mattered. She’d put too much of her heart in here over the past five years to view the room impartially. Hoping for an insight, she gestured the two of them in. “You’re welcome to explore, Shelby.”

The girl hunched her shoulders as though she didn’t plan to remove her backpack or her coat. She had no intention of staying. Just then, Scott nudged her and they both entered the room. Ginger quietly exhaled her relief.

“Nice room,” Scott said.

She smiled with pride.

“I’ll be able to visualize you in this environment, Shelby, while I’m at work.” He turned a frosty eye to Ginger. “That’ll help.”

Ginger narrowed her gaze as he mocked her with her own words, but she kept her calm for his daughter’s sake. Not that Shelby had spared a glance for her teacher, except for the fierce scowl in the principal’s office. Why had the girl taken an instant dislike to her? Had she picked up the vibes between her teacher and her father? Hard to believe, especially when Scott had treated her like a near stranger, other than his mention of them meeting at a party. Had that set the girl against her?

“The girls around you are Jean and Maria.” Ginger pointed out their desks. “Harry sits in front of you and his twin brother, Ron, sits behind you.”

“Ron and Harry?” Scott asked. “Like from the Harry Potter books?”

Ginger nodded and turned to Shelby. “They don’t like to be teased about their names.”

Shelby stared at her with her dark, depthless eyes. “Why do you think I would tease them?”

Scott stepped up beside his daughter. “Shelby doesn’t make fun of other children.”

Great. Alienate the student and her father. “I’m glad to hear that. I’m sure you’ll get along nicely then.” Ginger turned her smile on Scott. “I didn’t mean to imply she would be unfriendly.”

Just because you are.

His jaw clenched, proving her message got through.

“I’ll show you your locker so you can put your coat away.” Ginger took them into the hall and indicated the girl’s locker. Shelby shrugged out of her backpack, and Scott hung her coat on a hook.

He winked at Shelby. “Now I can visualize your coat in its environment.”

Shelby grinned, displaying a missing tooth on the bottom row. The girl may not understand all the undercurrents, but she recognized her father had scored a hit.

Ginger had dealt with all kinds of parents through her five years teaching second grade, but she’d never had a relationship with a father interfere with her emotions before. Not that relationship would be the right word for what she’d shared with the insufferable man currently taunting her. It had been one night of passion. It might have been easier if they had dated and broken up. At least then she’d know his mind.

“May I speak to you privately, Mr. Matthews?”

“Why, of course, Ms. Winchester.”

Ginger barely stopped herself from glaring, knowing Shelby watched them intently. “Shelby, go ahead and put your things in your desk.”

Her student looked to her father first for his nod of approval, then dragged her feet into the classroom.

Ginger squared off with him as soon as the girl left their earshot. “One question and I only need a yes or no. Are you married?”

“No.” His surprised expression was answer enough, but the spoken denial made her sag with relief.

“Okay, then. Thank you.” She took a breath; it felt like the first she’d taken since recognizing him in the principal’s office. “Scott, no matter what went on between us, we need to be able to speak civilly to one another for your daughter’s sake.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you taught second grade?”

She retreated a step, taken aback by his question. Up to this point, he’d behaved as though he disliked her. Miffed, she shot back, “Why didn’t you tell me you had a daughter?”

He glanced away. “Two.”

It took her a moment. “You have two daughters?”

“The other is in preschool at the Wee Care. My boss’s mother owns it, but you probably know that. I took her this morning. The three of us moved up after Christmas. That’s why I’ve been too busy to call.”

Ginger absorbed the news. Two daughters, no wife. “It’s a good preschool. I noticed Shelby will be taking the bus there after school.”

“Unfortunately.” He hunched his shoulders. “I don’t like leaving them for so long, but at least I can take them both to their schools in the mornings. I’ve already talked to Dylan about flexing my hours so I can start work later.”

Ginger wanted to give him a hug of reassurance, wondering if he’d just gotten custody. The first adjustments after a divorce were hard enough without kids. Would the girls be shuttled to Georgia to visit their mother for holidays and summer vacations? Poor things. Maybe she could cut Shelby some slack.

“I’m serious about us getting along better,” she said. “Especially in front of Shelby.”

“I agree.” He shoved his hands in the front pockets of his pants and rocked back on his heels. “I have to get to work right now, but maybe we should get together later to discuss this.”

His offer sounded like a date, although get together gave his suggestion a casual air. Their relationship so far had been intense and intimate, if short-lived. Tempted, she steeled her resolve. She could not get involved with this man, especially now his daughter was in her class. The principal had delivered a lengthy oration—the only kind of talk he knew how to give—just that morning regarding the school district’s cracking down on any hint of impropriety. She couldn’t afford for the adoption agency to hear of a scandal, either. “What do we need to discuss?”

Scott blinked, some of the starch knocked out of him. “Our …”

She raised her eyebrows. “Night of passion?”

“For starters.”

“Starters? That’s all we have between us. Except now there’s Shelby.”

“So that’s it?”

The bell rang and clattering children charged down the hall. “I have to go now,” Ginger said. “If you want to discuss Shelby’s progress in my class, you know where to find me.” She snapped her fingers. “Wait, I know. You could always call me.”

Turning on her heel, she marched into her classroom.

THE NEXT DAY, SCOTT WAITED in the school lobby to have a surprise lunch with Shelby. He’d spent the morning at the Wee Care Preschool and Day Care with Serena, making sure she eased into her new surroundings. Dylan was a heck of a guy to give him an extra day off. Scott owed the man big-time, especially as his wife, Tara, had helped ease Rena into the routine. Rena had taken pride in showing her school to him, not having attended preschool or day care back home.

He sighed, then pasted on a smile as the children from Shelby’s classroom walked down the hall toward him. He spied his daughter looking at the floor as she walked, and his chest ached. Poor kid. Being older, the adjustment would be harder for her than for Serena. New school, new friends, new life.

Ginger followed the children out of the room, locking the door behind her. Scott knew when she spotted him by the way her foot stuttered, her shoulders straightened and her lips firmed. She couldn’t fool him. He knew how soft those lips could be, especially pressed against his body.

Swallowing, he set down the carry-out food tray just as Shelby launched herself into his arms.

“Dad! What are you doing here?” Her smile lit his day.

Her classmates continued on, throwing questioning glances their way. “I’m having lunch with you.” He looked up at Ginger. “I checked in at the office and they said to wait here.”

Her eyes pierced him before her expression turned bland. “That’s fine, and what a nice treat for you, Shelby.”

Shelby nodded and clung to his hand.

“Why don’t you show your father the way to the cafeteria.” Ginger walked toward the stairs.

Scott grunted, not caring to be dismissed in such an offhand manner. As though he were just another parent. “Well, peanut, how’s about you and I have some food?”

He picked up the cardboard drink tray and bags, one child’s chicken pieces meal and his own more substantial fish fillet and fries. They couldn’t do takeout too often, for health and financial reasons, but he wanted today to be special.

“What about the lunch you packed me?” she asked.

“Save it for tomorrow.”

“Wow.” Shelby hugged his waist. “We go down here, and I’ll show you my table.” Her brow wrinkled. “We’ll have to find a chair for you.”

“You have an assigned table?” He hadn’t realized that nor had the office mentioned it when he’d called to find out the procedure.

“It’s okay. I’ll make Harry or Ron move.”

“Shelby.” He frowned at her as they descended. “Y’all can’t kick either of those boys out of their seats.”

She gave a shrug he’d seen his wife use. Samantha had always meant “we’ll see” by it, and she usually got her way. He hadn’t realized Shelby had picked up that particular gesture, although he’d noted other gestures of Sam’s both girls had assumed. He shook his head, knowing Shelby didn’t mean to be heartless.

“It’ll be okay,” he said. “If there aren’t enough seats, you can sit on my lap.”

“Daaad.” She rolled her eyes.

That gesture he knew all too well meant You’re such a moron.

As it turned out, a cafeteria monitor found him a chair while the children made envious noises to Shelby over her meal. He thanked the woman, talking for a moment to discover she volunteered at the school twice a week for lunchtime. Scott couldn’t do that as the school lunch period stretched over two hours, but it put the idea of volunteering in his head. The principal had snagged him the day before to serve on a committee, but he wanted to spend time with Shelby. Maybe something in the classroom. He could flex the time he took lunch to match Shelby’s schedule.

Of course, volunteering in the classroom meant seeing Ginger. He doubted Ms. Winchester would welcome him with open arms.

Which led his thoughts to when she had. He cleared his throat. Not the appropriate time or place for those images.

Shelby threw out the first names of the other children by way of introduction.

“What’s a programmer do?” the boy to his left asked. Harry, Scott thought, the blond with extra large front teeth. Poor kid. Harry’s twin still sported baby teeth, but Scott figured Ron would have the same appearance with his adult incisors. Wouldn’t be a problem once the boys grew into them. He hoped the other kids didn’t tease them in the meantime.

Scott outlined his job to the boys, who hung on his explanation as though he’d invented the internet. Shelby sighed dramatically, but then to her, he was just her father, not Mr. Wizard. Having a child interested in his work made a nice change.

“Ron,” she said, “you’ve got jelly on your shirt.”

“Oh.” The boy glanced down. “Where?”

Shelby sniggered. “Made you look.”

Scott shot her an admonishing glance, although the other children laughed, including Ron and Harry. The next time he came, he’d bring lunches for everyone. Would that be a problem with their parents? Did any of the kids have food allergies? He sighed. This parenting thing was harder than he’d imagined. Sharing lunch at school had been Sam’s job. Now every duty was his by default.

Still, he thought as Shelby hugged him goodbye, there were rewards.

He watched her run out to the playground, her earlier doldrums forgotten, although she hadn’t been pleased when he declined going outside for recess with her and her friends. Kickball or jump rope in under-forty-degree temperatures held no appeal for him. One last wave, then it was past time to get to work.

As Scott turned to the office to sign out, he noticed Ginger going into her classroom again. Awfully short lunch break. This might be the time to ask about volunteering. Perhaps she had a list of needs or a sign-up sheet.

He knocked twice, then opened her door. She raised her head, looking right at home behind the teacher’s desk. A born educator.

Spotting him, Ginger masked her irritation. She should have relocked her door until it was time for the kids to come back in. Her lunch “hour” was actually forty-five minutes. Spending time with a parent shouldn’t intrude, but a phone call or visit often interrupted. “Did you have a good lunch with Shelby?”

“It was very nice. Sorry.” He gestured toward her desk where her lunch wrappings remained. “I didn’t realize y’all were still eating.”

She snapped the lid on her sandwich carrier and slipped it into her thermal bag. “I’m almost done. Do you have a question?”

“I want to volunteer. In the classroom.”

Forcing her face to remain impassive, she nodded. Her fist clenched below the desk. Hadn’t meeting him again yesterday been enough punishment for whatever crimes fate held against her?

“Do you have anything coming up I could do?” he asked. “Maybe before or after lunch?”

And give her indigestion? “Not that I can think of, but I’ll keep you in mind.”

His eyes narrowed. “Nothing? Are you sure?”

She gave him her fake smile. “Nothing that’s of short duration.

I’ll give you the numbers of the room parents planning the Valentine’s party next month.” Not that you’re good about calling when you’ve got someone’s number. She flipped open the cabinet drawer behind her and pulled out the party folder.

“Valentine’s Day? I can probably do that.” His shoulders hunched.

Would the romantic holiday be hard for him this year, being suddenly single after … however long he’d been married? So much she didn’t know about him, despite their night together.

“But I was hoping for something before then,” he said, “to help Shelby get settled here.”

“Perhaps finding her own way, without your presence, would be easier for her.” As it would be for me.

“What about Shelby’s birthday? What’s normally done? Should I try to come in that day for some kind of celebration?”

He had her there. “We usually have snacks at the end of the day, just before leaving. You can send something in the morning if you have to work.”

“Aren’t parents allowed to come in for the party?”

“Of course.” She gave a mental sigh and determined to do something kind for someone to realign her karma. “You can bring it in around two-thirty. That gives us time to sing, serve and clean up before the bell rings.”

She pulled open her desk drawer and dug out the file she needed. Extending a sheet of paper to him, she added, “Here’s the list of food allergies this year. Ron and Harry West’s mother will send in a special snack for them since they’re sensitive to so many foods. I’ll add Shelby’s birthday to the list Ms. West already has.”

He stepped closer and took the paper from her. His fingers brushed hers, causing her nerve endings to sizzle. Had he touched her on purpose?

Scott cleared his throat. “Food allergies. I’m glad I asked. I was thinking about bringing lunch for everyone at Shelby’s table sometime.”

“You’ll need to keep that with you, then. It would be best to send home a note with the boys and ask Ms. West to call you. She’s also in charge of the Valentine’s party.”

“Thanks.”

He continued to stare, but she refused to fidget. He was too close, too tempting.

“Was there something else?”

Scott’s lips firmed. “I guess not.”

He left, taking the tension with him. Ginger retrieved Shelby’s thin file, checking for her birthday. She closed her eyes. January twenty-first. Fifteen days. Not nearly enough time to prepare to see Scott again.

Curiosity conquered her better intentions, and she scanned the student information form Scott had filled out when he registered his daughter. Sole custody. No info filled in on the mother, but nothing flagged her as a potential threat, either. At least not as far as kidnapping Shelby went. The threat to Ginger was harder to gauge. Memories could be more difficult to fight than a flesh-and-blood, fallible woman.

After school, Ginger went home, glad she didn’t have papers to grade for once. She had lessons to prepare, of course, and reading to do—that was a given. Maybe after, she could stretch out in front of the fireplace with a novel for some escapism. What a luxury. Papers had to be reviewed for the upcoming evaluation reports, but those could wait another night.

A glance into her refrigerator reminded her of another thing she’d put off for “another night.” That Scarlett O’Hara character was a bad influence. With a sigh, Ginger dragged out some questionable lettuce, a squishy pink tomato that made her long for summer, and a limp cucumber. Disgusted that she’d even consider making this into a salad, she pitched it all into the trash. Tonight, she’d take her recreational reading to a corner booth at the Panera restaurant, sitting with her back to the room so she might pass unnoticed, then force herself to the grocery store.

SCOTT PULLED INTO A SPACE in the lot at the Piggly Wiggly. Both his girls were keyed up after their first full day at school. Serena hadn’t stopped chattering about Miss Tara, Dylan’s wife, or Miss Betty, Rena’s teacher, who was also Dylan’s mom. She’d placed Serena in her class. He felt better about leaving her at the Wee Care, since he knew someone who’d been raised by the woman spending so much time with Serena. Having his boss’s wife there helped, too. Not that he hadn’t called the day care’s references and the school district and checked into both thoroughly in December before enrolling his girls. But he appreciated the personal touch and peace of mind Dylan’s family provided.

Dark had fallen two hours before, but he insisted they shop for food before going home.

Then he saw Ginger lifting a canvas tote bag full of groceries into her trunk. His stomach dropped. He couldn’t make his hand turn off the engine. Seeing her today had been ridiculous. He wanted to touch her, stroke her hand, kiss her lips. Call her for a date—a real date, going out first to dinner or a movie or both.

First. He closed his eyes. That was the clincher. He wanted her under him, surrounding him, loving him. And then he felt sick. While he still regarded being with another woman as a betrayal of his vows to Samantha, he couldn’t start a relationship.

But he couldn’t seem to stay away from Ginger, either. And in a town with a population under three thousand, it was more than likely he’d run into her on occasion.

“Aren’t we going in the store?” Shelby asked from the backseat.

Ginger rammed the metal shopping buggy into the cart corral and rushed back to her car, head bent against the bitter wind.

“No.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s wait till tomorrow. We’ll drive through and get food tonight.” So much for not resorting to fast food too often.

“Goody,” Serena said. “I’m hungry.”

“Wow,” Shelby breathed. “Twice in one day?”

Scott grimaced. Great example I’m providing. “Let’s see if this town knows how to do barbecue like home.”

He pulled out after Ginger’s silver Honda, smiling at her license plate: EDUK8. Her car would be easy to locate in a parking lot, except maybe at school. She turned left, and he swung in behind her.

A glance in the rearview mirror assured him neither girl noticed the wrong turn he’d taken. And why would they? Not only was this a strange place for them, they weren’t old enough to know all the routes around town. Only his guilt had him checking for their reaction. Thoughts of Samantha rode shotgun.