Page 36 of The Love Syllabus

“Sorry?” My icy voice, though quiet, sharply cuts through our tension. “Indeed, you are, Mr. Grimes. And I’m sorry for ever thinking anything other than that.”

He swallows hard, then softens his voice, “I shouldn’t have yelled. Please, forgive me.”

I see contrition all over his face, prompting me to forgive him. “It’s fine, really.” My words spill out like I’m on autopilot, a reflex to smooth over the discomfort. But as I turn to pick up the dresses from the bed and place them back in the closet, a surge of self-awareness stops me.

I pivot back to face him, my resolve steeling. “Actually, it’s not fine. I’m all too familiar with a raised voice. I know the degradation in being made to think I’ve done something wrong or being blamed for someone else’s shortcomings. But just because I’m familiar with these things doesn’t mean I’ll allow myself to be privy to them ever again.” I hold back tears, my dignity holding them at bay as I continue, “If you ever yell at me, if you ever speak to me as if I’m nothing ever again... I’ll not only quit, but I’ll make sure that everyone in this town knows therealyou.”

He watches, frozen, as the unshed tears glisten in my eyes. “Now, please leave. I need to unpack, focus, and do my damn job.”

With a heavy sigh, Vic turns and exits, his posture defeated, his head bowed in shame. As soon as he exits the room, I slam the door shut with deliberate force.

Then, I pull out my phone to give my best friends an update on Day 1 of being Kerry ‘The Nanny’’ Kind.

Sistahs 4 Life

Kerry: FYI Ladies…I HATE MY BOSS!

Chapter 10

All in a Day’s Work – Kerry

My first day on the job isn’t going exactly as planned. It started rough, with Vic and I clashing in a way that makes it clear we’re like oil and water. However, retreating to the classroom with Syd and Ari proved to be a delightful escape. They’re the kind of company that makes any day better.

“Ms. Kind, you’re so quiet over there. What are you up to?” Syd’s curious voice breaks the calm of my focused planning.

I chuckle, looking up from a stack of lesson plans. “I’m plotting your summer learning adventure. It seems your previous teacher might have missed a few beats. We have a lot to cover to get you both up to speed with your grade-level work,” I explain, shaking my head in mild frustration but with a smile.

The girls giggle among themselves. Syd leans over to Ari and whispers just loud enough for me to hear, “Did Ms. Kind just call Daddy dumb?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Absolutely not,” I reply, playfully winking.

As the girls scatter to play with Tum Tum, I dive back into the lesson plans, lining up everything from math puzzles to language arts and even some covert ‘field trips’ that I’m pretty sure their dad would be hesitant to approve.

During a brief pause, curiosity gets the better of me. “Girls, how often do you all get out of the house?”

Syd’s response is immediate and a bit disheartening, “Never.”

Ari ponders for a moment before answering, “Even back in New York, we didn’t get out much. Why? You planning something fun?”

I nod enthusiastically, already imagining the educational excursions I could organize. “How about a beach day? We can explore some marine biology hands-on. And there’s a small zoo not too far away that you’d love, Syd.”

Her eyes light up. “Oh, Ms. Kind, that’d be so cool! But good luck convincin’ dad. He just shuts himself up in the office until the weekend.”

“And what happens on the weekend?” I probe, curious about their family life.

Ari smiles teasingly. “It’s a secret, but weekends are the best. It’s our favorite time of the week and the only time Daddy doesn’t work. We get to have him all to ourselves.”

Feeling a mix of challenge and determination, I assure them, “Well, I’m going to make sure your dad agrees to every single one of my weekday plans.”

“If you say so,” Ari shrugs with a slight smirk. “Dad can be grumpy. He used to yell at everyone back at his restaurants. Mom was the only one who could calm him down. She made everyone happy.”

The nostalgia brings a slight shadow over her face, but I quickly lift her chin with my index finger. “Hey, I may not be your mom, but I promise to bring as much joy as I can to your lives, starting right now with an adventure in books!”

They happily cheer, and I usher them toward the library, but to our surprise, the door is locked, but we can hear muffled voices inside.

“Shit, that’s probably her.” I hear Vic’s voice.

Syd giggles at her father’s slip, “Daddy owes money to the swear jar!”

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