For a long second, everyone thought about that. Sarah and Will both laughed and even EW had a silent chuckle. When Rebecca checked on Cole’s reaction, he smiled. He couldn’t help it.
“And, if the crisis is managed, I’ll go back to school.” Rebecca stood slowly. To Sarah, she said, “I’ll text Jen and Steph, keep them in the loop. Go have a good lunch after the cops leave.” She pointed at Will. “Make this happen.”
Sarah saluted. “Cole is having his vacation day or else.” She pointed at the window. “Is that the van in the parking lot? You and EW take it home. Bring it in tomorrow.” She waved a hand. “Get.”
Cole waited for Rebecca to pass, trailing lemons and sweet warmth, before he and EW fell in line behind her. When they were outside, he tossed the van keys to EW. “I need a minute.”
EW whistled tunelessly and slid into the van. He closed his eyes, dropped his head back and pretended to sleep. Privacy. He understood the importance of privacy.
Before Rebecca could get into her car, he put a hand on her back, relieved some of the tension that had made her seem so brittle she could break had disappeared. “Before you go...”
Rebecca turned to face him, her hands tightly knotted together. “We didn’t tell them to come talk to you. You know that, right?”
Cole nodded. “Sure, but I get the feeling you weren’t as convinced of my innocence, not at the beginning anyway.”
She sagged against the car. “I’m not sure what to say.”
He wagged his head. “Guess it’s good I know where I stand.” Even he could hear the bitter resignation in his voice. “Glad you’re getting smarter. Blind trust of the criminal in the neighborhood would be pretty dumb.”
“I was so worried about you and those cops. ‘What if he’s guilty?’ was just this fleeting thought, one I couldn’t chase away fast enough,” she whispered. “Let me know where this sits on the dumb scale.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. No matter how irritated he was at her doubts about his innocence, he wasn’t going to waste another shot at a good kiss. Nothing could stop him this time. Not the dusty gravel parking lot’s lack of romance, the threat of an audience or interruption by the cops. He slanted his lips against hers, and every bit of the sweetness he’d been searching for burst on his tongue.
Then she wiggled her arms between his to pull him closer, and the whole world fell away. Until he stepped back, gasping for air, he forgot every worry that plagued him.
“You know, even if you had robbed the shelter, I would help you,” Rebecca said as she stepped back. “For better or worse, I can’t not help you.”
The way she studied his face made him think she wanted to convince him she was telling the truth. Of that, he was certain, but in this case, a little less truth would have gone a long way.
He didn’t want to know about her doubts. If she insisted on telling the truth, he couldn’t pretend it didn’t hurt. So much for staying out of trouble. She was full of it.
Cole stared hard at the ground while he tried to order his thoughts. “But I didn’t rob the place. What would it take for you to believe that instead of planning a defense?” He shook his head. “This is why I wanted you to stay away. Even though I’m trying to do the right thing, to support your project with Eric, you punch me in the gut. You don’t even have to try hard to tear me down. This is why people are overrated. Even the good ones will break you.”
He watched her struggle to come up with the right words. She was supposed to be the solid one, the good one who made the right decisions. This good man, baking him special cookies, but not quite trusting him while she threw herself in his arms? He didn’t need that.
“What was the kiss about?” Cole demanded. “You have to decide whether you’re in or out, Rebecca. Trust me or don’t, that’s your decision. I get the doubt, believe me, but I can’t...get any closer to you like this. Kissing me is...too much. You don’t trust me. You don’t need me. You can find another man to save, no doubt. Move on.”
Rebecca rubbed a hand over her forehead. “I just... I had to. I was so worried about you and I needed you. I had to.” She closed her eyes. “You aren’t a project to me, Cole. Maybe I need some time to...”
“You need to get to work.” Cole stepped back. Her face perfectly reflected his own confusion and hurt. They were no good together.
Even if her kiss made the rest of the world fade.
He didn’t move until she managed to put the key in the ignition, start the car and back slowly out of the parking space. After she safely made the turn out onto the highway, he forced himself to walk sedately to the van and climb inside.
EW’s eyes were still closed, but his lips were curved at the corners. Cole gripped the steering wheel. This feels like the end of the world, but it isn’t. Get a grip.
“You enjoy the show?” Cole grumbled as he followed Rebecca out of the parking lot.
“Best I’ve seen in a long time, young fella.” EW rubbed a hand down his face. “Didn’t think you had it in you anymore. Kissing’s about living, not existing.”
“Yeah.” Cole shook his head as he drove. “What’s that all about?” Too bad she’d ripped out his heart and stomped on it, too. He squeezed the steering wheel. Won’t be your last kiss.
Might be the last one with her.
Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Focus on what you want.
When had he changed his mind about what his life was going to be? As he’d walked out of Travis, surviving was the only goal. EW was right. Thinking of business ideas and kissing beautiful women were new developments. Losing them might crush him.
“Your grandma would have been pleased. Oh, not about the PDA.” EW shook his head.
“How do you figure? I promised to stay out of trouble. Police at my door is about as much trouble as I can handle.” The fact that he’d been nearly certain he was okay the whole time Hollister and Adams were there surprised him.
“Sure, but you got real friends to watch your back this time.” EW cleared his throat. “You ain’t on your own.”
He said it as an encouragement. All Cole could think of was how easy it would be to lose all that.
As the road into the trailer park came up, Cole said, “Want to go to the grocery store?” He needed to get back to normal, day-off stuff. He needed to stay busy.
“Beer?” EW raised an eyebrow. “Been a while since I had a good beer.”
Cole couldn’t tell if he was happy about that or not. The small frown on EW’s brow suggested he might not have even realized it.
“No, but for you, I’ll get a six-pack, too,” Cole said, disappointed that whatever streak EW was on was coming to an end.
EW pursed his lips. “Brownies. Think you could make some of them? I’ve had a craving. That cake you brought over tasted healthy.” His tone made it clear healthy cake was a lie.
“If I remember right, brownie mixes come in boxes. Anybody can do that,” Cole said as he pressed the accelerator.
EW rolled down his window and hung his arm out the side. Driving through town with his best friend in the world, an elderly black man, in a van decorated with cartoon dogs and cats was satisfying. It was a beautiful day. He didn’t have to do a thing but whatever he wanted. He had a bit of money to spend. He’d learned a good lesson today.
Instead of shutting everyone out of his life, he should be careful who he let in. The one person who had the biggest potential to hurt him had to go. He and Rebecca were never going to be on the same page. Getting that through his head wouldn’t be easy, but he’d done harder things.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“NOT AGAIN,” REBECCA muttered as she dropped her keys in the hallway on Thursday morning. It had been a week of dropping things, running into things, and generally losing track of her own thoughts. M
isery had that effect on her. There was only one person to blame for that.
Cole Ferguson had hijacked her good sense with the best kiss she could remember before crushing her by making her see how unfair she’d been to him. Sarah had been able to reject the idea of Cole as the thief immediately.
Seeing Cole’s bitterness and complete lack of surprise that she hadn’t been able to do the same had kept her awake.
To top it off, she wasn’t sure what to do about the situation. Except avoid the shelter and Cole. Until she got her head on straight, they’d both be better off with some distance. Missing him had come as a big surprise. She’d grown accustomed to the sizzle of awareness she felt when he was around and the happy jolt she got whenever a little more of his grim shell cracked.
She bent to pick up her keys and then shook her head. What a mess she was. Poor guy. He’d had the right idea to chase her away that first night.
“Rebecca, when you have a minute, I need to speak with you in my office.” Principal Arturo Sepulveda was standing in the doorway of the administration offices. Instead of a cheerful grin, his usual greeting, Art’s expression was grim. Did he have bad news? Was she in trouble somehow? Impossible.
She pointed at her office. “Let me drop off my things and I’ll be right there. What should I bring?” Did they have a meeting she’d forgotten about? Again, impossible.
Art waved a hand. “Nothing. Just come.” He was normally an easygoing guy with a fun connection to his students. Whatever was going on was serious.
Nerves made it difficult to unlock her door, but as soon as she stepped across the threshold, Rebecca breathed in slowly and stared hard at her bulletin board, the one covered with thank-you notes and newspaper clippings about student successes and a million other small victories she’d won over her years at Holly Heights. No matter what Art wanted to talk to her about, it had nothing to do with her job performance. She was good at what she did.
Then she remembered Eric and how close they’d come to losing him and the other marginalized students she might have neglected. Had a parent complained?
Stop guessing and get to his office.
Rebecca dropped her purse in her desk drawer and then wiggled her mouse to wake up her computer. “Just a minute to put in my password and see what the inbox situation is.” Rebecca typed and dug around her desk for the printed outline of her conversation with Diane at the community college. If there was a problem, it wouldn’t hurt to have a proactive plan already in motion.
As soon as her email inbox came up, Rebecca gasped. “Twenty messages. In one night?” She quickly scanned the subject lines. Some were hard to interpret, but at least two of them left nothing to the imagination. “Pulling Madison from the shelter volunteer program?” Breathing became a challenge and it was almost impossible to stand and leave without opening that email.
But the principal was waiting. In her whole career, she’d never had a morning like this.
It took twice as long to walk to Art’s office as it had to come in that morning because her feet wouldn’t move any faster. When Rebecca went into the principal’s office, even as a student herself, it had been for commendations or thanks for some project she’d taken on.
Nothing like this.
She paused in the doorway as she caught sight of the five other people in Art’s office. School board members. Whatever it was, this was big. Art motioned at the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat, but close the door first.”
Rebecca eased the door shut, hoping to avoid the attention of the people outside Art’s office, and perched on the edge of the chair. When she noticed the way she was clutching the single paper she’d brought along for her defense, Rebecca smoothed the paper against one leg.
Cece Grant cleared her throat, but when Rebecca glanced her way, the woman was picking lint off her perfectly tailored slacks.
“Have you seen the newspaper this morning?” Art asked as he spread it across the desk. “You and your shelter are front-page news.”
“Because of the robbery?” Rebecca asked as she scanned the headlines. The largest one above the fold was about the adoption event with the headline Prison Training Gives Pups a Second Life, but it made no sense that this would cause trouble for her or Art.
“No, the adoption event in the town square. You knew about that,” Cece said as she looked up and raised both eyebrows.
He nodded once. “Check the bottom of the page.”
Rebecca read slowly, “Robbery at shelter. Police interview Cole Ferguson.”
Rebecca quickly scanned the snippet that fell conveniently under a small photo of her and Cole at the adoption event. He had his hands on her shoulders. How was that even possible?
Then she remembered Cole’s grief at watching Freddie’s adoption and her attempt to help him through it. They had stood that close, but this picture conveyed something more.
The bare details of the robbery were listed, including the amount stolen and the police phone number for any tips. “So, the newspaper wants to go ahead and sentence Cole. Skip the trial altogether. He’s the only suspect listed, but he’s already been cleared.”
Art didn’t say anything as she carefully folded the paper and leaned back in her chair.
“That almost explains all the angry emails in my inbox, but I’m not quite sure I see the connection.” Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest, unfamiliar with this avalanche of fear and frustration. “Or the reason for the impromptu school board meeting.”
“Those emails are from concerned parents. I’ve had phone calls from parents of all of our kids who are part of your volunteer program. They’re upset.” Art shook his head. “And most of them aren’t even working at the shelter.”
“I can understand that all those phone calls are a problem,” Rebecca said as she glanced from one face to the next, “but no one wants to end the program.” She licked dry lips. “Do they?”
This was her thing, her chance to make a mark on the world, to be a full-fledged Lincoln. They couldn’t shut it down.
“Perhaps if you pull kids from the shelter,” Cece said smoothly from her spot in the corner.
“I don’t think it matters. The whole high school program...” Art sighed. “I’m getting phone calls from parents of kids in other volunteer positions, like Faith Watkins, who’s working at the hospital. Her mother is demanding to know what sort of background checks are performed on the employees there. At the hospital.” He shook his head. “I mean...”
Rebecca studied his face as she tried to figure out what he was telling her.
“Are you saying that all it’s taken to derail this program that I’ve spent years building is one man?” Rebecca shook her head. “And he’s not even the villain here. Cole Ferguson has worked wonders at the shelter.” She snorted. “I mean with the dogs, with the yard Sarah needs to keep the place open...” She waved her hands. “With the kids, Art. Did you know that Eric Jordan had stopped coming to school completely after his suspension for fighting?”
Rebecca stood to pace. If she didn’t move, she might explode.
“That kid made a stellar grade on his science test and you want to know why? He’s figured out what he wants in life.” Rebecca leaned over Art’s desk. “And do you know how that happened? Cole challenged him to a basketball game, won it and demanded the kid come in to help out at the shelter. There he found our veterinarian, and the rest is going to be history someday when he’s a successful adult. Because of Cole Ferguson and the shelter.” She tapped her finger hard on Cole’s photo.
Aware she was pushing her luck, Rebecca straightened. “This uproar will die down. I’ll move any kid who requests it until then.”
When no one agreed with her plan, Rebecca held both hands out. What would she do if she couldn’t convince them? “If you could see those kids at the shelter, Art.” She closed her eye
s, feeling her program slipping away. “What do you want?”
Art exhaled a long, slow breath. “For now, put the program on hold. The whole thing. We’ll have a meeting with concerned parents, but this upset... We have to make a change, Rebecca.” He didn’t say he was sorry, but it was there in his eyes.
Dizzy all of a sudden, Rebecca held the chair for balance. “What if I refuse?” she heard herself ask, but she’d had no intention of saying those words. She wasn’t an employee who refused the boss’s orders. She wasn’t a person who said no if there was any way to say yes.
“Then we’ll have to...” Art shook his head. “Listen, you do a great job here. But I will shut the program down myself if I have to. You’ll hand over your files.”
“But the hospital, the thrift store, the offices around town...” Rebecca pointed as if they could see the places she named off. “Cole’s not in any of those places.” They’d be better off if he was.
“At this point, it’s not Cole, Rebecca.” Art winced. “It’s you and Cole.”
Rebecca’s mouth dropped open as she tried to wrap her brain around what he was saying. She was the problem? Rebecca Lincoln was the problem? Of the Holly Heights Lincolns? The ones who’d supported every charity and good cause and underdog for a lifetime? What was happening?
“One mistake is all it takes with parents and their kids,” Cece said softly.
“I haven’t made a mistake.” Rebecca pressed her hand over the ache in her chest. “This is no mistake.” It was stupid and close-minded and hard-hearted and stupid. That was all this was.
“I’m good at my job.” Rebecca waved her crumpled piece of paper. “Here’s a plan I’ve developed with STCC to help more kids like Eric, the ones we’re missing every single year, and what happens to them?” Some of them turned out like Cole, kids who had no better options.
“I’m not saying you’re not good at your job, Rebecca. You care about these kids.” Art stood up. “But you have to understand that these parents do, too. There’s some overreaction going on, but you can’t blame them for trying to protect their children. Close the program temporarily. Call all the employers you’ve got lined up and let them know we’ll be suspending the program for...a month. That should be enough time to schedule a meeting.”
Keeping Cole's Promise Page 17