1

Static crackled from the old intercom box on the wall above the whiteboard. “Ms. Taylor, Dr. Jernigan would like to see you in his office.”

“Thank you. Please tell him I’ll be right there.” Angie pulled her makeup bag out of the bottom desk drawer and ran her brush through her hair. She refreshed her lip gloss and powdered her nose. Then she stood and slipped on her suit jacket. Her students had teased her about being dressed up today, but they’d just have to get used to it.

Excitement fluttered her stomach as she headed down the hall. The school board had met last night and made their decision. She drew in a calming breath and forced back the tears. Grammy and Poppy would have been so proud.

As Angie entered the main office, Mary Jo winked from behind the front desk and then nodded toward the door behind her. “They’re waiting on you.”

Smiling, Angie walked across the office and rapped on the door. When Will opened it, she stepped inside. He nodded toward the sofa behind her. “Ms. Taylor, you remember John Carlton.”

Not a surprise that the president of the school board would be here, too. She turned and offered her hand. “So very nice to see you again, Mr. Carlton.”

“And you, as well.” He shook her hand and then gestured toward the sofa. “Won’t you please have a seat?”

She perched on the edge of the cushion and folded her hands in her lap. Will dropped into the chair across from them.

Mr. Carlton smiled. “As you’re probably aware, the board met last night to consider filling the position of assistant principal.”

Angie nodded, her heart skipping with excitement.

“Thank you for your application. Your résumé’s quite impressive. You’re an excellent teacher and have been a faithful employee.”

So far, so good.

“Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer you the assistant principal position at this time. The school needs a candidate who has more experience in personnel management. Someone with an advanced degree.”

She shot a glance toward Will. His eyes were fixed on his lap. Turning her attention back to Mr. Carlton, she countered, “I appreciate your position. However, my master’s will be completed before this school year ends.”

He nodded. “Dr. Jernigan reminded us, and for that reason, we’d like to offer you the newly created position of Upper Elementary Lead Teacher. It would mean a ten percent increase in salary beginning in January. I’ll have the job description and salary information sent to Dr. Jernigan before the end of the semester. With an updated contract, of course.” He stood and shook her hand. “Pray about it.”

Then the two men shook hands, and Mr. Carlton left.

This had not gone at all the way she’d expected.

Will slipped onto the sofa beside her and grasped her hand. “Angie… I’m so sorry. I tried.”

Tears threatened.

“Say something.” He sandwiched her hand between both of his.

“You know I’m qualified for that position even if I don’t have my degree yet. I have the right experience. I know the curriculum backward and forward. I even helped write some of it.” She would not cry. “You shouldn’t have had to try anything.”

“I know.” He rubbed the backs of her hands with his thumbs. “Baby, the board felt…they thought the offer of the lead teacher position would be a good compromise. And maybe in a few years…”

“Good? For who?” She pulled away her hands. “And personnel management, really? Do they not realize exactly how many personnel I manage every day?”

“The board knows you’re an excellent teacher… That’s why they’re creating this position for you. They don’t want to lose you.”

“They’ve already hired someone, haven’t they?”

“Angie…” He shook his head. “I really can’t say.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Shouldn’t.” He broke eye contact. “Let’s just say, the board really didn’t have much of a choice.”

“People always have a choice.”

He huffed. “It’s the nephew of one of the church elders. He just got his master’s in admin and wants to move back here to be close to his mom. She’s sick, and he needs to take care of her.” He shook his head. “I’ve told you more than I should’ve.”

Angie’s heart ached for the nameless young man. “I am sorry.” She drew her hands away and stood. “But I’ll have to think about things. I’m not sure this is the future I want.”

“Angie, don’t make it any harder.” Will stood and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I pushed all I could without making them suspicious. I understand you’re hurt, but you should be grateful they created a new position for you.”

Grateful? If she looked at it from his perspective, maybe. But from hers? It stung like a slap in the face. “I’m qualified. You shouldn’t have had to push.”

“In a perfect world…yes.” He drew her close. “Go home. Take the rest of the week off and pray about it. I’ll have Mary Jo get a sub.” He whispered across the top of her hair, “Neither the school nor I want to lose you.”

~*~

Angie breathed in the calming aroma of her chai. A latte this late in the day would keep her up all night. But maybe it wouldn’t have mattered. She was so upset. She probably wouldn’t get much sleep tonight anyway. She’d tried to pray during the drive to the coffee shop, but her mind had been churning over today’s disappointment.

When she’d started her master’s, she’d been sure her decision to pursue a degree in admin had been the right one. But now? Maybe she’d misinterpreted things.

She should have never agreed to date Will. It wasn’t the first time a teacher and an administrator had begun a relationship, but it put him in an awkward position. That was one reason she’d decided to pursue her master’s. So they’d be on a more level playing field at work.

They’d been discreet. Careful. Going to restaurants and events in Dallas rather than staying in Fort Worth. Their contracts didn’t forbid personal relationships between employees, but school policy certainly didn’t encourage it. Other employees knew. Some of the board probably knew, too. But they turned the other way.

When they were at school or extracurricular functions, it was all about their jobs, their responsibilities to the school, their students, and their students’ families. Neither of them would do anything to jeopardize that.

Only once had they run into some parents when they were out. The single comment Mrs. Jensen had made was, “It’s very nice to see the two of you enjoying each other’s company.” They’d fully expected word to go zipping through the school family, but as far as they’d been able to tell, the Jensens had respected their privacy.

Over the years, Angie had chosen to put her professional life above her personal life. And until today, she’d been satisfied. But now, she could only wonder if all her sacrifice had been worth it. And Will? She’d finally come to understand what her heart had been trying to tell her for several months now. He was a great guy. Just not the one for her.

She pulled her phone from her pocket. Today’s verse from her Bible app popped up. “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.”

Could a person really see something that was unseen?

Yes. When she’d been in college, she’d been able to see the unseen. Her vision had drawn her toward teaching in a Christian school and touching the hearts and minds of children. Investing her life in the unseen. The eternal.

Maybe these last few years she’d been concentrating mostly on what she could see. What the Bible said was temporary…and she’d forgotten about focusing on the everlasting.

She’d go home and pray. But she’d also update her information on the professional websites.