Page 6 of Legacy of Lies
She flattened her palm on a nearby locker for support. “No. It’s not the same. Just because I’m concerned about Zach and my recommendations are unpopular does not make the information less valid. His well-being has everything to do with his history. And my personal life has not a thing to do with any part of this discussion, thank you very much.” Damn it, her voice had started to crack. Stupid nerves. She should have known better than to try to go toe to toe with this man.
His smile twisted into a cruel sneer. “Sure, your personal life has nothing to do with this discussion, Ms. Lopez. You keep right on thinking that. As for me, I’m going back home to my kid who, by the way, has nothing wrong with him, and I’m going to forget that this unpleasant meeting ever happened.”
He spun on his boot heel, stomped to the door, and slammed it. As his footsteps faded away, she walked backward and bumped into the edge of her desk in an effort to reach her chair before her legs gave out on her. Slumping in her chair, she put her face into shaking hands. She pulled a tissue from the box on her desk and wiped her sweaty face. Tiny pieces of white tissue balled up and drifted onto her black pants.
After brushing the remnants of tissue onto the floor, Sara fished around in her purse for a compact. The high color in her cheeks reflected in the mirror had nothing to do with the morning’s makeup application and everything to do with the furious woman staring back at her. Who now had bits of tissue on her forehead. She groaned and flicked the pieces away.
One day, she’d learn not to react when someone pushed her buttons. One day, but clearly not today.
Taking several deep breaths, she envisioned her stress levels dropping, but that didn’t stop the tension pulling her nerves to their limits. With any luck, another teacher wouldn’t drop in to investigate the shouting and door slamming.
She touched up her makeup and snapped the compact shut, tossing it back into her purse. What a day. God, only Monday.
Even better news: four more months until the next parent-teacher conference day.
