With the Headmaster's Approval (19 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY

Blustery gusts of rain lashed the window of Lisa’s office on t
he first day of the new school year. A typical September day, it was cold and windy with leaves rising in swirling eddies and she was glad to be inside. She finished stapling the last sets of the exam results and took them through to the head’s office. “Twelve sets, just as you asked,” she said, placing them on the desk. The hand that reached for them caught the light from the desk lamp and it glinted on the shiny new wedding ring.

“Thank you, Lisa,
” said Jenna. “We’ll discuss them at the staff meeting. It seems that overall there has been an improvement on the previous year’s pass rate, and in some cases quite a big one.”

“So the b
oard’s faith in Adam was justified,” said Lisa. “And now they’ll be relying on you to continue the upward trend, which I’m sure you’ll manage,” she added with an encouraging smile.

Lisa
returned to her office knowing it was going to take some time adjusting to all the changes.  She picked up the first of three framed photographs that were propped on her desk. Andrea had taken it in the last week of the school year. Adam was sitting at his desk with the rest of the teaching staff gathered round. So much had happened during the eight weeks since it had been taken.

The second
picture had been taken in South Africa in a chapel in the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu Natal. A beaming Jenna and Andrea were walking down the aisle as a newlywed couple. Behind them the pulpit was bathed in sunlight that streamed through the huge glass window that made up the entire end wall of the stone and thatch chapel. It framed the Cathedral Peak Mountain Range that towered above it. A smiling Annette Woolf was looking on, persuaded by Jenna to be a matron of honour and therefore have her travel arrangements paid for. They’d been married by Andrea’s widowed uncle, a church minister. Lisa had heard that he and Annette had indulged in some lively conversations about religion during their two-week stay at the resort. He’d even persuaded Annette to take a helicopter flip over the mountain range.

The third p
hotograph was the one she’d been hoping for, but thought would never be realised. A grinning Nicole was looking up adoringly at her groom. Adam was dressed in his naval uniform; her arm was through his, his hand on hers. They were married beneath a bower of red jade vine in the garden of Adam’s Honolulu home.  His face wore such a look of loving affection that it made her heart melt. Neil had been his Best Man and she’d been Matron of Honour. It had been a perfect day, followed by a perfect night. Lisa patted her stomach. She was sure that was the night she’d conceived. The memories took her back to the last days of the school term – days that had been a whirl of emotions.

She remembered the final staff meeting before the end of the school year when Adam had broken the news that he would not be renewing his contract. He’d waited a few moments while they recovered from their shock and disappointment before explaining his reasons. “For quite some time the drug rehabilitation centre we founded in Hawaii has been looking into ways to keep the children from returning to drugs once they’ve left the centre. If they go back to the same environment and friends they begin the cycle all over again. However, after negotiations with the US Government, and with the help of private funding, we are now able to open a school for troubled teens. It will be incorporated into a working cattle ranch on the Hamakua Coast and the children will help to run it.. I’ll be overseeing the project, and then I’ll be taking over as Head.”

There was a stunned silence until Eleanor Stannard said, “Congratulations
. That’s an admirable project, and you’re the ideal person for it.”

“If you need a cookery teacher
I can make myself available,” said Barbara Crook.

“I think it
’ll be a while before we’ll be looking for teachers. But I’ll keep you in mind,” replied Adam with a grin.

“And just as I was getting used to you,” sighed Lauren Mathews.

Hayley Price gave a slow smile, “Don’t forget the importance of art in revealing a child’s personality – especially when it’s a troubled child.”

“I’ll be sure to remember all the skills I learned here,” said Adam, closing his file and handing it to Lisa.

“Congratulations. You’ve got the right skills for the challenge,” said Jenna Murray quietly.

Lisa already knew about Adam’s plans as she’d been at the board meeting when he’d resigned. It had come as a shock to everyone, but he’d compiled a report with recommendations for his replacement.

H
e’d left it until the final day of term to announce his resignation to the girls. The day had begun with morning assembly followed by speeches and awards, beginning with a presentation to Fred and Brenda Smith who were both retiring, Fred long overdue and persuaded by Brenda that it was time they enjoyed what was left of their time together. Sue Lawrence and the kitchen staff, who had crowded into the back of the hall, nudged each other and grinned when Adam called Fred and Brenda onto the stage. Both were overcome with embarrassment when Adam gave a speech of thanks and the girls all gave three cheers.

Brenda
was forced to accept a tissue from Eleanor Stannard in order to dab away the tears.  Then Adam handed Fred an envelope before opening a large flat cardboard box and taking out a garland of fresh flowers. He draped it round Brenda’s neck and kissed her on both cheeks, “
Aloha
,” he said.

She was
flustered into a stammer. “Oh, it’s ll...lovely,” she said, drinking in the sweet smell of jasmine that had been woven into the arrangement.  It was beautiful, but she was mystified as to why she’d been given a garland of flowers and not just a bouquet.

“It’s an Hawaiian
lei
,” said Adam.

When Fred opened the envelope and took out the folded paper his eyes widened. “Is this what I think it is?” he asked Adam.

“Yes, it is,” he replied, and turned to Brenda. “It’s two plane tickets to Hawaii. And the use of the guest cottage in my Honolulu home, and there will be a car and driver available for as long as you like.”

It was all too much for her and she had to sit down. Never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d ever actually go to Hawaii.

The girls had organised a collection and the governing body had given them a generous long service bonus and Adam had completed it by offering the use of his guest cottage.

“You can go any time you like, but I’ll advise you which months will be the best,” said Adam.

And then Brenda asked the one question that goes through every woman’s mind on such occasions, “What am I going to wear?” There was a burst of laughter and she joined in, laughing at herself. The kitchen staff, craning at the back of the hall, demanded to know what she’d said and the words were relayed from the front causing a ripple of laughter like a Mexican wave.

Fred put a comforting hand round her shoulders. “You can get the sewing machine out
, love. It’ll keep you busy now that you’re retired.”

But Adam whispered in her ear, “The swimming pool is very secluded,” and winked, and she playfully slapped his arm.

Fred wanted to know what Adam had said and she replied with pursed lips, “Never you mind, I don’t want you getting any ideas.”

Although it wasn’t clear to the audience what the exchanges had been
about, there was another burst of laughter, and then Brenda turned to Adam, “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said and hugged him. Fred shook Adam’s hand and then led his wife off the stage and down the steps wiping his eyes with the back of his hand as Sue Lawrence led them all in singing
‘for they are jolly good fellows.’

After
Fred and Brenda had disappeared through the hall door and the girls had settled down he threaded his way to the front of the stage and addressed the senior girls who were leaving, telling them they were on a new journey in life and wishing them well in their further education and jobs.

This was followed
by the announcement of the new head girl, deputy head girl and prefects, who all filed onto the stage to receive their badges and sashes from Eleanor Stannard, the girls trying to hide their excitement with a calm and dignified demeanour.

Then it was time for the awards ceremony and the girls sat up in anticipation.
There were certificates for academic and sports achievements, most improved, girls voted most helpful and most popular.

When everything appeared to be over Adam raised his hand to silence them.
“I’ve got another important announcement,” he said. He looked down and seemed to be composing himself before looking up again. “This is a sad day for me as it’s also my last day as Head of St Mary’s.” There were gasps of shock and dismay and he had to raise his voice. “I’m returning to Hawaii as head of a school for troubled teens.”

Some of the girls broke
down in tears, while others glanced at Jenna Murray to see her reaction, but her face remained impassive. Perhaps Glenda McKenzie had been wrong in suggesting that Adam and Jenna had been having an affair.

He went on to tell them how much he’d enjoyed his time at St Mary’s, and he hoped he’d be leaving a positive impression.

Eleanor Stannard stepped forward to thank him on behalf of the girls, and to present him with a gift from the staff. It was a pair of gold cufflinks with the school crest.

The girls filed out abuzz with speculations.
Who was going to take over as head?

The school closed early at two o’clock and Barbara Crook had organised a leaving party for Adam in the staffroom. There were snacks, and she’d also brought a couple of bottles of wine, strictly against school rules, but who was going to tell? They presented him with a mug inscribed with the school crest and a packet of herbal tea bags.

He had
a gift for each of the staff, sent from Hawaii by his sister.

He went to
each of them in turn, first drawing Lisa to her feet. “Thank you, Lisa, for not only being my secretary, but also my friend and confidante. I couldn’t have done the job without you.” There were several small boxes laid out on the coffee table. He opened the first one and took out a strand of delicate gem-like shells and placed it round her neck kissing her on both cheeks. “
Aloha
. It’s a shell
lei
,” he explained. “From the Hawaiian island of Ni'ihau. It’s a symbol of affection given on arriving or leaving.” Inside the box was a pamphlet describing the
lei
and its traditions. Lisa fingered the tiny shells, which ranged in colour from pure white to soft pink, deep brown, burgundy and olive green and had been threaded in a neat pattern.

“Adam, it’s beautiful. Thank you so much. I’m going to miss you, and so is Neil,” she said, giving him a fierce hug.

Next he drew Eleanor Stannard to her feet.  “Eleanor, I hope you’ll continue with the team speaking and debates with the boys’ school. Don Shaw and you make a good team.” She blushed at the mention of his name. She hadn’t told anyone that she was planning to resign at the end of the year, and so was Don Shaw. When Adam kissed her she had a sudden overwhelming desire to kiss him back and hug him. If it hadn’t been for Adam she and Don would have remained like ships in the night.

When
Dee Taylor sprang to her feet Adam said, “Kyle Rudd tells me that you’re planning joint sporting fixtures with the boys, beginning with mixed tennis doubles.”

“Yes,” she replied. “And I’m teaching him yoga.” When he kissed her she whispered
into his ear, “Thank you for everything.”

He hesitated before
holding out his hand to Annette Woolf, but she took it and impulsively kissed him on the cheek. He smiled. “Not afraid of me anymore?” he said, raising a quizzical eyebrow.

“It was never you I was afraid of,” she quietly admitted.

He hugged her. “I hope it’s the beginning of a new life for you,” he said as he placed the
lei
round her neck.

“It is – and thank you,” she said.

Lauren Mathews accepted the
lei
a little tearfully. She’d got used to having him around.

“Thank you for giving me an insight into
how women think. I hope it will make me more understanding,” he said. “I trust I haven’t done anything that might worsen your impression of men, and that you’ll find someone worthy of you.”

“On the contrary, I think you might have changed my mind about men in general,” she confessed.

Kate O’Brien found it difficult to meet his eyes, wondering what he was going to say. After his frank sex talk with the girls they’d become more open with her instead of sniggering behind their hands. Some were even brave enough to admit they intended to remain virgins for as long as possible, instead of feeling as if it were a shameful secret. But when he put his hands on her shoulders she was forced to look up. “You won’t get through to all the girls,” he said. “Just concentrate on the ones that you can help. Make sure their self-esteem stays intact, that should give them the confidence to say, No.”