When You Least Expect It

Chapter 2

The day couldn't have gone worse if she had planned it that way. The alarm never went off so both Hannah and Max were late to work and school respectively. Once Hannah got to work, which she loved being, the copy machine jammed while she was running a large job for the principal's meeting with the Superintendent. After working for 10 minutes to fish out the pieces of paper that she kept finding, she finished the job, only to discover that she had gotten toner all over her shirt, ruining it. She had a sweater at her desk and pulled that on to cover the large black mark until the day was over. She spilled her iced coffee all over her desk and skirt after lunch and then just as she thought she was in the clear, a kindergartener had come into the clinic, just as the nurse was helping in the another classroom and the child promptly threw up all over the floor.

"It's been a heck of a day hasn't it Han?" Mitchel Saunders asked in his deep voice as he tried not to snicker at the scowl on her face.

"You know Mitch, if you weren't such a nice guy I would quit right now! I have to rush home and take a quick shower so I don't smell like vomit while I go to the restaurant! It's a damn good thing that it's Friday!"

"I thought you were off this weekend?" He asked.

"Todd begged me to come in to work a private party. He had to promise the world before I said I would-"

"So I take it that your girls' weekend is taking too much from your savings?" Mitch asked smirking.

"You know it!" Hannah replied with a smile.

Mitch laughed his usual belly laugh at the tone in her voice. He watched the young woman before him that he and his wife loved dearly and hated how much extra work she had to do while she raised her sons since her divorce. He wished he could give her a bigger raise, but the district rules had his hands tied.

He wouldn't be the principal he was without her. Taking a chance and hiring her over more experienced candidates 15 years ago was the best gamble he had ever made. His wife Janene agreed and reminded him of it all the time.

They both had loved watching Max and Adam grow up with her and had the three of them over for dinner frequently during and after the divorce. It still angered Mitch the way Markus had treated her and his boys since. It took all he had not to tell that man off and Janene would love to sink her nails into his face.

"That man makes me forget that I am a good southern Christian woman!!" She repeatedly told Mitch. Knowing and loving his wife for as long as he had, he just nodded and kept his mouth shut. They just got the boys and Hannah special things for Christmases and birthdays.

Mitch and Janene had only one child in their marriage and had fought and prayed for that one after many years. They loved and adored their little girl, Rebecca, and spoiled her rotten. Their world had crashed around them when she was diagnosed with Leukemia. She fought hard for two years, but God had taken her home to him 20 years ago. There wasn't a day that went by that they didn't think and talk about her. And while Hannah didn't replace their own daughter, it was nice to have young people to give love and attention to.

"Hey Hannah, you've had a crazy day, why don't you go home early? We've got it here and I won't even dock you the time!" He added with a cheeky grin.

Hannah heard the sass in his voice and looked at him, thinking how much he reminded her of 'Uncle Phil' from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air tv show and how much she loved the man, "You won't even dock me an hour? Why Mitchel Saunders, what ever will I do?"

"Just go you smart ass and enjoy the rest of your weekend! In fact, why don't you take Monday off too!"

She rolled her eyes and chuckled, "You are terrible! Tell Janene I will call her Monday about the craft fair next weekend ok?"