Family Matters--A Fortune Bay Sequel Novella by Judith Hudson

Author:Judith Hudson [Hudson, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Small Town Romance
Publisher: Judith Hudson
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Students bounded in packs out of Frankie’s classroom. Amber should have been with them but she hadn’t shown up for class. Frankie was angry and concerned and uncertain in turns about how to proceed. She had to mark her absent—didn’t she? She couldn’t let her personal relationship with Amber—and Sean—get in the way of her job. It wasn’t like at the café when Louise used to slip a free donut the firemen after a blaze. This was a case of professional ethics and she wouldn’t be able face herself if she bent the rules for Amber.

She sensed Amber’s behavior was more than just acting out. Something was bothering the girl and professional ethics demanded she get to the bottom of it, not just mark her absent and write her off. But what would marking her absent really accomplish? She leaned back against the desk, one arm across her chest the other fist pressed to her lips, weighing the pros and cons of each possible action.

She would let it go for today, but she would try to get to the root of the problem.

Her professional watchdog satisfied, she marked Amber present and headed down the hall to Matthew Swallow’s science classroom, thinking he might have Amber in his Biology 10 class this year.

Frankie tapped on his door and stuck her head into the room. “Got a moment?”

Matthew was peering into a microscope. He straightened his lanky frame at the intrusion and beamed when he saw her. “Frankie, hi. What can I do for you?”

Matthew was a nice guy, and for a moment last summer Frankie had wondered if they could have been more than casual friends. She had quickly decided they couldn’t, but thankfully, they’d remained friends.

“Do you have Amber Murphy, in your class?”

Matthew’s bushy eyebrows came together in a frown. “I have her this semester.”

A worrying response. Frankie’s heart clutched. “How is she doing? Is she keeping up with the assignments? I’m a little worried about her. Did you know she’s Sean’s daughter?”

Matthew pressed his lips together. He knew about Frankie and Sean’s relationship, but possibly didn’t know Sean was Amber’s father.

“I didn’t. I only knew she was a transfer student, so I was prepared to give her a little extra TLC, you know, extra time on assignments or help after class, but she’s got to meet me half way.”

“What do you mean?”

“She is not handing in assignments and her lab reports are barely legible.”

Relief rushed through her. It’s not only me. Frankie pressed her lips together and nodded, not sure if she should welcome the feeling. “That’s what I feared.” Or hoped. No feared. Definitely feared.

Amber obviously had a wide-ranging problem, which was bad. But it meant her absences weren’t directed at Frankie, and that would be good. But Frankie was still Amber’s teacher and would eventually have to give her a grade. Then it could easily become personal.

She thanked Matthew for his feedback and went down to the office. After slipping her attendance sheets through the slot in the counter, she hesitated.

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