The Summer of Good Intentions by Wendy Francis Page A

didn’t expect him to further piss her off either. And that was exactly what he’d done this morning.
    They were sitting out on the deck drinking iced coffees. It was hot for so early in the day, the heat sending off shimmering waves above the sand. The kids were busy building sand castles a few yards down the beach. She and Tim talked casually about the usual stuff. Did the kids have enough sunblock on? Wasn’t it great to have some time to kick back? What should they do for dinner? Jess allowed herself to think for a brief moment, This is good. This is what we should be doing every day . And then somehow the conversation tumbled disastrously into free fall. She mentioned that when they got back to Boston she would need to go into work for a week in August and did he think his mom could help cover with the kids?
    â€œDo you really think it makes sense to ask my mom to help out over the summer?” he asked.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Jess asked, thinking perhaps he was implying it was time to hire a nanny, something she’d suggested over a year ago, when she started her job.
    â€œI don’t know.” He gazed out over the water. “I’m just wondering if it’s a fair trade; you have to give up a week of your summer with the kids so you can go into a job that drives you crazy and hardly pays anything.”
    She couldn’t believe she’d heard right. “Excuse me?” She was still willing to give him a chance to explain himself. Give him an out.
    â€œI don’t know. I’ve just been thinking. With your job, we’ve brought in some extra money, and I’m not saying it’s not important. It is. But, do you really think the stress is worth it?”
    Jess licked her lips, trying to parse her words, to understand the motivation behind Tim’s sudden second-guessing of the one job in the world she loved, where she felt she was making a difference. Sure, it was crazy, but all jobs were crazy to some extent. Was he implying that her job wasn’t important or that the kids were missing out on mommy time while she toiled away at her little hobby ?
    She felt her blood pressure shoot up, her heart thumping in her chest. She spoke carefully, not wanting to say something she would regret, words that would irretrievably damage their marriage.
    â€œYes, Tim. I think it’s worth it,” she finally spat out. “It’s the whole reason I went back to school. You might even say it’s my passion, after the kids. I think it’s important for them to see their mother engaged, doing something valuable and that it trumps any inconvenience it might create during the month of August. Plus, that little bit of money you refer to isn’t like our pin money. That money helps pay the bills, like groceries and heat and clothes for the kids.”
    He held up his hand. “Whoa. You don’t need to go ballistic on me.”
    â€œWell, sorry. I feel like you kind of did on me. Is this what you’ve been thinking my whole first year as a principal?”
    â€œI’m sure you’re great,” he said tightly. “I just happen to think our kids need you more than the punk kids you work with at that school. How many of them end up dropping out anyway?”
    She couldn’t believe it. He was more or less insinuating that her job was one big hideous joke. “God, you’re patronizing!” she cried and jumped up from her seat. She flew into the house, up the stairs, and hid in the bedroom. For an entire hour, while she lay on the bed and wiped her tears, she felt zero regret for her fling with Cole. Tim deserved every little heartbreak he got. How he could be such a consummate asshole astounded her. As if the responsibility of raising their kids was hers and hers alone. It wasn’t like he was bringing in huge sums of money either. It worked because there were two of them!
    It took every ounce of willpower she had not to call Cole