Apart from emotional, I doubt it. “No. Apart from what you already probably know. I’ve just split with his father and have full custody. I’m living back at home with my parents for now. He seems happy enough and I believe he was looking forward to catching up with Mitchell again. In fact, the boys are showing him where the lockers are now.” He needs these boys.
“Good, good.” He looked up when there was a knock at the door. “Come in.”
Kyle opened the door and looked around before stepping in and joining Lena.
“Welcome, Kyle, to Mudgee High. I hope you’ll enjoy being with us. You probably got the heads up from Mitchell about your class and the routine, but if there is anything I can do for you, ask away.”
“Uh, I think I’ve got most of it under control. Thank you, Sir.”
Mr. Bond-Jones smiled. “Well call in and speak to me at any time. My door is always open.” He closed the file. “I think you will find Mrs. Wilkins will have printed out a class schedule for you with all of your classes on it. Why don’t we go and show you where your class is and then I can chat to your mother about volunteering with the lunch room and library.”
“Sure.” Kyle stood up and followed his mother and the headmaster from the office, retrieving his backpack from where he’d left it earlier. They picked up a timetable at the front desk and headed outside past the basketball courts to a block of classrooms. Children were beginning to gather around the door waiting for the bell to ring and watched as Kyle was shown in the door.
“Mr. Andrews, we have a new student today. Meet Kyle Hawkins and his mother Lena.”
A tall bespectacled man with jet-black hair turned from the white board and smiled a welcome.
No way! “Jed Andrews, is that really you?” He was a sight to behold. Lena paused for a second to make sure she was talking to the shy farm boy she’d grown up with before she threw herself into Jed’s arms much to the delight of the assembled students. Cat calls and whistles cut the air and she blushed, letting him go.
“Yes, it’s me. I couldn’t stay away once I finished university and the farm wasn’t paying enough for me to work it as well as my father, so here I am. You know me, nerdy through and through. It’s great to see you.” He held out his hand to Kyle. “So this is your boy. Nice to meet you.”
“This is, Kyle, Mr. Andrews. He will be in your class. I believe he knows a couple of the boys already.” Mr. Bond-Jones smiled at the assembled children.
“Gail’s boy, Mitchell?” Jed folded his arms and smiled at Kyle, his dimple showing just as Lena remembered it. He was still the good looking boy she’d gone to school with even though he was dressed as if he was going to a photo shoot for a high end cowboy clothing advertisement. That was the boy Lena had become firm friends with when she was about nine.
“Yeah, I see him on holidays and stuff. We get on pretty good.” Her son was blushing under the scrutiny of the girls looking through the door, making no attempt to hide their interest.
“That’s wonderful, I’m sure you’ll find in very well. It’s good to see you again, Lena. We must get the old gang together and catch up one night. Go out for dinner or at least a few drinks.”
Count me in, I can’t wait. “That would be great. Well, guess I’d better leave you to it. Kyle, have a great day and I’ll pick you up after school. We can organize the bus this afternoon.”
“Thanks, Mum.” He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on each cheek, ignoring the whistles coming his way. He’d never been ashamed to show his mom how much he loved her. She was proud of the Italian coming out in him.
This is almost as hard as his first day of school. Suck it up, Lena. “Bye.” She walked out past the gathering of kids and followed Brad away from the noise that was reaching fever pitch now they were allowed to pour into the class with the ring of the bell sounding loud over the school grounds.
“Come back to the office and I’ll give you a form to fill in for the bus, and let’s see what we can do about getting you onto the parent teachers association list.”
Lena filled in the bus form and handed it back while Brad watched her. When she put down the pen he spoke. “I do hope you’re keen to help out with fund raisers. I’m sure your cooking experience will be invaluable to the P & C. Imagine the draw card of having you as chef at the Grill and Swill night.” He rubbed his hands in glee as she looked on, a small tinge of apprehension creeping up her spine.
“Um, I’d be glad to help, but I—”
“Wonderful. Do you hear that, Mrs. Watkins? Lena has offered to help with the Grill and Swill night. We’re desperate to make money this year to do the swimming pool. The education department wants us to fill it in because it needs so much work, but the parents are up in arms about it. You remember spending days in summer splashing around in it, I’m sure. Selling keys for the summer is one of the best incomes the P & C have and we don’t want to lose it or the swimming classes the kids have either.” He huffed out a breath. “We want—no, desperately
