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“I’ll watch him,” Melinda chirps.
I nod politely and walk into Diane’s office. She stands from her desk and shuts the door behind us.
“I must really be in trouble if you’re shutting the door.” I take a seat in one of the leather chairs across from hers.
“There’s something I want to talk to you about.” Her voice is all business, and I start to squirm in my seat a little. Diane and I have always had a good relationship. How could we not? She loved Kristen, and Kristen loved me. I might be a little rough around the edges and not as polished as she wanted for her only daughter, but I took good care of Kristen, and she knows it.
She takes her seat and looks directly at me. “I want to hire you.”
“Is there some sort of teacher shortage?”
“No. The McBrides just okayed the funding for the new play area and grounds remodel. I want to hire you as my landscaper. You’d have to submit a bid, and you’d be up against other landscape contractors, but you’re as good as anyone. I see no reason why the job wouldn’t go to you.”
I smooth my hands down my Levis and rest them just above my knees. Landing this would be huge for my company. “This job would be perfect. I’d be right here by Krew every day.”
“I’m not guaranteeing anything. Your proposal will go through the board of trustees.”
“I know.”
“It’s a big job. You’d have to have it done before Christmas so the students can enjoy it the last half of the school year, which means you’d only have a few months.”
“That’s no problem.” I can’t hide my smile. “Thanks, Diane. I know you didn’t have to tell me about the job, but it means a lot that you did. I’m sure my bid will come in under budget.”
“I probablyshouldn’thave told you about the job. You’ll have the female half of my entire staff in love with you before the playground is completed.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I see the way they all look at you.”
“Who?”
She glances out to where her secretary sits. “Melinda.”
“That’s just one person. Not your entire staff.”
She nods. “I know you’re starting to date again. It’s been over a year since Kristen died, so I guess that’s to be expected, but I would prefer it if you didn’t date anyone on my staff. It’s against the rules at American Education Academy for a parent to date one of the employees.”
I remembered the school scandal from a few years before. Diane called Kristen all the time for advice. It was a big deal, and Diane was concerned she would lose her job. But none of that has anything to do with me, and I can’t figure out why Diane thinks it does.
“I wouldn’t say I’m dating again.”
“Krew told me you went out on a date the other night. Are you sure you should be telling him things like that? Kristen wouldn’t want that. In fact, are you sure you should be dating again? It seems like you have your hands full with Krew. I’m not sure adding dating into the mix is a good idea.”
I sit up in my chair. “I didn’t tell him I went on a date. He must have overheard me talking to my brother about it. It was blind date that didn’t last long, and I’m pretty sure it won’t happen again.”
“I see.” Why does Diane’s expression look relieved? “Well, then, forget what I said about parents dating members of my staff. It wasn’t a necessary reminder.”
“What about a landscaper?” I joke. “Is it against the rules if your landscaper dates someone on the staff?”
“I would prefer it if the landscaper I hired kept everything professional.”
“That’s really a shame,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m going to have to let Melinda down gently.”
Diane’s eyes turn serious. “Tyler, just keep to yourself and focus on Krew. That’s your role right now.”
“I plan to.” But right as those words leave my mouth, Meg Johnson’s smile crosses through my mind. Keeping to myself may be harder than I think.
CHAPTER10
