The residents of Black Mountain enjoy their privacy. They pay enough for the homes and school fees. So, instead of living in a bustling city, I now find myself in a small, quiet town where my plan will come together soon enough.
And on top of that, I’m allowed the one thing I need to play out my revenge—seclusion. Soon, the rage that’s plagued me will come to an end, and I’ll be able to find the person I’ve been seeking for years.
“Ah, Mr. Donati. I just wanted to let you know you have a new student joining today. She’s just moved to Black Mountain and will be finishing her senior year with us,” states the man who enters the room, interrupting my thoughts. I’ve heard the whispers from the girls in class about the principal. We’re about the same height, coming face to face, and I wonder just how he came to Black Mountain.
Dawson has been good to me. He offered me a chance at starting over. I haven’t told him why I wanted this job or why I came to Black Mountain. Nobody needs to know that.
“Mr. Dawson,” I greet, offering him my hand, which he accepts and we shake. Strong, confident, and commanding. That’s what my father used to tell me. It’s what he would say when he taught me how to be a man, but even in his teachings, he failed to educate me on just how life can go horribly wrong when you least expect it. “Good to hear that. I’m always happy to help new students who are interested in history. Do you have her file?”
“Yes,” Dawson acknowledges as he hands over the folder, which I set on the desk to go through later. “Just keep in mind, she’s living with an aunt here in town,” he whispers, lowering his tone even though there are no other people around us. I have a free period before the last class of the day comes in, which has allowed me some quiet time. “We want to ensure she’s comfortable and no mention of her father who has passed on.”
“That’s not a problem at all. I know how it feels to be in that situation, so I’ll be thoughtful when addressing her. Do you know what happened?” I ask, my brows furrowing in worry.
“Her mother informed us that it was a home invasion. Quite scary if you ask me. That’s why I can never live in a city. Prefer the smaller town myself,” Dawson confesses with a deep, resounding tone. “If you need anything,” he cautions, lowering his tone further as the bell rings. “Like I said, my door is always open.”
He shakes my hand once more before he disappears, and I’m left to ponder his words. The girl must be broken inside. Losing a parent isn’t easy, especially when you’re meant to be finishing your final year in school. Focus is imperative.
I may only be thirty, which is probably considered old by most of my students, but I love what I do. I’ll ensure she studies hard and she passes her exams. A strict regimen will hopefully set her on the right path. And until I meet her, I can’t tell if she’ll be a handful or not.
Hopefully, the latter.
I’m a teacher first, and I’m not here to make friends, but I hope our mutual heartache will allow her to trust me. Last year was difficult. The students here are mostly wealthy brats who grew up with a silver spoon in their mouths. Since she hasn’t been a resident of Black Mountain for long, perhaps she’ll be different.
At least, I hope she will.
I pull out my cell phone, tapping out a message to a friend I’ve been seeing. We were meant to meet up tonight, but right now, the only thing I can think about is going home and spending the night alone to read through the details from my private investigator.
Dating isn’t something I do. Women are there for a reason—to enjoy for an evening, and when the morning comes, they can leave without me worrying about getting myself into a relationship. Loneliness is something I’ve become accustomed to. Most times, it doesn’t bother me, but there are nights I feel it. Right down to my bones.
Shaking my head to clear it of the worry, I grab the stack of papers and move around the class as I set them down on the desks. Today, we’ll be focusing on our first lesson of the year, where I’m able to get into the students’ minds.
I’m sure they’ll be unhappy with getting a paper to write on their first day, but it will hopefully allow me to get into their minds and find out what makes them tick. Thankfully, Dawson has given me free reign on my subject, and I can teach in my own way.