A Love for Safekeeping (5 page)

With a slam and bang, students charged into the room and roused Jane to action. Always eager for the weekend, her class acted up on Fridays. That day was never easy and definitely not conducive for learning. But when the bell rang, Jane reined in their exuberance, knowing in a few more hours the weekend would be hers, as well.

Her lunch break finally arrived and she grabbed her sack and headed toward the lounge. Partway down the hallway, she heard her name and paused, her pulse kicking into high gear. Turning, she smiled at Kyle.

“I forgot you were dropping by,” she said.

“Forgot? You mean that’s all the impression I make on you?”

As she reached him, Kyle gave her a boyish pout. The look melted her. She cast aside her unsettling thoughts, wanting to reach up and kiss his full, inviting lips. “It’s been a bad day,” she said.

“Bad?”

She motioned for him to follow her back to the room and on the way, she told him the incident with Charlie. “The poor guy was trying to be nice.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Jane. You’ve been on edge and suspicious.”

Jane stopped in her classroom doorway and faced him. “You mean paranoid? Delu—”

He lifted his finger and pressed it against her lips. “No. Wary. Careful.
Normal
reactions.” He let his hand drop to her shoulder and spun her around to face the room.

She headed for the desk and Kyle followed.

“Here,” she said, pulling the primer from the drawer, “the infamous book.”

She dropped it into his outstretched hand. “Dust it for fingerprints while you’re at it.”

“My, my, do we sound skeptical?”

His look made her heart sink. She was acting terrible. First Charlie. Then Kyle. “I’m sorry.”

“No apology necessary.” He stood a moment without speaking. “How about some fresh air?”

She glanced at her watch.

“Only a minute or two,” he said. “It’ll do you good. Bring your lunch.”

Wisdom told her to say no. What would the staff— worse yet, what would the students think if they saw
her being led outside to a patrol car? But today she didn’t care. She nodded and followed him outside into the sunshine, warmed more by his thoughtfulness than the lovely autumn weather.

Except for the bright spot with Kyle, the rest of the day plodded along. Jane looked at the wall clock and breathed a sigh. Only fifteen minutes before the final bell. The weekend would be hers. Even dinner on Sunday with Kyle’s folks was beginning to sound good.

As she pulled her focus back to the children, a movement at the door caught her attention. Mary Campbell, the principal’s secretary, stood in the hall holding a slip of paper.

For a moment, anxiety nailed her to the chair. Then, pushing her concern aside, Jane stepped to the door. Without a word, Mary handed her the note and retreated down the hallway.

Jane peered at the memo. Celia had warned her about her student’s father. Lena Malik’s dad would be waiting for her in the office at three-fifteen. Her stomach churned. On a Friday afternoon? What did he want? She tried to guess. With her classmate’s additional help, Lena was progressing well. That’s all she could report.

When the bell rang and the last student exited, Jane straightened the top of her desk and gathered her belongings. As she stepped toward the door, Celia swung into her room.

“Ready?” Celia asked.

Jane rolled her eyes. “I have an appointment with Mr. Malik.”

“On Friday?”

Jane nodded.

Celia followed her into the hallway while she locked her door. As they walked toward the office, a question popped into Jane’s thoughts. “Who’s the teacher who taught third grade last year?”

“Dale Keys. Why?”

“Skylar mentioned him. He said he hoped he didn’t have another off-the-wall teacher on his hands. What does he mean?”

Celia shrugged. “Dale? I don’t know. He was quiet and didn’t hang around with anyone. Only Larry Fox. He’s the art teacher.” She scowled, thinking. “Dale didn’t seem happy at Jackson. Maybe he was expecting too much from teaching.”

“Maybe. I was just curious.” Jane glanced at her watch. “I’d better hurry. I’m due there in a minute.”

With her heart thumping and her nerves on edge, Jane hurried inside the office. Mary nodded toward the small conference room, and Jane drew a deep breath before entering. When she did, Sam Malik was sitting as rigid as a statue.

“It’s always nice to meet parents early in the year,” Jane said, pushing a pleasant expression to her face. “I’m pleased that you’ve stopped by.” Liar. Mentally she reminded God how difficult she found keeping all the commandments at the same time. “Now, what can I do for you?” She faltered when she saw Malik’s glowering face.

“My daughter tells me you’re making a spectacle of her in front of the class.” His dark eyes pierced hers.

“I what? Would you mind explaining?”

“Oh, come now, Miss Conroy. Let’s not play games.”

“Mr. Malik, I’m not playing games. I’ve done everything I can to make Lena feel comfortable. She’s a
lovely child, just very quiet and shy. But I’m pleased that she’s made real strides already this year in math. As you know, it’s very difficult for her.”

“Yes, you’ve certainly pointed that out to the whole class.”

“I have?” Anger sizzled up her back.

“I’m tired of your innocent look, Miss Conroy. Sitting my daughter in the back of the room with another student is not my way of helping a child who belongs in special education. She should be taught by a teacher, not a fellow student.”

With her frustration growing, Jane responded like a witness facing a jury, carefully selecting her words and trying to remain calm. “Many children sit at the back tables for rewards, as well as special help, Mr. Malik. I haven’t singled your daughter out in any way. The other girl is her friend, and they work together.”

Afraid of losing courage, she snatched a breath and plowed ahead. “And I’ve checked her records. She’s not a special ed student. She’s shy, but once she gains confidence, I believe she’ll be able to learn with the group rather than needing individual help.”

“And what makes you an authority on
my
daughter? She’s always been backward. You’re prejudiced, Miss Conroy. You’re making a spectacle of her and getting some sort of pleasure from it.”

Jane’s blood curdled. She wanted so badly to tell him that
he
was the one causing his daughter’s problems, belittling her and calling her “dumb.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Jane said. “I’ll be happy to arrange for her to be tested again by one of our special education staff.”

Malik slapped his fist on his stocky knee. “I think
the whole bunch of you are in cahoots. You toss the problem back and forth, protecting each other.”

Frozen with fear, Jane stared into Malik’s fiery eyes, his face twisted in contempt.

“Then feel free to have her tested on your own,” Jane said. “You can call the intermediate school district, and I’m sure they can advise you. Or use the Yellow Pages. Whatever makes you confident that Lena’s getting a fair assessment. In my judgment, her self-esteem needs bolstering. Once she has some confidence, she’ll learn like any other child.”

With the speed of light, Malik rose, knocking the chair against the wall. “I can see that you’re no more cooperative than that other woman. I’d hoped Lena would have a male this year, someone with brains in his head.” He pointed his finger in her face. “You’ll hear from me again. You can be sure of that.”

In a flash, Malik bolted from the room, leaving Jane shaken and confused. Her tense shoulders relaxed as she released a breath from her throbbing lungs. She had no idea how to deal with someone that unreasonable.

T
rying to decide what to wear put Jane in a quandary. Never in her life had she felt so tense about a dinner date. But then, she’d never been asked to the home of a man’s parents before—at least, not since her teenage years. That was a long time ago.

Though she was anxious to tell Kyle about Sam Malik, she feared it might turn the evening into a “downer.” It could wait.

After one more search through the closet, Jane settled on an earth-tone print skirt, which draped nicely over her hips, and a rust sweater that complemented her red hair. She wanted to look especially right for Kyle’s folks. Not too prim, but proper. With makeup in place, she dressed, then paced.

When Kyle arrived, he grinned and handed her a tri-fold paper.

She laughed at his concocted protocol pamphlet and read the inside message, “Be yourself and smile.” She waved the fake brochure under his nose. “You think this will work?”

“No doubt about it. Wait and see.”

A short time later when she walked into the Manning residence, Jane knew Kyle’s advice had been perfect. His parents welcomed her with as much charm and friendliness as the parsonage decor.

“How nice to meet you,” Ruth Manning said, giving Jane’s hand a firm squeeze. “It’s so rare for Kyle to bring home a friend.” She chuckled. “In fact, since he got a place of his own, he never does.”

Kyle’s father opened his arms in a wide generous welcome. “I’m Paul Manning. So nice to have you visit us. Please, sit.” He gestured to the sofa and turned his attention to his wife. “Mama, give this young lady some soda or juice.”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Jane said, taking the spot he’d indicated.

Kyle plopped down beside her. “Have a seat, too, Dad. We’re fine.”

He did as Kyle suggested while Ruth excused herself to return to the kitchen.

Jane’s admiration was drawn to the large, yet gentle, man, and she wondered why she had been hesitant to accept Kyle’s invitation. Looking at his father, she could imagine what Kyle would look like twenty years from now. Handsome as Kyle, yet his seasoned face was etched with years of compassion and concern for others.

Dressed as he was in a plaid flannel shirt and navy trousers, to Jane, he didn’t look like a pastor.

“Kyle tells us you’ve had a couple of bad scares since you’ve moved back,” Paul said.

“Well…one at least.” Jane related the things that had happened. “Kyle said the classroom and tires were
probably just kid’s foolishness.” She rethought her comment. “At least, the vandalized room was.”

“Well, it’s not a very warm welcome to Redmond. We’ve always had a peaceful community here, but lately I don’t know.” He scratched the back of his head, thoughtfully. “I’ve been preaching on that exact subject. I suggest we all keep our eyes wide open for the enemy. He appears in many forms. Even as a coworker or friend.”

His comment slid uneasily down Jane’s spine, but she nodded pleasantly, preferring the conversation to focus on the community rather than on her.

She felt Kyle squeeze her arm. His ability to sense her discomfort was astounding.

“And where do you worship, Jane?”

As if her thoughts of discomfort spurred his question, Jane froze. No doubt, Kyle felt her tense.

With quick thinking, she mustered a vague answer. “My family always went to First United over on Downing.”

“Really? That’s wonderful. I know Pastor Johnson well.”

Feeling cornered, she swallowed and tugged out her honesty. “I’m afraid I don’t know him. I haven’t attended there in quite a while.”

“No? Then Kyle will have to bring you over to First Community some Sunday. We’d love to have you.” He leaned toward her and grinned. “You can hear one of my infamous sermons firsthand.”

Jane felt another white lie coming on. “That would be nice.”

Her words lay heavy in her heart. She studied God’s word and believed in Jesus. But after years of struggling with the feelings about her father, she’d become
frustrated. She’d broken so many commandments—in bits and pieces. How could she explain that to anyone?

To Jane’s relief, before Kyle gave her another comforting squeeze or his father asked another question, Ruth bustled into the living room and halted the conversation. She headed for the low coffee table and set down a tray containing glasses of fruit juice along with a plate of cheese and crackers.

“Help yourselves now,” she said. “I’m putting the final touches on dinner. Everything should be ready soon.”

Jane liked the woman. Her dove-toned shirtwaist, accented by a perky bow, hung over her slightly plump hips, and darker gray hair curled softly around her pleasant face. Jane thought she made the perfect pastor’s wife: friendly, gracious and soft-spoken.

Ruth pivoted and returned to the kitchen while Paul offered Jane a small plate. She felt obliged to place a couple of crackers and cheese wedges on the dish, though she preferred to save her appetite for the dinner she could smell drifting in from the kitchen: roasted pork, seasoned with rosemary, she guessed, and maybe apples.

The tantalizing aroma aroused her hunger. Pleased that the snacks had suspended the conversation, she joined the others and nibbled a cracker.

While Kyle filled his plate, he studied Jane’s reaction to his parents. Before arriving, she’d seemed nervous, but her demeanor had changed when she met them. He was pleased that she’d relaxed.

He loved watching her…being with her. Something about Jane captured his interest. Captured him. His thoughts had been filled with her since they’d met.

At first he thought it might be that he was a cop,
concerned for her safety and intrigued by her vulnerability. But today he had no question. It was the spirited redhead herself. It was Jane.

He was pleased he’d finagled a Sunday dinner invitation for her. On the telephone, his mother’s voice had raised ten decibels when he asked if he could bring a woman friend along. No doubt his imaginative mother was already planning their wedding. He’d recognized the eager sound in her voice. Kyle often wondered if his parents thought once he married that he’d find a safer career. He hated to disappoint them.

Drawn again to Jane, Kyle tried to cover his stare, but he wondered if she realized he was watching her. Each time she glanced at him, his heart skidded over a speed bump.

Surreptitiously he gazed into her misty green eyes, admired her satin skin brightened by her dress color, and marveled at her ginger-red hair. She reminded him of an Indian summer afternoon: warm, natural and inviting.

When his dad had asked Jane about her church affiliations, Kyle had felt her body tense. He wondered why she was uncomfortable with the question. As Kyle’s thoughts drifted, his father’s words dragged him back.

“…Terribly sad day when we learned our older son, Paul Jr., died in the Middle East. So you can understand how difficult it’s been for us to have Kyle join the police force. Different perhaps, but dangerous just the same.”

Jane didn’t respond, but Kyle saw her nod.

“But then a dad’s wishes don’t always weigh a lot.”

Kyle’s heart sank. He knew he had to honor his fa
ther, but he also had to quiet him. “Dad, this isn’t the time to talk about this. We have company.”

“Sorry, son.”

Sadness weighed on Kyle’s shoulders as he watched discomfort fill his father’s face.

Paul’s head lowered, and after a thoughtful pause, he turned to Jane. “Forgive me for grumbling. Sometimes my heart gets weighted with worries, and I forget we have guests. Like I said, Redmond’s been a safe community, but more and more the problems are finding their way into the suburbs, and I get fearful for our town.”

Kyle flinched when he heard his father’s words. They were only half-true. His dad really feared for him.

“Prayer, Dad,” Kyle said. “Put your burdens on the Lord. How many times have you told me to do just that?”

Kyle’s comment did the trick.

Paul flung his head back with a laugh. “I guess you’re right, son. I should heed my own advice.”

Jane understood exactly what Kyle’s father meant. Her father’s life always seemed pressured by many things. She sensed her mother’s unhappiness so often, perhaps because of her father’s temper, but her mother seemed to love him and feared for him, no matter what. Jane never understood their relationship.

“My father was a police officer, too.” Unbidden, the words exited her mouth and her pulse skipped through her veins. “I know my mother felt exactly like you do each day my dad went to work.”

Paul’s attention sharpened. “Where did your father work?”

“Right here in Redmond. He died a few years ago—”

“No, don’t tell me.” He straightened in his chair, grasping the arms, and leaned toward Jane. “Red Conroy. Was he your father?”

Dread filled Jane. “Yes. Did you know him?”

He didn’t answer for a minute, as if his mind soared back in time. “I knew your father fairly well.” His head pivoted slowly from side to side. “Red Conroy. I can’t believe it.”

Kyle edged forward in his seat. “How did you know Jane’s father, Dad?”

Paul stared into space, then, as if jolted from his reverie, he looked at Kyle. “Oh, we served on a couple of…committees together. Involved in some community projects.” Paul stared at Jane. “Red Conroy’s daughter. Well, I’ll be.”

An eerie premonition washed over Jane. A feeling that there might be more to the story. She curbed her speculation. Her imagination had gotten out of hand, and she wondered if she could tell fact from fiction. And deep inside, she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know.

On the way home that evening, Jane fell silent. She wanted to tell Kyle about her meeting with Sam Malik, but she hated to ruin the wonderful day she’d spent with him without worrying about threats and stalkers. Before she decided what to do, Kyle broke the silence.

“You seem quiet. I hope my dad didn’t make you uncomfortable with all his talk.”

“Uncomfortable? No, I like your folks. They’re real people. Natural and unpretentious. They treated me great. Like I belonged there.”

Kyle slid his hand up her arm. “You did belong there. I invited you.”

“You know what I mean.” She gave him a teasing poke. “And both hands on the steering wheel, please.”

When they pulled into her driveway, thoughts of Lena’s father were still troubling her. She hadn’t uttered a word.

“Would you like to come in a minute?” she asked.

He turned off the motor and opened his door. “I’d hoped you’d ask.”

He hopped from the car, and before she knew it, he’d circled the car and opened the passenger side. “Madam,” he said, motioning for her to exit, as if he were a nobleman or knight. He was her knight, in so many ways.

She stepped from the car and Kyle slipped into stride with her up the porch steps. Inside, Jane poured them each a soda, and they settled in the living room.

“Okay. What’s up?” Kyle said.

Jane’s head jerked upward, and she gaped at him. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ve had something on your mind all the way home.”

His uncanny ability to read her mind gave her the shivers. Realizing it was useless to hide anything, she told him about Malik. “He said I was embarrassing his daughter and I was prejudiced.” She told him her response and Malik’s reaction.

Kyle listened, his forehead creased and his fingers tapped against his leg as if he were ready for action. “I don’t like the guy,” Kyle said when she’d finished.

Jane frowned. “Me, neither, but he’s a parent. What can I do. I know one thing for sure. He doesn’t think much of women.”

“How do you mean that?”

“He said he’d hoped that this year Lena would have
a man with some brains. Or something like that. I suppose he assumed she’d have Dale Keys.”

“Who’s he?” Kyle asked.

“The teacher I replaced. I learned his name from Celia. Skylar made reference to him the other day. He said he hoped I wasn’t as off-the-wall as he was.”

“Skylar sounds like a great guy. I don’t like him, either.”

Jane laughed. “You don’t like anybody, do you?”

“Sure I do,” he said, his tender gaze gliding across her face.

Jane’s chest tightened as he lifted his fingers and caressed her jaw. She remembered the fleeting kiss he’d given her, and tonight, a new longing jolted her. She wanted to be kissed. But this time really kissed.

As if he heard her, Kyle leaned forward and without restraint, Jane lifted her mouth to meet his. The brief touch was soft and warm, but left her breathless.

“Believe me?” Kyle asked.

She knew she should understand, but she didn’t.

“I like you…more than words can say.”

A flutter rose in her chest and rippled down her arms. “I like you, too” was all she had the breath to say.

Monday morning, Jane pulled the trunk latch near her feet, then climbed out of her car. Lifting the trunk lid, she hauled out the craft materials she’d purchased for her class, wondering how she’d get them all inside.

She managed to gather the load into her overburdened arms and trudged into the school. Inside her room, Jane piled the packages on the desk, and as she stored away the supplies, thoughts of Lena occupied her mind.

Jane was torn how she should treat the little girl:
ignore her individual tutoring or continue as she had been. Thinking of the child’s needs after the class began, she threw caution down the drain and invited the two girls to work in the back of the room as usual.

When lunchtime came, Jane hurried to the lounge, but hopes of a break were shattered. Before she could finish her lunch, Skylar’s secretary appeared and handed her a note to see him immediately. Swallowing the distress that overtook her, she headed to the office.

When Jane left Skylar, she’d been stunned by their meeting. She’d been scrutinized from all angles without one saving grace. He’d berated her. He’d grilled her. Had she shown prejudice? Didn’t she know how much retesting would cost the school district? Next time, he said, he’d sit in on her meetings. She’d sat like a punished child, shocked and unable to respond with any intelligence.

But his last comment topped them all. She could hear his voice. “If you see Dale Keys around your classroom, tell him I’d like to speak with him. I hear he’s in the building.”