“Notes home to parents should be approved by me.”

Natalie gaped at him. “Even the notes in their communication books?”

He shifted his feet and tugged at the knot of his tie. “Not every one but any that might be considered…controversial.”

“Climate isn’t controversial…unless you’re a politician. Nearly all of the children in the class have been affected by fire or flood or both. It made more sense to go with a topic they were interested in.” She waved a hand towards the large map of their district pinned on the wall. “It’s become part of our maths, mapping affected areas. The children have written poetry, painted and even used the topics in creative writing. They’re all engaged and learning. Surely that’s the most important thing.”

He stood straighter, his cheeks infused with pink. “I am asking you to follow the plan we agreed on.”

Natalie felt as if her head was going to roll off her shoulders. She had a bloody anomaly in her breast and he was talking curriculum. She wanted to tell him where to shove his plan. Only she never would. A lump formed hard and tight in her throat. Penny would have told him in no uncertain terms what she thought of his plan and where he could put it.

Penny had taught the class beside hers. They hadn’t been the closest of friends but they’d worked well together. She’d been so gung-ho and full of life and planning a great birthday bash in February to celebrate her sixtieth but the week before it she’d dropped dead from an aneurism. Instead of a birthday bash they’d had a funeral. The shock of it had swept the whole community. How could someone so vibrant be there one day and gone the next?

“Natalie? Are you okay?”

She turned away from Paul’s concerned look to pick up her basket and give herself a moment. Her mind was in turmoil and it frightened her to be reminded of Penny’s sudden loss and her own medical appointment. Would tomorrow see her facing a fight for her own survival? Paul watched her closely from the other side of her desk.

“Something’s come up…a family matter.” She stumbled over her words. “You may need to organise a temporary teacher for me next week…I’ll let you know.”

By the time she got into her car her hands were trembling so hard she struggled to insert the key in the ignition. She pressed her shaking fingers to her lips. Paul probably thought her past her prime and now he’d be thinking she was crazy after her dash from the classroom.