Page 54 of Oh, Hell No

The door opened, and the knots in my stomach morphed into dread and fear. The president of the school board, Dr. Voy—who wasn’t a medical doctor, but held that title for his PhD, although I didn’t know what it was in—was seated in one of the high-back chairs opposite Mr. Clairton’s desk. To make things even more dire, Mrs. Warlow—who was also on the board and a former principal at this school—stood, holding the door open for mewith such a displeased expression that I wanted to turn and run.

“Come in,” she said to me, her tone cold.

The only other time I had spoken to the woman was during my initial interview. She’d been businesslike then, but nice. This was a completely different experience.

Stepping inside the room, I felt all three pairs of eyes on me, and the weight of it was suffocating. This had to be about Perry. Someone had told them. There was no other reason for a meeting with all three of them in attendance. Was it legal for them to fire me over something my brother had done? I didn’t think so, but I felt sick nonetheless.

“Have a seat, please, Miss Gerard.” Principal Clairton’s words sounded like a command rather than a request.

I swallowed, straightening my shoulders and trying my best to remain calm. I hadn’t done anything to break the rules. I was a good teacher and employee. This was going to be fine.

I sat down in the chair farthest away from Dr. Voy, leaving the one beside him for Mrs. Warlow. Not only did I notice her black leather clutch purse on the floor at its feet, but I also had no desire to be that close to the man. He was maybe five foot nine and bald, and there was a rather large mole that sat on the left of his nose and another on his right ear. He shouldn’t be intimidating, but seeing as he held the power to fire me, he was.

“I assume you know why you’re here, Miss Gerard,” he said in a condescending tone.

I had an idea, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to blurt that out just yet. What if they didn’t know about Perry and this had something to do with someone else? I was just here for questioning on what I knew. Betty Joyce’s pregnancy sprang to mind, and I tensed. They knew. Poor Betty Joyce.

I shook my head, deciding to remain silent until forced to admit anything. If they had me in here to confirm her pregnancy, they were going to be sorely disappointed. I never saw apregnancy test, and I was not a doctor. I knew nothing. Who had found out? She was too trusting. She’d probably told the wrong person. I had my guesses, but I wouldn’t point fingers.

“It would be best, Miss Gerard, if you were honest. It is the best policy after all. We are all adults here, and seeing as this affects the integrity of what we stand for at MCS and how the community sees us, then I would hope you understand that this has to be dealt with,” Mrs. Warlow informed me, sounding put out that I hadn’t told them whatever truth they were expecting from me.

I smiled at her the best that I could under the circumstances. “I will be honest as soon as I know what we are talking about.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she tilted her head. “I was the principal here for fifteen years. I am aware how gossip spreads through these halls among the staff. There is nothing that remains a secret. You are well aware of what we are talking about.”

No, I wasn’t. What gossip? Wait…was this about me and Toby going to the festival together? That hadn’t been a date, but even if it had been, there was no rule against it. I decided that if I was going to admit to anything, it would be that. We’d been seen and not tried to hide it.

“Is this about Toby?” I asked, my eyes shifting from her to Dr. Voy, then Mr. Warlow.

His eyes went wide with surprise.

What was going on?

“Are you insinuating that he is the father?”

The father? Of who? Betty Joyce’s baby?

I sat there, saying nothing for a moment. Hoping someone would fill in the missing pieces, but they all were looking at me with a trace of horror in their expressions.

“Okay,” I finally said. “I am confused. What baby? I meant that Toby and I went to the Corn Husk Festival together on Saturday.As friends. Only as friends.”

The relief on Mr. Clairton’s face was immediate. I could hear his sigh from here.

Mrs. Warlow’s lips pursed, and the wrinkles around them made her look like a lifelong smoker, although I would guess they were from years and years of using a straw.

“Your pregnancy, Miss Gerard,” she snapped at me as if her patience had worn thin.

My eyes flew open wide, and a laugh filled with disbelief burst out of me.

“What?!” I shook my head. “I’m not pregnant. Why would you think that?” I was floored. I glanced at each one, looking for some sign or understanding.

“A trustworthy source came to meet with me this morning in tears. This person had been holding your secret for you and was very remorseful. She was doing what she believed was the Christian thing to do and will not be held accountable for that mistake. It was out of her kindness she did it,” Mr. Clairton informed me. “She said word had leaked, and the gossip was flying through the staff. She had hoped you would come to me before that happened, but since you had not, she did not want me to be blindsided and the school to suffer because of it.”

My mouth was agape as I listened to him. He was serious. Someone had told him I was pregnant, and it was going around school.

Who would do something like that, and why? The looks I’d gotten today. The pity. Oh God, they all thought I was knocked up.

That was breaking a big rule here. I was unwed. This was a Christian school, and they held their employees to a higher standard—or that was what I had been told when I took the job.Although Christians do not judge, we must be examples of Christ.

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