Page 63 of My Almost Ex

Principal Richards and the entire office staff welcome me back with hugs and well wishes.

After our initial hello, Principal Richards and I walk down the school hallway, Adam in tow but keeping his distance, allowing me to rediscover this side of my life without him chiming in.

“So, obviously, your actual class has moved up a grade, but this was your old classroom. We did some swapping and brought in your old class to help you along, see if it triggers any memories.” She smiles as though this is a gift. I appreciate her efforts, but in truth, it just feels like more pressure on me.

Adam leans along the wall as the principal knocks and enters the room, telling the kids she has a surprise. She dodges the questions about why they’re in their old classroom and who’s here and what’s going to happen to lunch and will they still have recess.

I chuckle as Adam shakes his head. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have the worries of a kid again?”

“Absolutely.” I smile at him.

“Here’s your surprise. Mrs. Greene is here.” Principal Richards holds out her arm as though I’m a celebrity the kids worship.

I enter, apprehensive I’ll even recollect how to behave with a class full of children. Was I funny, mean, or serious all the time? I still remember my second grade teacher, Mrs. Phillips, and I hated her.

The class rushes up from the carpet and runs at me, swarming my waist with such a force I almost fall back.

“Looks like they must have liked you,” Adam says, leaning against a wall. His raised eyebrows make it clear what he’s thinking. I’ve always been translucent to him—he’s able to see right through me.

The kids all fire out questions in unison.

“How are you?”

“My mom said you don’t know who you are?”

“You left us, and we had a mean sub.”

I field the questions as much as I can, but Principal Richards tries to calm them and tell them not to stress me out. Then a little girl asks what stress means. I hate when people feel as though they have to be my protector when I can manage just fine.

“Let’s sit and I’ll tell you a little about what happened to me, okay?” I say.

They all listen, sitting down and crossing their legs on the rug.

“Here, we have a chair for you,” the teacher of the class says.

“Thanks, Abby,” I say, and she freezes.

“You remember me?” she asks with wide eyes and a smile.

I look at her again and nod. “I do.” Then my gaze shifts to Adam and he smiles. “Did I meet you after I was married?”

She laughs. “You did. My husband moved up here to work at Bailey Lumber and that’s when I started teaching here.”

I release a breath. Maybe this whole immersing myself thing is working.

“You and Abby used to do lunch every day,” Principal Richards informs me. “You two were always pairing up with special events around the school.”

“It’s great to see you,” I say.

“You look great and…” She glances at Adam. “I’m happy you’ve returned.”

“Me too.”

A little girl in the front row raises her hand. She’s cute, with two braids, a matching skirt and top, and a name tag that reads Kayla. “Mrs. Greene?”

“Yes.”

“Is my mommy right? Do you know who you are?”

---