Page 63 of Virgin for Next Door Wolf Daddy

Talia knocked on the door. “You wanted to see me.”

“Please come in, shut the door, and have a seat.”

Crap.

Talia plastered a smile on her face and did as she was instructed.

Principal Jones steepled her fingers and peered at Talia intently.

“How are you feeling?”

“A lot better. I’m back to my old self.”

“Most of the teachers know what happened, but we haven’t shared that information with the kids. The official word was that you were out sick. Some of them probably know the truth, though, because of their parents. You know how kids are – they’re curious and they might ask you about it.”

Talia shrugged. “If anyone asks in class, I’ll just tell them that things happen that make us stronger. I’m stronger, and ready to be their teacher again and change the subject back to what we’re talking about in class. I won’t let them engage me in conversation about the details of what happened. If they ask me how I felt or any other detailed questions, I’ll just tell them it’s in the past, but right now we’re talking about the importance of decomposers in the environment.”

“Sounds good.” Principal Jones nodded. She hesitated for a second and then sighed. “Why didn’t you come to me about Joe Ellis?”

Talia groaned. “At first, I blew him off. Then, because I was new and didn’t want to make a scene.”

“Your safety is important. Joe has been known to harass other teachers and parents, although he hadn’t ever taken it to the extent that he did with you.”

“I’m sorry.” Talia hung her head. She half expected to be required to call her parents and have a conference with them.

The principal smiled at her. “You’re a part of our family. Welcome home.”

“Thanks.”

The bell rang and Talia gratefully escaped from the principal’s office and ran upstairs to her classroom to greet the kids. They were excited to see her, giving her hugs, high-fives, and fist bumps. Most of them had made get-well cards for her and a few even wrote letters. None of them asked awkward questions or made inappropriate comments.

She checked her phone several times throughout the day, hoping that Sebastian texted her.

Radio silence.

She got home and looked through her fridge and cabinets. They were full, but she didn’t have the inclination to cook.

Howlers’ was busy when she walked in. Jade and Sean rushed over to greet and hug her.

“I heard you were up and about,” Sean said. “I’m proud of you for making your escape. That took some thinking and courage.”

“Thanks, friend.”

“Dinner is on the house,” Sean said.

“I can’t accept that. You have a business to run.”

“That’s right and it’s my business. You are my pack sister, you went through hell, and I can celebrate having you back any way I want. Tonight, your money is no good here.” He grinned widely. “Tomorrow is a different story.”

She laughed and took a seat at the counter. Her stomach rumbled loudly.

“Feed me, Seymour.” Sean laughed, quoting the famous line from The Little Shop of Horrors.

Talia ordered a double cheeseburger with bacon, lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, and onions, with a side of cheese fries, and a large sweet iced tea.

It was so hard to believe that anything bad had happened. She was the same Talia sitting at the same counter in the same bar and grill she had since she was young. No one made a big deal out of her experience, although most of them didn’t know about it. She felt good. Now, if Sebastian would just come home.

The food was delicious and satisfied her and the baby’s hunger. She was just about to leave when she heard a couple of people talking about Sebastian. Apparently, he had been back in Angel’s Creek for two days and was staying with Rory. He’d suffered from a couple of injuries and was healing at his brother’s.

---