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Authors: Constance Masters

Tags: #Romance

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BOOK: An Unexpected Husband
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She clapped her hands and gave instructions for emptying desks in readiness for the big clean up. If they emptied the desks now, tomorrow morning it’d just be the posters and the paintings that were still hanging that would need to be removed.

 

*              *              *

 

Skye got to work early the next day, intent on starting the clean-up before she got too tired. Typically, by the time the day was over she was exhausted. She went into the utilities cupboard and found what she was looking for, a ladder. After retrieving some empty boxes she was all set.

 

*              *              *

 

I printed this sheet of staff names out for you,” Mrs Rogers said to the eager young man seated before her. “I think you’ll find this to be a friendly school. Both the staff and the children are very easy to get along with. There a very few behavioural problems here.”

“I’m sure I’ll love it,” Shaun said with a grin. “I’ve been looking forward to teaching again for a long time.”

“Good. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you and I know the kids will benefit from having you as a teacher. There just aren’t enough male teachers to go around unfortunately.”

“Thank you,” Shaun said. It was nice to know he was going to work in a place where he was really wanted and needed.

“Shall we start the tour?”

Shaun rose eagerly and followed the smaller woman out into the hall.

 

*              *              *

 

Skye climbed down the ladder and neatened the pile of pictures she had just taken from a string across the windows and popped them into a box. Now for the centre of the room, she thought. She was going to move the desks so she could fit the ladder there but decided that would be a complete waste of time. She could climb up on a chair and use that to get on a table. She’d just have to walk across the tables to get to each of the pictures that were hung on a long rope that crossed in the centre of the room and led to each corner. She kicked off her shoes so that she’d have a better feel of what was underneath her.

 

*              *              *

 

“These seventh grade rooms are basically the same as the sixth grade home rooms we just saw,” Mrs Rogers explained.

Shaun smiled. “So all the seventh graders are on the same floor too?” he asked.

“Yes. That way they don’t have to move too far away to get to other classes.” As she talked she noticed one of the classroom doors was already open. “One of our teachers seems to already be in early. I might be able to introduce you.”

She marched into the classroom and gasped as she saw Skye precariously moving from one desk to the next, a pile of precious artwork tucked under one arm and her pregnant belly poking out in the front.

Startled by the noise behind her as they came in, she almost fell. Fine motor skills were not a perk of pregnancy…

Before Mrs. Rogers could say anything Shaun leapt into the room and scooped the errant teacher into his arms. He opened his mouth to scold her for being so reckless with her safety and her baby’s when he recognised her. His mouth dropped open with shock. His eyes went from her face to her belly and over to the blackboard where MISS Martin was clearly written on the board.

“SCARLETT?” It was half question and half statement. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Oh shit,” she muttered.

Mrs. Rogers stood silent and wide eyed as she watched the exchange. Scarlett? That was original. OH. I do believe I may have just made the acquaintance of the baby’s father, she thought with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. By the look on HIS face, he suspected it too. For the first time in many a year she was really sorry it was the last day of school before summer. She’d love to be witness to how this little soap opera unfolded.

 

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

“Scarlett?” He asked. It couldn’t be, he thought and yet it obviously was. Apparently a barefoot and pregnant version.

“Um, could you put me down please?”

Reluctantly, Shaun stood Skye carefully on the ground in front of him.

“Thanks,” she said with a wince. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Yes, fancy,” Shaun said placing his hands on his hips now that they were free. “Now the obvious question here is, amongst other things, what is an actress doing teaching middle school.” Once again he looked at the board. “Social studies?”

“Ok,” she said with a nervous giggle. “You’re going to laugh.”

Oh I very much doubt that, he thought, his mind suddenly bursting with questions. How pregnant is she? How many months has it been since we were together? “I doubt that very much. Is that my baby?” he asked. He watched her face very closely for some kind of hint that would lead him to the truth.

Mrs. Rogers’ eyes widened like saucers.

 

*              *              *

 

“This baby?” Skye asked innocently.

“Of course this baby!” His head was whirling. Was this really happening. Was there a baby on the way? HIS baby and she hadn’t even bothered to tell him?

“No, of course not.”

“I teach kids Math Scarlett. I can add figures. Don’t lie to me.” He watched as Skye looked guiltily at Mrs. Rogers and swallowed.

“Well you must have lied too,” she said childishly.

“No I didn’t. I WAS working in the family business but only until my brother could take over, now I’m going back to teaching, here, when the new year starts.”

“Here?” Skye asked.

“I’ll be in my office,” Mrs. Rogers said. The older woman patted her shoulder and started towards the door. Before she left she turned and whispered in Skye’s ear. “The truth just might set you free.” She turned and walked back to her office.

“Well? Is it my baby?” Shaun asked.

“There’s a possibility,” Skye said with a sigh.

“How many other men did you sleep with around the right time?” He didn’t miss the look of hurt that flashed across her eyes.

“There wasn’t anyone else.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Then I think it’s more than a possibility don’t you? I’m going to be a Dad.”

“No you’re not,” she stated emphatically. “I hardly know you. This baby is MY responsibility. I can manage by myself.”

“Apparently you know me some,” he quipped.

They were so focused on this tense conversation that neither of them heard the door creep open or a couple of small heads peek through.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked. “I had a right to know.”

“I lost your number,” she lied, again.

“Would you have called me if you still had it?”

“Of course,” she answered without skipping a beat.

Shaun pulled Skye into his arms and kissed her, gently and tenderly at first but it very soon escalated into a kiss way deeper than either of them would have got caught up in in a classroom normally. Shaun pulled away first.

“Remember me now?” he asked with a grin.

 

*              *              *

 

Skye blushed and tried to look away, she felt like the attraction she was feeling towards him would be plastered all over her face.

He took her chin in his hand gently and made her look at him. “This isn’t over,” he said.

He turned to leave and they were both startled by the faces in the doorway that had now increased to about five.

Oh wonderful, Skye thought. What a great way to start the day. The only good thing was it was the last day. By the time the parents started complaining there’d be no one left here to complain to.

“Out,” she said sternly to the bunch of kids that scattered like mice.

The doorway now cleared of interlopers, Shaun smacked her lightly on the bottom. “See you after school Scarlett. No climbing on desks, ladders or anything else,” he said with a grin. She rolled her eyes and poked out her tongue.

“I told you. I don’t need you.”

“Not gonna be your choice honey.”

With that he was gone, leaving her to start the day with a bunch of excited kids who had seen a side of their teacher that was more than they or she needed them to. She looked down at herself. A quite pregnant single woman who wasn’t totally sure of her baby Daddy’s last name, kissing in the classroom in front of the kids. Yep she was like a model for sex Ed and what NOT to do. Like she should be teaching kids.

 

*              *              *

 

Mrs. Rogers looked up at the man who looked younger and wasn’t as confident as the man she’d met a half an hour ago. He obviously had a lot on his mind.

“Take a seat Shaun,” she said. “Turned out to be quite a big day for you today.”

“Sure did,” he said smiling. “THAT is an understatement.”

“Do you think this will affect you taking the job next fall?”

“No, definitely not. In the very slight chance that I’m not able to win her over. I’ll want to live near my child.”

“Win her over?”

“I want to marry Scarlett. I would love for us to be a family.”

Mrs. Rogers smiled. “Well good luck, I hope you can find a way to make her happy.”

He could see that she meant that.

 

*              *              *

 

Surprisingly, the rest of the day hadn’t gone too badly. Skye’s saving grace was that the kids were so full of summer vacation plans and excitement that they forgot what they’d seen in the classroom in a flash. The tendency of children to be self-centered came in handy sometimes.

Mrs. Rogers had sent in a super who had gotten all the artwork down for her and the rest of the packing up hadn’t been that bad.

 

*              *              *

 

Shaun got into his car and just sat there. He didn’t know what to do for the rest of the day. He wanted to make sure he was there when Scarlett finished. He wasn’t going to give her the opportunity to run. If she got away from him now, he would have great difficulty finding her through the summer. He didn’t know enough about her to even trace her. He happily watched the kids that were all filing into the school all excited about the upcoming summer. So was he now.

He would have loved to have just stormed in there and grabbed Scarlett and tossed her over his knee. He wanted to spank her bare bottom until it was bright red and then have his wicked way with her. He’d never enjoyed sex like he had for those few days. And as much as he’d tried to tell himself otherwise, it had been more than that. Much more. He loved having breakfast with this woman. He loved talking to her and when they were too tired to make love anymore, he loved laying on the beach next to her. Damn he wanted her but not JUST for sex, he wanted her in every way and he wanted their baby. Always.

He checked the time on his phone and then started his car. He could do it, take an hour to go tell his Mom and then be back here by three.

 

*              *              *

 

At lunch time the teachers gave Skye a small surprise baby shower which had warmed her heart. She’d worked with these people for a couple of years and although they’d always been friendly, she had no idea just how warm and supportive they’d be when she really needed them.

“I’ll be back in the fall for a couple of weeks before the baby’s due,” she’d said shyly.

“Really, you didn’t all have to go to this much trouble.”

“Don’t be silly. We wanted to,” one woman said with a smile. “Besides. We heard a rumour. If your man’s back in the picture, you might decide to stay home a little longer to be with the baby.”

“He is NOT my man and he’s NOT going to be in the picture.” How many times did she have to say it? She had a feeling though he wouldn’t give up easily.

“Uh huh. I saw him walk outta here honey and I’m telling you, he’s one of those sexy take charge, do it my way or else kinda guys.”

Skye giggled, she’d thought it was just her that noticed that. “I don’t need anyone to be the boss of me.”

“Uh huh. Of course. Your way appears to be the easy road I can see that,” the woman chuckled. “I’m just teasing you honey, but there could be uglier ways to wake up in the morning.”

Yeah, there WAS that, Skye thought.

Skye was sitting on the sofa with a glass of juice when Mrs. Rogers came to sit beside her.

“Plans for the summer Scarlett?” she asked.

Skye smiled. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

“I bet, but really, what are you going to do with yourself?”

“I’m just organising what I need to get for the baby and where I’m going to put it all,” she said. “I want to visit some daycare centres and see the best one that I can get for what I can afford.”

Mrs. Rogers frowned. “The young man seemed pretty eager to help you.”

Skye sighed. “So he says. I, I’m embarrassed to admit this, especially to you but I don’t know him well enough that I would just give my child to him for a weekend at a time. I don’t want to share.”

“That doesn’t sound very mature.”

“I know. I’m confused.”

“I know you are. The only way to work your way through your confusion is to have all the facts. You say you don’t know him, I think it’s high time you rectified that. If you back him into a corner, he may ask for a DNA test and take you to court.”

Skye panicked. “Can he do that? He couldn’t take my baby could he?”

“No, no. I don’t mean to scare you. He wouldn’t be able to take the baby, but a court WILL give him access if he proves that he’s the father.”

“But it’s my baby.”

Mrs Rogers patted her leg. “Yes it is…and it always will be no matter what.”

Skye smiled but she did feel a little uneasy about this. What if he insisted on shared custody?

“Why don’t you open some of your presents dear,” Mrs. Rogers said.

The tension left Sky as she unwrapped her gifts. It was fun to imagine her baby in some of the little clothes, or the crib sheets on the crib she was going to buy. There were diapers and lots of other basic baby needs. More than would fit in her tiny car really. She was overwhelmed with the generosity.

“Thank you all so much,” she said at last before they all had to go back to their classes.

BOOK: An Unexpected Husband
10.87Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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