Love in the Shadows by Maggie Doolin

Author:Maggie Doolin [Doolin, Maggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBTQIA+, UST, coming out, lesbian, teacher, student
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2020-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

January was cold and frosty. After the excitement of Christmas, Meg wasn’t the only one to feel a sense of anti-climax. She looked forward to what her mother called “the cock-step,” the time in January where the day started to lengthen, even if it was by a mere smidgeon. The roads were often icy, which made travelling difficult, so she didn’t get home to Tullybawn as often as she’d like. On a few occasions, snow fell, though never sticking for too long, much to the disgust of the students, who hoped the school might close due to a heavy fall.

The first staff meeting of the year took place shortly after they returned. Part of the agenda was devoted to the Saint Patrick’s Day play for the non-exam classes. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t on Saint Patrick’s Day but on the three school nights preceding it and was a huge undertaking. Meg sat at the table, listening with half an ear when she became aware of the words “English department” and “Harriet.”

Quickly she tuned into the meeting again in time to hear a beaming Sr. Elizabeth announcing that this year they were blessed to have Meg, who’d trodden the boards in most of the dramas in university. “So, I’m putting you in to help out with Harriet and Joan. I know the two girls will be delighted to have you on board—the more help the better, eh?”

As Sr. Elizabeth continued speaking, Meg asked Joan, who was sitting beside her, what had been said, and discovered, to her absolute horror, that the English and music departments were responsible for the bulk of the work in putting on the play. Appalled, she glanced across to Harriet, who studiously avoided her. Jesus, I’ll be working with her for at least six weeks; there’s no escaping it.

After the meeting ended, she took her frustration out on the contents of her press and used her entire stock of swear words to describe the upcoming six-week nightmare. She froze at the all-too-familiar voice behind her, and turned so fast she barely avoided knocking her head off the top of the press door. What a pity I didn’t get my head cracked open. Maybe I’d end up with a major injury and get out of working on the play with her. She recalled her attention to Harriet, who was still speaking.

“Look, Meg.” She stopped and glanced about. Meg almost clapped. For once, the high and mighty Miss Stewart seemed decidedly ill at ease. “I realise we have to work together on this. Not only that, but we have to choose a play, I mean, you and I. Mrs Doran, the teacher you replaced, and I have done it for the last two shows.”

“But you’ve decided you’re unable to work with me, so you’re bailing out or you want me to bail out?” Meg was livid. How dare she presume to judge me for what I am? So enraged was she, she missed Harriet’s next words and had to ask her to repeat them.

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