Chapter 4

Phoebe loved teaching, and even though she'd given it up to write, she'd missed being in the classroom. What she didn't miss were the hours of grading papers and interfering parents.

Most people had been surprised when she'd chosen this career and doubly surprised when she'd got the scholarship to Columbia and left—especially as everyone had thought she'd stay in Lyntacky and marry Brody—but it had been the right decision for her at the time, and his actions months later had confirmed that.

She'd loved him, but they'd been young, and her father had convinced her that if it was meant to be, he'd be here when she came home. It clearly hadn't been.

The last bell had kids sprinting out of the classroom. The afternoon had flown as it always did when she was in class. Now it was time to head home and do some grading, then take a really long bath.

"Ms. Stanway."

Phoebe looked to the doorway and saw Jack Little's father entering .

"Mr. Little, what can I do for you?" Phoebe continued packing up her things.

"I want a word with you in private, Ms. Stanway."

The man wore an expensive navy suit, polished black leather shoes, and a white shirt and gray tie.

"I have five minutes before I must leave for an appointment, Mr. Little," she lied. Annoyance flashed across his face, but then it changed to a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I won't keep you, Ms. Stanway. You're new here, I understand?"

"I was born in Lyntacky, Mr. Little."

"But teaching at Lyntacky Elementary," he said in a snooty voice that she thought was meant to impress her.

"This is my first time, yes."

"Well now, let me clear a few things up for you, Ms. Stanway. Phoebe, if you don't mind me calling you that."

"Ms. Stanway in school, Mr. Little. It's better for the kids."

The smile didn't slip, which was impressive because his eyes told her he wasn't happy.

"My son is a good boy, and others are jealous of him because, well…." His smile turned little-boy sheepish now. Phoebe loathed it. "I'm quite successful, Ms. Stanway, and my son is like me."

"He's ten, I believe?" she added.

"Nearly eleven. Jack is advanced for his age and a popular student who other kids struggle to emulate."

Is this guy serious? Phoebe had spoken to plenty of parents who thought the sun rose and set when their kids did, but this guy took that to new heights.

"Congratulations, you must be very proud of him," Phoebe said with zero sincerity.

He reached out to touch her arm. Phoebe backed away, and his hand dropped to his side. The smile slipped, and those dark eyes flashed with anger.

"I understand my son was victimized by one of your students today, Ms. Stanway."

"I think both parties were involved in some way, Mr. Little, and I believe it is a long-standing animosity, which we will be doing our best to work through," Phoebe said.

"My son is not at fault." The smile was gone now. "I want that Duke child dealt with and an apology letter written to Jack, which I have already told Principal Tanner."

Phoebe doubted Jack had been victimized a day in his life. She'd had kids in her class like him before. Kids who believed they could do and say whatever they wanted and would not be challenged for it.

"I don't take direction from you, Mr. Little, and I know you'll understand why. If I listened to every parent, it wouldn't help anyone. Principal Tanner will deal with both children involved in the incident and contact the parents with his decision."

Angry color filled his face now. Phoebe just bet he didn't like anyone challenging him—and definitely not a woman.

"My child is innocent of all wrongdoing, Ms. Stanway, and I will ensure that is made clear to everyone. I expect that Duke brat to deliver an apology letter to my son tomorrow, and you make sure that happens."

Phoebe didn't like people telling her how to do her job, and especially not someone like him who thought money and status equated to the right to be a pretentious shithead.

"I doubt very much your son is blameless, Mr. Little, just as I doubt Ally Duke is."

"My son is not at fault!" he spat at her.

"Let me clear things up for you, Mr. Little, just so you are not mistaken in the future that your word has any sway with me." She'd never put up with bullying, manipulative tactics, and she wasn't about to start now. "I object to the way you're talking about one of my students. A student, I might add, who has impeccable manners in my classroom." Which was true. Ally was a polite child. She could be outspoken when excited but was rarely rude. "And second, I would add that you will not manipulate me or anyone. The correct procedures will be followed regarding the matter that involved your son and another student."

He leaned into her space, and she stayed exactly where she was. The day someone had threatened her life, she'd vowed no one would intimidate her again.

"Do you know who I am?" He spat the words at her.

Phoebe made herself frown and look confused. "You said your name was Mr. Little. Did I get that wrong?"

His lips drew into a hard line. "Don't mock me, Ms. Stanway. It won't go well for you."

"Don't threaten me, Mr. Little. First, I am a substitute teacher, and second, I don't need this job, so nothing you do or say affects me."

He actually snarled at her. Phoebe smiled.

"I give this school a lot of money and am on the board. I can make your life extremely difficult, Ms. Stanway, while you are here. Maybe you should remember that."

"I'm not intimidated by you, Mr. Little, and perhaps if you put more time into finding out why your son is badly behaved and not into making sure he never faces the consequences of his actions, he may grow into a well-adjusted adult. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an appointment." She kept her eyes on his.

"You'll be hearing from me."

"Well now, that's something to look forward to," she said, her voice dripping with insincerity .

He left, storming out of her classroom.

"Asshole," Phoebe muttered after a look around her room to ensure no child was still lurking under a desk. The knock on her door that came a few minutes later wasn't welcome either. She'd just slung the strap of her bag over one shoulder in preparation of finally leaving when she saw a man enter her room.

"Can I help you?" A man stood in the doorway in shorts and a short-sleeved button-down shirt. Phoebe took him to be in his fifties.

"My nephew is due to attend Lyntacky Elementary School. Yours is the only classroom still open, so I wondered if you would mind me looking around? I'm close to my nephew." He was studying the artwork on the walls near where he stood.

To Phoebe, that request sounded odd. Why would an uncle want to check on an elementary school? Shouldn't he go through the administration office and get a proper tour, not wait for the school to finish for the day? Phoebe's suspicion filter was probably more highly functioning than other people's. She wasn't taking any chances. "I was just leaving. Perhaps come back tomorrow and someone can show you around."

"Of course, and I'll do that," he said, studying some poems the kids had written. Some had been pinned on a board.

"This one is excellent," he said, pointing to Ally Duke's poem. "She must be an excellent student."

She wasn't sure how you could see that from one poem.

"Her artwork is outstanding also," he continued. "Is this Ally Duke a good student?"

"All my students are good, Mister…?"

"Thank you. I'll call by the administration office tomorrow." He then walked away, and Phoebe thought she needed to tell Principal Tanner about this entire incident because something felt off.

Locking her classroom door, she followed the man and watched him climb into a black sedan. She took a deep, steadying breath when he drove away. Reaching her car, she got out her phone and made notes about him.

Hell of a day, Phoebe acknowledged, pulling out of the school driveway seconds later. She'd seen Brody, so at least that wasn't hanging over her head anymore. Then there was Mr. Little and the guy in the button-down. She needed to take a long, hot bath when she got home.

Driving into Lyntacky, she looked around her small hometown. Not much had changed in the years she'd been gone. Most of the stores were the same, and the people. Just older , she thought as Phoebe watched Bart Matilda jog down the street with Tripp Lyntacky, the mayor, as she overtook them.

"Those shorts, though, Bart," Phoebe whispered, looking in the rearview mirror. They were a silky fabric and cut way too high on the sides. Maybe she could buy him some longer ones and say they were a gift?

She saw flags flying and plenty of color, flowers, and statues. Of course, Shelly Lyntacky, the sole reason for the town's square dance fixation, had the right-of-way before the rotunda and town meeting area.

Pulling into the parking lot outside Calloway's Convenience Store, which would have all the supplies she needed, Phoebe got out. It had been here way before the ordinance was put in place to name your business after square dancing, so it could stay as it had started its life.

"Hi, Phoebe!"

"Hi, Bart." She raised a hand as they jogged by and kept her eyes away from his legs .

"You get those shoes on and join us soon, girl!" he called.

"Sure." Not in this lifetime or the next, Phoebe added silently. She was more of a gym girl.

Heading into the store, she went down the aisle farthest to the right and found the candy she liked. Throwing in five boxes, she headed to the next aisle.

"That's a lot of candy you've got there, Phoebe."

"Oh, hey there, Mrs. Duke." She'd aged but was still a beautiful woman. The last time they'd spoken to each other was etched in Phoebe's memory.

"Robyn, dear."

She was Brody's mom and had always been kind to Phoebe, even if she'd broken her heart that day.

"I remember you had a liking for Nerds," Robyn said.

"Pardon?"

The woman pointed at the candy in her basket.

"Oh, right. Yes, it's a weakness."

"Well, it's good to see you out and about finally, Phoebe. You come round to the house one day and catch up with my children."

"Ah, okay, sure. See you later, Mrs. Duke."

After paying Mr. Calloway, who wanted to discuss his niece Ashley, a student at Lyntacky Elementary, she got out of the store ten minutes later.

"Small towns," she muttered, heading to her car.

"No way! Phoebe?"

Spinning at that voice, Phoebe let out a little squeak of surprise, and then she was lowering her basket as the blond woman grabbed her.

"Blue?" Phoebe said, hugging her close. "I didn't know you were back."

"Yesterday."

They released each other with a little laugh of delight. Blue Jay McAllister was tall with a stunning face and an amazing eye for fashion. She was also Phoebe's friend and had been since elementary school. That friendship had continued when Phoebe gotten a scholarship to a university in New York, and Blue had gone there to study fashion.

Raised by Lyntacky's resident hippies, she was one of the McAllister children.

"So, how's life back in Lyntacky? Do the locals know they have a superstar, kick-ass author in their midst?" Blue asked.

"Not quite that yet," Phoebe said. "I'm filling in at the elementary to help them out."

"Why?" Blue asked. "I thought you were making enough to not do that anymore." Phoebe opened her mouth, but Blue raised a hand. "Someone made you do it, didn't they?" Blue asked.

"Cill and Jed. Do you remember Mr. Haddleback?"

Blue closed her eyes as she tried to pull the name from her memory, and Phoebe waved to Lucas and Jett Hyland, the town's plumbers, who were driving by. The side of their van had a faucet painted on the doors.

"I wonder if they still talk in plumbing terms," Blue asked, having opened her eyes.

"I imagine they do."

"So, Mr. Haddleback, from memory, was old when he taught us a long time ago, but he clearly wasn't if he's still teaching. He wore long socks and shorts summer and winter."

"That's him, and yes, he's still teaching, but he had a motorcycle accident, and Jed said they didn't have anyone to take his class," Phoebe said.

"He rides a motorcycle?"

Phoebe nodded .

"Just wow. So, you're the substitute, but only until they find another teacher?"

"Yup. Jed told me that he would have to teach the kids in Mr. Haddleback's class if they couldn't find anyone else," Phoebe said.

"And he's not a teacher."

"Exactly. So why are you back in town, Blue?"

"Dad's having a significant birthday, and Birdie said we all needed to come," Blue said. "So, we're dragging out our hemp wear and headbands and taking off our shoes. Plus, learning to not eat meat again."

Phoebe giggled. "From memory, your mom was an amazing cook."

"She is, but as someone who loves burgers with meat, it's going to be a long week. That sister of mine is never forceful, so when she is, you tend to listen," Blue said.

"I still can't believe she and Sawyer are together," Phoebe said.

"One of life's mysteries. But I like that she has the big bad eldest Duke brother watching over her."

"I like that too."

"We have stuff to catch up on, Phoebe," Blue added. "Lots of stuff. I'll let you know when and where. Plus, you need to come to book club. I'll text you the details." She walked away, before Phoebe could agree or disagree, and then stopped, turned, and came back.

"What? Don't tell me you're being brave and actually going to listen to me?"

Blue scoffed. "I listen to you when you're saying something I need to hear."

Phoebe rolled her eyes. "I'm not sure why we're still friends."

"Because I tell it like it is and you love me." Blue smirked .

"There is that."

"Now concentrate, Phoebe. I just had a thought."

"No way. Go, you."

"Ha-ha. But seriously. The cottage on our parents' land is empty since Birdie moved out. Why don't you move in there? It would be the perfect place for writing. You haven't lived at home for years, so I'm sure it's not easy being back with your dad."

Phoebe tamped down the flash of excitement. "Dad's enjoying having me back, but yes, I know he likes his privacy. Especially as Caleb is using the guesthouse which is actually dad's man cave."

"Well then, it sounds like you want it," Blue said.

"Will Meadow and Hamish be happy with me there?"

Blue snorted. "Are you kidding me? They'll love it and totally try to turn you into a vegan, hemp-wearing greenie in no time."

"Don't give me that. I've seen the balcony of your apartment. It's covered in plants, and some of those are vegetables. Plus, you are a recycling queen. Then there's that thing you have where you won't make serious decisions unless it's the first quarter moon."

"Whatever, and that's just good sense." Blue waved her words away. "So come to book club, and we'll talk about the cottage."

Her friend walked away before Phoebe could say another word. Climbing on a bike, she then cycled away.

"Phoebe?"

Three Dukes in a single day, she thought, looking at the large, bearded man walking toward her.

"Hi, Sawyer."

"How are you?"

"Good, thanks. I was just talking to your future sister-in-law. "

His eyes went up the street and locked onto Blue.

"Birdie's happy to have her siblings home." His smile was a lot sweeter than it used to be. "Come and see us some time, and we'll catch up."

"Ah, sure." Sawyer never "caught up" with people, and she'd not been that close with him before, when she and Brody were together.

"My girl is refining me, and this is me being that," he said with a smile. "Real good to have you back in town, Phoebe."

"Bye, Sawyer." Phoebe got into her car and headed toward her father's house. It had been a big day for her. Brody, Mrs. Duke, Sawyer, and that business with Mr. Little. Then there was the button-down shirt guy who'd approached her in the classroom. She had to remember to tell Principal Tanner about him tomorrow. It was fair to say Phoebe might need more than candy when she got home.