Karen Rock - Under An Adirondack Sky

“Why is that so important?”

He paced along the porch, the wood squeaking beneath his boots. When he stopped, he spoke without looking at her. “It’s everything to me right now.”

“Maybe that’s the problem.” Rebecca drew close and stood beside him. The sun bobbed above the tree line, looking reluctant to be put away for the night. “Work isn’t everything.”

“It’s not a problem—it’s how life is. My life.” A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Plus you’re working, here.”

“With the kids...”

“But it’s for your tenure, right?”

Her cheeks warmed. “That’s part of it, but helping the children is my focus.” A couple of blue jays battled for turf in a tall pine, squawking as they chased each other among the boughs.

“One of the teachers said something about you not having it...but you’re still a teacher, I mean psychologist. I guess I don’t understand.” Aiden swished his hand, shooing away the voracious blackflies.

She wanted Aiden to open up on the trip. Maybe if she confided in him, he’d let down his guard. “I’m in what’s called a probationary period, which means I can be fired without the school having to provide a reason. It begins the day you get hired and, after about two and a half years, the school board votes if they intend to grant you tenure at the end of your third year. Once you have that, you’re a permanent employee.”

Aiden gave up shooing the bugs and pulled his collar tighter around his neck. “And that means you can’t be fired?”

“No. It means they have to have a valid reason that goes beyond school politics or personal differences.” She wanted that security so badly she could taste it. Would it be hers?

He tilted his head back and studied her. “And how long have you worked at the school?”

She shifted on her feet, fighting the impulse to keep this private. It was all public knowledge to taxpayers, anyway. “This is the end of my third year.”

Aiden turned and seemed to be watching something in the distance. The faint chill in the air turned the tips of his ears pink. “So why don’t you have it?”

“It’s unusual for me not to know yet.” She jumped at a loud zap and noticed a bug light glowing at the porch’s corner. “I suppose they want to see a little more of my work before they’re convinced.”

His eyes flicked sideways at her. “So this showcase the superintendent is coming to see...”

“Is pretty important to me.”

Aiden nodded slowly. “And Connor.”

“Yes.” They stared at each other for a long moment.

“When’s the last time you took time off?” Rebecca asked, ready to get this conversation back on Aiden and off her.

“Until now? Not more than a day or two since my father died. I’m needed there.”

Her heart squeezed as she imagined Aiden’s predicament. She had to work hard, too, and knew the toll it took. It wasn’t her plan to upset him or cause him stress, but he needed to wake up and realize what else he might be missing in life than work hours.

“I understand. But you’re needed here, too,” she said, touching his tense arm lightly. They both stared at Connor, who, unlike the rest of the teens, still lingered outside, toppling rocks off a low stone fence. “More than you know.” She turned on her heel and headed inside before she said more than she should.

The time would come for brutal honesty, but it started with peeling off layers.

And when it came to Aiden, she felt like she’d barely scraped back the skin.

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