Page 27 of Promises We Meant to Keep

Those words stung. Abagail should know that. She’d been through everything with Elia from the beginning, all the ups and downs, the accusations, the suspension, and this last interview debacle. So she wouldn’t be saying those words without actually meaning them and the full weight that they carried.

“This is a school. Students have to be our priority.”

“They’re yours. And I’m not saying they’re not also Kamryn’s, but she has other pressing priorities. How do you know she wasn’t dealing with a student issue? Did you even ask what the meeting was about?”

Elia pressed her lips tightly closed. She hadn’t asked. She hadn’t wanted to know. She’d just wanted to be mad about everything. And she had wanted to put Kamryn at the center of all her blame. She was tired of being passed over for positions that she wanted and that she was deeply qualified for, especially for a woman who was fifteen years younger than her and way less experienced.

“They should have hired me for that job,” Elia muttered.

“They should have at least given you an interview. Who’s to say that Kamryn still wouldn’t have been their top pick? You haven’t seen her in how long?”

Elia winced. “Twenty years.”

“So maybe she’s the right woman for the position.” Abagail sounded so sure of herself, and Elia hated it. But Abagail was in corporate America, which meant that sometimes she knew and understood these things better than Elia did. “They should have interviewed you, or at least told you why you didn’t get an interview.”

Elia was pretty sure she knew why, and it was the same reason that she hadn’t applied for an administration position in two decades. She probably would have had better chances if she’d left Windermere Prep, but this was her family. And shedidn’t exactly want to step out into a school that she didn’t know and understand.

“They should have,” Elia agreed. But deep down inside, she already knew why they hadn’t. They were still holding grudges, even eighteen years later. But she didn’t want to say those words out loud. She didn’t want to give them room to breathe in her space. “But Kamryn needs to realize the influence that she has on these kids. She can change the course of their lives.”

“Kamryn was your student, wasn’t she?”

“Yes.”

“And have you considered the influence you made in her life?”

Elia tensed. She’d thought about it, briefly, but she promptly avoided that one too. She was doing a lot of that lately. The world and life she’d created for herself had been turned upside down so quickly that she was still clawing at whatever she could to keep up.

“What’s really bothering you about Kamryn? Is it her lack of ability to do the job, or is it because you still want it so you’re putting all your jealousy and anger onto her?”

It was definitely the latter of the two options there. Elia hated that Abagail was so good at calling her out like this. And she hated that it was how she was feeling. Kamryn deserved the benefit of the doubt, and every time Elia moved toward it, something would pull her right back to where she was.

“What did you tell her last night?”

“I wasn’t very kind,” Elia answered instead of giving details to how harsh she’d been. She wasn’t sure she wanted to admit that, even to her best friend. “I need an ally in this.”

“You have one in me, but I’m not there.” Abagail’s voice was tight, and Elia knew there was something else coming that was about to hit her hard. “Perhaps you should find an ally on campus, something you’ve avoided for eighteen years now.”

Elia had shut down after the investigation. During it, too. The entire situation had taken its toll on her, and in order to survive it, she’d leaned only on the relationships she knew she could trust. “I was calling you because you’re my ally.”

“In everything, I promise.” Abagail smiled, the sound reaching her voice and making it sound happy. “And for the next two weeks, you’re going to be on your own. Whatever will you do?”

“I’ll survive. You know I always do.”

“Hmm. I think you should go talk to her. Tell her you’re upset about the other day and ask for an explanation—and actually let her talk this time.”

Elia swallowed a lump in her throat. She wasn’t sure she wanted to do that. Even though she knew she should, that it would be important. She just hated that she was going to have to break out of her circle and make amends. It was her own fault, of course, but it still didn’t mean that she liked it.

“Fine.”

“Fine?” Abagail sounded surprised. “That was quick.”

“You’re right… for once.” It was a running joke between them. Abagail was usually right about these types of things, but they always teased each other when they could about it. “I’ll talk with her.”

“What hold does this woman have over you? It always takes at minimum a week for you to apologize tomewhen you screw up.” Abagail laughed lightly. “Is it because she’s your former student? Have to still play the holier than thou card?”

“Hardly.” Elia glanced at the clock to see what time it was. The sooner they resolved this conflict, the better it would be for everyone involved.

“Why are you so concerned about her?”

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