Page 1 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
one
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Archer
“I cannot stresshow important it is to make education the number one priority, and that needs to start at home, Mr. Chadwick,” Mrs. Groucher said, and it took everything I had in me not to roll my eyes. “College is getting more and more competitive with each passing year.”
Was she fucking kidding me?
My daughter was five years old, and this was kindergarten.
Mrs. Groucher had been my teacher back in the day, so this wasn’t her first rodeo, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to argue with her.
But did I agree with her?
Hell no.
“I do understand the importance of academics.” I cleared my throat. “However, we’ll be in Paris for my cousin Rafe’s wedding, so it’s a long way to travel, and we’ll be staying for the week to do some exploring.”
“Tsk.” She pursed her lips and made no attempt to hide her judgment. “Leave it to Rafe to get married abroad. That one always was a bit over the top.”
Mrs. Groucher had taught all of my cousins, Bridger, Rafe, Easton, Emerson, and Clark, as well as my younger brother Axel and me. I was fairly certain she had come with the building here at Rosewood River Elementary, because the woman had been a part of this school since it opened.
I chuckled. “Yes. He does enjoy a production, and Paris has special meaning to him and Lulu. And Melody is their flower girl, so it’s important that we have this time with family.”
“It’s all about choices, and Melody is a bit of a—whimsicalgirl. A daydreamer, if you will.” She tapped her finger against her chin as she thought over her next words, and I fought the urge to bite back because this wasn’t the first time she’d insinuated that my daughter had her head in the clouds. “It will be up to you to keep her focused.”
“I’m not concerned,” I said, my voice coming out harsher than I meant it to. “She’s five years old, and I wouldn’t change a thing about her.”
Mrs. Groucher sighed. “This is where Melody having two parents would come in handy. You’re going to have to be both good cop and bad cop.” She shrugged.
Clearly there were no boundaries to the advice that my daughter’s kindergarten teacher felt inclined to give me.
“Daddy, are you staying at school all day today?” Melody came running over to me, her lips turned up in the corners as she blinked at me with those big brown eyes of hers.
The kids were allowed to be dropped off for free play on the playground before school started. Today they were playing inside the classroom because it had just started raining outside, and I’d come to speak to her teacher about our trip to Paris in two weeks.
Welcome to fall in Rosewood River.
“Nope. I’ve got to get going in a little bit, but I was just telling Mrs. Groucher about our trip to Paris.” I scooped my baby girl up and settled her on my hip.
“You’re going to miss three days of school, so I’ll send the work home with you, and I’ll expect it back after Thanksgiving break,” her teacher said, crossing her arms over her chest as the words left her mouth.
“Hey, you could come with us to Paris, Mrs. Groucher. Mrs. Dowden can’t nannies for me no more, because she’s too tired. Daddy’s finding a new lady to come live with us today.” Melody spoke with the slightest twang, which was fucking adorable.
But her teacher seemed far from impressed with this new information.
“I won’t be coming to Paris with you because I’m your teacher, Melody.” The older woman’s tone was harsh, but my daughter wasn’t even remotely fazed.
“Well, that’s just sad, because we love each other, right? Right, Mrs. Groucher?” she asked, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as she stared at the strict woman in front of her.
“Teachers love all their students.” She looked between us. “A new lady is moving into your home?”
“Oh, it’s not like that,” I said, shaking my head at the insinuation. “Oscar and Edith’s niece has moved to town, and she’s looking for part-time work, since she does some sort of remote work as well, apparently. I actually have an interview set up with her in an hour.”
Thankfully, Josh Barker started yelling about Tommy Jordan stealing his markers, and Mrs. Groucher left to torture someone else for a little bit.
“Do you think my teacher is sad that she can’t come with us to Paris, Daddy?” Melody placed a hand on my cheek. “Are you sad she can’t come?”
