Wisps of Cloud (30 page)

"And can they?"

Ryan shrugged. "Reasonable doubt comes to play, here. If the charge of assault with a deadly weapon is not proved, all the other charges and the confessions of his cronies will be enough to put him away for quite a few years, anyway. Crooked lawyers are as unpopular as crooked teachers."

"But you're still suffering and possibly always will."

"A bit of pain when the weather changes." Ryan stepped across, tucked his arms around her and kissed her firmly on the lips. "I'm not really interested in the man."

"Ryan! You'll smudge my make up." She kissed him back, stood and
lifted their tiny six-week-old daughter who had just awoken, out of the adjacent bassinette. "You know what to do for Alexis?"

"Except for breast feeding, I can do everything you can for her.
" He reached across and took their daughter out of her arms. "Away you go! Tui Park is awaiting!"

"Perhaps I should have taken up more than one month's maternity leave." She grinned. "I'm glad you persuaded me that I'd get no thanks for not taking it. I never realised what hard work a new baby is."

"Just go!"

Karla kissed her husband and little daughter on the head and headed out. There was going to be an official welcome in the Tui Park Assembly Hall at nine-thirty and she was told not to come before then. She hated these formal occasions but guessed they were part of her new position.

Damn, the rain had started again! Another southerly storm was over New Zealand's capital city. She drove across the suburb and into the Tui Park School car park. There before her was the two storey building that looked so huge when compared with Top Plateau. It looked strangely silent in the sweeping rainsquall as all the children and staff would now be in the assembly hall waiting for her.

Just as she wriggled into her raincoat and was about to leave the car, her mobile chirped. There was a text message.

'
Hi Big Boss, Little Boss here. Love and all the best. Chrissy'

*

The End

If you enjoyed Wisps of Cloud, you may also be interested in reading the following novels by Ross Richdale about school principals in New Zealand.

Wind Across the Playground

Blemished Jewel

Long Valley Road

All are available on Kindle

Visit Ross's homepage  is at http://www.rossrichdale.com