Christmas Heartache (Celebration Series 1)

Chapter Eight- Susie Fronts Up.

School had got off to a great start.  I had returned the practise exams to one of my senior classes, and I was pleased with their results. They all seemed to have a good understanding of the structure of essays and all the points that I had covered with them over the past couple of years. The only thing hanging over me a little was a phone call I had got half an hour ago.  Sophie, Dave's  secretary had called and asked if I could call in and see Dave at the start of lunch.  

Dave deals with all the discipline issues at the school, and so that was my first thought, that one of the children was caught up in something.  The next thought made me feel sick.  Tom had shared with me on the trip to school, that one of the boys in his class had been expelled last week for bringing drugs to school, he couldn't be involved, not Tom surely.

Wishing I already knew what was going on, and also steeling myself to not look Dave in the eye while in his office was probably the best move.  The way he looked in his suits, his shoulders so broad, and then when his eyes locked with mine, I felt like the strength left my limbs.  

He was so handsome, and clearly a little careless with his dark hair, which was always a little tossled.  His competence at his job added to how sexy and masculine he was, and just being in a close space with him I was probably going to have deal with how great he smelled too.  I smiled slightly as I thought of his smell.  I had been sitting close enough to him yesterday, that it had encircled me and I found it hard to concentrate.

The bell went and the students buzzed with how thrilled they were with their results and each walked out past my desk to thank me.  They were great students, this school was able to have small classes, and every student had their own computer, which helped with research and essay prep but needed close monitoring with some to make sure they stayed on task.

I knocked on the door and Dave called out to come in.  He came out from behind his desk and welcomed me with a smile.  I glanced down quickly but returned the smile.  After I sat down Dave moved to shut the door.  That is when I started to get really nervous, together with the fact that he hadn't started talking yet.  He leant up against his desk kicking his legs out straight in front of him and crossing them at the ankles.  I looked away because from where I was sitting his trousers were bunched right at eye level.  Trying not to look at how he was filling his pants, or imagine him hard and unzipped, I found myself asking, "So?  what did you want to talk about?"   I studied my hands folded on lap, rubbing gently across my ring finger, remembering when I had taken the wedding rings off, about a year before Cam died.  I had never even taken them out of the box since then, deciding that I didn't need any reminding while I was at work, of what my marriage had become.

"Well,"  Dave began hesitantly. "You might be aware that I came across a student in the possession of drugs last week."  I nodded.  I couldn't work out why he was being so formal with me, and I was waiting for the axe to fall.   "Well, ah.  I did a bag search.  There were some things that came to my attention during that search that I have since followed up on. One of the things I would like to talk to you about is, ah, well..."  He walked back behind his desk and picked up a pen, looking out his window with his back to me.  I couldn't take any more,  the  suspense was killing me. So I burst out,

"You are kidding, Sophie rang me over an hour ago, asking me to come in here.  Now that I am here, you don't think the agony of waiting was long enough?  Now you are going to drag it out further? Can you please just tell me.  It is Tom isn't it?"   

Dave turned back without lifting his head he starting speaking, "Tom only had cheese and a couple of crackers.  I took him aside and asked if he was going to the dining room for lunch, and when he shook his head I let him go at that.  But it has been on my mind so I was wondering if it was a matter of money that he.... Well, I always have these,"  he reached into his drawer and pulled out vouchers for a local supermarket.  "You just have to say.  Or I could arrange lunches with the dining room if it was easier for you."