my best.”
She squeezed his arm. “I know you do.”
“But it isn’t enough. That’s what you’re thinking.” He jerked away from her touch. “Johnny, we need to go. Now.”
The boy slapped his schoolbook shut, grabbed his things, and headed for the door. “Bye, Miss Morgan.”
“Bye, Johnny,” she said as he rushed to follow his uncle. “Tony, will I see you at our lesson?”
There was a distinct hesitation, and then he nodded. “I have to drop Johnny off at home first. I might be a few minutes late.”
“No problem.”
He didn’t say a word as he strode to the door.
He might show up at their dance lesson, but he wasn’t happy about it. That much was abundantly clear.
♥♥♥
Time had slowed to a crawl.
It was Friday afternoon, and school was out for the weekend. Ella should feel relaxed, but her nerves were taut. Her mind kept replaying the events of the prior evening.
She’d interviewed for the permanent teaching position at Whistle Stop Elementary beginning with the fall term. In the end, she thought she’d satisfactorily answered all of the school board’s questions. The president said they’d notify her soon about their decision. Not wanting to jinx this prime opportunity, she decided not to mention the interview to anyone. If she landed this job, Whistle Stop would become her permanent home. Her home—she liked the sound of it.
There was a knock at her classroom door. Ella glanced up to find Melissa, the school’s receptionist, who was quickly becoming a good friend. Dressed in navy slacks and a white blouse, she stepped inside the doorway. “How’d the day go?”
“It was fast.”
“Aren’t they all?” Melissa swiped her long brown ponytail over her shoulder. “The weekends are the worst. If you blink, they’re over.”
Her weekend would be anything but fast as she waited for the school board’s decision. How long was “soon” anyhow?
Ella struggled to pay attention to what her friend was saying.
“What has you so quiet?” Melissa’s eyes filled with worry.
“Nothing.” Ella stacked a couple of workbooks she intended to take home in hopes of avoiding the loneliness that crept over her during the quiet evenings.
“I don’t know you that well yet, but I know enough to sense when something’s bothering you. Now out with it.”
Ella knew that the interview had taken place only yesterday, but she was anxious for news. She thought it’d gone well, but she honestly didn’t have a clue. And she had no idea how many applicants were vying for the position. She eyed up her friend, wanting to ask if she’d heard anything, but she didn’t want to put Melissa in an awkward position.
“It’s nothing.” Ella was confronted with an I-don’t-believe-you look. Maybe it would be good to talk to someone. “I’m just worried about the interview. I…I’m not sure how it went. I mean, I think it went well, but maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see—”
“Stop.” Melissa waved her hands to get her attention. Then her friend sent her a reassuring smile, and her eyes twinkled as though she knew all of the answers. Melissa glanced over her shoulder at the open doorway, as though verifying they were indeed alone. “I really shouldn’t say anything.”
Anticipation sent Ella’s stomach tumbling. “Say anything about what?” When Melissa pressed her lips into a firm line and shook her head, Ella prodded, “You can’t just stop there. What do you know? Do you know who got the position?”
Please let it be me .
“Nothing has been decided yet.” Melissa’s voice lowered. “But I overheard them talking, and you’ve made the short list.”
Ella squealed with joy.
“Shh…” Melissa glanced back at the door. “I don’t want anyone to know I told you.”
“Sorry.” Ella gathered herself. “You don’t know how much I’ve been hoping for this.”
Melissa smiled. “I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
“I just hope they decide soon. The
She squeezed his arm. “I know you do.”
“But it isn’t enough. That’s what you’re thinking.” He jerked away from her touch. “Johnny, we need to go. Now.”
The boy slapped his schoolbook shut, grabbed his things, and headed for the door. “Bye, Miss Morgan.”
“Bye, Johnny,” she said as he rushed to follow his uncle. “Tony, will I see you at our lesson?”
There was a distinct hesitation, and then he nodded. “I have to drop Johnny off at home first. I might be a few minutes late.”
“No problem.”
He didn’t say a word as he strode to the door.
He might show up at their dance lesson, but he wasn’t happy about it. That much was abundantly clear.
♥♥♥
Time had slowed to a crawl.
It was Friday afternoon, and school was out for the weekend. Ella should feel relaxed, but her nerves were taut. Her mind kept replaying the events of the prior evening.
She’d interviewed for the permanent teaching position at Whistle Stop Elementary beginning with the fall term. In the end, she thought she’d satisfactorily answered all of the school board’s questions. The president said they’d notify her soon about their decision. Not wanting to jinx this prime opportunity, she decided not to mention the interview to anyone. If she landed this job, Whistle Stop would become her permanent home. Her home—she liked the sound of it.
There was a knock at her classroom door. Ella glanced up to find Melissa, the school’s receptionist, who was quickly becoming a good friend. Dressed in navy slacks and a white blouse, she stepped inside the doorway. “How’d the day go?”
“It was fast.”
“Aren’t they all?” Melissa swiped her long brown ponytail over her shoulder. “The weekends are the worst. If you blink, they’re over.”
Her weekend would be anything but fast as she waited for the school board’s decision. How long was “soon” anyhow?
Ella struggled to pay attention to what her friend was saying.
“What has you so quiet?” Melissa’s eyes filled with worry.
“Nothing.” Ella stacked a couple of workbooks she intended to take home in hopes of avoiding the loneliness that crept over her during the quiet evenings.
“I don’t know you that well yet, but I know enough to sense when something’s bothering you. Now out with it.”
Ella knew that the interview had taken place only yesterday, but she was anxious for news. She thought it’d gone well, but she honestly didn’t have a clue. And she had no idea how many applicants were vying for the position. She eyed up her friend, wanting to ask if she’d heard anything, but she didn’t want to put Melissa in an awkward position.
“It’s nothing.” Ella was confronted with an I-don’t-believe-you look. Maybe it would be good to talk to someone. “I’m just worried about the interview. I…I’m not sure how it went. I mean, I think it went well, but maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see—”
“Stop.” Melissa waved her hands to get her attention. Then her friend sent her a reassuring smile, and her eyes twinkled as though she knew all of the answers. Melissa glanced over her shoulder at the open doorway, as though verifying they were indeed alone. “I really shouldn’t say anything.”
Anticipation sent Ella’s stomach tumbling. “Say anything about what?” When Melissa pressed her lips into a firm line and shook her head, Ella prodded, “You can’t just stop there. What do you know? Do you know who got the position?”
Please let it be me .
“Nothing has been decided yet.” Melissa’s voice lowered. “But I overheard them talking, and you’ve made the short list.”
Ella squealed with joy.
“Shh…” Melissa glanced back at the door. “I don’t want anyone to know I told you.”
“Sorry.” Ella gathered herself. “You don’t know how much I’ve been hoping for this.”
Melissa smiled. “I’ve got a pretty good idea.”
“I just hope they decide soon. The
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