"Mom, I am not sure I'm ready for this. You're gonna be the head teacher at my school, and oh yeah! I'm also gonna be the bloody new kid. This is gonna suck."
"I know this isn't ideal, but your dad's got his new job and this could be a fresh start for us all if you just gave it a chance, Charlie."
The teen just shrugged before getting out of the car and taking a look around. As much as he wanted to ditch his mum he couldn't because he had no clue where to go. Rachel knew it was hard for Charlie with all the changes at home, moving away from friends, and starting a new school. It was a lot and he was taking it mostly in stride. So she let him walk behind her, keeping herself focused on finding the main office.
"Okay Charlie, in here," Rachel called out as she pushed the office door, waiting for her son to go in ahead of her. To her surprise, she was welcomed by a very familiar face. "Chris, it's been so long, what are you doing here?" Rachel asked with a smile.
"Well, it seems things have come full circle once again. I'm your deputy. I was transferred here last term when there were some administration changes. Last head teacher ... I'll tell you later. Who's this?" Chris asked, turning his attention to the boy next to Rachel.
Wrapping her arm around her son's shoulders she introduced him to her old friend. "This is Charlie, my son. He's going to be starting here."
"Oh, your mum as head teacher. That must be a blast." Chris teased, smiling as the teen rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, I am so thrilled, let me tell you, sir. My dad decides to take this new fancy job and I've had to move away from all my friends and everything I know EVEN my dog is not allowed to come home for days." Charlie finished, totally oblivious to his mother's discomfort.
"Well those are quite a few changes, but I think if you give this place a chance you may find you like it," Chris said before he called a student in from the hall. "This is Ryan and he will show you around today when he can. Ryan, this is Charlie. He is new here. I was hoping you could show him around some. He is going to start year 8. We'll see where he tests. Also, before you go this is Mrs. Fleet, our new headteacher."
"Sure, I can show him around. We gotta head out before we're late, Sir. Miss, nice to meet ya," Ryan said before he turned to leave, motioning for Charlie to follow him. Charlie looked at his mum one last time before he followed Ryan into the busy hall. When they were alone Chris motioned for Rachel to follow him.
Rachel, who had been quiet, followed her friend into the office, looking around a bit before she broke the silence. "I am sorry about him. This move has been hard on him. We were in America for a long time. When he was younger he didn't mind moving. This time he minds."
"He will adjust, he just needs time. I will make sure to check in on him later and mention it to our head of pastoral care. Charlie will do just fine here. So tell me, how did you like America? How's Adam and married life?"
Rachel hadn't really had friends in years. Chris didn't know it but she wasn't the Rachel he remembered. Putting her bag down she bit her bottom lip before answering. The questions were easy ones. Just keep it short and simple. "America was good. After Australia, when Charlie was about four, we moved to America. Had a central place to call home while Adam sometimes traveled for work. I loved it, I did, but I am glad to be home to show Charlie where his mum's from, you know? I took some time off when Charlie was a kid but I did substitute teach here and there through the years. Now that Charlie is older I think it's time to get back to working full-time. Bonus is I get to be close in case my son needs me. So enough about me. Tell me about you. How have you been? Married? Any kids?"
"I have been good. Took a few years off from teaching. I felt I was blurring the lines of wanting to help the kids no matter what even if it made the administration look bad. I had to step away and reevaluate everything. I've been back teaching for a few years now. Our last head stepped down after our games teacher was arrested for being inappropriate with a lad. I am not married, got close once or twice but it didn't happen. As for kids, none that I know of." Chris joked with a shrug. "We should catch up sometime after work."
"Yeah, we should one day," Rachel responded half-heartedly. She knew Adam would never let her. Still, if she was going to be half the Rachel she was when she was the head at Waterloo Road she couldn't let Chris or anyone know her secret. "So why don't you give me a run down and then maybe a tour around the place? While I've heard only good things about Elmwood you know my motto. There's always room for improvement."
"There is the Rachel I remember. Come on, I will bring you up to speed while I show you around. This term is going to be a success. I can already feel it."
"We always did make a great team Chris. I can't wait to see what this term brings."
The day seemed to fly by and it seemed the last bell rang before Rachel even seemed to have a chance to catch her breath. Seeing Charlie waiting for her outside of the office she grabbed some paperwork before calling out a quick goodbye to Chris. "So how was your first day buddy?" Rachel asked as they headed to the car.
"It was okay. I liked lunch. I mean dinner. It's so confusing here. I liked that best. Ryan and his friend Cesco let me play socc.. Football with them. It was kind of fun. It's not my old school … My friends had their first day today. Or they will. I hate it here." He groaned when he saw the rain. He was about to complain some more when he saw his mom's face fall. Hating to ever see his mom sad, he changed the subject. "Last one to the car has to do the dishes!" He called out before sprinting to the car.
Shaking her head, Rachel took off running the best she could in heels in the direction of the car. "Guess you win bud. But you had two advantages. One you cheated and got yourself a head start and two I had heels on."
"Yeah, yeah. Mom, come on let's go get Addie! Can we get burgers on the way home?"
"Yes, sure. Let's go," Rachel said, wanting to get her daughter and make it home before Adam did. Even if the kids got takeaways she knew he'd be expecting dinner on the table just like she had made sure to do all the years they lived abroad. Shaking off her nerves Rachel got into the car and headed out of the parking lot heading in the direction of her youngest's school. Rachel had barely parked when Charlie was out of the car running up the hill into the school's courtyard. Rachel turned the car off as she got out to watch him go. While he was fully capable of getting her without being watched Rachel couldn't help it. They were her babies and her whole life now was making sure they were safe. Safe from so many things, not just the monsters in the world.
"Mommy, I love my new school!" Addie called out to her mum as she ran up to her, hugging her tightly.
"I am so happy, my little bug. Come on, we have to get home before Daddy does." Rachel said as she hugged her daughter back, missing the look that passed between her kids as she got back behind the wheel. After the food was bought Rachel headed out of town down the winding country road. Pulling into the driveway she told the kids to eat and then go shower before she headed inside to start on tea for her and Adam. She knew the night would be tricky enough with how Adam was being about her going back to work. Rachel wanted to do everything she could to keep the peace. By the time Adam pulled up Rachel had set the table for two and had a nice setup all ready to enjoy. Hearing the slam of the front door Rachel braced herself to just take it and keep the peace. This was her kid's fresh start. She didn't want their good first day to be tainted. Turing, she met her husband in the entranceway kissing him gently. "How was work love?" Rachel asked gently.
"It was work. The place is a mess and I will have to work long hours to fix it to bring it back up to par. Where are the kids?" Adam asked as his gaze fell on the table set for only two.
"They're upstairs. They were hungry so I got them some food on the way home from school. Figured this way we could have a quiet night."
"There you go, thinking again. You know, I like to see my kids sometimes. It's bad enough you turned Charlie against me, now you're going for Addie too, huh?" Adam snapped, getting right in Rachel's face.
Rachel stepped back until her back hit the wall before a few tears escaped. "You know that's not true Adam, the kids love you. Come on, let's eat. It's been a long day." She tried, not seeing Adam's hand coming at her face until she felt the slap. As she fell to the ground from the force Charlie came charging down the steps, Addie not far behind him. As he pushed his dad back as much as he could Addie kneeled next to her mum, making sure she was okay. Rachel held back tears as she cupped her daughter's face.
"I am fine. I fell." She lied as Adam pushed Charlie back hard. Seeing that was all Rachel needed to shake off the shock. Jumping in between Adam and her kids she pushed him hard as she yelled at him to never touch Charlie again. She knew she'd pay for it later but she didn't care. Glaring at Adam she ushered the kids to follow her upstairs. Almost like their sick little routine, she tucked her kids in promising them everything would be okay in the morning. Once the kids were calm she headed downstairs to play the perfect little wife in hopes to stop the storm she knew was coming. It didn't and once their bedroom door closed Adam started in on her again this time no one was coming to stop him.
Addie stood listening in the hallway until she felt Charlie's hand in hers guiding her to his room. When he was sure the door was locked he turned on the music before he sat on the bed next to his sister. He hated nights like this when their dad was horrible. He didn't get it. His mom was the best mum ever, but ever since he could remember his dad was mean, especially to his mum.
"Why doesn't Daddy like Mommy?" Addie finally asked, still clutching her teddy bear to her chest.
"I don't know. He said it was 'cause Mom's bad or whatever. I think he's just bad."
"Do you think he's gonna kill her? Do you remember Amelia? My best friend from back home? Her daddy hit her mommy a lot like Daddy hits Mommy. And one day her mommy went away to heaven. I don't want Mommy to leave us."
"She won't, I promise. Amelia didn't have an older brother to protect her. Or her mom. I will protect you both, I promise. Now come on, get some sleep, we got school tomorrow. Remember, don't tell anyone."
"I won't, I promise. Is it weird having Mommy as the head teacher?"
"It's whatever. Oh you know Mom knows the deputy head guy? They were friends back at Waterloo Road."
"That's the school Mom taught at before she married Daddy right?"
"Yeah."
"That's good. Mommy needs a friend. I miss Amelia."
"I know, but you'll make new friends. We both will. Come on, get comfy. You can sleep with me." Charlie said as he motioned for her to get under the covers. Once they were tucked back in he laid back, listening for everything to go quiet. Only then could he finally drift off.
"So why didn't you tell me, Chris? That Rachel's back as the head teacher of Elmwood?!" Kim chastised her friend as she joined him at their usual table in the pub.
"I didn't know until she walked in the door today and, well, I wasn't going to bother you today. I know you go spend it at the cemetery with Dexter."
"Yeah, thank you for that. It was a good day. Well, as good as today can be. Seems as the years have gone on the pain has gotten easier to live with. It was peaceful there today. So tell me everything. How is she? Is she still with Adam? Where has she been all this time."
"Well, you know how I hate to disappoint you. But it was a crazy day getting her settled in. I can tell you some things. She is still married. She has a son named Charlie who is thirteen, she also has a daughter who's younger. I saw it in their file. Oh and get this. Her kids are American. It seems they were both born abroad. Their school records are from a school in America. Yes, before you ask I put a call into his sister's school. I just wanted all the facts so we can make Charlie's adjustment a smooth one. Her son seems nice enough, from the little time I've spent with him. Not too thrilled about moving here. Rachel said it was for Adam's job. She rushed off after school, probably to get her little one, so we didn't get a chance to catch up."
"Well, I can meet with Charlie this week to make sure he's settling in. Friday we will get her to have a catch-up. I can't believe it, the old team's actually back together." Kim said, taking a sip of wine.
"Right it's been years and life has brought us together again. I've really missed Rachel. I'm glad she's back."
"Me too! You know she called me when Dex passed. Years passed and she still reached out. I actually can't wait to meet her kids. I can't believe it, Rachel Mas - Fleet a mum."
"It's definitely something. And Charlie, her son, is her twin," Chris said finishing his beer.
"I can't wait to meet Rachel's mini-me. I have never been more excited to be head of pastoral care than I am tonight." Kim joked with a smile.
"You are too much. "
"Shut up Mr. calling her daughters school.."
"Touche. Anyways, hate to cut this short but I have to get home. See you tomorrow. Do you need a ride?"
"No, I have one. Thanks, Chris, see you tomorrow," Kim said with a smile. She couldn't believe it. More than a decade had passed and the universe was bringing them back together.