Page 13 of Single Dad Problems
“Miss Morgan hasn’t even had a chance to speak yet so how about everyone shut up and let her start her meeting? Principal Darren, I would assume you’d want your teachers to have a chance to prove themselves before beating them down.” Luke folded his hands together on top of the table and stared Darren down. “And your grip looks a little tight.”
11
Callie
Oliver looked up at Darren and his nose pinched just slightly in the way it did before he got truly angry. “We learned about consensual touching in the first grade.”
Tessa’s choked laughter nearly took me out. I was fighting tooth and nail to keep some semblance of professionalism, and I definitely needed to. Darren wasn’t the kind of man who took humiliation on the chin and moved on. I had to get everything back on track or I would have to deal with a pissed off Darren for weeks.
“This is what I was afraid of, Principal Darren.” Samantha still stood there with her arms crossed, a deep scowl on her face. “It’s the very first meeting and it’s already chaos. She can’t control her own kid and we’re supposed to trust her to lead this play? This is a prestigious school and people expect a certain level of showmanship.”
Tessa’s face turned hard and I knew I had to jump in before she lost her job defending me. I straightened my back and staredSamantha down. “You’ve made some pretty serious assumptions about me based on very little information. I understand your concerns and they’re noted. We all know how you feel now. So, if you’d sit down, we can start this meeting.”
“Miss Morgan, you-”
I cut her off while cringing internally about having to be rude to anyone. I was a perpetual people pleaser so it wasn’t easy. “Please. Have a seat. We’re going to get started now.”
If only I knew where to start. I couldn’t recall anything I’d read about plays. If I was being honest, I could barely remember my own name with everyone staring at me. I ran my hands down my shirt to smooth it out and blew out a steadying breath. I could just start talking and maybe something would trigger in my brain and I’d get to the right point…
“If you’d stayed quiet for long enough, you’d know that Callie and I spoke earlier in the week and we went over some plans. She wanted us to start the meeting with choosing a play.” Luke stood up and moved over to me. He brushed Darren’s hand off my shoulder and leaned in to speak quietly next to my ear. “Is this okay?”
Him helping save me? Hell yeah, it was okay! I smiled brightly at him and squeezed his forearm, quietly noticing the muscle mass before letting go. “Thank you.”
“I want to do the pig story!” Ava Mase, a sweet girl who had followed Oliver around since kindergarten, wedged her way between me and Luke. “I love that story.”
“Avatar!”
“No, I want to do zombies!”
“Mermaids!”
Thankfully something in my brain snapped into focus and I remembered the plays I’d looked at. “Okay, kiddos. I hear your suggestions and they’re noted for future plays, for sure. I found a couple I think we should choose between, though, becausethey’re great for welcoming winter and making sure everyone gets to be a star.”
Darren grumbled under his breath but at least he moved away from us and leaned on the wall next to the door. I knew I’d probably get chewed out later but I’d been saved for the time being.
“I guess we’ll hear your options.” Samantha looked like she’d stepped in something horrid but at least she wasn’t insulting me.
“Okay!” I clapped my hands and kept my smile wide. “Here are the options.”
*
“Good job, twin. I’m going home to my man and it seems like you have some people waiting on you…” Tessa looked back at where Ben, Luke, and Cole were standing with their children. “Good fucking luck.”
Oliver’s head snapped up from his book. “Aunt Tessa,-”
“Don’t lecture me, Ollie. Your Aunt Tessa just needs to curse sometimes. I love you, kid. Have your mom bring you to see me this weekend. We can work on that puzzle you hate.”
“That would be okay.” Oliver flashed a smile at Tessa and then went back to his book.
“A rave review from my favorite nephew!” Tessa winked at me and then strolled out of the conference room. I heard her from just outside the door. “Oh, Karla! So sorry for that mix up earlier. Here’s the key. You shouldn’t just leave your keys out in the open if you’re so concerned about conference room safety. I thought you’d left them there for us. An honest mistake.”
I turned my back to the door to grin just in case Karla decided to peek her head in. I knelt next to Oliver and brushed a piece of hair away from his face. “Ready to go home, Ollie?”
“Miss Morgan? Can we walk you and Ollie to your car?” Noah, Cole’s son, took my hand and grinned. “Dad didn’t ask me to ask you, either. This was all my idea.”
Oliver glanced at Noah and blinked a few times before giving a slight smile. “I think it’s a good idea.”
My heart squeezed as Noah stuck his hand out and grabbed Oliver’s. “Come on. If we get out before them I can show you the Aquila constellation! It’s supposed to be extra on display tonight.”
