Page 20 of My Solemn Vow

TINY SCOLDING

I finish tidying up my classroom from conferences and reset it for tomorrow’s first activity when Doctor Thatcher knocks on my door.

“Ms. Mancini?” The principal pops into my classroom.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Hello, Doctor Thatcher.”

I know I’m in trouble because the woman who walks around with a broad smile has let it fall, not entirely but enough.

“I’m assuming what Peyton Hopkins said was a gross exaggeration, but I promised I’d have a word with you.” Doctor Thatcher clutches her pearls. “Mrs. Hopkins is a massive donor for the school. We’re counting on her... and her husband’s landscaping company... to keep the playground and school grounds in pristine condition. They’re also our snow removal company. I managed to talk her down from pulling her son out of the school entirely, but I will transfer her son to Mrs. Neidermeister’s room. I’m sure you understand.”

Thank fucking God.I could almost squeal with delight.Play it cool. Play it cool.

“I’m supposed to remind you to temper your language andtry to be a bit more diplomatic with the parents, especially during first-time conversations.” Doctor Thatcher drops her hand to her side and stifles a laugh. “In some of these homes, the children are more well behaved than their parents. Proceed with caution. Even if we all want to tell Mrs. Hopkins where to shove it, we can’t. We’re professionals.”

“Yes, Doctor.” I answer quickly so I also don’t have to pretend like I’m not laughing.

“We’ll rotate another student into your class to keep the numbers equal. I think your class will be better for her anyway. You seem to have a way with the more advanced students.”

The way Doctor Thatcher lays on the compliment seems genuine rather than a patronizing attempt to make me feel like a valued employee after a major fuckup. It’s only been a couple months of classes, but I’ve been shadowed by more senior faculty, including Doctor Thatcher, several times already.

“Completely understand.” I agree and take the barely there reprimand with a single nod.

“Good.” Doctor Thatcher sighs. “I’ll email you her information. She’ll be transferred in next week before the optional winter break classes begin. Could you have a packet ready to go home to her father? Mr. Clark is the donor for the security system. It’ll be his utmost priority to be informed.”

“Absolutely.” I think back to the extra packets I made ‘just in case’ while setting stuff up at the beginning of the year.

Doctor Thatcher doesn’t linger and leaves me to my business. It’s a relief to have the confrontation over and done, but boy, do I wish it was Friday instead of Friday eve.

10

ANTONELLA

THE NEW STUDENT

Uncle Gregorio has forgiven me for the botched engagement attempt. Berto’s idea to let me turn the proposal down publicly at family dinner was remarkably the right move. But I don’t love that he didn’t tell me. While his reasoning of wanting a ‘real reaction’ is valid because I’m a terrible actress, it doesn’t justify his actions.

However, watching the relationship between Sarena and Nikolai bloom has been unique. It’s a little weird to me that he’s thirty and she’s eighteen, but when I came home one day to a plastic sword fight, I was a little more forgiving of that. Their level of obsession with the same science fiction fandoms likely made this love at first fight.

Today I came home to an ‘argument’ of sorts. Nikolai was on one side of the table and Sarena the other. Nikolai was arguing for the number four, while Sarena insisted on the number six. I finally figured out they were arguing about the number of children they wanted. I laughed it off and grabbed a glass of wine before heading up to work on my lesson planning and the packet for the new student.

After changing into something more comfortable, I ventureup to the rooftop patio of the penthouse, where the gorgeous view of Lake Michigan awaits. The chilly but still fresh air is a nice reprieve from being holed up in my room and indulging in old seasons of reality competition shows, and it’s probably one of the last nice days of the year. There are perks to living in Gold Coast over River North.

Leticia joins me, reading from her tablet, and we’re at peace when Berto finds us.

“Ladies.” He greets us, walking over to me and reading over my shoulder.

He gets bored and walks past me to sit in the other chair.

In a split second, Berto freezes. His spine goes rigid, and it’s like everything in nature pauses with the shift in his demeanor.

Dark eyes narrowed, Berto snatches a picture up off the table and shows it to me. “Who is this?”

“Kelsey?” I hesitate to answer, looking at the new student packet I added her information to when I got home.

“What’s her last name?” Berto snaps, shaking the photo at me.