by Lee Kilraine
Georgie actually stopped what she was doing. “Well, now you’re just pulling my leg.”
“Nope. The thing is, I can’t figure out why he did it.”
“Who he? Paxton?”
“No. Pope. Why would he drop the puppy off at the pound a second time, knowing that I knew what he’d done the first time?” Jo pressed each ball of dough with a glass before starting on the crosshatches with a fork. “Was it his way to punish Maggie?”
“Sounds petty and cruel, if you ask me.” Georgie set the dough in an oiled bowl to rest and rise. “You know, I don’t think I care for your Mr. Pope.”
“He’s not my Mr. Pope. He’s Paxton’s and he’s welcome to him.” She looked around for the crystal sugar, only to find it in her hand already. “I’m seriously going to need a nap today. Those dogs kept me up whining.”
“Dogs?” Georgie raised her eyebrows. “As in more than one?”
“Yep. There were two other dogs on death row. Paxton said he made the mistake of looking into their eyes, and next thing I knew we’d stolen three dogs.”
“That’s adorable.”
“That’s what I said but apparently not.” She rolled her eyes. “It was simply practical. He said if we were already stealing one dog, what was two more?”
Georgie sighed. “The man is sexy and sweet. Are you sure you have to give him up?”
“You should have seen his face when he talked about walking in his uncle’s footsteps. I refuse to get in the way of that.” She lifted the tray, slid the cookies in the oven, and set the timer. “Besides, I ran into him with Chloe at the diner. The Grapevine says they’re an item.”
“The Grapevine is often wrong.” Georgie scrunched her face in frustration. “If Paxton is carrying a torch for his ex, I haven’t seen it. I hate that you’re just giving up.”
“Hey, until you go after Gage, I don’t think you can give me a hard time, bitch.”
She narrowed her eyes at Jo. “Ooh, low blow. But you’re right. I’ll shut up and bake now.”
Jo felt bad about going there, but she couldn’t take Georgie talking about Paxton all morning, so she’d done what she had to do. Instead, they turned up the radio and finished prepping and pretended not to think about the men not in their lives.
Once the bakery opened for the day, the hours flew by. Georgie’s limited-edition scones were really pulling in the early morning crowd. Today was raspberry white chocolate and sold out in record time.
When Jo’s shift was over, she pulled off her apron and grabbed her purse, slinging it over her shoulder. “Not to rush out, but as soon as I take care of my houseguests, I’m falling face first on my bed and not moving for an hour. You’re still coming over tonight to dye my hair, aren’t you?”
“Yep. I’ll bring brownies,” Georgie said. “And wine.”
Jo’s phone rang from somewhere in her purse. It took her a bit of searching to find it, stuck in the pages of a romance book, so she answered quickly without checking the caller ID.
“Hello, Jolene Joyner here.”
She should have checked caller ID.
It was Principal Meyer. As Jo listened, she moved to one of the small round tables in front of the bakery counter and sank wordlessly onto a stool.
“Yes. That would be fine, Dr. Meyer. Two days from today. Ten in the morning is fine.” She used numb fingers to end the call, then sat staring at the phone in her hands in a daze.
“What was that about, Jo?” Georgie braced her hands on top of the counter. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. That was Principal Meyer.” Her breath hitched and a heaviness settled like a rock in her stomach. Raising her head, she had to blink a few times to bring Georgie into focus. “He said a parent has lodged a complaint against me.”
“Pope.”
“Good guess. Dr. Meyer has scheduled a meeting—a mediation attempt—before the complaint becomes official and gets sent up to the county level.”
“What a prick. And why would he complain now, after the school year is already over?”
“Let’s see, since Maggie’s DUI, he’s struck out at an innocent puppy and now me.” Only I’m not so innocent. Not only had she broken in and stolen his puppy, twice, but she’d been wrong about Maggie. So wrong. And maybe her faith in Maggie, her belief in her talent and enthusiasm, actually had delayed Maggie getting the help she needed to change the course she was on. Maybe Pope’s tough love was the right and necessary thing she had needed. “You know what? I’m going to skip the nap and go straight for the wine. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Whoa. Your meeting is in two days. You sure you still want to dye your hair?”
“Yep. Being good didn’t do me any favors. I’m going to let go and be me, and if that’s more than people can handle. . . .” She jutted out her chin. “Well, tough.”
“That’s the attitude.” Crossing her arms over her chest, Georgie nodded. “Call me cynical, but what are the odds Pope dropped the puppy off at the pound to set you up?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past him at this point. But at least I’ll walk into the meeting prepared for him to hit me with that.”
Chapter Thirty
Jo sat in the large conference room sure she’d developed an ulcer. Waiting two days for the meeting had been excruciating. The time hadn’t helped her prepare, even after she’d received the letter of charges from Mr. Pope. He’d definitely complained about Jo not moving Maggie into the AP classes he’d wanted for her, but mostly he’d hit on the morality angle.
That she had broken the law and been found guilty of breaking and entering and larceny, and he had her order of seventy-five community service hours as proof. Jo had no idea how he’d gotten hold of that. One thought grabbed her chest, squeezing so hard it was hard to breathe . . . Would Paxton have given it to him?
The last person entered the room and took a seat down the long table. Jo’s nerves were jangly and raw and she needed this done, no matter how it turned out. Georgie already had said she could work full-time at the bakery. She’d even be able to provide Jo health care.
Looking around the too-silent room, Jo counted seven other people. Mr. Pope of course, and Maggie’s mother. The three teachers who comprised the teacher’s disciplinary board, one of whom was Fran Hughes, the head of the English department. And of course Dr. Meyer’s secretary, Myrna, who was there to take the minutes of the meeting. If everyone was present, Jo would just as soon start, but nobody called the meeting to order.
That was when Jo realized everyone was staring at her hair. Right. It was different. Georgie had talked her into just dying the tips instead of her whole head. Apparently it was in fashion right now in both California and New York. North Carolina? Not so much.
Her blond hair was untouched except for the last four or five inches. Those were now pink. Not solid. The color moved, so it started light at the top and plunged dark and darker down to the ends. It was pretty on point, as her students would say. Jo liked it. Based on the stares around the room, she might be the only one.
Dr. Meyer cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “If everyone is ready, let’s get started. First, I want to commend both parties for being open to the mediation process.”
No matter how calm Jo tried to stay, her heart felt like it would beat right out of her chest. Blood pulsed through her head, making it hard to hear everything Dr. Meyer was saying. It wasn’t that she’d never had a parent-teacher conflict before, but no parent had ever filed a formal complaint against her. And not when she was so unsure whether she held some part of the blame.
“Mrs. Bettles is passing around a form. If everyone would sign it for our records, we’ll go ahead and—”
The door opened behind Jo, bringing Dr. Meyer to a stop.
“I’m sorry, we’re in a meeting . . .”
“I know. I’m here as Ms. Joyner’s council.”
Paxton? Before she could twist around to look, he was making himself comfortable in the chair next to her.
“This is
highly irregular,” Mr. Pope said from the other end of the long table.
Paxton’s gaze connected directly with Pope’s. “I was just thinking the same thing.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Paxton.” Pope wore his most intimidating expression. “You may want to take a minute to think this through. About what you’re giving up.”
“I don’t need even a second to think it over. I know exactly what I’m doing, Mr. Pope. I know what I’m giving up and what I’m choosing.” He cut his head away from Pope and turned to Jo, winking at her. “Sorry I’m late.”
“How did you know?” she whispered.
“Georgie called me.”
“She shouldn’t have done that.”
“I agree. You should have.” His gaze burned into hers, bold and searing. “Totally digging the new hair. Very hot. Hey, you might want to give Georgie a call when we’re done here. She felt guilty about going behind your back, but she was worried for you.”
She nodded. “I will. I still can’t believe she called you.”
“She wanted me in your corner. Can I help it if I’m that good?”
He really was good, and she was incredibly relieved to have him in her corner. He’d make a great judge one day. As soon as she got over the pain of letting him go, she’d be happy for him.
“Excuse me, Ms. Joyner? Mr. Cates? There’s really no need for a lawyer.” Dr. Meyer moved his gaze between the two of them as he tapped his pen on the legal pad sitting in front of him.
“Consider me her friend, then, if it makes this meeting flow better. But I’m staying.”
Dr. Meyer and Paxton locked gazes, like a visual arm-wrestling match, and Paxton must have triumphed because the meeting proceeded.
“Ms. Joyner has been given a copy of the letter enumerating your complaints, Mr. Pope. Is there anything else you’d like to add to that?”
Paxton held his hand out to Jo for the letter. She retrieved it from the manila folder on the table in front of her and passed it over. Jo watched his eyes slide quickly through the letter, his jaw muscle contracting more the further he read.
“I’ve already been on record as to my thoughts on Ms. Joyner denying my daughter access to the advanced classes she deserves. In the last few weeks there have been alarming rumors going around the school and town that have me believing Ms. Joyner is a most improper role model for students.” He pulled a few papers from the stack in front of him and passed them over to Dr. Meyer. “I’m submitting my evidence to back up my claim. This is the recent arrest record for Ms. Joyner.”
“Excuse me, Ms. Joyner was not charged with anything in that event.”
“The fact that she had a skilled negotiator representing her doesn’t negate the facts. The woman is an exceedingly negative role model for our children. Breaking and entering is a serious matter.”
“I agree. However, the fact that she did it to save the life of an innocent puppy scheduled to be put down before the shelter opened the next morning adds a few nuanced layers to the situation.” Paxton sat back in his chair, looking relaxed, like he was drinking sweet tea on a neighbor’s porch. “Ms. Joyner is happy to give a detailed accounting of what happened. A very detailed accounting.”
Whoa. Had Paxton thought this through? Because she knew he could be smooth and charming and he wasn’t even trying. He was setting the bridge to his dreams on fire.
“Stop,” she hissed under her breath for only Paxton to hear.
He finally turned to look into her eyes, his eyes brightly intense on hers. “Sorry, princess. You know how stubborn I can be.”
“I think everyone has the important details.” Pope’s face was looking smug. “Moving on to the next and more worrisome issue, I’d like to remind the board that the Teacher Tenure Act stipulates that a tenured teacher may be dismissed or demoted for immorality.”
Saving a dog wasn’t immoral. Neither was breaking and entering for that matter. She glanced up at Paxton, who only shook his head, for once seemingly as unsure of where Pope was going with this as Jo.
Dr. Meyer didn’t look very happy about being reminded about the content of his teachers’ contracts. “We’re well aware. I’ll remind you teachers also have rights. Please continue.”
Pope’s gaze moved from the principal to Jo and his eyes turned decidedly victorious, like a poker player just before he raises the bet with a royal flush in his hand.
Her legs must have started shaking because Paxton reached out his hand and gently squeezed her thigh.
“I’m not an expert on immorality, but I would think we can all agree that dancing at a strip club is not an example we want to uphold in front of our adolescent children. As a parent, I expect the conduct of teachers to be above the average individual. And the state supreme court does too.”
Paxton huffed out a breath. “Please tell me you haven’t made yourself the arbiter of what constitutes immoral behavior, Mr. Pope.”
“I wouldn’t dare to presume. I believe my evidence will speak for itself.” He reached into his interior suit pocket, withdrawing a flash drive and handing it across to the nearest board member. “If you wouldn’t mind playing this on the television over there . . .”
Paxton growled deep in his throat, and leaned down to whisper in Jo’s ear, “He must have a copy of your dance at the Library.”
The blood drained from Jo’s head like a curtain falling, leaving a prickly sensation spreading across her scalp. That couldn’t be right. The management had assured all the dancers that night that there were no cameras allowed. Jo closed her eyes, attempting to reel in the panic threatening to overtake her.
“I object.” Paxton stood, shoving his chair back with a noisy scrape on the tile floor. He captured everyone’s attention looking slightly intimidating, his tall body tense, as if ready to spring, his jaw clenched tight and his eyes sharp with anger. “There was no mention of this line of attack, and I do mean attack, in the letter to Ms. Joyner. One would think if all parties in this room were sincere in their efforts to mediate, blindsiding Ms. Joyner would be unacceptable.”
“What about blindsiding parents?” Pope asked. “Let’s remember what’s at stake here, shall we?”
What was at stake? She knew darn well her dancing had nothing to do with Maggie’s troubles. The man was simply being vindictive. What was really at stake here? Finally being herself, that’s what. And she’d be damned if Mr. Pope was going to make her feel guilty about that simply because . . . what . . . he needed to blame someone? Blame someone because his daughter wasn’t falling in line with his plans the way Jo had with her parents? Georgie’s voice echoed through her mind: Have you learned nothing? You’re not going to fight for what you want?
Chapter Thirty-one
Jo reached her hand out, placing it on Paxton’s forearm to get his attention. “No. Let them play it. I have nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Are you sure, Jo? Not the embarrassed part. I mean, you shouldn’t have to be subjected to this policelike interrogation.” Paxton’s gaze sliced over to Dr. Meyer.
“I’m sure.” Jo sat back down, tugged Paxton down next to her, and prepared to watch.
Mrs. Hughes nodded at Jo before inserting the drive into the video equipment stacked on a cart under the wall-mounted TV. Everyone in the room turned and adjusted their seats to get a better view.
Other than the music she had performed to, it was silent in the conference room. The tape looked like it had been shot with a cell phone. Her eyes jerked to Paxton, but he was glued to the screen, although he did take hold of her hand and didn’t let go. When it was over, no one said anything at first, just looked at Jo a bit differently.
Everyone except Pope. Nope, he still looked at her with a smug, I-told-you-so smirk on his face.
“Well, Ms. Joyner?” He sat forward, all blustery aggression and condescension. “What have you got to say for yourself?”
She stared at him suddenly feeling calm and even a little proud. “I need to work on pointing
my left toe better.”
Paxton turned his sexy grin on her and nodded.
“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?” Pope turned his eyes to the principal. “Dr. Meyer?”
“Well, that was quite enlightening.” Dr. Meyer removed his glasses, wiped a speck off one of the lenses, and put them back on. “Ms. Joyner, I’d like you to consider coaching the dance team instead of the cheerleading squad. We’ve never won the county dance championship and I think we’d have a shot with your talent.”
Jo felt her own eyes go big in surprise and then she grinned, and before long she was holding her hand over her lips to hold back a laugh. The other teachers gave approving nods and even a thumbs-up.
The feel of Paxton’s hand, warm and firm on her knee, helped bring her back down to earth. Yes, it had felt good to lay claim to that long-forgotten part of herself, but no matter how much Pope tried to make this about her, it really wasn’t. At the root of Pope’s anger and pain was the precarious position in which Maggie had ended up. And Jo did have doubts about whether she’d helped the teenager or unintentionally been too easy on her, contributing to her spiral of bad choices.
“Helmut, you don’t look moved by what anyone has said here today, but I have one more person who would like to speak.” Paxton rose and opened the door behind him, ushering two people into the room: Maggie and Chloe Pope.
Chloe sat in a chair off to the side, giving Maggie an encouraging nod. The girl’s gaze darted around the room, taking everybody in before pausing on her father and then over to Jo.
Jo gave her a small smile, hoping to ease her nervousness.
“I heard about this meeting, about the complaints against Ms. Joyner, and I wanted to say something.” She pulled a paper from her back pocket, opening it with shaking hands. “Dad. Mom, I want you to know I understand how badly I screwed up. I get that you’re angry and disappointed, but I need you to be angry at me. Not anyone else.
“I don’t want to be a lawyer. I don’t. Not even the littlest bit. I don’t want to go to law school. That may be your dream for me, but it’s not mine.” Maggie pulled in a breath of air, the paper rattling in her hands. “I want to play piano. I need to play piano, and maybe one day teach music. All my bad choices this last year were dumb. My only excuse is that I was angry. Angry you never listen to me, Dad. Angry that Mom wouldn’t stick up for me. It’s like you never really see me anymore.