Page 37 of Beyond Perfect

Up until this happened, he thought he could. “Yeah, I know.”

“Want to think about this more?”

“No, I can’t waver. The other boys are confused. It’s hurting the school.”

“Okay. Tell Nick I’m in my office.”

“Thanks, Steve.”

He disconnected and felt his stomach pitch.

* * *

Maisy was teaching Freddie how to play dominoes when the doorbell rang again. She got up, ruffled the boy’s head and went to answer it.

Jackson stood before her. He looked terrible and her heart went out to him. A heart he already owned. “I didn’t expect to see you.”

“Can I come in?”

“Of course.”

When he got inside, she faced him. “I was going to call and thank you for arranging emergency care for us. I really appreciate it.”

He didn’t respond but walked over to Freddie. “Hey, there, buddy.”

“Hey, Jackson. Did you bring Frankie with you?”

“No, Freddie, I didn’t. I’ll talk to you about it in a few minutes, but I need to see Ms. Shepherd alone.”

“Freddie, Caleb’s free to play until four. Go to the den.”

“’kay.”

When he left, she asked, “Want to sit?”

“No.” If possible, he was more morose.

Reaching out, she squeezed his arm. Gently, she said, “What’s going on Jackson?”

“I’m sending Frankie to juvie.”

* * *

Maisy thought about Jackson all day. By the end of it, she recognized the cold hard facts. She would never be able to have a relationship with him. She’d never make love with him again. They were done.

With that in mind, she took out her computer and typed a letter. Then called a courier and sent it by messenger.

* * *

By the time Jackson got back to school, everyone at the Administration Building had left for the night. He’d had to stop a couple of times because he was emotional about Maisy’s harsh reaction to his news about Frankie. He just got inside his office when someone came to the door. He’d left it open to the screen.

A courier stood outside on the porch surrounded by the late afternoon sun. “Expedited envelope for you, Mr. Kane.” They got a lot of special deliveries. He took the envelope and tipped the courier.

He’d put whatever this was aside for a bit. But then he caught a glimpse of the sender. “Maisy Shepherd.”

He ripped open the envelope to find one sheet of paper with only a couple of lines on it.

I resign my teaching position at Pathways effective at the end of the school year.

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