Page 50 of Final Escape
“Yes...she wants to keep him home and—”
“Ms. Randall. This hasn’t been an auspicious start for you here.” He rocked back on his heels. “We’re not even halfway through summer school and several students in your class have dropped out. Weneedour students. Every last one of them. I’m especially concerned when a troubled child like Noah—who’s in need of our help—drops out. We’ve let him down, don’t you think?”
She felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach at hearing him echo her own feelings. “Unintentionally.”
“What if she decides to homeschool or something? Then we’ve lost state funding, and in a district this size, we need every child we can get.”
Homeschooling could be a wonderful option, when parents were dedicated. Children often ended ahead of their public school counterparts when they received such individualized attention, and she’d often thought she’d try it herself if she ever got her life straightened out and had a family. But from the tone in his voice, Grover probably didn’t want to hearthat.He seemed more concerned with funding than the child himself.
“Pay his aunt a visit,” he continued. “Apologize for whatever it was that upset the kid. See if you can get him back.”
“I just saw them in town on Monday. I don’t think—”
“You aren’t paid to do that. It’s my job.”
Ouch.His words rasped against her skin like rough sandpaper. “I did try to talk with Linda. She feels he just needs time to get over his loss, and Mr. Colwell feels the same.”
The principal glowered at her. “You can try again, right?”
Carrie sighed. “Of course, if you want me to go talk to them, I’ll be happy to do so.”
“Good, good. Let me know how it goes.” He pursed his lips as he gave her a long, assessing look. “I have a feeling that you can smooth the waters with them both, if you put your mind to it.”
She watched him stride down the hall, and once again, she had the feeling that her future in the Granite Falls school system was hanging in the balance. But where did the true importance lie?
It wasn’t her own future that mattered most. She would go talk to Linda Bates and her brother to discuss Noah’s best interests...and just pray that she could make everyone happy.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
It was raining by noon. The students all grumbled as they left school to walk home in the rain or went to wait for their parents at the front entrance, but Carrie savored the wonderfully drippy weather as she walked to her Tahoe under her bright red umbrella. She’d always loved rain.
Penny had already texted her to say that there’d be no need to work this afternoon, so after she finished her visit with Linda and Mr. Colwell at Noah’s house, she’d drop by one of the quaint coffee shops in town or maybe even head for the bookstore over in Battle Creek—rainy weather was perfect for curling up with a good book and a hot cup of tea. Maybe she’d even stop in to see Trace and Kris, though she’d have to watch the time. Rain, nightfall and mountain roads were a combination she tried to avoid.
She drove slowly through town, past the gift shops and high-adventure sporting goods shops, the little touristy restaurants and small artisans’ galleries. At the end of town she glanced again at the map and directions she’d printed off the internet, then continued on for several miles until the signs for Granite Peak and Wilderness Park came into view. A right turn took her up a narrow, winding road that turned from asphalt to gravel at the four-mile point, where it grew even steeper and passed several rustic, tumbledown cabins that obviously hadn’t been used for years.
The fourth one was the oldest, its logs weathered and gray, and the car parked in front had seen better days. Still, the yard was neatly kept and the windows shone. Carrie pulled up next to the car and climbed from behind her wheel, unfurled her umbrella and trotted up to the door.
