Over the next few weeks, it had become the norm for Paul to stay after school with Clara every so often. Paul would enter the room a bit dejected, and Craig would inevitably arrive with Alfie in tow with an exasperated look on his face as he would apologise profusely whilst Paul looked as if he were about to cry. However, the ginger would quickly perk up as soon as Alfie began to tell his jokes. Clara suggested that Craig set up a system for Dr Smith where they planned for Craig to fetch Paul after school on the days his father couldn't step away from work.

"What?" asked Craig.

"I just thought maybe if you worked out a schedule with his father, then Paul doesn't have to stay back. Not that I mind. I just..." she leaned in. "He's always a bit sad when he sees it's you and not...well, his dad. Maybe if he knew you were picking him up, he'd be...I don't know. More prepared."

Alfie and Paul were now running towards the exit, abruptly stopping at the double doors, knowing they would need to wait before entering the car park. Craig sighed and rubbed his head. "Right...see, the thing is. We do have a schedule. I always pick Paul up at the proper time. The days he stays back are when...well, his dad has good intentions and says he's going to pick him up but...something comes up."

Clara's heart broke a little bit more for the boy. She took a breath and nodded in understanding. "I...I see."

Craig made to leave when he turned back as Clara sat back at her desk. "His father...he's a good dad. He...he means well, at least, but...I know it's been nearly 7 years since Paul's mum passed. He throws himself into his work as a distraction. I don't think he's let himself properly grieve." Craig coughed and straightened. "And he'll probably kill me if he finds out that I've divulged that information to a stranger. Sorry. I'm..." He pointed down the corridor where they could hear the echoing laughter of the two young boys.

"It's alright." Said Clara. She gave Craig a reassuring smile as he disappeared. Clara still had some work to do as it was almost half term. Not that 2nd years had exams or anything, but there was still a little bit of testing to make sure the children were progressing and to point out any issues in their learning abilities. Not to mention parents' day was coming and the parents wanted to know everything about their precious children. Hoping that some sort of genius was hidden inside the tiny body that still couldn't reasonably regulate emotions.

Clara wondered if this mysterious "Dr Smith" would even appear for his son's report. She then went about putting the children's marks into the computer.

…

It was now the end of Parents' Day as Clara sat at her desk. Her head buried in her favourite book. All the parents had come and gone except for...surprise surprise...Dr Smith. Clara left her door open on the chance the man would show up, but as the time ticked by, she figured it wasn't going to happen. She half considered calling the poor boys father to give him a stern talking to. The clever primary school teacher could easily find his phone number through Paul's emergency contact sheet. She knew the man was probably struggling, but it affected his young son, and if she were him, she'd want to know.

Clara stood with her back to the door as she put her coat on. She looked at the drawings all the children had posted on the wall behind her desk. Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps followed by someone running rather abruptly into the room. 'Ah', she thought. 'He'd gone and sent Craig.' Then, right before she turned around, she heard an unfamiliar and very out of breath voice.

"I'm so so so sorry, Mrs Thompson! I was a bit caught up with something at work and couldn't seem to step away in time..."

Clara sighed as the man rambled on. He didn't even know Mrs Thompson was on leave!

Clara turned around as the man abruptly shut his mouth then pointed at her with a strange expression on his face. Almost like he was terrified. Or just confused? She couldn't quite decipher the multitude of emotions that seemed to be flashing over the man's features. She instantly knew it was Paul's father by the look of him. The tousled (but NOT ginger) hair has a similar facial structure and lanky stature. He was much taller than she'd expected, given Paul's tiny frame. She stared at the man as he stuttered.

"You...you...you? Wha? Where's Mrs Thompson? Why are...youhere?"

He then slumped into the chair in front of her, seemingly losing all words. Clara sat at her desk and pulled out Paul's file.

"Well, for starters. My name is Clara. Or Miss Oswald, rather. And I'm Paul's teacher. Mrs Thompson is on maternity leave, and I took the position as the primary teacher for the year 2 students about a month ago."

The frazzled man's glazed over eyes seemed to come back to life as he nodded in understanding. Wow, he really was a bit...weird. Thought Clara. She now understood Paul's odd fashion sense as well. She thought it was cute how he always wore a little tweed jacket and bow tie. She chuckled, seeing that the man she assumed to be oblivious to the goings-on in his son's life took the time to dress similarly.

Dr Smith was silent. Absorbing the news that Paul's teacher was not who he thought she was...at least that's what Clara assumed.

"Right..." she began with a cough as she pulled out some of Paul's work.

"You have a lovely boy. He's very smart." She said as she went over his spelling. "He's the youngest in the class but by far my most advanced reader. Do you often read together?" She asked.

The man gave a sad smile. "Yes. We...we read together before bed every night." He said softly.

"That's really important." She said, continuing with the conference. Clara went on about Paul's behaviours and how he was very kind and caring. He seemed to be able to make friends with most of the kids. He always finished his work first but what was unusual was that it was always correct. Usually, the children who completed their work first would do it sloppily and incorrect. The man chuckled as if he wasn't surprised.

His behaviour seemed odd. Clara didn't know why he seemed so uncomfortable. Like all he wanted to do was leave the room but was also torn, wanting to know everything about his son. She figured he really must have come from something important at work, and it was probably stressing him out.

"I won't keep you much longer, but I did want to talk to you about something else." Said Clara, not sure how to approach the subject without being insensitive.

"Oh?" he said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, first, I want to say that I'm sorry to hear about your late wife. I...I lost my mum when I was young. It's not easy to be a single parent." The man looked confused and then nodded his head in understanding.

"Paul does seem a bit...well, sad sometimes when the other children talk about their mums. I can't say that he's mentioned her. What was her name, if you don't mind me asking?"

The man sat back abruptly. Clara couldn't tell if she'd offended him or not.

"I'm sorry. I...I just wanted to be aware in case he mentioned her...you know, so...so I could be delicate."

Dr Smith sighed. Almost like it was his apology to her for reacting in such a way.

"Umm, right, her...her name was...was River...my uh, my late wife." He said in a hushed tone. Clara just nodded with a sympathetic smile. He then added. "He was very young when...well..." Clara went to take his hand as a reassuring gesture, to which he flinched and snatched his hand away.

"Sorry, I...I'd only meant..." She said, embarrassed.

"No, it's okay. I'm...I..." Then all of a sudden, his whole demeanour changed. The stern look that came over him almost...frightened her. It was like something switched in his brain. He abruptly stood up and straightened his coat. "Well, if we're done here, I'll take my leave." He said in a harsh tone. She really must have offended him.

Clara stood, her face turning red from embarrassment at the fact she nearly felt like crying. "I'm sorry." She said as she awkwardly started to grab up the papers and put them away.

"Well..." he said with a pause. "You...you should be. It's rude for a...stranger to ask such intrusive questions." He blurted it out, almost as if he didn't even mean to. Clara then took a step back. She was no longer felt like crying. She felt angry. Couldn't he see that she's trying to help Paul? Why was he having such an odd mood swing? Clara took a breath before speaking.

"Well, it's also rude to tell a small child, who is your son, that you'll be picking him up from school and then forgetting about him time and again," she retorted. She hadn't meant to be so harsh, but he'd worked her up, and she was confused. The man took a step back. His face changed before he abruptly turned to leave. She heard his quick steps disappear down the corridor.

Clara let out a shaky breath as she sat back down in her chair. She felt like she'd been wronged in some way, but...had she? Was she being rude? Was he being rude? Clara then straightened herself up, took out her mobile, and immediately called Danny.

"Hey, love! How what's parents' day? Did you survive?"

Hearing Danny's caring voice made her walls come down as she shakily spoke. "I...I survived but...not without some bruises."

Danny could tell she was upset. "Ah…that good then. Okay, well, I'm almost to the flat, so I'll be here when you get home." He could hear her sigh in relief. It warmed his heart to know that he made her feel safe and loved. That was all he ever wanted since the day he'd met her, wandering the halls of Coal Hill, trying to find her way to the classroom where she was supposed to step in while the English teacher was out sick. "Clara," he added. "It's going to be okay."

"Yeah," she replied with a sad smile. "I love you, you know that?"

"I know. And I love you."

Clara could hear his grin through the mobile that matched her own.

"I'll see you soon." He said as he hung up.

Clara hung up her mobile and threw it in her handbag. She smiled as she walked to her car. No matter where they were or what terms they were on. Or what silly fight they were in, they made it a point to always tell each other they loved one another before saying goodbye.

And just like he promised, Danny was home, waiting for her with arms open to comfort her from the stress of the day. Clara didn't cry. She just took some deep breaths as she relaxed in his arms and told him about what had happened. Danny was angry at how a parent had treated her, but he also reassured her that it wasn't uncommon to come up against rude parents who were overprotective of their children. Initially, he wanted to punch the man, but after teaching for a few years, he learned that a parent's love and concern for their child would often override their concern for being a decent human being.

Clara now sat on the sofa, drinking some tea. Maybe Danny was right? Maybe Dr Smith was just reacting, and she shouldn't take it so personally. But deep down, for reasons unknown to her, she couldn't help but feel the sudden change in his behaviour towards her was actually very personal. As if her very existence was something that caused him great pain. She brushed off the feeling as Danny turned on the telly to let their minds escape the madness of being a teacher.