Violet: Planted Flowers Series, #3

By Anna K Payne

A timid teacher must save a child at risk from abusive parents.

Violet lives a quiet, solitary life as a kindergarten teacher. But she worries about her student’s home life. When a handsome social worker talks at her school, she realizes her student’s parents are cooking methamphetamine.

As the situation escalates, she seeks the help of her bible study group. She needs confidence in her daily life and her new friends encourage her to be herself. Walk with her as she learns to hear God through fellowship with her study group.

Will she be able to protect her student? Will she be bold and act if required?

Violet is the third book in the Christian Cozy Mystery series, Planted Flowers. Each of the women need to find a deeper relationship with God and they hope to build a network of support in the group. The trials and dangers they experience brings them closer to each other and to God, opening them up to the men in their lives.

Watch as Violet learns confident boldness. Buy now.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AP Creations Publishing
• Release date: May 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386467397

Anna K Payne

Anna K Payne loves a mystery. Her favorite movies include one-liners and things that explode. Her relationship with her Savior is her number one priority and her family come second.  But her passion and vision is to inspire hope, encourage others, love richly, and listen well through the strength of Jesus Christ. She seeks to inspire and encourage through her devotionals and cozy mysteries as well as aiding her family of writers publish their own books. https://www.instafreebie.com/author/AnnaKPayne

Book preview

Violet

Planted Flower Series

by

Anna K Payne

AP Creations

Published by AP Creations

Copyright © 2016 by Anna K Payne

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Dedication

To all the teachers in my life who love each child individually. Thank you for your hard work each day.

Chapter 1

Now, let’s talk about child neglect, child abuse, and child endangerment when the parents are using or producing methamphetamines. Jake pauses and looks around the room of teachers focusing on Violet. She shrinks back into her seat wondering why he is watching her so closely. Finally, his eyes move on.

Here is a list of changes seen in children when methamphetamines are in the home. Jake flips to the next slide. Violet’s eyes race down the list of symptoms as she feels a growing sense of horror in the pit of her stomach. It is almost an exact description of the changes she has witnessed recently in her student, Paulie, over the last months.

Violet compares the symptoms on the slide and the changes she witnessed in the sweet five year old boy. Over the last few months Paulie has changed in every way. Scribbling in her notebook, Violet has no idea how much time is passing.

And finally, how will you report this? Violet feels Jake’s eyes on her again. She glances at the clock. Somehow she missed the last hour of the session. She studies Jake as he finishes and shuts down the slides and the questions. He is nice looking and has body builder type muscles, which is usually a turn off for her. She blushes. This is not a Christian way of thinking. Glancing around the room, she sees the principal frowning at her. Quickly, she gathers her notes and hand-outs to return to her classroom.

Violet wonders if she can get a few moments alone with Jake to talk about Paulie. She wants to go over the list of changes he mentioned to make sure she hasn’t misunderstood. She looks toward the front of the class for a few seconds and realizes how impossible it is. At least eight teachers are already with him, flirting with him. He is handsome but this isn’t the right time, she decides. She sees a few other teachers glance toward the crowd at the front of the class, shaking their heads as they walk out. Violet decides to leave too. She probably misunderstood the slides anyway.

Dismissing her worry, Violet walks toward her classroom to get her things for the night. She wants to cut out some more spring flower petals for the craft tomorrow. It isn’t too early for spring in southern California. Mentally putting together her list of things to take home, Violet doesn’t see her colleague Martha, and nearly bumps into her.

Day dreaming, again, Violet? Really, if you weren’t a Kindergarten teacher you wouldn’t still be here. I hope you got something out of the seminar this afternoon. I ought to report you for not paying attention. I’m surprised you aren’t in there mooning over that presenter with the other slackers. She is a large person but when Martha speaks Violet shrinks inside. She is afraid to say anything since it usually leads to even more snide comments.

Martha sniffs and walks away with her nose in the air. Violet draws a breath and continues walking to her classroom. Martha is the school counselor but she is a bully and unkind. Violet has no idea how she managed to get on her bad side. Lord, touch her heart and help me understand her, Violet whispers.

She reaches her classroom and pulls out her large take-home box. She usually fills it with papers to grade and crafts to work on in the evenings. She picks up the construction paper, the stencils, scissors, and the markers. She puts the list of students inside and then she places the lid on the box, and gathers her purse and keys. Working with crafts always lightens her spirit. She smiles and hums a song from church as she walks out of the door.

As she reaches her car she notices the crowd of teachers around Jake is now only three people. They are literally walking him to his car. He looks irritated as he loads in his possessions. He opens the driver’s door and catches her looking at him. She blushes and stumbles into her car. Linda looks between Jake and Violet with a frown. She steps between them with her back to Violet.

Violet hurries into her car and drives away. Linda loves to create problems for her with the principal. I will need Your help, Lord. She nods her head and turns her radio to a music station.

Chapter 2

Jake watches the cute teacher rush out of the parking lot. Linda shoves her face into his personal zone again and Jake tries not to grimace. Women are always trying to get his attention but he is more interested in the one who got away. Jake realizes Linda is talking about her so he starts listening.

I can’t believe the nerve of her. She is always such a goody-goody. Martha doesn’t like her at all. Martha thinks she should report the parents of one of her little boys but no, Violet just shrinks away mumbling. Linda speaks with disdain about the adorable teacher. Jake can’t believe she thinks running down another teacher will endear her to him.

Ladies, thank you for walking me to my car, but I have to go now. Jake tries not to shove them out of his way but he manages to get inside his car. Breathing a sigh of relief he drives out of the parking lot.

Violet. Jake says her name out loud. That is the name of the teacher his supervisor most wanted him to talk to. He remembers the name because it is so unusual. It reminds him of the flower, which is soft to the touch and vulnerable to rough handling. She looks soft and vulnerable to him.

He wonders what she was carrying in the box she put in her car. And why she blushed when she saw him looking at her. He loved the way her cheeks were so pink in contrast to her dark hair.

When Jake reaches his house, he makes his protein snack for his workout.