I know. I know. I know. It's been a while.

And finally, the last long instalment of this series. If the only thing I manage to do this year is getting this all out, I'm going to be happy.

So at the end of Never Be Lonely, I did a little bit of setting up for this and I promise you, now, you are going to find out about that meeting in chapter 33 of Never Be Lonely. And everything else that I have been keeping from you within this story.

The start of this is set after chapter 32 of NBL (so after they get back from Greece) and will bring you up to speed with everything that was hinted at during the end of NBL.

Please enjoy...

Back To Reality

Rachel knew that she would come out of holiday mood sooner than Eddie did and with him out of the house to watch the football down the pub and with the twins out with Philip, Rachel felt like it was the perfect time for her to do a bit of general admin work before they all returned home. She knew that she would have to get Eddie back into thinking about school and the new year at some point but she also knew that she liked to be ahead of the game.

Meaning that she went through all the paperwork that she had snuck home on the last day of the school year before she even thought about starting up her laptop.

There was part of her that tried to focus more on the fact that this was going to be her first full year at Waterloo Road rather than this was going to be the first time since primary school that she wasn't going to see the twins in the corridors, definitely trying not to think about how she was going to go from seeing them every day to only when they came home from university (with maybe James being in a better position to do that than Amelia).

It probably would have been the best time for her to come up with a list of new initiatives and to throw herself back into her work, without neglecting Eddie. She needed a list of distractions so that she didn't miss the twins as much as she knew that she was going to.

That didn't necessarily mean that she wanted to see the email from the LEA talking about a private school that had been closed down due to lack of funds and the staff and students were being split over four schools in the area, with Waterloo Road being one of the schools chosen.

Rachel could feel the headache forming. There was very little information in the actual email and Rachel quickly sent one back, asking for more details and requesting a meeting to discuss it.

Four weeks.

That was all they had to get this sorted in and they were at the end of one of them. And the last thing she should do was keep it from Eddie but she felt like she needed to know just a little bit more before she told him. It was only going to be for a little while. Just until she knew more. He would have to know sooner rather than later. Because they had a hell of a lot to work out.

If only Rachel knew about it sooner.

Eddie knew that Rachel was hiding something from him. At first, it didn't worry him because he knew that whatever it was, she would share it with him at some point.

But as it started to affect her behaviour and when she shrugged off him trying to be a bit playful the other night, telling him that she was tired, it worried him. It worried him because he worried about the decisions that she was making without him and that it could be quite big decisions.

So when she told him that she had an appointment to go to and his mind went into overdrive. So much so that in the couple of hours that she was gone, he had managed to convince himself that all the changes in her behaviour and the reason she had shrugged him off was because she was pregnant and he didn't quite know how to take it.

He was so sure that he had caused himself into a panic that he shot off the sofa the moment the front door opened and he was glad that it was Rachel standing there rather than the twins and Philip.

"Rachel, what's going on?" He asked.

Part of him didn't want her to answer the question as she looked up at him, an unreadable look on her face. He could hope and pray to everything in the world but he became more certain that she was going to tell him the last thing that he wanted to hear.

"Eddie… I was going to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Waterloo Road has been chosen as one of the schools to merge with John Fosters."

Eddie felt the weight lift off him. And he was certain that he laughed. Of course, it would be to do with the school.

"What…" Rachel breathed.

"Sorry, I just… got myself into a panic. You were being secretive and you went to an appointment and I… knew that we hadn't been as careful as we have been."

"You thought I was pregnant?"

"I was worried that you might be. I know Michael is only five but we are a little bit older now. And you said you were happy with what we got." He sighed. "Sorry. Sorry. My mind just got a little bit away with me."

"It definitely did." She said as she laughed. "I am actually looking forward to spending the whole year at Waterloo Road this year."

"Sorry. So that crisis is now averted. What were you saying about Waterloo Road and John Fosters?"

"I think we might need a cup of tea to discuss it." Rachel said as she moved towards the kitchen.

Eddie followed her and helped her as much as he could before they settled at the kitchen table to discuss what Rachel had just told him.

"We are a little behind. Our little holiday has led to that but the LEA decision to close the school and demeaning that we had space for the staff and students was made during the first week of the holidays. So there are four schools in the area that are picking up these students and teachers. The students have already been split out and certain members of staff have been allocated to the schools. Like we have Ruby Fry to teach catering and Jo Lipsett to help Steph out with Modern Foreign Languages.

"Other than that, the rest of the staff have been up for offer. They can apply to jobs within the four schools or elsewhere if they wish. But, and here is where we are behind, the LEA have asked that all head of department roles go out to tender. So, not only do we have to interview the remaining staff and I am sure the other three schools already have their list of who they want, we have some head of department interviews to do as well."

"Because everyone is going to be happy with that," Eddie said, already knowing by the tone of Rachel's voice that she was as thrilled with the decisions that had been made for them as everyone else was going to be (e.g. she wasn't).

"I'm going to draft a letter tomorrow and then I think it would be best if we… hand-delivered them and explained the situation."

"Please say that there isn't anything else."

"One more thing. Max Tyler, the head of John Fosters is now the… Executive Head of the four schools. Apparently, he is there to oversee the mergers and make sure that they are all working."

"Executive Head? Is that just a title to boost his own ego?"

"Eddie, please." Rachel said as she laughed. "He is going to be there during the interview. You, me and him. I just need you to play nice until everyone is settled and then he will go away and we can run the school the way we know how. It is going to be a mixture of cultures and we need to make sure that we can cater for them all."

"Go on then. Hit me with it. When are we doing these interviews?"

"Tuesday."

Eddie felt himself almost spit out his tea. "Tuesday? Meaning in four days."

"Like I said, we are a little behind."

"Then I warn you now, I haven't done head of department interviews before."

"Did one in my second headship. I've got a cheat sheet somewhere. Typical questions to ask, that sort of thing." Rachel paused. "Just… Can we keep this one on the quiet side to the twins? I don't… need them worrying about what is happening here when they are meant to be going off."

"I'm fine with that. It isn't their problem anymore. They need to focus on uni and let us focus on Waterloo Road."

"And it will be fine, Eddie. Because we will sort this. Together."

"What about Kim? Does she know?"

"No. Well, I haven't told her. It is one of the stops we need to make when we deliver the letters."

Eddie huffed. "Never a quiet moment."

"Would you want it any other way though?"

"Not if I am with you."

Eddie could definitely tell that by her telling him, a weight off Rachel's shoulders and he knew that they had a lot to organise but he was more than certain that they would get it all sorted. It wasn't like them to shy away from a challenge, was it now?

Rachel only picked up her water and took a sip of it to stop herself from sighing. It had been a long day, with them going through the different departments. Some were easier than others. Some they didn't even have to interview because only one person put themselves forward (which delighted Rachel).

But they had gone through English, Maths, Science, Modern Foreign Languages and History and Rachel felt knackered by the end of it. She could tell that Eddie was ready to go home as well and she almost turned to Max to say that it might be best if the decisions were discussed at some point tomorrow when Max handed her a piece of paper.

"Those are my choices," Max said.

"Right… don't you want to discuss them?" Rachel said.

"I am sure if I point you in one direction, you'll come to the same conclusion that it was the right decision. No interviews for your management team."

"This has been all rather last minute, Max." She said as she turned to him.

"I think you need someone from John Fosters in your management team."

"I am not averse to the idea."

"Christopher Mead would be a good choice."

"Right."

"He was my deputy and I think he deserves to keep that role. I feel like there would be more… resistance here than at the other schools. I think having him as your second deputy would work."

"No. I'm not doing that."

"Why not?"

"Max, there is only one deputy in this school and he is sitting right next to me. And I am not having one deputy head of Waterloo Road and one of John Fosters. If we are going to preach unity, then we are going to be united. This is now one school." She paused for a moment. "But I am willing to meet Christopher and I am sure I can come up with some title. I am sure he will be a great addition to my management team."

Rachel found herself staring at Max, hoping that he would back down. Realistically, the last thing that she wanted to do was make an enemy of Max but she also knew that his idea was a terrible one. And not really for the reason that she just gave.

"Fine," Max said. "I'll have a word with Chris and… maybe we can meet on Friday. Go through who is going to be the heads of department. I must say, I am dying to meet Kim. I've only heard good things about her. Might be good to get the whole management team together. Discuss how we plan to attack things."

"I'll call her tomorrow." She said before she turned to Eddie, glad that he had kept his mouth shut. "And we can discuss this from our side."

"I suppose that depends if you want to do that here or at home," Eddie said.

"At home?" Max said.

"I don't think it's any secret, Max. Eddie and I are together and have been for a while now." Rachel said as she turned back to him. "But I can assure you, just because we do, maybe, mixed business with pleasure, we are professionals about it."

"I'm sure you are. Excuse me, I have a meeting with the LEA in an hour and I best not be late." Max said as he stood up.

Rachel felt herself watch him as he crossed the room and didn't let out the sigh of relief that the interviews were over until Max was completely out of sight.

"I forgot how draining these types of interviews were." Rachel said before Eddie had the chance to say anything.

"So I think it is a takeaway type of night," Eddie said.

"That is if James hasn't already cooked."

"What is it with Jamie and cooking?"

"The man of the family. He wasn't going to risk Amelia burning herself so thought it would just be best if he had a shot of cooking. At least I know he isn't going to live on takeaways at uni."

"Definitely a practical skill to have."

"So why don't I call him and we can leave this here and on the way home, find an excuse to tell the twins and Philip as to why we need to come in again?"

"Sounds perfect."

Rachel knew that either later that evening or when they were back in the school the next day, Eddie would ask her what was on her mind. Because she was thinking a lot of things and part of her knew that Eddie was a good enough soundboard to make her stop overthinking things.

Eddie could hear Rachel thinking. He was surprised that the twins hadn't quizzed them more on where they were for the whole day, although he was sure that there could have been some truth in what they had said when they mentioned they had been at school to sort out a few things for the new year and the results days. Or maybe it was just the mention of the results days that stopped the twins' questions, with Rachel telling him about Jamie's worries over his results.

But Eddie felt like he knew Rachel too well now and what she was thinking about was what Max had said earlier about Chris.

"You could make him your second deputy," Eddie said to get them talking about it.

"Eddie, that isn't going to happen."

"Why not?"

He didn't expect her to rise up onto her elbow to look at him.

"There are two reasons." She said.

"They are?"

"One of them is you. Sure, you will say that you will be fine with it now but I know you, Eddie. Two weeks later you won't be."

"You can't say that." He tried, although he knew that she had a point. He wasn't the best at hiding his feelings and he was sure that, even if he didn't want to, he would feel jealous of Chris at some point. Even if he knew that there was no competition for Rachel's heart as he hoped he had already won it.

"I can. Which leads me to my second reason. I think there is a reason why Max wants Chris on my management team. And I doubt it is in the name of unity. You heard him. And maybe there is going to be more resistance from our students and staff but I think Max already sees Waterloo Road as a problem and I don't want it to be that way."

"You already think this guy has an alternative motive? I didn't realise you were that paranoid."

"Do I sound paranoid?"

Eddie tucked her hair behind her ear. "A little. Rachel, you know Waterloo Road. You could run that school in your sleep. The LEA knows that you are good for the school. I think you are reading into things a little too much and are overthinking it."

"Maybe." She said as she looked down at the mattress. "Maybe it might be because he… is going to be the executive head. Someone higher than me."

"Miss Mason, are you worried that you might not be in control anymore?" He joked.

"Eddie, can you be serious for five minutes?" She said as she looked up at him.

"Rachel, is that actually what you are worried about?"

"I'm… worried that he might be more of a control freak than I am. He is overseeing four schools and academically, we are the worst. We have the worst behaviour as well. We know that Waterloo Road is more than that but will Max?"

"We will just have to see how things go."

"And maybe you are right. Maybe I am being a bit paranoid because… I would rather think about everything that is going to go wrong with this merger than the twins going off to uni."

"Well, that definitely sounds like you."

Eddie was grateful when she smiled at him and he wondered whether he could distract her in one of the many ways that he was planning to do once the twins had left home. But Rachel tucked herself back into his side and he felt like the only appropriate thing to do would be to place a kiss in her hair and hold her a little tighter.

"So does this mean that you have come up with some fancy title for Chris yet?" He said.

"No, I'm still working on that one."

"Spy in the camp?"

Rachel laughed and hit his chest. "No. Don't be mean."

"You are the one that is scared that he is going to be."

"I will come up with something."

"And everything will be okay, Rach. There will be a few teething problems and once they are ironed out, everything will be fine."

And there was a part of Eddie that wished that he could believe his own words because there was a part of him that got where Rachel was coming from and he just hoped that Max wasn't going to be the trouble maker that they thought he could be.