Page 39 of Poles Apart
“Hey, you OK, Jacob? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Colin’s concern was evident, and Jacob almost blurted out the whole thing to him there and then.
“I’m having some problems with a parent, and I need to speak to Jodie. Any chance I could pop round later to speak to you and Lindsay about this? I’m not sure what to do.”
“Of course, anything we can help with, you know that.” Colin patted him on the shoulder.
Lunchtime came around, and Jacob walked back to the head’s office again.
“Go right ahead, Jacob. I told her you’d be here at lunchtime.” He smiled at Mrs Thompson, knocked and went inside.
“Jacob, what can I do for you today?” Jodie sat at her desk, her lunch in front of her.
He relayed his conversation with Noah’s dad this morning, and by the end of his tirade, he found his hands fisted at his sides. His heart was beating hard, he was so incensed by this guy’s homophobic views, but all the while he spoke, Jodie sat and listened, nodding here and there and making notes.
“So, did anyone hear what he said to you? Any witnesses this time?” she asked.
“Unfortunately not. He ensured he wasn’t overheard this time. Are you saying we can’t do anything about this? That my account of this won’t be enough?” Jacob couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’ve got to be kidding me?” He stood up from his chair and paced over to the window, looking out over the staff car park.
“I’m not saying that at all,” she replied calmly, “but it is going to be a case of his word against yours. I’m not saying for one moment that I don’t believe you, especially after what happened last time you met up with him. But I would be very remiss if I didn’t let you know what could happen.
“So, I will go to the board with this complaint, and I’ll let you know what they intend to do about it. Now try, and I know this might be difficult, but try to have someone with you if you see him in the classroom. If there’s no one there with you, don’t go in. I know this is not the outcome you were expecting today, but let’s not lose heart.”
Jacob turned back towards her. “I suppose. It’s just… We’re here again, aren’t we? Me having to justify my life choices when I shouldn’t have to. I don’t see Colin or any of the other teachers having to go through this. This is because I’m gay.” He was well and truly pissed off with this, but there was nothing more he could do.
“Fine, let me know what the board says, and I’ll avoid him when I can.” He moved towards the door but turned at the last minute. “Thank you, and I’m sorry this is becoming such an issue.”
“It’s not your fault. You know I don’t think that. Now go, get some lunch.” She smiled at him, a genuine smile that encouraged him to think she would support him.
Today was Friday, though, and he didn’t want this to ruin his weekend, so he was going to finish off the afternoon with his kids, pick up Abby and head over to see Colin and Lindsay. He was going to try and forget Dickhead Wilkins, and maybe he’d see Dom again.
Later that day, he pulled up at Colin and Lindsay’s house. He’d popped home after picking up Abby and had a shower, changed out of his trousers and shirt and into something far more comfortable. They’d picked up pizza on the way, as per Colin’s instruction, and he was looking forward to friendly banter and a few beers.
When he arrived, though, the house was in an uproar. He and Abby walked into a war zone.
“Why did you think it was a good idea to leave marker pens out? Look at the mess, Colin!” Lindsay’s shrill voice cut through the air, and Jacob and Abby looked at each other. Jacob wondered if they should back out slowly, but they were seen before they could act on the thought.
“Jacob, Abby. Come on in. See what Colin has done.” The tone of her voice made it hard for them to sneak out now. They walked into the lounge, and Jacob had to turn away in case Lindsay saw him laugh. Abby, too, was finding it hard to contain her giggles.
Ivy was covered in blue, green and red marker pen, and Colin was holding her at arm’s length, a horrified look on his face. He looked over at Jacob, a sheepish look on his face.
“I’m going to go and give her a bath. Apparently, this is my fault.”
“There’s no apparently about it, Colin. You left the pens out, so you will clear up the mess. And if you don’t hurry up about it, there’ll be no pizza left for you.”
Finally, Colin came in with a marginally cleaner Ivy, and they sat to eat, Lindsay opening a couple of beers for them both. Abby sat on the sofa with the children, which gave Jacob the opportunity to tell them what had happened at school without her overhearing.
After he finished telling them the whole story, Colin blew out a breath. “What an arsehole. Do they have any other kids in the school or just Noah?”
“Just Noah, and he’s a great kid but his dad? Yeah, he’s a proper dick, and I don’t know what to do about it. I agree that I need to stay away from him at school, but honestly, I’m not sure where I stand with Dom at the moment, even after last night. I don’t want to be out with him and have to deal with Wilkins’s sorry arse if we see him out again.”
“Ooh, on the subject of Dom, how’s the plan going? Do we have him back yet?” Lindsay grinned at him. “Are we a go?”
Jacob smiled. He was sure that all they’d done last night and this morning was written across his face. “We had a good time last night, and he messaged me earlier on. I’m not sure if I’ll be seeing him before Abby’s next lesson on Sunday. Probably not.” Jacob thought he should have texted him today and decided to do it before he went to bed later. The day had run away from him, but he couldn’t help thinking Dom hadn’t texted him either.
A few hours later, he was pulling up outside their house, and finally had the chance to text Dom. He knew it was late, but he couldn’t not. As he lay in his bed, he texted him.
Hi, I had a fantastic time last night. Can’t wait to do that again with you. See you on Sunday? Jx
He was surprised when he got a reply straight away, but his heart fell when he read it. Shit!
