Page 136 of Love in Riverbend
It’s odd but that possibility isn’t something Devan and I have talked about. Mostly, I’m afraid she doesn’t know that her dad is considering selling. I don’t want to be the one to tell her.
“I figured you deserved the showered version.”
Devan grins. “I’ll take any version. The showered one smells good.”
Yes, I added a splash of cologne.
I’m dying to cup her cheek and taste her sweet lips. Looking around at the empty offices, I consider my next move.
Before I can do anything, Devan reaches for my hand. “Come to my room.”
“I wish you were inviting me to your bedroom,” I whisper. My comment gets me a side look and a smile.
Devan leads me through the different hallways. This is only my second time to her classroom, and in a few minutes, I’m hopelessly lost. I would need a compass and the GPS on my phone to make it back to the front doors. Honestly, all my personal memories of middle school have been lost. It’s like the entire file folder has been deleted. If I wasn’t certain I’ve lived in Riverbend my entire life, I’d think a new school had been built. It hadn’t. Renovation and additions have taken place. The temperature is too warm, no doubt saving money on the air conditioning.
With each step, I feel perspiration form on my skin.
“Look,” she says, motioning into her classroom with her arm.
I take a step inside. Two large fans circulate the warm air, creating a breeze. The desks have all been arranged with the big one at the front of the class.
No longer are the walls bare. There are bright posters with diagrams of cells, and inverted triangles with scientific and biological classification. The bulletin boards that were empty are covered in brightly colored papers. As I turn, I see the bookcases that were filled with only dust now hold textbooks.
“Damn,” I say, making a complete circle. “Miss Dunn, you amaze me.”
“I contacted Mrs. Scudder. Remember her?”
My head shakes. “I swear I must have slept through middle school.”
Devan smiles. “She used to be the head of the science department. She retired a few years ago. Since John Jacobs took everything from the classroom, I wondered if she saved anything. Mr. Sams wasn’t happy that it was all gone.” Her nose scrunches. “I don’t think Mr. Jacobs left on the best of terms.”
“I didn’t hear anything.”
“It sounds like it was kept quiet.”
“Cory is my friend,” I say. “Why wouldn’t he tell me?”
Devan puts her fist to her hip. “Why would he? Do you tell him when something goes wrong on the farm?”
“I tell anyone who will listen.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I laugh. “I get it. None of my business.” My eyebrows move up. “Do you have the dirt?”
“Only rumors and I’m not going to be the one to spread them. Anyway, not only did Mrs. Scudder have materials, but she was excited to get it out of her house.” Devan practically floats to the front of the room. “And I found this website where I can download a pdf of posters. I then can have them printed for half the cost of the catalogue price and printed in any size.” She motions toward the bookcases. “Mr. Sams found the textbooks. Mr. Jacobs had stuffed them in a custodial closet.”
“There is definitely a story I need to learn.”
Devan comes closer, taking both of my hands in hers and looking up at me. “The only story you need to know is that the new science teacher is getting excited for her first class. And nervous.”
“You’re going to be amazing. I just know it.”
“I want to make the students love science as much as I do.”
“Now, the rest of the summer you’re free to…” I have a long list of things I’d like her to do.
“No,” she says, shaking her head. “The textbook company has guides and lesson plans, but I need to go through each one. Did you know that nowadays, the entire semester syllabus is supposed to be online before the first day of school?”
“I didn’t.” It’s not a lie. I have no idea what teachers do.
“I could simply post the one Mr. Jacobs used, but I need to be sure it covers all the standards, and I want to give it my personal touch.”
