He knew she had every right, those were the rules of the one night stand he supposed, but he didn’t want it to be. He wanted her to stay. “Stay. Please Scarlet?” he asked, tugging her gently. Relief washed through him as she changed her mind and climbed back in the bed beside him and into his arms.
He’d given her his phone number and hoped Scarlett would call but the fact she hadn’t given him hers in return left him doubtful. He should have insisted that she give it to him. He’d barely scratched the surface with getting to know her and he just had the feeling that there was somehow much more that she’d kept to herself. If he’d been asked to put a label on what they had he wouldn’t have been able to but for him it had been much more than a one night stand. A holiday romance maybe, but he knew given the chance it could have been so much more.
* * *
Ignoring the problem had lasted until the next morning when Skye had woken with the worst nausea she’d ever experienced. After spending nearly all her getting ready time in the bathroom, Skye had dragged herself to work in wrinkled clothes and with no makeup. She still felt like death when she was standing in front of her class.
“I need you to open your social studies book to page twenty eight and read that whole chapter.” Quietly and without fuss while I just sit over here by the door so I can run to the bathroom or die quietly, whatever happens first, she thought.
“Miss you don’t look so hot,” the concerned member of her class asked.
“Thank you honey…not feeling the best.”
“It’s not catching is it?” the hypochondriac of the class asked.
“No it isn’t,” she managed with a reassuring smile.
“Are you gonna barf?” the class clown asked.
Quite possibly, she thought. She would just ignore the question from that particular young man because she knew an answer would only spur him to more questions…she decided to go with the only thing she was sure would get her charges reading and give her a little peace. Bribery.
“Whoever is the quietest and then answers the questions at the back of the chapter first,” she turned to the class clown. “Real answers that relate to the chapter.” She turned back to the rest of the class. “Will be able to leave class five minutes early.”
If Skye wasn’t feeling like death she would have laughed. It always worked. A little bribery went a long way. There was a slight flurry of noise while the kids expressed their approval of the reward before they all settled down to quietly read. Skye leaned her head against the door in what would probably be her favourite classroom position for the next few weeks. She hoped. Morning sickness didn’t go on for too long did it? Man…this was going to be hard to hide she thought.
* * *
The morning sickness she’d thought would be hard to hide, turned out to be impossible to hide. By the third day of her moping around until lunchtime when she was suddenly able to eat her weight in cafeteria food, she was certain some of the other teachers were suspicious, some were curious, and the Principal was damn sure. When school was over one afternoon, Skye was summoned to her office.
As she sat on the bench seat right outside the door, she felt like she was a naughty third grader waiting for her parents to arrive. THAT wasn’t going to happen. They lived two states away and were as much in the dark as everyone else. More than some people she worked with apparently. The sympathetic looks she’d been given all day had already told her she was the talk of the teachers’ lounge. She tapped her foot nervously. What if she got fired? What the hell was she going to do then? It was going to be hard enough to feed herself and her baby as it was, without a job, she was fucked. And that about brought her back to square one, she thought.
The door opened and Mrs. Rogers smiled. “Come in Skye,” she said. She put her arm about the younger woman’s shoulders and walked her in. Skye was suddenly overcome and tears threatened to choke her. She’d been ready to be scolded, judged and looked down upon but kindness at the moment was too much. Mrs. Rogers took her over to her couch and sat beside her. She didn’t talk at all for the longest while. She passed Skye some tissues and waited until it seemed that she’d cried herself out.
“I’m sorry,” Skye said. She was so embarrassed. For crying in front of the principal, for being pregnant and not being able to even produce a boyfriend much less a husband. She may as well hang a sign around her neck that said don’t let me anywhere near your kids, I have no morals.
“It’s ok.”
“No, it’s so not. I’m guessing you’ve already guessed?”
“I have, but I’ve only guessed that you’re pregnant. I don’t know any details. That’s up to you if you want to share with me. I just wanted to tell you that I’m here for you if you want to talk.”
Skye smiled and nodded but said nothing so Mrs. Rogers kept talking.
“I do want to tell you though, this isn’t the end of the world, you’ll get through it.”
“I… I’m alone,” Skye stuttered out. “The father isn’t in the picture.”
Mrs. Rogers nodded again. “Oh honey you won’t be alone. Have you told your parents?”
Skye shook her head. She knew eventually she’d have to tell them but she wasn’t ready. They’d be ashamed of her and then they’d take over, guilt her into doing what they thought was best. Tell her she should give up her apartment and come home. She didn’t want that. More than anything she wanted to keep her independence. “I don’t know yet what I do want but I don’t want to go home.”
“Are you going to keep the baby?”
“Yes.” She hadn’t actually said it out loud yet and it gave her butterflies to say it…she was going to keep it. Her baby. She was going to keep her baby and that would make her the Mommy. Wow.
“Well that’s good. One decision made. So I take it you’re going to stay here? After a short break of course.”
“I guess. I like it here and I love the kids. I’ll need to earn money.”
“Yes you will. See? It’s all matter of finding the problems first and then finding the solutions. We’ll all help you. You only need to tell us what you need.”
Skye nodded again and her lip wobbled. “Thank you. I thought you were going to fire me.”
“That would be against the law and wrong. People make mistakes.” She got up and walked over to her desk and collected two picture frames and passed one to Skye.
“She’s beautiful,” she said of the curly headed moppet in the picture.
“Her name is Angel, she’s my granddaughter.”
Skye smiled and then took the other frame that the Principal held out to her.
“This is her mother.”
Skye smiled. “They look alike.” She was staring into the face of a fresh faced cheerleader holding her baby daughter and laughing.
“Yes they do,” Mrs Rogers said with pride. “That was four years ago and she’s just about to graduate. Angel’s father isn’t in the picture either, it can be done.”
Skye left the office feeling better than she had in days, at last she had hope. She was determined to make this work.
* * *
Shaun drove away from Tom’s graduation happy. He was proud of his little brother and even more relieved that his time doing business with adults had come to a close. Today had been a formality really. He’d already put a trusted family friend in charge of walking Tom through business and he’d worked with him himself when he didn’t have classes. Now the business was Tom’s and it was his time to get on with his own life.
The next day was the last day of the school year and he’d made an appointment with the Principal of the new school he was going to work at come the fall, to have a tour. He couldn’t wait.
* * *
Skye couldn’t wait until tomorrow afternoon. She’d have the whole summer to get things ready for her baby and to lay around like the beached whale she’d become and do nothing. At six months she’d popped and felt much bigger than she actually was. She loved her job but going to work every day w
as starting to take its toll. She was ready for a break.
As always though, she felt a certain sadness with the end of each year and that was having to say goodbye to her kids. They’d still be there next year and they’d wave in the hallway but they wouldn’t be hers anymore. Still by the time the school year started it’d nearly be time for her own baby to be born and she’d have a whole new class of kids to get to know and enlighten with social studies.
Skye sighed as she looked around the room at all the posters and paintings and the kids messy desks… She really should have started packing up the classroom by now. This whole room would have to be cleared before the end of tomorrow.
She clapped her hands and gave instructions for emptying desks in readiness for the big clean up. If they emptied the desks now, tomorrow morning it’d just be the posters and the paintings that were still hanging that would need to be removed.
* * *
Skye got to work early the next day, intent on starting the clean-up before she got too tired. Typically, by the time the day was over she was exhausted. She went into the utilities cupboard and found what she was looking for, a ladder. After retrieving some empty boxes she was all set.
* * *
I printed this sheet of staff names out for you,” Mrs Rogers said to the eager young man seated before her. “I think you’ll find this to be a friendly school. Both the staff and the children are very easy to get along with. There a very few behavioural problems here.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it,” Shaun said with a grin. “I’ve been looking forward to teaching again for a long time.”
“Good. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you and I know the kids will benefit from having you as a teacher. There just aren’t enough male teachers to go around unfortunately.”
“Thank you,” Shaun said. It was nice to know he was going to work in a place where he was really wanted and needed.
“Shall we start the tour?”
Shaun rose eagerly and followed the smaller woman out into the hall.
* * *
Skye climbed down the ladder and neatened the pile of pictures she had just taken from a string across the windows and popped them into a box. Now for the centre of the room, she thought. She was going to move the desks so she could fit the ladder there but decided that would be a complete waste of time. She could climb up on a chair and use that to get on a table. She’d just have to walk across the tables to get to each of the pictures that were hung on a long rope that crossed in the centre of the room and led to each corner. She kicked off her shoes so that she’d have a better feel of what was underneath her.
* * *
“These seventh grade rooms are basically the same as the sixth grade home rooms we just saw,” Mrs Rogers explained.
Shaun smiled. “So all the seventh graders are on the same floor too?” he asked.
“Yes. That way they don’t have to move too far away to get to other classes.” As she talked she noticed one of the classroom doors was already open. “One of our teachers seems to already be in early. I might be able to introduce you.”
She marched into the classroom and gasped as she saw Skye precariously moving from one desk to the next, a pile of precious artwork tucked under one arm and her pregnant belly poking out in the front.
Startled by the noise behind her as they came in, she almost fell. Fine motor skills were not a perk of pregnancy…
Before Mrs. Rogers could say anything Shaun leapt into the room and scooped the errant teacher into his arms. He opened his mouth to scold her for being so reckless with her safety and her baby’s when he recognised her. His mouth dropped open with shock. His eyes went from her face to her belly and over to the blackboard where MISS Martin was clearly written on the board.
“SCARLETT?” It was half question and half statement. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Oh shit,” she muttered.
Mrs. Rogers stood silent and wide eyed as she watched the exchange. Scarlett? That was original. OH. I do believe I may have just made the acquaintance of the baby’s father, she thought with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. By the look on HIS face, he suspected it too. For the first time in many a year she was really sorry it was the last day of school before summer. She’d love to be witness to how this little soap opera unfolded.
Chapter Two
“Scarlett?” He asked. It couldn’t be, he thought and yet it obviously was. Apparently a barefoot and pregnant version.
“Um, could you put me down please?”
Reluctantly, Shaun stood Skye carefully on the ground in front of him.
“Thanks,” she said with a wince. “Fancy meeting you here.”
“Yes, fancy,” Shaun said placing his hands on his hips now that they were free. “Now the obvious question here is, amongst other things, what is an actress doing teaching middle school.” Once again he looked at the board. “Social studies?”
“Ok,” she said with a nervous giggle. “You’re going to laugh.”
Oh I very much doubt that, he thought, his mind suddenly bursting with questions. How pregnant is she? How many months has it been since we were together? “I doubt that very much. Is that my baby?” he asked. He watched her face very closely for some kind of hint that would lead him to the truth.
Mrs. Rogers’ eyes widened like saucers.
* * *
“This baby?” Skye asked innocently.
“Of course this baby!” His head was whirling. Was this really happening. Was there a baby on the way? HIS baby and she hadn’t even bothered to tell him?
“No, of course not.”
“I teach kids Math Scarlett. I can add figures. Don’t lie to me.” He watched as Skye looked guiltily at Mrs. Rogers and swallowed.
“Well you must have lied too,” she said childishly.
“No I didn’t. I WAS working in the family business but only until my brother could take over, now I’m going back to teaching, here, when the new year starts.”
“Here?” Skye asked.
“I’ll be in my office,” Mrs. Rogers said. The older woman patted her shoulder and started towards the door. Before she left she turned and whispered in Skye’s ear. “The truth just might set you free.” She turned and walked back to her office.
“Well? Is it my baby?” Shaun asked.
“There’s a possibility,” Skye said with a sigh.
“How many other men did you sleep with around the right time?” He didn’t miss the look of hurt that flashed across her eyes.
“There wasn’t anyone else.” Her eyes filled with tears.
“Then I think it’s more than a possibility don’t you? I’m going to be a Dad.”
“No you’re not,” she stated emphatically. “I hardly know you. This baby is MY responsibility. I can manage by myself.”
“Apparently you know me some,” he quipped.
They were so focused on this tense conversation that neither of them heard the door creep open or a couple of small heads peek through.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked. “I had a right to know.”
“I lost your number,” she lied, again.
“Would you have called me if you still had it?”
“Of course,” she answered without skipping a beat.
Shaun pulled Skye into his arms and kissed her, gently and tenderly at first but it very soon escalated into a kiss way deeper than either of them would have got caught up in in a classroom normally. Shaun pulled away first.
“Remember me now?” he asked with a grin.
* * *
Skye blushed and tried to look away, she felt like the attraction she was feeling towards him would be plastered all over her face.
He took her chin in his hand gently and made her look at him. “This isn’t over,” he said.
He turned to leave and they were both startled by the faces in the doorway that had now increased to about five.
Oh wonderful, Skye thought. What a great way to start the
day. The only good thing was it was the last day. By the time the parents started complaining there’d be no one left here to complain to.
“Out,” she said sternly to the bunch of kids that scattered like mice.
The doorway now cleared of interlopers, Shaun smacked her lightly on the bottom. “See you after school Scarlett. No climbing on desks, ladders or anything else,” he said with a grin. She rolled her eyes and poked out her tongue.
“I told you. I don’t need you.”
“Not gonna be your choice honey.”
With that he was gone, leaving her to start the day with a bunch of excited kids who had seen a side of their teacher that was more than they or she needed them to. She looked down at herself. A quite pregnant single woman who wasn’t totally sure of her baby Daddy’s last name, kissing in the classroom in front of the kids. Yep she was like a model for sex Ed and what NOT to do. Like she should be teaching kids.
* * *
Mrs. Rogers looked up at the man who looked younger and wasn’t as confident as the man she’d met a half an hour ago. He obviously had a lot on his mind.
“Take a seat Shaun,” she said. “Turned out to be quite a big day for you today.”
“Sure did,” he said smiling. “THAT is an understatement.”
“Do you think this will affect you taking the job next fall?”
“No, definitely not. In the very slight chance that I’m not able to win her over. I’ll want to live near my child.”
“Win her over?”
“I want to marry Scarlett. I would love for us to be a family.”
Mrs. Rogers smiled. “Well good luck, I hope you can find a way to make her happy.”
He could see that she meant that.
* * *
An Unexpected Husband Page 2