by Susan Mason
“And you never told me?”
“Lindsay didn’t want anyone to know. Not even Matt.”
“You had a responsibility, Chloe. Did you at least make sure her mother knew?”
“I did.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze.
Warning bells rang in his head. Before he could question her further, a knock broke the silence.
Chief Hillier entered the room, his expression grim. “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to talk to both of you.”
“Come in, Mike.”
The chief pulled out a small notepad and pencil. “I guess you heard we have one of the perpetrators from last night in custody. So far he’s not saying much. I took Chloe’s statement, but I need your version of what happened.”
Quickly, Aidan relayed the events of the previous evening.
When he finished, Mike looked up. “What can you tell me about these alleged gang members?”
“Not much. It was dark and they were wearing hoods.”
“Matt Brown knows more than what he’s saying. I want to lean on him a little more, but I’ll need to talk to his mother first. To make sure she’s OK with it.” Mike turned his steely gaze to Chloe. “That’s where you come in.”
The color drained from Chloe’s face. “I—I don’t understand.”
“I believe you’ve been in recent contact with Mrs. Brown. In the Lucky Times Tavern.”
****
How could Chief Hillier know about that? Chloe licked her dry lips, trying desperately to come up with a suitable answer. “Could we talk outside? I don’t want to tire Aidan.”
“Actually, I’d like to hear the answer.” Aidan’s suspicious gaze shot to her.
Chief Hillier watched her with unflappable calm.
Short of fainting on the spot, she could see no way out of this. Lord, give me the words to make them understand. She squared her shoulders. “Yes, I’ve spoken with Mrs. Brown.”
“So you were aware the Brown kids were living on their own for months now in decrepit conditions?”
Chloe felt the noose tightening around her neck. “Yes,” she whispered.
The only sound in the room was the whir of machines monitoring Aidan’s vital signs.
“May I ask why you failed to report this to anyone?” Mike’s scowling demeanor did not give Chloe much hope of sympathy.
“I…I didn’t want Matt and Lindsay to be forced into foster care. Not with Matt’s gang connections.”
“Is that why you asked Mrs. Brown to let the kids to move in with you?”
“What?” The disbelief in Aidan’s voice sent chills of regret down her spine.
Mike was toying with her. Obviously he’d spoken with Mrs. Brown if he knew all of this. “I’m sure Mrs. Brown told you it’s a temporary measure until she can find a job in Rainbow Falls.”
“I take it you knew nothing about this?” Mike asked Aidan.
Aidan’s face seemed chiseled from rock. “No.”
Chloe hated the coldness in his voice, the return of his anger and disdain.
Mike snapped his notebook closed. “I could charge you with child endangerment, you know.”
Chloe bit back a gasp. “But I was only trying to protect them.”
“That’s not how it looks from where I stand. Did you also know about Lindsay Brown’s pregnancy?” His steely eyes pierced hers with no hint of softening. The fact that Mike was Nick’s best friend wouldn’t help her today.
“Yes.” How had this all gone so terribly wrong? She’d wanted to help Lindsay and Matt, not bring more trouble to their lives.
“Miss Martin, I’m afraid you’ll have to come with me for further questioning.”
30
In the space of twenty-four hours, Aidan’s world had turned upside down. He’d chased an abducted student, gotten stabbed and almost died, and discovered the woman he loved had been deceiving him for weeks.
A teenage pregnancy and a mother virtually abandoning her kids. How had these details escaped his notice? Tension tightened his neck muscles, the ugly truth bringing with it a measure of guilt. When Matt had gotten into trouble, Aidan had been suspicious that Mrs. Brown wasn’t there, but he’d ignored the warning signs.
Still, Chloe had no right to keep something of this magnitude from him.
Another conversation filtered through his memory. “What happens if we find out there’s no mother living there?”
“I’d be forced to call the county social services and report neglect. They’d probably put Matt into foster care.”
Had she known even then that Mrs. Brown was living elsewhere? Why hadn’t she trusted him enough to ask for his help? Did she think him so unfeeling that he could turn the kids over to the county without a thought?
Aidan rubbed a hand over the ache in his chest, an ache that had nothing to do with his stab wound. He’d planned to reveal his feelings for Chloe today. Good thing Chief Hillier got there first. His head flopped onto the pillow. Searing agony ripped through his shoulder, stealing his breath, yet the emotional pain was worse.
A knock at the door forced his eyes open.
Larry Jenkins stood in the doorway. “You look terrible.” He removed his fedora and shuffled in.
“Being stabbed will do that to you.”
Larry remained serious, sending another warning to Aidan’s pain-addled mind. “Grab a seat.”
“I don’t think I’ll be here long. I have some unpleasant business to discuss.”
“Bad news travels fast in this town.”
“I’m afraid it does. This is one devil of a mess.” Furrows creased his forehead. “In light of recent events involving Matt and Lindsay Brown, I have no choice but to suspend you from your position as Vice-Principal.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m afraid so. Too many rules have been breached, by you and Miss Martin.” He gave a weary sigh. “There will be a hearing in due course.”
A cold swath of dread swirled through Aidan’s system. It was Arizona all over again. “Larry, you can’t do this.”
“I’m sorry. I have no choice.” He pushed his fedora back on and walked out the door, his shoulders hunched.
Acid burned in Aidan’s stomach. He never should have gotten involved with Chloe Martin. She’d been trouble from the moment she’d crashed through his front door. Now his life, his heart, and his career lay in ruins. How would he ever recover this time?
****
Chloe poured a cup of strong, black coffee. She grimaced at her rumpled sweats and wrinkled T-shirt. Cinderella was indeed back from the ball. She’d been so exhausted when the chief had finally released her that she’d come home and fallen into bed, grateful for the oblivion of sleep.
At least Mike wasn’t going to press charges—for now.
Chloe needed to work fast, however, to get things into motion for the Brown kids before Mike sent Matt to foster care. After a fitful night, she was finding it hard to muster the energy to do anything. Her mind kept swirling back to the look of utter devastation on Aidan’s face. As soon as visiting hours began, she’d go talk to him. If she could only make him understand why she couldn’t tell him about Mrs. Brown, surely he’d find it in his heart to forgive her—again.
A loud rap banged on her door.
When she opened the locks, Maxi’s anxious face greeted her.
“Hi. I don’t have long. I’ve come to pick up some of Aidan’s things, but I had to talk to you.”
“What’s the matter? Has something else happened?”
Maxi pushed past her into the living room. “I guess you haven’t heard. Principal Jenkins suspended Aidan.”
Chloe gasped. “Why did he do that?”
Maxi threw out her arms while she paced. “Aidan wouldn’t tell me everything. It has something to do with those kids. It also has something to do with you. I tried to pry it out of him, but he clammed right up.”
“This is terrible. I have to talk to him.”
“I’m supposed to pick him up after I
get his stuff. Why don’t you go see him now? I’ll stall as long as I can.”
Chloe made the trip to Kingsville in record time. Nerves wreaked havoc with her system as she raced up to the second floor, not bothering to wait for the elevator. Outside Aidan’s room, she paused to catch her breath and collect her thoughts. Lord, give me the words to convince Aidan how sorry I am. Help him see that we can get through this crisis together.
Seated on the side of the bed, one arm in a sling, Aidan’s head snapped up as she entered. A shuttered look came over his features, and he turned away.
Chloe fought back a rush of dismay. “I need to talk to you about what happened yesterday.”
“Mike made the situation pretty clear.”
His harsh tone tore into her.
“I want to explain.”
He turned to face her, his features as rigid as a mask. “What’s to explain? You lied to me. And almost got Lindsay, Matt, and I killed. I don’t need to hear anything else.”
His coldness penetrated her hollow insides, creating tremors that shook her to the core. “I didn’t want you to send Matt into foster care.”
Anger leapt into his eyes, turning them to molten steel. “Who were you to make that decision on your own?”
Chloe cringed. She’d made a huge mess of everyone’s lives. Now Aidan could lose his job. A job that meant everything to him. “I’m so sorry, Aidan. I never thought—”
“Save it, Chloe. Your apologies can’t fix this.”
“I’m sorry,” she repeated as tears burned her eyes. “So very sorry.”
“I think you’d better go.” He stared at the wall, a nerve ticking in his jaw.
Before she lost complete control, she rushed from the room.
****
After a visit to the women’s restroom where she splashed cold water on her face and attempted to collect her tattered emotions, Chloe made her way to Lindsay’s room. She needed to have a serious talk with the kids. She owed Lindsay and Matt an apology. She’d thought she could handle the situation, but she’d only made everything worse.
The sheets covered Lindsay’s still form as she slept. One side of her face had turned purple and her lip was swollen. Chloe forced herself to face what this girl had suffered, before shifting her attention to Matt, who sat curled in one of the chairs, asleep with his head on the wooden armrest. From the looks of it, he’d been here the whole time.
Lindsay’s eye fluttered open as Chloe approached the bed.
“Hey, honey. How are you feeling?”
Lindsay opened cracked lips. “Sore.”
“Do you want me to get the nurse?”
“No. Just want water.”
Chloe picked up a cup and angled the straw towards Lindsay’s lips.
The girl took a few sips, and then dropped her head back onto the pillow.
What could Chloe say to a girl who’d been through such an ordeal? She laid a gentle hand on her hair. “I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but the doctor says you’ll be fine.”
Tears welled in Lindsay’s eyes. “My…my baby’s gone.”
Chloe reached to grasp her hand. “I’m so sorry, honey.” How many times would she utter those inadequate words today?
The girl’s body convulsed with sobs.
Chloe handed her a tissue, wishing she could do more to comfort the girl.
When at last the crying subsided, Lindsay took in a shaky breath. “Where’s Matt? Is he OK?”
“He’s right here. Asleep on the chair. He hasn’t left your side for a minute.”
“Thank God.” She let out a long breath. “How will we keep him safe?”
“Actually I want to talk to you both about that.” Chloe turned to rouse Matt who stirred in the chair. “Matt, I need to talk to you and Lindsay about something important.”
He rubbed his eyes, pushed his tousled hair off his forehead, and straightened.
In quick terms, she told them of her plan. “Moving in would be a temporary solution, until your mother gets a better job in town.”
The lines of worry in Lindsay’s forehead relaxed. “I don’t know about Matt, but I’d like that.”
“What do you think, Matt? We’d have to draw up some rules, so there won’t be any misunderstandings between us.”
Matt remained silent.
“The only other option is foster care. Now that Chief Hillier knows your circumstances, he’s already setting those wheels in motion.”
Matt’s head snapped up, alarm lighting his eyes.
“I’m hoping that with your mother’s permission, he’ll let you stay with me.” She put a gentle hand on his arm and waited until he looked at her. “I care about you and Lindsay very much. And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you both safe—if you’ll let me.”
Only the trembling of his bottom lip gave away any emotion. At last, he swiped his sleeve under his nose and nodded.
With that one small gesture, a new alliance was forged.
31
Monday morning dawned cold and gray with a torrent of sleet descending on the town. The bleakness of the sky matched the state of Chloe’s heart. Still, she dressed with purpose, digging deep to find her determination. Today she would plead her case before Mr. Jenkins. She needed to take responsibility for the events that had transpired and prayed that she could persuade the principal not to fire Aidan.
Chloe arrived at the school an hour before classes began and made her way toward Mr. Jenkins’ office. When she reached Aidan’s darkened room, she laid her palm against the door and absorbed a wave of sorrow. He should be sitting at his desk right now, getting a head start on the day, not recovering from a stab wound. Chloe’s well-meaning but reckless actions had led to this—to Aidan being forced to leave the job he loved. With renewed purpose, she straightened her spine. If all went well with Mr. Jenkins, justice would be restored, and Aidan would be back where he belonged.
The door to the principal’s office stood ajar.
Nerves slicked Chloe’s palms with sweat. She offered a quick prayer for guidance before knocking.
“Come in.” Mr. Jenkins sat at a desk piled with papers and used coffee mugs. Unsmiling, the man gestured to a chair. “Have a seat, Miss Martin.”
“Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
“I was going to call you anyway. You saved me the trouble.”
She nodded, trying not to let his scowl get the best of her. “First of all, I want to apologize for everything that’s happened. Despite my good intentions, I can see now how many errors in judgment I made along the way.”
“That’s an understatement. You’ve created a terrible predicament for Mr. North.”
Unwanted tears clogged Chloe’s throat. She’d sworn she wouldn’t break down. “That’s the reason I’m here. I want to emphasize that Mr. North is innocent in all of this. He had no idea Mrs. Brown wasn’t living with her children, or that Lindsay was pregnant. I kept this information from him because I knew he’d be required to report it to the appropriate authorities.”
“And why exactly were you so opposed to that? I think a good foster home would be a better option than their present situation.”
She met his gaze. “I felt it would be harmful to Matt. He’s been abandoned by his father, and his mother as well. He has a lot of misplaced anger, which, frankly, I feel foster care would only magnify.”
“And you’re an expert in this field? A twenty-three-year old with a culinary degree?”
“No, sir. I’m not an expert. But I do know a lot about bad choices and the devastation they can cause. I was trying to save two kids from the same mistakes I’ve made, or worse.”
He studied her. “I’ll accept that your intentions were good. However, your naiveté has led to devastating consequences.”
She lifted her chin. “I’m willing to take full responsibility for my mistakes, but Mr. North should not be blamed for things he knew nothing about. He is an honest, principled man, who wouldn’t break the rules for anything.”
/>
“Really?” Mr. Jenkins elbowed a pile of papers out of the way and leaned in, his eyes hard. “Then maybe you can clear up another rumor circulating around the school.”
Acid burned in the pit of her stomach. “What rumor?”
“I’ve been told that you and Mr. North are romantically involved. Is this true?”
Every drop of saliva seemed to disappear, gluing her tongue to the roof of her mouth. How could she answer this question without incriminating Aidan? “I can’t deny I’ve come to develop…feelings…for Mr. North, but we are definitely not a couple.” Pain squeezed her heart at this admission.
“You danced around that question better than a politician. Are you romantically involved with him?”
The temptation to lie to save Aidan’s job burned bright. But lies had created this mess in the first place. “We have kissed,” she admitted. “But Aidan made it clear there would be no relationship.”
“A teacher reported seeing you two locked in a passionate embrace the other night at the youth center opening.”
Anger pumped hard in her chest. “That is an outright lie. Whoever said that has her own agenda for spreading such gossip.”
“You have to understand how bad this looks for Aidan, considering he was let go from his last position.”
Outraged, Chloe shot to her feet. “Mr. Jenkins, you know Aidan. He is the most honorable, upright man I have ever met. The only mistake he made was trying to help a student…and getting involved with the wrong woman.” The irony of that statement made her pause. “And now he holds himself back, afraid to care too much, in case his actions are misinterpreted.” She realized then how much it had cost Aidan to go after Lindsay. His sacrifice humbled her. “Aidan put his own safety in jeopardy to save Lindsay from those thugs. Punishing him for that would be the worst type of injustice.”
“I can see you feel strongly about this.”
“Yes, sir, I do. And just as strongly about Matt and Lindsay. I can’t allow them to be put into foster care. Mrs. Brown has agreed to let the kids move in with me until she can find a job in town.”
“Well, that’s one matter I have no control over. I do, however, have the power, and the duty, to relieve you of your work here.”