Learning to Love Read Online Free Page A

be back and then you'll have the opportunity to make them into something better than their father," Robert said and nodded to the door. "By the way, big day for you."
    "Me?" Mary pointed to herself. Looking toward the door and finding nothing there, she turned back to him. "How come?"
    "You're on bell duty," Robert smiled. "You better get out there and start ringing it or those kids will start to wander off—it's one of the perks of your job."
    "Is that the only one?" Mary asked, walking toward the door.
    "That, and you get to spend the day with me," Robert smiled.
    "Maybe you should pay me for that too," Mary laughed going out the door and hearing him complain about the remark.
     
    *****
    Standing in front of her new class, Mary looked at all the eager faces that listened to everything she said and felt for once in her life that she was in the right place. Remembering back to her early dreams of becoming a teacher, she'd assumed all that had perished with her parents. With both of them and their financial support gone, she'd struggled all her young life to take any job she'd been given. Thinking that the day she became a tutor for the wealthy Williams family was one of her happiest, it paled in comparison to what she felt now. 
    "So class-"
    "Miss?"
    Mary turned her attention to the small boy with his hand held high. "Yes, John."
    "Are you and Mr. Hagan married?"
    Embarrassed by the remark Mary felt her face blush. "No. We're just friends."
    "Would you like to marry him?" John asked, getting a giggle from the other pupils.
    "He's a nice man and I—" Mary stopped herself. Still feeling embarrassed, she couldn't believe she was explaining her love life to a five year old. "That's not what we're here to talk about, John." Turning her attention to the class instead, she said. "Now if you'll open your book to page number six-"
    "So do you think he's handsome?"
    Mary looked up from her book and found a girl with a smirk on her face.
    "Because my mother said that he's very handsome. She said that if she hadn't met my father she'd run away with him."
    Mary chuckled at the remark. Trying to regain her composure she found herself laugh alone with the class. "She did, did she? Does your father know this?"
    "No, she said it's our little secret. You won't tell her I told you, will you?"
    Mary shook her head. "Your secrets safe with me, Clara."
    "So are you going to marry him?" she asked. "Because I think my mother will be sad if you do."
    "Tell your mother not to worry," Mary replied. "No, we're not getting married."
    "Who's not getting married?"
    Hearing the voice and looking to the door, Mary found Robert sticking his head in the doorway. "No one."
    "Miss Samuels said that you're handsome," John called out.
    "She did, did she?" Robert grinned.
    "I didn't," Mary shook her in the negative. "They weren't listening to me-"
    "Clara's mother thinks you're very handsome," another child called out. "She said she'll be sad if you marry Miss Samuels."
    Seeing Robert look as uncomfortable as she was, she was relieved when he gave them an early recess.
    "Just today, you hear me, you scallywags," Robert said, stepping back to allow the stampede go out the door. "And tell the other class."
     
    Now in an empty classroom, Robert laughed, looking off toward the doorway. "They're a great bunch of kids."
    "A bit too advanced for my liking," Mary chuckled.
    "So you think I'm handsome," Robert said with a grin.
    "I did not, it was them that put words in my mouth," Mary said. "And by the way, what brought you in here?"
    "I heard the laughing and thought you might need my help."
    "You think I'm out of my depth?" Mary asked, tidying up her desk. "I would have them under control before you let them go-"
    Robert put up his hands. "No, that's not what I was thinking. I was just worried that they were taking advantage of you. Sorry I didn't mean-“
    "Because if you think I'm not fit to teach them…"
    "Wow wait, I don't know how we've found ourselves in this