Page 67 of Healed By the Grumpy Elf

"You'll regret this," he mutters, but the threat sounds hollow now, the words of a man who knows he's lost. "I will sue you. I will sue all of you."

As Orlin is escorted to his car, the crowd begins to disperse. Teachers whisper among themselves, casting curious glances my way. I stand rooted to the spot, still processing what just happened.

Rylan approaches us, his expression softening from professional to friendly.

"Good morning," he says quietly. "I hoped I might catch you before the chaos of the school day began."

I stare at him in confusion, my brain still catching up to events. "What just happened?"

Rylan glances over his shoulder to make sure we're not overheard. "After Lorian told me about Orlin's behavior toward you, I started looking into his background."

"You did what?" I look up at Lorian, who meets my gaze steadily.

"I was concerned," Lorian says simply. "Rylan has resources I don't."

Lorian is right about that. The pixie lawyer may not be a physical force of nature, but his brain is as sharp as anyone I've ever seen and his reputation precedes him.

Rylan nods, continuing. "It turns out Orlin has a history of inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues. Three previous schools, three hushed departures. Each time, he moved farther away, counting on small towns not to check references too carefully."

A wave of emotions crashes over me. Validation that I wasn't overreacting, relief that he's gone, anger that he's been allowed to continue this behavior for so long.

"The school board called an emergency meeting yesterday," Rylan continues. "When presented with the evidence, they voted unanimously for immediate termination."

Lorian nods in approval, his hand still firmly holding mine. "You work quickly," he says to Rylan.

"Sexual harassment is utterly unacceptable in a workplace, and certainly not in our children's school," Rylan replies simply. "I just made sure the right people saw the right information."

I look toward the parking lot where Orlin's car is pulling away, tires squealing slightly as he accelerates too quickly.

"I never thought…" I begin, then stop, overwhelmed by the sudden removal of a threat I'd been living with for months.

"You weren't the only one, Maeve," Rylan says gently. "But hopefully, you will be the last, thanks to Lorian. I will make sure that Orlin Braggstone will never fool another school board into hiring him."

The first school bus appears at the end of the street, and the remaining teachers hurry inside to prepare for the arrival of students. Harriet catches my eye as she passes, giving me a thumbs-up and a grin that says we'll talk later.

Lorian and I walk toward the school entrance, and I realize my steps feel lighter than they have in months.

"Are you alright?" Lorian asks, studying my face with concern.

I take a deep breath, realizing I've been holding tension in my shoulders that's finally releasing.

"I feel…" I search for the right word. "Free."

Lorian's expression softens, and he brings my hand to his lips, kissing my knuckles gently.

"You never have to face anything like that alone again," he promises.

My heart swells with emotion for this man who has changed my life so completely.

"I know," I say simply, squeezing his hand.

As we reach the top of the steps, I pause, looking back at the parking lot where moments ago my tormentor stood defeated.

"What happens now?" I ask, not just about the school but about our future together.

Lorian's eyes glow with intensity as he looks at me. "Now, we live," he says.

The school bell rings, signaling the start of a new day as children's voices begin to fill the air. Lorian needs to get to his clinic, and I have to prepare the nurse's office for the inevitable scraped knees and tummy aches that will find their way to me today.