The Better Half(55)
FROM: Winn Hawkins
DATE: December 29
SUBJECT: Well done
TO: Nina Morgan Clarke
Nina,
I hope you and your family had a great Christmas. I meant to email sooner, but we’re in Australia with Gemma’s family and I always get confused if we are a day ahead or behind California, and then before I knew it Christmas was over.
Anyway, I wanted to say, WELL DONE, your first half of the school year. You came into your position under groundbreaking circumstances, and you have exceeded the expectations of the board of trustees as the first female head of school.
Here’s to continued improvement and success for the Royal-Hawkins School in the New Year.
Best,
Winn
“Look at this,” I say, elbowing Leo while we’re killing time before our flight to Omaha. Our departure is delayed waiting on a Dallas flight coming in. “Totally unexpected and really nice of Winn.” I hand my phone to Leo so he can read how awesome his girlfriend is. “Check out the line about me exceeding expectations.” I’m leaning over Leo’s shoulder, making sure he’s soaking up every word. Admittedly, I’m feeling my oats that I was able to manage a cross-country wayward child, mask a first trimester pregnancy, weather a long-distance love life, and STILL crush it at my job. I should add #badassbossmom to my email signature.
The reference to me being the first female head of school is a bit underhanded, but I’m not going to let it take the shine off this email. At least Winn didn’t comment on me being a well-spoken Black person. That backhanded compliment is decades overplayed.
“Nina, is that you?” I startle even though the voice is familiar. I hop up out of professional instinct to always greet another person eye to eye. “Oh, WOW . . .” I follow Courtney Dunn’s eyes directly to my belly. Turns out this was not the day to wear my new Tory Burch athleisure wear. The one good holiday gift I got from Leo. The white Lycra crew neck shirt has bandaged itself tightly around my belly. Leo jumps in to save me from the stunned silence between me and Courtney.
“Hi, I’m Leo, Nina’s boyfriend.”
“Clearly,” Courtney responds, not taking her eyes off my belly.
“We’re heading to Omaha to see my family. Where are you off to?” Leo puts his hand out to shake with Courtney and presumably lure her eyes off my belly bump.
“I’m Courtney. Courtney Dunn, parent and new board member at Royal-Hawkins.” Oh no she did not just say that. “I just flew in from Dallas, and I’m catching a connecting flight to Denver to meet up with my family in Vail.”
“I thought you mentioned at the basketball jamboree you all were flying directly from Mexico to Colorado on Christmas Day?” I’m panicking because I can see it registering on Courtney’s face that she now has something to lord over me.
“Well yes, that was the plan, but I had to stop in Dallas unexpectedly to deal with a few issues with my family. Geoff, Benjamin, we have him this school break, and Daisy did fly into Vail on Christmas Day. So, you’re pregnant?” Courtney draws out pregnant as if each syllable is its own sentence.
I take a big breath and hope that the connection of us both being female is strong and the connection of us both being mothers is stronger. “Yes. But I’m hoping to wait a few more weeks before I announce. Perhaps closer to the end of January.” January 30 is not arbitrary, it happens to coincide with the six-month mark of my first contracted year as head of school.
“Is there such a thing as maternity leave for a school head? Probably why most schools prefer headmasters. How does one miss months of school?”
I hadn’t thought through how maternity leave would work just yet, it’s a fair question.
“I haven’t worked out the details, but I’m sure when I announce, Winn and I, along with the executive committee, will figure out a plan that serves the school community well in my absence.” My voice is calm and steady. I can tell Courtney is chewing on my answer. She takes in my bump again, which is protruding more than usual after three days of holiday leftovers.
“I’m sorry, Nina, but since you’re brand new at your job, I think important information like this should be shared with Winn and the board immediately. Anything that threatens the long-term health and stability of the school needs to be dealt with as swiftly as possible. I guess one never knows when a surprise is lurking right around the corner.”
On the heels of Winn’s email this is a crushing blow. Leo picks up my hand either to support me or to keep me from throwing a punch. “I think brand new at my job is a bit of an overstatement,” I challenge Courtney. I’m feeling confident in my tenure thus far given Winn’s words of encouragement, but I also have a living reminder in front of me of how pissed I am at him for selling a board seat. “I’d ask that you give me the professional courtesy to tell Winn about my pregnancy on my own timeline. Not yours.” Again, Courtney studies me.
“I’m having lunch with Winn on January 6. I’ll expect that you will have shared with him by then so the two of us can celebrate your exciting news. Sooner rather than later is best for the school,” Courtney concludes, adjusting the overnight bag digging into her shoulder. Has she been speaking to my ex, the two of them laying down ultimatums about my pregnancy reveal? “In the meantime, enjoy your New Year.”