“What you need is a wife to feed you so you can stop hanging out in my diner every night.” April said, winking at Kristina.
Kristina was sure her face was as scarlet as the red velvet cake that was put on her plate. She made a beeline for an empty table, but found Nathan sitting across from her a few moments later. But they weren’t alone for long, and Kristina relaxed as kids and youth clamored to sit with Nathan. He was at ease with them all.
When a girl of about six explained the intricacies of being a princess, Nathan asked. “Well, doesn't it get tiring waving all day to your subjects?”
“Yes, but that is our job,” she said in a grave voice.
Two middle-school boys interrupted to fire off a few questions about a video game, which he also handled with ease.
“Hey, Mr. M!” A young teenage girl said as she slid into the princess’ vacated spot.
“Hey, Barb. This is Ms. Talbot.”
“Yeah, the new English teacher!” Barbara picked the roll off his plate, and before he could protest, “Oh whatever, the ladies are going to pack up all the leftovers for you. They feel so sorry for you.”
“Hey, respect your elders!” He lightly admonished with a chuckle.
“No disrespect, just stating the facts.” She flashed him a smile, and then turned to Kristina.
“So, I heard you used to teach honors English at some fancy school. Does that mean we are going to read some really cool stuff this year?”
“Well, I guess that depends on what your definition of really cool is.”
“My cousin in Texas gets to read Chaucer in her senior English class.”
“Well then, you’re in luck!”
“Cool-beans!” She was off without so much as a goodbye.
“Barbara is really smart, and really determined to succeed. But most kids aren’t going to share her abilities or her affection of Chaucer.” Nathan warned.
She lifted her chin a little under her steely gaze, “Most kids don’t. Nevertheless, I think you will be surprised at what they are capable of. I believe in holding the standards up high, and having them reach for it, rather than believing they are not able to read and understand a piece of literature.”
“These kids are farmers, football players, wannabe rodeo stars, and kids with dreams no bigger than your hand.” He lightly tapped her hand, and she wanted to pull it under the table. Her relaxed manner vanished with his simple touch. "We have a high drop-out rate in this state, especially in rural towns like Hamilton. The ones who are at risk for dropping out don’t see much sense in studying the basics, let alone reading The Canterbury Tales.”
“With all due respect, Nathan, I have been teaching for over five years now at one of the best schools in the nation. Our scores were the third highest out of all private schools in the nation last year. I was in charge of the entire English Honors Department and several of my students are on their way to earning their PhD’s.” She arched a delicate eyebrow at him, daring him to challenge her.
“I have no doubt in your ability to handle a group of big city, rich kids, with their eyes firmly focused on college. But just know that many of the kids here are not interested in college.”
Lifting her chin in defiance, she said, “Well, we will just have to see, won’t we.”
“I didn’t mean to question your abilities, Kristina.” He reached for her hand, but she quickly pulled it out of the way.
“First of all, Mr. McKinley, you know nothing about me or my abilities. You are welcome to your opinions, but I’ll be happy to prove you otherwise.” She gathered up her trash, got up from the table, and began to walk away. She stopped, whether it was because she didn’t want him to think he got the best of her, or because she didn’t want anyone to manipulate her emotions, she didn’t know. But she was determined to make things different. She turned back to him, her hair spilling over one shoulder and smiled sweetly at him. “See you tomorrow.”
Chapter Seven
The next morning, Nathan walked down the hallway, two cups of steaming coffee in his hands. He stopped in the doorway to Kristina’s classroom and smiled at the picture before him. She had just arrived, setting her books down. A soft smile played about her lips as she sat behind the desk and tested out her chair. Leaning back, she propped her feet up on the desk, but quickly put them down when she almost fell backward. Instead, she began arranging her books and supplies. As she worked, she hummed the song he’d performed yesterday in church. She would interject a word or two every so often, and then returned to humming, all the while rocking in the swivel chair and organizing her things.
“I thought you might enjoy a cup a coffee,” he interrupted. At the sound of his voice, she jumped and rocked back in the chair, almost losing her balance and sending paper clips raining in the air. She caught herself on the edge of the desk just before she fell, but not before she knocked her books on the floor. Heat rushed to her face, and she quickly bent to pick up her things.
“Here, let me help,” he said as he set the cups down on her desk and scooped up the paper clips for her. She tried to hide her face behind the veil of her hair.
“I’m sorry, I thought I was alone,” she said, placing the last of the books on her desk.
Why does she get so skittish when she realizes she’s not alone?
“I just wanted to welcome you with a cup of coffee.”
“Thank you, that was kind.” Her smile was wary.
“Well, you might not think me so kind after I tell you that Principle Shirley will be evaluating you this morning.” His eyes flicked to her hair, and he picked a paper clip from the edge of one of her curls. “You forgot one.”
She took it from him, but said nothing as he continued. “It is Mr. Shirley’s policy, not mine. I just wanted to warn you so you could prepare.”
“Sounds wonderful!” She lifted her chin the tiniest bit in defiance. “You’ll find that I don’t shy away from scrutiny or observation. In fact, I welcome them, for how else will my skills be sharpened if not through examination and criticism?”
Nathan chided himself for enjoying her discomfort. He hadn’t come with the desire to get her rankled, but seeing her ruffled feathers, he couldn’t help but think she was a strange and beautiful little bird.
“John Keats once said, ‘every fresh experience points out some form of error, which we shall afterwards carefully avoid.’ I'm sure I’ll gain plenty of knowledge and guidance from Mr. Shirley.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will.” He heard the hint of sarcasm that trickled into his voice, and wished he could stop smirking. But he found her flushed cheeks and attempt at bravado so beguiling.
“I’d invite you to sit in as well,” she said with a shrug, “but you have to be getting off to your own class.”
“Well, actually,” he said, a smile lifting the corner of his mouth, “This is my planning period.” He almost laughed out-loud at her visible struggle to keep an aloof composure.
“Well, I guess you can join in, as long as Mr. Shirley doesn’t mind.”
Nathan shrugged his shoulders, and he mentally chided himself for enjoying baiting her so much. She was such a peculiar little woman, trying to work so hard at looking tough and together, but so easily ruffled and frightened. He wondered if she was aware that every time she got angry or nervous she would pull out her defensive dictionary and start using her “English Teacher" words.
Turning back to her desk, she said, “I better get everything ready, the kids will be here soon. And thanks for the coffee."
He stood staring for a moment. She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever come across. Her hair hung in luxurious waves down her back, and her scent tickled him in places he wasn’t sure he felt comfortable with. Though she tried to appear cool and collected, two pink spots of frustration tinged her cheeks. Shaking his head as he walked out, he thought, if only she wasn’t so nervous.
A half-hour later, Nathan again stood in her classroom doorway, this time the one farthest from her desk
. He watched as she smiled and greeted the students as they walked in. When Edwin Shirley walked in, she stood and shook his hand, graciously thanking him for visiting her class.
As the bell rang, she stood and addressed the class. “I have already spoken with Mrs. Rose, and we will be picking up where you left off, reading Faulkner," she said, thumbing to that spot in the book and perching her hip on the edge of the desk.
As the kids murmured and shuffled through their backpacks, a boy in the back of the class dropped his violin case. The bang jolted her, causing her to drop her book. The kids chuckled, and she looked up, her eyes locking with Nathan. She arched an eyebrow as he took his seat next to Edwin.
“Where was I?”
Nathan watched her from the back of the class as she tried to gather her thoughts back together.
“You were talking about how we are going to keep things the way they were when Mrs. Rose was here,” one of the boys from the back said. “Easy."
The kids laughed, and Kristina smiled at the student, “Thank you Mr….?” she paused, waiting for the boy to answer.
“Bobby,” he smirked, “Bobby Swanson. And it’s my pleasure to keep you on track.”
Kristina laughed good naturedly, and then said, “Well, Mr. Swanson,” she said, rising from the desk and leveling her hazel eyes on the young man. “Since you were so gracious to inform me that it was easy with Mrs. Rose, then you all will have no problem finishing “A Rose for Emily” tonight, taking a quiz tomorrow, and preparing a two-page essay, typed and double spaced, by Friday.” The class groaned and complained.
“You can’t do that!” Bobby cried, “Mr. Shirley, you can’t let her do that!”
The class turned and looked at the principle, who smiled at his new English teacher. “I believe that is exactly what you need.”
The class sighed in unison, one kid whispering “Way to go, Bobby.” But the kid sank low in his seat after Bobby sent him a menacing glare.
“If you do not have a computer or typewriter at home, there are several in the school or the town’s library.” Bobby opened his mouth to protest, she said, "Mr. Swanson, if you are going to come up with an excuse for not having it typed for me, then you can write it out on notebook paper.”
Bobby smiled with pleasure.
“But, of course, it will have to be four pages if it is handwritten.” Turning to the board, she began writing several terms. “I do not want you to just retell the story to me; I have already read it. I want to see how much of it you have comprehended. Tell me about the people in Emily’s life and their effect on her. Did you notice any symbolism in the story? What does the conflict center on? Is there any foreshadowing?”
The students began asking questions about the terms, and Nathan sank back in his seat, not realizing until now that he had been leaning forward. He was not only shocked by the outcome of the initial altercation between Kristina and Bobby, but was very impressed. Gone was the nervous and jittery woman, who constantly seemed to be fumbling around him. She was confident, self-assured and extremely competent. The students fired off questions and complaints rapidly, and she took each question or complaint head on, answering it or addressing it fully until she was satisfied they were taken care of, and she managed to learn the majority of their names in the process.
The students were still grumbling over their homework assignment, when Kristina held up her hands and said, “I know you all don’t think you can do this, but if I were to ask you to tell me about the last movie you saw, you could do that with no problem. What I'm asking is just a little more deeper than that. I’m asking you to analyze it.”
“What’s the point?” Bobby asked, “I mean, it’s not like we are really going to need this in our future.”
“On the contrary, Bobby,” she answered, “Being able to read and understand a complex document and then effectively communicate to others what you have just read is a vital skill in all areas of life. That is what I teach you, and that is what you will be able to do by the end of this year.”
“Well, I won’t need to worry about that. I’m going to be an NFL player, my agents and lawyers will handle all of that reading junk for me." Bobby said, leaning back in the chair as some of the class chuckled.
“What about their contracts?” Kristina asked him with a delicately arched eyebrow. “Who is going to read their proposals to represent you? And how will you know what’s fair, or if they are going to rip you off?”
Bobby opened his mouth to say something, but Kristina went on, “And don’t you think it would be wise to be able to read and understand whatever it is they are asking you to sign? Or are you just going to blindly sign away the money you've earned?”
Bobby didn’t say anything, he just shrugged noncommittally.
As Kristina closed the class, Nathan turned to Mr. Shirley with raised eyebrows. The principle winked and said, “I believe we have a winner.”
The students sprang out of their chairs when the bell rang, and Nathan and Mr. Shirley approached Kristina. Kristina again perched on the edge of her desk, smiling confidently at the two as they neared. Nathan was stunned by the change in her.
Principle Shirley was the first to speak; grabbing both her hands in his, he smiled down at her and said, “Great job, glad to have you on board." With a slap on Nathan’s back he added, “Never doubted it.” With that he smiled and left, calling out to some of the students, "Tasha and Joyce, how are you ladies doing this morning?”
Nathan held out his hand to her, “That was a phenomenal job. Bobby is one of the class clowns, and thinks he doesn’t have to follow any rules because he is the star quarterback, and his Daddy owns most of the town. I’m impressed with the way you handled him.”
“Thank you.”
“You still don’t think you are asking too much of them?”
“It isn’t so much about whether they truly understand the levels of symbolism, perspective and so forth. I just want them to start thinking about what they are reading, looking at things from different angles.” she said. As two girls passed by her class, waving at Nathan, he realized her hand was still enveloped in his. She withdrew her hand and a blush stained her pretty cheeks, her voice losing that confident edge. “They will be graded on their effort level, more than their correct comprehension.”
Turning to erase the board, she added, “Besides, I gave many a professor a run for his money in college when I challenged the standard interpretation of a piece of fiction. If they feel strongly enough about it, I’ll let them work it out, provided they can back it up."
Nathan stared silently at her, as her long hair swayed with each movement of her body. She had really set him back on his heels today. Just when he thought he had her figured out, she shocked him. He just couldn’t get a handle on the true Kristina.
When she turned toward him, he stared at her for a moment. “Well, Mr. McKinley,” She paused, reached for her book and clasped it to her chest, as if it would shield her heart from his eyes. “My next class is already starting to come in. I better get ready.”
“Sure,” Nathan said, though he stood rooted to the floor, unable to leave. For a second, he was sure he had been seeing the real Kristina Talbot, but he could see her withdrawing again. She had moments where her elusive spirit danced before him, but just out of his grasp, teasing him. What was it that kept her from relaxing around him? What was it that kept her from smiling and laughing with him as she did with others? Well, he thought to himself, I probably don’t want to know. Still, there was that irritating desire to know her more, itching at the back of his soul. But whenever he tried to reach out and scratch it, she always skittered out of reach.
“Hey, Mr. M!” Barbara came in, tearing his attention from Kristina.
“I heard you gave Bobby a mouthful this morning, Ms. Talbot." Barbara smiled and said, “He needs it, he’s too full of himself.”
Nathan headed for the door, but turned as she said, “Thank you again for the encouragement, Mr. McKinley. I’m glad
you enjoyed my class.”
“Yeah, I’ll see you around.” Nathan said, still a little awestruck from the transformation he kept glimpsing in her. She was trembling before him one moment, and confident the next. He had expected some sort of catastrophe this morning, but she handled the students with authority that gained their attention, and even a little respect. And the biggest question that irked him was, why did it even matter to him? Shaking the woman from his mind the best he could, he left to his own classroom down the hall.
Chapter Eight
Over the next several weeks, Kristina’s life settled into a routine that left her overjoyed at the simple things of life. During her marriage to David, everyday chores became a thing of dread or fear. She always worried if what she chose to cook for dinner would displease him. But now, she had recaptured her love of cooking, even if it was only for one.
Other experiences began opening up to her in a new way, as well. Though her car was fixed, she continued to walk to school if the weather permitted. Even though it was the beginning of October, the temperatures were in the 80’s and she enjoyed the feel of the warm sunshine on her hair. David would have accused her of trying to attract attention to herself.
She also spoke with Lisa often, something that had before been limited to school time. David kept her from friends, afraid that they were going to poison her mind against him. She had missed the simple joy that comes from just laughing about silly things with a dear, close friend.
Kristina found herself looking forward to Sunday every week. She enjoyed the warm fellowship of the people of the church, and the developing friendships were tantalizing enough to keep her coming to church every week, despite her fears. The church was a family, Pastor McKinley had said in one of his sermons. She liked the idea, but she also knew from her past how quickly the church could turn on you…especially when you needed it most. And she was sure the warm fellowship would turn icy cold if they knew about her past.
David had used the Bible to hurt and control her. He had battered her as much with Scripture as he had with his fists. He controlled his church with an iron fist, though he covered it up with silken sermons. But Andrew McKinley pastored his church so differently than David did. He humbly served his God and his church. And when he quoted Scripture, he savored it like honey dripping from his tongue. “This is my favorite part…” or “This is such a beautiful picture of God’s love,” was how he would begin reading a passage. His love for God and his love for the church were undeniably honest.
Miracles in Disguise (The Trampled Rose Series) Page 5