June is bustin’ out all oh-oh-ver! I love June! June, June, June! The last month before summer break! It’s the most wonderful month of the year for Ontario teachers! 🙂 Speaking of teaching, I’ve got another snippet from my teacher romance, Learning to Love!
Continuing from where we left off…
Her gaze fell to their joined hands, and this time Rebecca felt more than the strength that radiated through Towanda’s palms–she felt a bond, a connection she couldn’t quite explain. “I think there’s a lot of her inside you,” she whispered.
“I get that same feeling with you, too, Rebecca.” Their eyes met and they shared a smile. Fear was something she’d experienced long before she knew the meaning of the word. Niggling feelings that caused her stomach to clench or her skin to feel hot; nights that she couldn’t sleep because her heart was beating too rapidly. When her father left without saying a word. When the rent was due and there wasn’t enough money in her mother’s savings account. When the fridge was empty. The future didn’t scare her, but there were times she feared the memories of her past might swallow her up.
Here’s the blurb:
Rebecca Ledgerwood is a Physical Education teacher who’s ready to invest some sweat equity into a lasting romance. On a whim, she has her palm read before summer vacation ends, and she’s told she’s an old soul who’ll find happiness with a younger man.
William Whitney leaves an unfulfilling career to pursue teaching and gets placed at Rebecca’s school for his Physical Education practicum. He’s desperate to make a difference, convinced that the choices he made in the past contributed to his younger sister’s death. Kendal High School is nothing like the prep school he attended as a teenager, but he’s determined to make the most of his time there, especially if it makes Rebecca notice him.
Though they come from vastly different backgrounds, there’s an undeniable chemistry that sparks between the two. They resist, as they must, until his practicum ends, but when he’s offered a teaching position at his former prep school, will he take the easy way out, or fight for what’s right in front of him?
Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to visit the other Weekend Writing Warriors!
In other exciting news, the Toronto Raptors won game one of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors last Thursday, and game two is tonight! Go, Raptors, go! We The North, and we comin’ for you! 😀 Hope your June is a slam dunk, my friends!
Award-winning romance author & PE teacher who plays sports, sings, juggles, dances, has a sneaker obsession, & lives on PB! 
How about having a chicken run into my delicate leg. It’s always something. Loving your story, dear Julie
Never a dull moment with you, Charmaine! Take care and watch out for those wild chickens! xo
Sounds like her life hasn’t been the easiest. I can see why she’d want a bit of reassurance that things would maybe work out in the romance department. Fingers crossed for her!
She’s had a difficult past, for sure, but things are about to take a very promising turn. 🙂 Thanks, Jenna!
I think this was a realization and connection long overdue and that she’s finally ready to accept it . . . but maybe not with a little struggling.
You’re exactly right, Nancy. This is like an awakening for her in many ways. 🙂
Love it when you get all feely – on the page, I mean. Keep that schmoop to yourself in real life.. 😉 Okay, now my serious side: I love this. It makes us want to connect deeper with Rebecca. Way to go!
😀 *tackle hugs and smothers you with schmoopiness* Thanks, my Bunny! xo
Powerful scene. One way or another she’s going to leave this reading with new and enhanced self knowledge. Enjoyed the snippet – quite a deep look into the character.
Yes, indeed! Thank you so much, Veronica! I’m really glad people are enjoying this scene! 🙂
This is a great way to bring out the wounds in her past. I love that she’s more afraid of the past than the future.
Thanks, Ed! It’s always hard to know when to filter in the backstory, but this seemed like the perfect moment to bring up some of the baggage she carries from her past. Glad it worked for you! 🙂
She had a hard life as a kid.
Yeah, it wasn’t easy, but it gives her a ton of empathy when it comes to teaching and dealing with teenagers who’ve come from similar situations. Thanks for reading, Kate! 🙂
Those sorts of memories never go away. This was a compelling piece.
Thank you very much for saying so! That means a lot. 🙂
Whoa, I missed one! How did I do that? Guess that happens when you babysit twins on both Saturday and Sunday. Things slip by.
LOVE this snippet! So satisfying to get a glimpse into Rebecca’s past that surely will later explain some of her fears and doubts. So lovely that the just-for-fun palm reading has turned into something deeper, as she connects with Towanda. Very, very nice.