Page 11 of The Kiss Keeper
Nat started to head over when the principal tapped her arm. “Since you’ve joined our staff, Miss Callahan, you’ve always worked hard and put in long hours. And I’m not sure if you know this, but Mrs. Ford, our regular art teacher, isn’t coming back.”
Natalie’s heart jumped into her throat. Was he about to ask her to stay on as the school’s permanent art teacher?
“Mr. Lutz, it’s time for your speech,” the school secretary called and gestured to her watch.
The principal pulled a note card from his pocket. “One moment, Miss Callahan. I do have something else I need to discuss with you privately. Can you stick around after my little speech?”
“Of course,” she replied, holding herself back from doing cartwheels, then wove her way through the staff to stand next to Tera.
“Did he ask you to stay on? I just heard that Ford’s not coming back?” her friend said, handing her a paper cup of the green punch.
Nat gathered herself. “Not yet, but he did say that I’ve done a great job and that he wants to talk with me.”
Tera raised her cup. “You’ve got to be a shoo-in!”
How she wanted to believe that! How she wanted to fist-bump her way through the room, high-fiving each teacher in the faculty lounge like they were in the winning team’s locker room after the World Series. But one too many times in her life, she’d gotten her hopes up only to have them crash down upon her.
Was she cursed?
With each failed “Jake” relationship and each promising job that didn’t last, it was hard not to think that Otis Wiscasset hadn’t unleashed the Kiss Keeper Curse on her when she was thirteen.
The bright side. At least, she wasn’t living at the bottom of a well.
Tera gestured with her chin toward the front of the room. “Hey, Principal Lutz said he’s got a big announcement.”
Nat pushed her Kiss Keeper Curse worries away and focused on the rest of the man’s speech.
“Finally, we’re here today to celebrate an end to a wonderful school year and the many teachers who worked so hard to ensure that our students continue to love learning, and I’ve got some terrific news, folks,” Principal Lutz began.
Natalie downed the rest of her punch. She couldn’t have a dry, cracked voice when she thanked the principal for offering her a full-time, vested position as the school’s official art teacher.
Mr. Lutz smiled broadly. “That grant came in for us, and we have the funds to put in a brand-new play structure.”
The staff erupted into cheers as side conversations broke out, and Principal Lutz melted into the crowd of educators.
Natalie forced herself to take a breath.
Okay, that wasn’t a bad thing. The school could use a new playground.
But what about the art teacher position?
She glanced at Tera.
Her friend patted her arm. “Heads up. Lutz is coming your way.”
“Miss Callahan, may I have a word with you in the hall?”
Oh, no!
In school-speak,a word in the hallwaywas never good. But it couldn’t always be bad. Perhaps, he wanted privacy when offering her the art teacher position. He was just being a gentleman in case she was so overcome with excitement she fainted.
Nat’s pulse kicked into overdrive.
OMG! This wasn’t a Victorian novella.
She shared a nervous look with Tera, then followed the man out into the dreaded hallway.
“Miss Callahan, you’ve been such an asset to our staff.”
