“First week off to a good start?”

  “It is.” Melanie cocked her head to the side as she sat leaning over her desk. “Any drama on your end?”

  Chris raised a shoulder and dropped it. “Nothing I can share today.”

  She walked fully into the room, leaning on the edge of Melanie's desk. They shared a look, one that held more than any words could at that moment. It was a pity that Chris was her principal. They couldn’t share everything.

  Tapping her hand on the desk, Chris’ lips twitched. “I have a new mentee for you.”

  Melanie’s stomach twisted hard. There was only one new teacher in the school, and their first and second meetings hadn’t gone well. Melanie had avoided Esther since then as much as she could. Teaching radically different grades helped with that, and beyond that, Melanie only spoke to Esther when necessary, which was unfortunately more than she wanted at the moment.

  Sighing, Melanie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Johanna might be a better option.”

  Chris eyed Melanie up and down but said nothing. Again the silence held more weight than any words could. Melanie clenched her jaw tightly.

  “Kelsey?”

  “I want you.” Chris’ tone brooked no argument, but her command was soft and firm.

  Melanie had no idea why she was so resistant or why Chris was so insistent. She’d never been one to avoid the program that she had been instrumental in instigating. Eyeing her friend, Melanie gave in. Perhaps Esther wasn’t as bad as she’d originally thought.

  “Make sure to start talking to her,” Chris chided. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you avoiding her.”

  “Sometimes it really sucks that you know me so well.” Melanie’s lips quirked slightly. “But fine, I will invite her out tomorrow when we have our annual first week trek to the bar.”

  Scrunching her nose, Chris stood up. “Good for you. I’ll not be joining this year.”

  “Really?” Melanie’s eyes widened. “Why is that?”

  Sighing, Chris frowned. “I need to meet with Andry about Katie’s last year, and tomorrow is the only night she’s available.”

  “I’m sorry, but at least she’s talking to you again.”

  Chris snorted. “Because she has to. Anyway, I’ve got to scoot. You go talk to Esther.”

  “Right.” Melanie watched as Chris left her room.

  It seemed as though she was left with very little choice about what to do next. Melanie spun the watch on her wrist, checking the time. It was nearing five, and she had best get going to find Ms. Dunja in order to give her the invitation.

  Forcing herself to stand, Melanie rolled her shoulders and changed her mindset into that of mentoring. She’d done this several times over the years, and all those teachers had stayed at their school, mostly. A few had left teaching all together when they had children, but most were still present and accounted for. It had been why she’d pushed for the program to begin with—the turnover of teachers was high. As soon as Chris had become principal, she’d approved it in a heartbeat.

  Walking out of the classroom, Melanie took the familiar hallway down to the opposite side of the building, where the fifth and sixth grade rooms were located. It was still bright and sunny outside. With each step she took, she tried her best to shed her trepidation, her annoyance, and her worry. No one needed that going into a friendship, or mentorship if that was all it ended up being.

  The door was closed, but the lights were still on inside. Melanie blew out the last of her nerves before she knocked and opened the door simultaneously. Esther’s head jerked up from where she was bent over her desk, her bright blue eyes worry-filled and every muscle in her body tense. Melanie immediately stopped moving, holding her place just inside the classroom.

  She’d never seen someone so scared just from having someone else come in the room. Melanie trailed her gaze over Esther’s form, the stiff muscles, the tight jawline, the eyes that still looked as though she was a frightened child.

  “Are you all right?” Melanie kept her tone soft but confident. She wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed, since Esther made no move and fear was clearly present. Her words seemed to snap Esther out of whatever reverie she’d been in.

  “I’m fine,” Esther seethed, her jaw tight again, her fingers splayed on the desk as if she was ready to bolt.

  Melanie wasn’t quite sure where to go with her, so instead, she held the silence. Straightening her spine, she kept her hand on the doorknob, as though she could leave at any minute, until she watched the transformation in front of her. Esther wasn’t more relaxed by any means, but she finally didn’t look like she wanted to claw Melanie’s eyes out.

  “Chris sent me, and I thought I should invite you to the get-together tomorrow after school. A bunch of teachers usually go to The Office for drinks to celebrate the end of the first week.”

  “Oh.” Esther’s lips pursed, and she finally broke eye contact, staring down at her desktop. “I won’t be there.”

  “You’re welcome to join if you want.”

  Esther shook her head. “No, thank you.”

  “Right,” Melanie murmured under her breath, knowing Esther couldn’t hear her from across the room. “Mind if I come in?”

  Melanie didn’t wait for an answer as she let go of the door and let it close behind her. She stalked inside, coming within feet of the desk where Esther stayed put. They seemed to have a stare down, and Melanie was still just as lost. She’d never met someone she couldn’t read very well, but it seemed as though she’d met her match.

  “How was your first week?” Perhaps a different tack would help sort them out and get them started in the right direction this time, considering they still couldn’t seem to find that balance.

  Esther didn’t make eye contact. “Acceptable.”

  “Right.” Melanie crossed her arms. “I’m hoping you find the community here warm and that you feel welcome. I know how hard it is to start a new school.”

  “You’ve been here twenty years.”

  She was just trying to be nice, and this woman, although young, seemed to be poking her every chance she got. “But I have started at a new school before.”

  “Look, I appreciate you coming in here to check on me, but it’s not necessary. I can find my own way around, and I understand how to teach and lesson plan. I don’t need anyone hanging around.” Esther stiffened as she grabbed a satchel and shoved papers and binders into it.

  Melanie watched her curiously, her movements rigid and tight, as though she held the entire weight of the world in them. With no idea what to say to bring the conversation back around, Melanie nodded. “I’ll let you go, but please know that if you do need anything through this year, you can come to me. I’m here for you.”

  Esther’s gaze jerked up, but instead of anger which Melanie had suspected she would see, something else flashed in those cold blue eyes, eyes that seemed more gray now than blue. Melanie held the gaze, first trying to figure out what exactly she was seeing as it vanished, but second trying to show Esther she meant the truth by her words.

  “I have someplace to be.” Esther stood up and slung the strap of her bag over her shoulder.

  There was no way to argue as Esther moved toward the door. Melanie followed dutifully until they were in the hallway, lights off and door locked. Esther nodded sharply at her before strolling away with all the confidence in her shoulders again.

  Blowing out a breath, Melanie stared after her. If this was her general personality, it was going to be one tough year for Ms. Dunja, and Melanie wasn’t sure she was going to make it through to the next. Perhaps that had been why she’d transferred to so many schools since she’d gotten her license. Stuck up was the phrase that rang through Melanie’s mind. Stuck up. Closed off. Downright bitchy.

  Shaking off the conversation or confrontation, whichever it was, Melanie headed back to her own classroom and shut the door behind her, even though it wasn’t her policy. She needed to decompress.

  Narrowly escaping another encounter with Melanie was not exactly how Esther had wanted to end her evening. She should have been nicer, but she’d been fighting off her fear from the moment Melanie had knocked. She still had quite a bit of work to do, but it was all going to be put on hold for hours. She had ten minutes to make it to the daycare to pick Anthony up and spend a few hours with him before he had to go to bed and she would be plunged into silence again.

  Pickup at the daycare was straightforward, Anthony running into her arms for a giant hug as soon as he saw her. The ride home was Esther sitting in silence as Anthony jabbered on about his day. No matter how hard she tried to hear him, that fear from before pulled her right back to her classroom. As they got inside, Esther exchanged her car keys for the new stress ball she had bought, squeezing it repeatedly as she leaned over the stove to make them dinner, Anthony deeming it necessary to help.

  She had him cut the peppers, which took about twenty times longer than if she’d just done it, but he needed the help with fine motor skills. She smiled at him throughout, hoping he would someday remember this time spent together fondly. She didn’t want him to see her as the anxious, stressed person she was, the one who barely maintained control on her life.

  They dumped the bell peppers into the skillet, and Esther sent Anthony to close all the curtains in the living area and dining room as night fell. She couldn’t stand dark windows. As he was busy, she added the chicken and sauce to their meal.

  The entire conversation with Ms. Przybyla had been odd. Originally, Esther had thought she’d come in to discuss Anthony. Instead it had been awkward and what felt like a forced invitation out for drinks, something Esther was certain she didn’t want to participate in.

  “Mama, I’m all done!” Anthony spun back into the room, his socked feet sliding on the vinyl floor.

  “Thanks, baby,” Esther muttered. “Dinner is almost ready. Do you have any homework you need to get done?”

  “Just reading.” He grinned at her. “No math today.”

  “Then we can read tonight before bed.”

  Anthony squealed as he ran out of the room, coming in shortly with Esther’s phone. “You have a call.”

  “Right, thanks.” Esther glanced down at the caller ID and sighed. He only called on a Thursday night when there was a distinct change in plans. It had gotten to the point that Esther had stopped even telling Anthony that he was supposed to go over there. “Go figure out which books we’re going to read, okay?”

  As Anthony skittered away, giving Esther some privacy for the call she knew she didn’t want to answer, she slid the button on the phone and held it to her ear. “Hey, Skip.”

  “Esther.” His slick and flirty voice was there, which meant she really wasn’t going to like where this conversation was going. “I need to switch weekends.”

  “Of course you do,” she mumbled, moving the spatula and the food in the skillet. “What is it this time?”

  “I have a big important work meeting.”

  Esther rolled her eyes, thankful he couldn’t see her. Had she done it in his presence it probably would have resulted in a chastisement at the very least—if she was lucky. “So do you want next weekend?”

  “I do.”

  Pursing her lips, Esther turned the heat off the stove and leaned against the counter. “I don’t want to switch.”

  “I deserve to see my son.”

  “The arrangement is the second and fourth weekend of the month he is yours, rather week, yet he’s been here all week instead of with you. Feel free to explain that one to him when he asks, because I’m done explaining it away.”

  “Esther…” Petulance, authority, command. Esther worked her best not to cower to him as was her norm. “I’ll see my son next weekend. You won’t keep him from the best male role model in his life.”

  She knew, even though she was arguing, that he would get his way. He always did because he always threatened to take her back to court and sue for full custody. Sometimes she wished he would just do it, let the courts figure out if he was a fit father, someone who deserved to have his son full time instead of her. But, he had plenty of ammo he could throw her direction that would eliminate her from the running if he wanted. “It’s his first week of school. He wants to share it with you.”

  “And he will. Next weekend.”

  Biting the inside of her lip, Esther nodded even though she didn’t want to. “Fine.”

  Hanging up without another word, Esther shoved the phone into her pocket. As soon as she turned, she found Anthony staring up at her, those beautiful amber eyes watering as he stood silently. Esther’s heart sank. She hadn’t meant for him to hear the conversation, no matter how one-sided it had been. She’d sent him away. Opening her arms, she waited for Anthony to run into her embrace, which he did, burying his face into her stomach as he held on tight.

  Esther stroked her hand over his head, running her fingers through his soft hair and shushing him. Sometimes she forgot he was only five, with how mature and well-spoken he was. Then in moments like this she was starkly reminded how young and innocent he was, innocence that she and Skip had shattered far too soon.

  Esther held Anthony as tightly as possible until he was ready to leave her embrace. Dinner was somber after that, Anthony’s tone taking a downturn, but he was still pleasant, which was a scary thought for Esther. It meant he was getting far too used to situations like this. He used to rant and rave for days if Skip canceled or rearranged things. But now he seemed almost resigned to it.

  As she tucked him into bed after his bath, lying with him until he fell asleep, Esther held back her own tears. Nearly seven years ago she had met Skip, and she’d been completely taken with him. Who wouldn’t? He was the image of perfection and strength. Except when she’d found out she was pregnant, they were already having problems, and when she’d decided to keep the baby, all hell had broken loose. The cycle would never end because of her one decision to have Anthony.

  Sliding from Anthony’s twin bed and out of the room, Esther grabbed her work for the night and set it on the dining room table where she hunched over to finish her plans for the next week. If she could get it all done before Friday night then she could have the entire weekend to devote to Anthony, which was nothing less than what she wanted.

  The text on her phone from Carissa warmed her. Her sister was always a bright spot in her dreary outlook of the world. The temptation to call her was strong, but she still had lesson plans for Thursday and Friday the next week to complete, and she didn’t want to give up the time in order to talk to her sister. Anthony was her priority, had been since before he was born, and Esther wouldn’t have it any other way.

  As it neared midnight, Esther turned the lights off as she walked to her bedroom, closing doors and double-checking that every exterior door and window was locked and shut tight. She stripped down and pulled on her pajamas before lying in her bed, the light she always left on in the kitchen shining through her partially open doorway.

  She couldn’t get the image of Melanie Przybyla out of her mind. The woman couldn’t be more her opposite, but Esther still couldn’t figure out why she was insisting on trying to talk to her and be friends with her. Perhaps she was the unofficial school welcoming committee, since she’d been there so long and obviously had the personality for it.

  Still, the way her dark eyes widened with worry and fear when she’d startled Esther had been a surprise. Then she’d maintained her distance until Esther had been able to draw herself together again, at least as much as she ever could. She would never allow herself to unravel in front of someone she didn’t know, particularly her son’s teacher.

  Tossing her hand over her eyes, Esther sighed and closed her eyes. Those dark eyes held something in them, something Esther couldn’t place, but in the end, she had very little desire to figure out what it was.

  Chapter Three

  Chris was there, unexpectedly, which made Melanie happy. She snagged the chair next to her and gave her friend a side hug. Chris’ voice was rough, as if she'd been screaming the whole week, but she kept her volume low as she asked, “How was your week?”

  “Pretty dang good, if I think about it. I love this group of kids.” Melanie flagged the waitress down and ordered herself a beer. “Yours?”

  “Could have been better. Also, could have been worse, so I don’t have too much to complain about.” Chris winked as she took a sip of her drink. The others around the table were some of Melanie’s closest friends, the ones she’d been teaching with for years.

  Johanna nudged Melanie’s shoulder. “I think you got the bad ones this year.”

  “Never.” Melanie winked. “They’re new. They’re learning. They’re figuring things out.”

  Wrinkling her nose, Johanna grabbed a chip from the bowl on the table. “This week was long. I’ve got one who struggles with routine. I’m not sure she’s ever had any.”

  “She’ll figure it out.”

  Kelsey chimed in, the slight southern accent she still had filling the room over the noise from the bar. “They usually always figure it out. But I don’t envy you teaching the littles.”

  Melanie couldn’t blame her. Kelsey teaching kindergarten would be a disaster, but Melanie loved the grade, and she’d try to teach it until she was ready to retire, which was probably a good ten to fifteen years away. She loved being in the classroom too much.

  “Hey, speaking of, have you met the new one?” Kelsey interjected.

  “What new one?” Melanie asked off-handedly as she shoved a guacamole covered chip between her lips.

  “Ms. Dunja.” Kelsey said the name like it was a curse.

  Melanie whipped her head up sharply at the tone, surprised by the vehemence in it. Kelsey normally wasn’t that type of person, so the anger surprised her. “What do you mean?”