Page 67 of Since the Day We Wished

“Emma? What’s wrong?” Principal Kennedy took one look at her face and gestured to the seat in front of his desk.

Emma sat down, willing herself not to break down in tears. “I...I have a problem with a student in my class. He just had an outburst in front of the other students.”

“Who’s the student?”

She looked down at the floor and then back up at Principal Kennedy, letting out a sigh. “It’s Jeremiah Grayson.”

The principal picked up the phone and dialed the secretary’s extension. “Can you have Jeremiah join us in my office?”

Moments later, Jeremiah came into the office and sat down in the chair next to Emma, inching it away from her.

“Jeremiah, would you like to share the comments you made in Ms. Wright’s classroom?”

Jeremiah remained silent as he looked down and off the side, avoiding eye contact.

“Jeremiah, I can’t help you if you don’t speak. Right now, the only evidence I have of what happened is what Ms. Wright has told me. Are we going to continue on just her word? Or would you like to defend yourself?”

“I called her a homewrecker, Principal Kennedy. She sleeps with married men and ruins families.”

Emma looked away, fighting back the tears as she squeezed the armrest on the chair.

“Jeremiah, you cannot speak to your teacher like that!” The principal’s voice rose a few decibels. “I thought we weren’t going to have any problems with you. Seems like I was wrong. Go wait outside for your father.”

After Jeremiah left and shut the door, Principal Kennedy phoned his secretary again. “Can you call Jeremiah’s father and tell him to come in as soon as possible? Thank you.”

When he hung up the line, Emma let out a long breath she’d been holding in. “I’m sorry, Principal Kennedy. I’m so embarrassed this happened in my classroom and I just—”

“No need to explain yourself. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off, Emma, and head on home? You can wait here while I go grab your purse and keys. I’ll have someone take over your classes this afternoon.”

Emma gestured in agreement as a tear fell down her cheek. “That’s probably a good idea.”

When Principal Kennedy returned, Emma thanked him before walking out to the parking lot and driving home. She sobbed the entire way back, embarrassed by what had happened. Although she tried to defuse the situation, it wasn’t enough. She knew Jeremiah would likely get expelled, but she had to defend herself. And now her mind was a jumbled mess as she thought about her and Luke’s future. If Jeremiah wasn’t ready for him to date again, she couldn’t in good conscious continue doing so. It wouldneverwork, she thought.

She felt a heaviness in her chest as tears poured down her cheeks, blurring her vision. Emma wiped her eyes and pulled over on the side of the road, her car coming to a screeching halt. The reality of the situation hit her like a freight train: her relationship with Luke, the man she loved, and who loved her, was probably over. Gazing out the driver’s side window, the shoreline spread out before her, a reminder of the memories she had made with Luke. But the nostalgia only amplified Emma’s sense of impending loss, leaving her to wonder if this was truly the end of their love story.

Chapter 32

Luke

After Luke got a call from the school secretary notifying him that Jeremiah had gotten into trouble, he rushed over to Hadley Cove High. As he pulled into the parking lot, he gripped the steering wheel, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself down.Maybe this was a misunderstanding, like at the police station, he thought. Luke reminded himself of what he wished he had done differently in that situation.Ask questions first. Don’t assume it’s Jeremiah’s fault.

Luke turned off the car and walked toward the school entrance. He wondered if Emma knew anything about what Jeremiah had done. Maybe he’d find her after he was finished with his meeting with Principal Kennedy. Even though he’d left her house a few hours ago, he couldn’t wait to see her again.

Walking into the front office, he approached the secretary. “Hey, I’m here to see Principal Kennedy.”

“Yes, Mr. Grayson. I’ll let him know you’re here.”

As Luke turned around, he spotted Jeremiah sitting in the corner.

“Jeremiah? What’s going on?”

Jeremiah glared at his father, then looked down at the floor.

“Mr. Grayson? The principal is ready for you to go in now.”

“Come on, Jeremiah.” Luke waited until his son got up. Jeremiah rolled his eyes and mumbled something under his breath before walking into the principal’s office. Luke shook his head in bewilderment at Jeremiah’s attitude toward him. This morning when he’d asked him for lunch money, everything seemed fine.

“Thank you for coming in so quickly, Mr. Grayson.” The principal stood and shook Luke’s hand.

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