Tiffany Andrews arrived early for her appointment with Miss Elizabeth Jones, Principle of Hedley Coleville Academy. She had only been to the office of the exclusive school once before, when she had enrolled her two children, Amber who was 12 and Derrick 10.
The principle's secretary was busy, efficiently updating files and answering the telephone. The name on her desk was Anna Lin. Tiffany had met her more than once and had often seen Anna in the supermarket where they both shopped. She was a petite Asian woman, probably in her late 30's to early 40's. With long black hair and an elegant shape she carried with her an aura of sensuality that was enhanced by full lips, the kind, if you were a man, you could get lost in while kissing. Tiffany couldn't put her finger on why she thought of her this way but lately she had been experiencing conflicting feelings that were confusing to her.
Tiffany met her husband when he was lecturing at her college where she was studying psychology with the intention of going on to graduate school and becoming a professional. Claude owned Andrews Psychological Clinics, a group of clinics in the metropolitan area and was noted in his field. She was a senior, aged 21, when they met, approaching him after his lecture. She wanting to pursue one of the points he had made. What seemed like a simple question started an intense conversation that led to an exciting romance that culminated in Claude divorcing his wife and marrying the young woman just fifteen months after they had talked in the hall.
Her life with Claude Andrews was idyllic. He was successful, well regarded by his peers and devastatingly handsome. He took Tiffany to place she hadn't considered she would see until she was a much older woman. She graduated and started graduate school but withdrew prior to their marriage and never continued. Within three years she had two children, a girl and a boy, and when they were old enough, she enrolled them in the exclusive Hedley Coleville Academy. To Tiffany, life seemed too good to be true and was, when earlier in the year when Claude suffered a severe heart attack while playing tennis and died on the operating table. When it came time to settle Claude's affairs Tiffany was lost; she was 38, adrift on an uncharted sea.
Claude's dad, Alan was very helpful to her but in sorting out the pieces but found that Claude had managed his money very poorly and had been living beyond his means. He pointed out that as things stood Tiffany would have to pursue life much less ostentatiously, which required that she sell the elegant house. The money from the house would be able to support Tiffany and the children on a more moderate basis but the budget would not sustain the luxury of the expensive school thus, the appointment with Miss Jones.
The quality of education the children were getting at Hedley Coleville was, for Tiffany, too important to give up without doing everything in her power to maintain. Both children had become so advanced in their knowledge at Hedley Coleville and Tiffany was desperate to keep them enrolled that she asked for the appointment with Miss Jones to see what could be done. Perhaps, she thought, she could offer, as a volunteer, her services as a teacher's aid.
Elizabeth Jones ran the school with the reputation of being a stern taskmistress and had the reputation of being an outstanding educator. While Tiffany had only talked with her a couple of times she had seen her make presentations to women's organizations and was in awe of the woman, who carried herself with such elegance and command. She was in the office to make a plea to Miss Jones to see if there was anyway the children could remain at the school and was a bundle of nerves.
The phone on Anna Linn's desk rang. She picked it up, listened and said to the person on the other end of the line, "Yes, I understand." She listened with pursed lips while looking at Tiffany and a fleeting smile curved her mouth then stole away. Her eyes assessed Tiffany Andrews in a way that made Tiffany feel like she was being rated. It was as if Anna was looking at a watermelon and getting ready to thump it. The elegant Asian smiled as if she had found the perfect melon for the party and said, "Miss Jones will see you now Mrs. Andrews."
Anna watched the woman stand and smooth her fawn colored skirt with her hands. She shook her head to adjust her shoulder length dark brown hair and brushed a strand away from her eyes. Tiffany stood about 5'10"; she had a well-defined, curvy figure that was highlighted by large breasts, probably DD. Her nipples, through her white, long sleeved pullover were visible; some would call them almond sized. Her complexion was light olive and she had sultry doe eyes.
As Tiffany walked through the door she felt like she was on display. Still sensing Anna Linn's eyes on her she felt invaded then somewhat aroused. She had always been a man's woman and didn't understand the feeling she had just experienced. But, since Claude's death, so many things had been confusing to her. As she walked from one office to another she had been passed from one set of eyes to the other.
The woman on the other side of the desk stood. She had so much poise that she could have been a blonde haired; blue-eyed Greek goddess of old, dressed in a flowing white robe. The woman was wearing a business suit, gray pinstriped slacks (the jacket was hanging on a hanger on the wooden clothes rack) and her blouse was pleated in front with short-cuffed sleeves. To Tiffany she appeared to be approximately her age. She was about the same height as Tiffany, perhaps an inch or so shorter, maybe 5'8 or 9. Her hips were curvy but not overwhelming so. They had tightness about them that suggested consistent workouts. Her breasts were not as large as Tiffany's, probably 36D, and the way her nipples protruded it was clear she wore a sheer net bra.
Offering her hand she said, "It's good to meet you again Mrs. Andrews." She shook Tiffany's hand firmly and held it a bit longer than was comfortable. At the same time her eyes moved quickly down and up Tiffany's body and fixed on her eyes before her hand released its grip.
"I'm surprised you remembered me Miss Jones; we've only talked twice in the last three years." The principal was maintaining firm eye contact, as was she, but Tiffany had the feeling that her peripheral vision was centered on her nipples and she wasn't able to stop the warm sensation that settled in her saddle.
"Please call me Elizabeth, Mrs. Andrews. May I call you Tiffany?" Tiffany nodded. "In answer to your question Tiffany, even though we have interfaced yes, infrequently, you are the kind of woman who stands out in a crowd." She held eye contact and said, "Forgive me, it has been such a long time but let me express my regrets at the loss of your husband. He seemed like such a vibrant man." She gestured to the seat in front of the desk and said, "Please have a seat Tiffany." Tiffany sat down and Elizabeth moved behind the desk and sat.
She picked up two manila folders that were on the desk. "If you're concerned about Melinda or Derrick, they are excellent students...model students I would say."
"Thank you Miss (Elizabeth silently mouthed her name) Elizabeth. Their performance is not why I asked for the appointment." She put her hands on the desk, flattened her palms together then nervously drummed her fingers. "I...I have a much more difficult subject to talk with you about." Elizabeth raised one eyebrow.
"You seem upset Tiffany," she said. "Please feel free to talk plainly with me."
Tiffany cleared her throat. "Sometimes circumstances present themselves in away that take one completely off guard." She cleared her voice again.
"You're referring to your husbands passing?" Elizabeth reached her right hand across the desk and patted Tiffany's left. "I can imagine how devastating that must be for a young woman like you." Her lips curved a sympathetic smile and she patted Tiffany's hand and drew hers away.
"Y...yes...that was a shock but there's more and I don't quite know how to begin."
Elizabeth pushed the button on the intercom. "Anna, would you please bring in a carafe of water and a glass?" Looking into Tiffany's eyes she said, "The best way to start a difficult subject, Tiffany, is from the beginning."
There was a six-person conference table in the alcove to the right of the desk. Elizabeth stood. Maybe it would be more comfortable have this discussion at the table; it would be much less formal." She rounded the desk, took Tiffany's hand and led her to the table, pulling out chair to the left of the end. At the same time Anna Linn came in carrying a polished chrome tray with a carafe and three glasses. Elizabeth took the tray from Anna and the two women's eyes spoke something that caused Anna's nostrils to flare. "Thank you Anna," she said dismissing her. The secretary left the room and Elizabeth set the tray on the table, poured two glasses of water, set one in front of Tiffany and one in front of the seat on the end. She sat down, looked at Tiffany and said, "Now, tell me what's on your heart dear."
Tiffany sipped from the glass, set it down and began. She told of how pleased she was with Hedley Coleville School, how happy both she and Claude had been to be able to even enroll the children. She told of the devastation of Claude's death and how, thru her father-in-law she learned of his financial condition...how she sold the house and had scaled down her lifestyle, all with the goal of keeping the children at Hedley Coleville. "But, even after that..."
"You're still not able to afford the tuition?"
"Yes...I mean no...I mean I can afford to keep one here but not both." Tears sparkled in the corners of her eyes. "I feel like Solomon telling the two women that he would cut the two children in half..."
Elizabeth reached for a box of tissues in the middle of the table and eased it in front of Tiffany who took a tissue, wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Elizabeth reached a waste can and held it for Tiffany to drop the tissue. "I feel like such a fool, acting like this Miss (Elizabeth mouthed her name)...Elizabeth."
