Cora’s neighbor leaned over. “Someone with real experience, huh? Maybe we’ll finally win a game,” he muttered.
Cora didn’t respond; she was too interested in witnessing the pride on Aiyana’s face when she looked at her adopted son. They were close. That was obvious without either one of them having to say a word—but as nice as that was for Elijah, Cora found it a bit disheartening. Was there any room in Aiyana’s heart for her?
Cora didn’t get the impression there was, but she didn’t have the chance to think about it for too long. Aiyana was moving on.
“Not only do we have a new football coach, we have a new art instructor.” She stretched out her hand in invitation. “Cora, will you please stand?”
Elijah’s eyes seemed to cut right through Cora as she got to her feet. Why she could feel the weight of his gaze and not anyone else’s, she couldn’t say, but she’d been struggling to ignore him since she walked into this meeting.
After a nod to acknowledge all the smiling faces that were turned to see the new art instructor, she sank back into her seat.
Aiyana was talking about how they were going to allow student government to run the assemblies from now on when the man next to her leaned over again. “Where have you taught before?” he asked.
After his earlier comment, Cora almost provided the name of the high school that had offered her a permanent position a few weeks ago, but a quick word with Aiyana or Elijah would too easily reveal the truth, since she’d been honest with them. “I’ve never had a permanent position.”
“You’re a brand-new teacher?”
“Relatively new,” she admitted. “I’ve been subbing for six years.”
“Do you have any idea how difficult some of the boys who come here can be?”
Aiyana hadn’t given the bad behavior Cora was likely to encounter much emphasis. But Cora had known from the beginning that this school wasn’t for the well-adjusted. “I understand that most of the boys come from a very difficult background,” she replied. “But it shouldn’t be too much of a change. You should see how some regular students treat substitutes,” she joked.
The man laughed but quickly sobered. “Subbing isn’t easy. Kids will get away with whatever they can. Still, for an attractive young woman of your age—”
“I’m nearly thirty,” she broke in, but she had to wonder—in her hurry to get close to Aiyana, had she given what she might face here enough weight?
“Still,” the man said. “It won’t be easy. I hope you haven’t gotten in over your head.”
When Cora glanced up, she happened to catch Elijah watching her. He didn’t look away, as she expected him to; he continued to measure her with those enigmatic eyes. Was he experiencing any doubts about having hired her?
Possibly. Probably. She hated to even consider that. But if she had to fight to find her place in the world, she’d do it. She supposed, in that respect, she wasn’t much different from Elijah or the other boys who’d come through here, or were still attending.
“I’ll be fine,” she said—and hoped it was true.
* * *
“I see you met Sean Travers.”
Cora recognized Elijah’s voice even before she turned to see him standing at her elbow. Why he’d put her through the discomfort approaching her was bound to cause, however, she couldn’t say.
“The guy who was sitting next to me?” she asked.
“Yes. Our science teacher—or ranch pessimist, depending on how well you know him.”
She nibbled at the cookie she’d just snagged from the refreshment table. “He doesn’t think I’m capable of teaching here. I guess I look too young and delicate to handle the boys who act out.”
“Does that shake your confidence?”
“I admit I’m a little worried. Everyone seems to believe the job should’ve gone to a man named Gary...”
“Seton,” he filled in as he handed her a cup of punch. “Because he’s local—they know him.”
“But...”
“It wasn’t their decision,” he said simply.
She couldn’t help envying him his long, dark eyelashes. She knew she had pretty eyes—guys told her that all the time—but she felt his were prettier. “No. It was yours. So...can you tell me why?”
“Why I chose you?”
“I know it isn’t what they all seem to think. You made that clear earlier.”
He took a sip of his own punch. “As far as I’m concerned, your competition has no...vision.”
“Am I supposed to understand what that means?”