10. Skylar

What the hell was that? How are things falling back to the comfortable closeness we used to share? He should hate me. He should want me gone. He should not be bringing me dinner to talk things out. Nerves twist in my stomach, making me nauseous and filling me with anxiety.

I didn’t leave ten years ago, I ran. Ran away like the devil was on my heels and never looked back. It worked well for me until now. It’s like Maple Springs never changed, it was waiting for me to return and finally face what life threw at us a decade ago. I wasn’t prepared for any of this.

“Skylar! I can”t believe you didn’t discipline Riley Donahue at all!” Mrs. Goods bursts into my office. Her nostrils flare as her hands clench at her sides.

“I”m so sorry, Ms. Barren! She stormed past me, even though I told her to wait.” Leslie peeks in, eyes wide. I hold up a hand to calm her.

“It’s alright, Ms. Jameson. There’s no stopping this woman when she thinks she’s right.” I have to hide my smirk when Mrs. Goods’ eyes almost bulge out of her head.

“When I think I”m right? Excuse me? I am right! Riley Donahue punched Billy in the nose, she needs to be punished.”

“As the principal of this school, I get to make the decision about when and how a student will be punished. If you don’t like it, you can contact the superintendent.”

“There’s zero tolerance on violence at this school!” She stomps her foot like the first graders she teaches.

“What’s the tolerance policy on a student being physically touched by another after being asked to stop? What’s the policy on a teacher ignoring a student who is being touched against her will?” I keep my voice calm and my words are chosen carefully. I slowly rise from my chair and fold my arms over my chest. I”m not backing down.

“Oh my gosh, Skylar! They’re six! All Billy did was grab her arm!”

My gaze snaps to her as my eyes narrow and my brows draw together. She has got to be kidding me. I”m going to make this woman wish she never met me if this is how she’s going to run her classroom.

“First off, my name is Ms. Barren, not Skylar. I”m not your student anymore. I’m your superior and you’ll treat me with respect. Second, I don’t give a flying fuck where Billy grabbed her. She told him to stop and you did nothing to help her. Thank God you teach first grade and not high school! Who knows what you’d allow the seniors to get away with.”

“What are you implying?” She growls, focusing her scowl directly on me.

“That you aren’t protecting your students the way you should be. This was Riley’s first day of first grade. Her first full day away from her dad since kindergarten is half days. All you did was show her how she needs to stand up for herself because no one else is going to help her. Great lesson for day one, I can”t wait to hear about day two.” I roll my eyes, more than done with this woman.

“She’s exactly like you were at that age! If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was your daughter! You and Tucker were always full of trouble! Looks like his daughter is following in his footsteps!”

Her words hit me square in the chest, almost knocking me off my feet. Would the baby I lost have been a boy or a girl? Would they have been like Tucker or me? Would their features favor one of us over the other?

Shaking my head, I try to clear away all the ‘what if’s’, it’ll do me no good to wonder what could have been.

“Is that what this is about? You could never get Tucker in trouble so why not focus your attention on ruining his daughter?”

“Oh please! I don’t need to focus my attention on her, it seems like she’s more than capable of causing trouble for herself,” Mrs. Goods huffs.

“You won”t punish a child for their parent’s behavior from over twenty years ago. I won”t put up with it.”

“And I won”t put up with a principal who lets children off scot-free after injuring another student.”

“Like I said, you’re free to contact the superintendent and complain. I’ve already spoken to Billy’s parents. They agreed with me, as did Mr. Donahue.”

“Such a surprise, Tucker agreed with something you decided.” Mrs. Goods rolls her eyes and plants her still clenched fists on her wide hips.

“Mrs. Goods, please leave my office. I have more important things to do than argue with someone who can”t move on from the past.” I slowly lower myself into my seat and pretend she’s no longer here.

Turning my attention to my computer, I draft an email to the superintendent outlining the events of the day and my course of action. I’ve given my reasons for not disciplining Riley, as well as my reasons Mrs. Goods is getting written up. I won”t tolerate my teachers disrespecting me or not protecting their students.

“I”m so sorry, Skylar. I tried to stop her. I can”t believe what a rotten bitch she is.” Leslie plops into the chair on the other side of my desk with a frown settled on her brows.

“Don’t worry about it. I”m writing her up and telling the superintendent exactly what happened. If this is reason enough for them to fire me, then I’ll gladly be fired. Mrs. Goods has been out for blood since I showed my face in this town.”

“You know I’ll stand by and support you. I’ve never seen her speak to anyone the way she speaks to you. Even if I hated someone, I wouldn’t talk to them the way she does.” Leslie shakes her head.

“Thanks, Leslie… I gotta get going. I sent the email and I’ll see what Mr. Green has to say tomorrow about the incident.”

“You have got to be freaking kidding me!” Pulling my car to the side of the road, I let out a long sigh.

I wait as he swaggers my way, looking way too smug. I”m going to kill him if he keeps this up.

“License and registration, Ma’am.” Colt smirks, leaning an elbow on my open window.

“Really, Colton?”

“It’s Sheriff Brown.” He taps his badge a few times. I roll my eyes so hard I”m surprised they don’t fall out of my skull.

“Really, Sheriff? You know I’m still capable of throwing a nasty right hook, correct?”

His eyes widen as he takes a step back before he thinks better of it and moves back in. He’s trying to appear tough; Colton’s never been tough. Not where I”m concerned.

“Miss Barren, are you threatening an officer of the law?” He pulls a pad out of his vest.

Dammit! I can”t get a ticket… but this is Colton, he might throw me in his jail cell just to piss me off.

“Not at all. I’d never threaten you,” I deadpan, my voice sweet as sin. Colt’s lips break into a smile, his blue eyes sparkle with mischief.

“I heard about what happened with Riley,” he says softly.

“Ugh! I forgot how quickly news travels in this damn town,” I groan. I can only imagine the wrath I”m going to face at the grocery store or around town over the next few days.

“Did you do that for Tuck?”

“No, I did it because she didn’t deserve to get in trouble. I didn’t even know Tucker had a daughter, let alone that it’s Riley,” I sigh, more than ready to get home so I can relax for a little bit.

“You didn’t know?” A scowl forms on Colt’s face as he stares off into the distance.

“Colt, I haven’t talked to anyone from here since I left. How would I have known?” I squeeze his hand, my tone softer than before.

“He never loved Malory; not like he loves you,” he whispers.

“Loved, Colt. He doesn’t love me anymore.”

“Are you sure about that? Because I wouldn’t be.”

“Did you pull me over for a reason? Or did you just want to see my pretty face?”

“Though I love your face, I told you last week to get that taillight fixed. Why can”t you listen, Skysky?”

“Noooooo,” I groan, banging my head against the steering wheel a few times. “I thought that nickname died when I left!”

“C’mon, Skysky, you know you love it.” He smirks.

“I swear I”m gonna peg you in the balls the next time I see you outta uniform.”

“I’ve got plenty of uniforms, I can wear them all day every day.” He winks in my direction, pissing me off even more.

“Good luck getting laid.”

“Oh, darling.” He shakes his head, tsking me. “Don’t you know? Women love a man in uniform. I’ll have an easier time getting laid in it… Now about that taillight, I”m gonna follow you to the mechanic and make sure you get it taken care of it right this second.”

“Colt! C’mon! The mechanic is probably closed.”

He whips out his phone, types something on the screen, and smirks a few seconds later before repocketing his phone.

“Nope, he’s still there.” He’s way too proud of himself. It’s almost like he’s excited about this.

“I don’t need you following me, I can find the single garage in town.”

“That’s alright, I don’t mind.”

“You mean you don’t trust me.”

He boops my nose, winking at me.

“Now you’re getting it, darling. Lead the way!”

I let out a long sigh and make my way down the road to Wrench.