Page 75 of For Your Own Good

Contrary to what she’d emailed to Teddy and what she’d told the school, Fallon had never graduated from college.

TWO O’CLOCK INthe afternoon. The first thing Teddy hears on the radio, while driving to work, is that the DA will be holding a press conference at two o’clock in the afternoon.

What an obscure time of day. Nestled right in between lunch and the evening news.

The news must be bad, though not for Courtney. For the DA.

Teddy smiles all the way to Belmont, and he continues to smile until he remembers Fallon.

Always another problem to solve.

He goes straight to his classroom, avoiding the teachers’ lounge. Plenty of time for Fallon later. Right now, he needs to prepare for class. Last night, even as her return weighed heavily on his mind, he still had a brilliant idea for his students.

It’s a perfect time to have them read a book about someone falsely accused of a crime.

For the sophomores, it’s the classic novelA Lesson Before Dying. But for the juniors, he has prepared a special treat. It isn’t often he assigns a modern novel. Not when there are so many classics to read. And how many of these students will read classic literature once they’re out of school? Not many. They’ll be too busy making money.

However, last night he decided a modern novel is just what his class needs.Atonementby Ian McEwan will be their next book. A bit of a cheat, since it’s set during World War II, but it’s the first book written in the twenty-first century that he’s ever assigned.

All in anticipation of Courtney’s potential return.

At least he hopes she returns to Belmont. This would certainly clear up some of the dark clouds hanging over the school.

The door to his room is shut, but he can hear the students in the hall, starting to arrive. A familiar feeling of anticipation creeps in. The kind he gets when he’s excited about a class or an assignment. Students don’t understand that part of being a teacher. Sometimes, teachersliketo see their students happy.

Or at least Teddy does. One day, maybe he should tell them all of this. Perhaps in the speech he still is due to give at the annual memorial. Whenever that will be.

But then, as Teacher of the Year, he will also give a speech at commencement. Maybe that would be a good time to explain to the students what teaching is really like. Yes, he should do that. He only has a year to take advantage of the position, though his name will be etched into the master plaque in the main hallway of the school. Teacher of the Year is a title that never really goes away.

It’s always there, even after his official year is over. A title to let everyone know he is one of the best.

He looks up from his computer, turning around to see his award on the wall. Such a lovely plaque, engraved with his name and title, along with a picture of himself with the headmaster. Sometimes, he just stares at it, remembering all the hard work that went into achieving such an esteemed honor. The hours he spent at fundraisers and receptions, talking to the board members, convincing them he is one of Belmont’s finest.

But today is different.

His Teacher of the Year plaque is gone.

47

IT ISN’T OFTENTeddy goes to see the headmaster. That type of meeting is usually reserved for promotions, firings, or a substantial dispute with a student. His stolen Teacher of the Year plaque ranks right up there.

First, though, he has to get through Ms.Marsha. The headmaster’s pit bull.

Today, he is second in line to speak to her. The young woman in front of him is an aide who accidentally put her security card through the wash and needs a replacement.

He waits, trying hard not to sigh in frustration. Finally, Ms.Marsha gets to him.

“Teddy,” she says, looking up at him over her glasses. When she’s not wearing them, she keeps them around her neck on a string of pearls.

“Hello, Ms.Marsha. May I see the headmaster?”

“He’s in a meeting right now. You can’t see him.”

“I don’t think you understand how important this is,” Teddy says.

“What I understand is that we are five minutes away from the first bell, and you have a class to teach.” She turns away from him, back to her computer monitor. “Why don’t you come back at the break. I can try to squeeze you in then.”

Teddy clenches his hands into fists. “Ms.Marsha, there’s been atheft. AtBelmont, for God’s sake.”