Page 36 of Trick or Treat

“Miss Hicks?” The principal’s secretary’s voice broke into the silence over the intercom.

“Yes?”

“Can you come to the office? Mr. Talbot would like to see you.”

“Yes, I’m on my way.” Lindsey dropped the papers on her desk and proceeded to Mr. Talbot’s office. Upon entering, she found Linda behind the counter on the phone. She smiled at Lindsey and waved her in.

Lindsey couldn’t imagine what Mr. Talbot could want. Did it have something to do with the fact no one volunteered to head the food drive this year? Was he going to tell her he was placing her in charge? God, she hoped not. She had enough going on, she didn’t need anything more to do. She knocked on his door and waited for him to tell her to come in.

She closed the door behind her. “Mr. Talbot, Linda said you wanted to see me?”

“Yes, please, have a seat.” He motioned to one of the hard wooden chairs in front of his desk. He didn’t immediately speak. Instead, he stared at her, a frown on his mouth like he’d just eaten something sour. The silence stretched on long enough that Lindsey had to mentally tell herself not to squirm.

“Miss Hicks, I received a phone call from a parent today,” he began.

She immediately started going through her list of kids, trying to ascertain which student’s parents would have reason to be calling the principal. She was coming up blank.

“Okay.”

“I just want you to know that I like you, Miss Hicks. I think you are a true professional and from what I’ve observed, the children all love you. However, a parent called this morning and is accusing you of having,” he cleared his throat, his face scrunching up in distaste.

“Accusing me of what?” she asked. Her heart was thumping in her chest and she was growing impatient with his prevaricating. She wished he’d just spit it out already.

“She was adamant that you are sleeping with her husband. I assured her that I could not possibly believe that. I told her I know what kind of person you are and it isn’t in your personality to ever do something like that.”

“Thank you. I appreciate you standing up for me. I hope you know I would never have,” she paused, fumbling for a word to use, “relations with any married man, let alone a student’s father.” Oh crap. As soon as she said it, she knew exactly who was accusing her. “May I ask who is accusing me of this and who I have supposedly been sleeping with?”

The principal cleared his throat. “It was a Mrs. O’Malley.”

“I see. Not that it matters, but it was my understanding that they were divorced and are currently engaged in a heated custody battle. I think she’s just dragging me into it to damage Mr. O’Malley’s case.”

“Where did you hear this information?” Mr. Talbot perked up at the promise of an excuse for such a distasteful accusation.

“From Mr. O’Malley at our parent/teacher conference.” The conference where I let him fuck me silly in my classroom.

“Good to know. I’ll keep that information ready in the event she tries to accuse you of something further.” He leaned back in his chair. “I must say I am greatly relieved that I won’t have to take any disciplinary action. As far as I’m concerned, this has been dealt with. I do suggest that you should not have any contact with Mr. O’Malley that isn’t related to school or his child’s education.”

Lindsey was grateful that Mr. Talbot hadn’t delved too deeply into things between herself and Trick. She was almost out the door when he added, “Be very careful. She was after your job. If she goes over my head, I’ll do my best to assure the powers that be it is nothing more than a vindictive ex-wife trying to stick it to her ex-husband.”

“Thanks, Mr. Talbot.”

Lindsey was fuming by the time she got back to her classroom. Grrrr. How dare that woman threaten her job! She was a damn good teacher and she resented anyone trying to mess that up for her.

Back in her classroom, she closed the door behind her and plopped in her chair. She was supposed to see Trick tonight, but given the meeting she’d just had with Mr. Talbot, she wasn’t sure it was a good idea. She’d worked too hard getting to where she was to have Trick’s ex-wife mess it up for her now. As much as she loved spending time and being with him, she just couldn’t risk it. In this job, her reputation was just as important as her ability to teach.

As much as it hurt her to do it, she was going to have to end things with Trick. If word got out to the parents about Trick’s ex’s accusations, she would more than likely be able to weather the storm. This time. If anything further were to be said or a second accusation, it wouldn’t be as easy. Her reputation would take a major hit despite the fact that she was doing nothing wrong. People lived for salacious stories, often perpetuating them whether they were true or not. And with social media being what it was these days, God only knew what the story would evolve into.

With a heavy sigh, she pulled her phone out and dialed Trick. She would have preferred to say what she needed to say in a text, but that would be the coward’s way out.

“Hello?” Lindsey’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice.

“Trick, it’s Lindsey.”

“I know who it is, babe. Got your number programmed in my phone.” She could hear the laughter in his voice over the phone. “What’s up? It’s too early for Michelle to have forgotten to pick up Keegan yet, so,” he paused a moment then, “is there something else at school she was supposed to be taking care of and didn’t do? Lunch money? Signing a paper?”

Tears welled in her eyes. God, the man was an amazing father. She prayed with all her heart that he got full custody of his kids. She hated what she was about to do so she might as well treat it like a bandaid and rip it off fast. “No. No. It’s nothing like that, but it does involve Keegan’s mom.”

“Fuck me. What did she do now?” She could almost see his head falling back on his neck and his eyes closing, bracing for the other shoe to fall.

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