Connor loves teaching. He loves working with kids, he loves feeling
like he's making a difference. And the kids -- and parents -- seem to love him.
Until the afternoon he makes a small error in judgment, and an angry father's
thoughtless comments start the kind of rumor that destroys careers. And lives.
Now everything Connor thought he knew about himself and his world is in
doubt. But sometimes help comes from the most unexpected direction.
Excerpt
After a few rounds of hugs—during which he couldn’t help
noticing that Callahan was on his feet and paying his own tab—Con exited the
bar. He headed for the parking lot, but he was aware of the front entrance
opening and closing behind him, of footsteps following his own.
His heart sped up in a confusing mix of excitement and
anxiety. He kept his pace brisk though his spine felt fused with tension.
“Myers,” Callahan called.
Con stopped. He turned warily.
“Could I have a word?” Callahan sounded…not diffident, but
maybe not as commanding as usual.
“Sure.” Con knew he sounded stiff, but he couldn’t help it.
Callahan walked up to him, looking capable and very
attractive in a no bullshit kind of way. He was wearing fragrance, which he
generally didn’t—something masculine and sporty—and his hair was more neatly
combed than usual. That was pretty much all the effort he’d made. A shower,
clean clothes and aftershave. Even so, not a man who needed to go home alone,
unless it was his choice.
His expression was serious, his dark gaze direct. “I owe you
an apology.”
Inexplicably, Con’s throat closed. He nodded.
“I’m sure Miss Lopez told you what happened in the play yard
today?”
For a second Con couldn’t think who Miss Lopez was. Oh
right. Pip. Perdita Lopez in grown-up life. “Yes.” One terse word was all he
could manage.
“Look, I’m not afraid to admit when I’m wrong. I was wrong.
I made a mistake. Even if I hadn’t seen for myself what it’s like out there,
Liz told me you weren’t anywhere near her when she fell.”
“No, I wasn’t. And even if I had been, sometimes—”
“I know.” Callahan grimaced. “I got to see it for myself
today. Even before the one kid popped the other, it was an eye-opener.”
Con nodded again. He was actually surprised to get even this
apology. It was his experience that most adults were not good at apologizing to
anyone, especially anyone who wasn’t family or a close friend. Especially not
hot shot macho boss types like Callahan. He couldn’t bring himself to say thank
you. Callahan had cost him a job he loved, and in such a way that it was going
to be hard to find another one. But he did appreciate the effort.
“I spoke to Bea on your behalf. I told her that I had
reacted out of anger and that I didn’t intend or want her to let you go, but…”
“She’s not going to change her mind,” Con said.
Callahan looked regretful. “She did say there were other
performance issues. That the decision wasn’t based on that one incident alone.”
“And that is a lie,” Con said.
“I’m just telling you wh—”
“Never. Not once was I ever told there was a performance
issue. I received a Super Star on every single one of my performance
evaluations. A Super Star.”
“Er…”
“The most I ever
heard was I needed to make sure the kids were doing crafts in the evening and
not just—anyway, it doesn’t matter. I don’t know why I’m even talking to you
about it.”
Con started to turn away, but Callahan’s hand closed on his
upper arm. He said quietly, “Because I’m to blame for you losing your job. And
we both know it.”
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