Natalie's Deception (The Candy Cane Girls Book 5)

by Bonnie Engstrom

  Mrs. Beasley was still abundantly filling out her chair as the school receptionist. She greeted him enthusiastically, then added her typical quip about him being the school clown. Today he didn’t mind, just nodded and laughed with her. “Watcha got there, Bray? Not another bouquet for Noelle.”

  “Naw. This is for the big boss.”

  “From?”

  “Anonymous.”

  “Oh. That should be interesting.” She spread the word out into syllables. “Go right in. I will buzz him.”

  ~

  “So, how did it go?” The three Candy Canes now in Scottsdale were again on extensions of the land line phone. Connie said, “Dying to know.”

  They could almost see the expression on Braydon’s handsome face. “Okay, I guess. I had more fun chatting with Mrs. Beasley the receptionist than I did delivering the flowers.”

  “Apparently,” Noelle said beside him, “she teased him again about his high school antics.”

  “It’s a given with Bossy Beasley,” he chuckled. “I guess she hated Coach Wilson, too.”

  “Braydon,” Melanie almost yelled, “what really happened? Did you deliver the roses? And how did he react?” Melanie twisted the butterfly ring on her finger and grasped the phone receiver tightly. She wanted this travesty to end; she wanted to feel safe. She wanted to call her mother, the woman who had married this horrible specimen of humanity when she was desperately lonely. She fled to the guest bathroom and locked herself in.

  Braydon and Noelle couldn’t see Natalie and Connie gesturing to each other to coax Melanie out, so he continued his story. Connie pushed the speaker button on the phone. She hoped Melanie could hear. Now, Braydon’s voice was super loud.

  “I sauntered into his office because Bossy Beasley had alerted him he had a delivery. She apparently didn’t say what. He rose from his chair behind the impressive principal desk in typical preppy attire – blue button down, striped tie, even cuff links.”

  “Braydon,” Nat interrupted, “we don’t care what he wore. Did he open the bouquet in front of you?”

  “Uh, no. He beamed when I handed it to him. Asked whom it was from, so I said I didn’t know. I felt conflicted not being totally honest. I wish I had put your name in it, Mel.” He paused and cleared his throat. “Or, maybe your mother’s since it was her idea.”

  “But, but,” she stuttered, cracking the door open from her bathroom enclave, “that would really have put me on the hot spot. Maybe in more danger. Maybe even Mom.”

  Connie had heard the muffled words coming from the bathroom. Connie and Natalie sighed and nodded with agreement. The men all rolled their eyes. So unengaged, Connie thought.

  “I’m not sure,” Braydon said. “Maybe it would have made a point, scared him off.” He paused. “I think we have to be more forthcoming in the future.” He paused again as if mulling things over in his mind. “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and I have an idea. Wanna hear it?”

  ~

  Tuesday, October 4, Principal Bruce Walker received an envelope. It was purple and had a simple message in it. After he opened it, he tore it into shreds, dumped it in the wastebasket next to his desk and stomped out of school in a hurry. Mrs. Beasley mulled over his behavior and decided it was unusual. Had something frightened him?

  Marta Beasley decided to do some sleuthing. She found torn fragments of a purple note, put them together and gasped. She called the State Director of Education and the president of the local Board of Education. She was a snitch. But, she didn’t care.

  Wednesday was an early release day for all students. As over one thousand young people rushed out to cars and busses, Bruce Walker tried to make himself blend into the mass. He had gathered all his personal papers and stuffed them in his important looking designer brief case. He sidled in next to the seniors, the tallest students, and joshed with them. Many of them looked toward him like he was an alien. Maybe it was the hat. He guessed they didn’t know who he was.

  He almost made it to his car when he remembered the purple note fragments. The cleaning crew didn’t tackle the administrative offices until Friday. What if the pieces of the note were found and patched together? Who would bother? Still, to be sure, he would stuff them in his pocket and toss them in the food store trash on his way home. Going back into school, he raised his hand to wave to Marta Beasley, but she wasn’t there. Funny. She always stayed until five, even on short days. Maybe she was in the restroom. But, her desk was cleared of papers. Playing hooky, Marta? He laughed to himself.

  He rounded his important desk and sat in his important chair. He loved that desk and that chair and the etching on the glass pane of the door – Principal. His name was on a bronze plaque below it on the wood paneling. Heck, he loved his name. He’d better get to work finding those purple scraps. Can’t be too careful. Didn’t want to mess up like that time with the cute cheerleader. Just got out of that one by the skin of his teeth when her mother banged on his car window and the girl said nothing had happened. But, he knew there was a ‘yet’ hanging in the air.

  He kicked the industrial trash can toward him and bent down to rummage through it. Mostly 8x11 papers from the Fax machine. Digging deeper he found the wrappers from his candy sneaks, but no purple scraps. Maybe they fell to the bottom. Maybe he hadn’t realized the receptacle was almost empty when he threw them in. He knew the cleaning crew hadn’t been in his office today, or the can would be empty. Using his hand he explored along the bottom of the can. Finally, he went out to the lobby and grabbed another can emptying it in the larger trash can by the door. Good thing Beasley wasn’t there, or she would have questioned what he was doing. In fact, none of the secretarial staff was there. He was carrying the empty can back to his office when a wandering student spied him.

  “Hey, Prince,” he said using the abbreviated name kids used. “Help you?”

  “Naw, thanks. What is your name, and grade?”

  “Josh. Senior in Ms. Lovejoy’s English class.” The tousle-haired young man looked at him curiously. “Why?”

  “No reason. Just wanted to remember to compliment you for being so kind.”

  The boy blinked and waved and pushed open the double doors to the parking lot still waving and looking back curiously. Bruce heard the click of the security panel just as Josh reached the sidewalk. The boy must have just made it out before the secure lock connected.

  Closing his office door, he locked it. Never had to do that before, but needed to be sure now. Not that he was doing anything wrong by going through his own trash can, just something strange. He placed the empty can between his feet and dumped the full can into it. No purple scraps. Nothing. He started to sweat. Why he wasn’t sure. After all they were just scraps of purple paper. Maybe he was wrong and had thrown them away somewhere else. His memory wasn’t as good as it used to be. Thank goodness Helen’s wasn’t either, or he would be a dead man. He unlocked the door and carried the emptiest trash can to the receptionist’s desk. Wouldn’t Beasley be surprised to come in tomorrow and find her trash emptied. Retrieving his personal stuff – how he loved his briefcase – he smoothed the soft black leather with both hands before picking it up. Using the code, he punched buttons and walked out the main door again. This time to his car. Tomorrow he would put on a smile of confidence and breeze in like the administrator he is. Now, if only Helen hadn’t barred the front door of the house again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The girls were on the separate extensions of the landline again. For the benefit of the men, Bryce, Billy and Jaeda, they put the conversation on speaker.

  Braydon spoke. “It is sort of sad, but necessary. He was walked out by two school board members. And,” he added, “gone.”

  “Tell us about the purple note,” Jaeda asked. “What did it say?”

  “You okay with this Melanie?” Braydon asked.

  “Yes, fine. Now.”

  “The note was from Melanie, in purple, the domestic violence color. It simply said, ‘The flowers wer
e from me. You terrified me, and cheated on my mother. Now, it’s your turn.”

  “But,” Bryce questioned, “it didn’t say anything concrete. I don’t understand.”

  Braydon answered. “Because Mrs. Beasley had suspected for several years that Walker was a pervert, and because she knew about the allegations some of the female students had made, it was enough for the board of education to investigate him. She had wanted to turn him in, snitch on him, for a long time. Even when he was a teacher. Because she was motherly and trustworthy, many teen girls confided in her. But, because of school district policy – she hadn’t actually seen any of the situations – her hands were tied. The purple note, she understood its significance, gave her courage. It was still hearsay, kind of, but she called her friend Judy on the Board of Education and shared with her. That got the ball rolling.” He paused for a breath. “Didn’t hurt, either, that Helen Walker also reported him to the school board, and that she is going through divorce proceedings citing infidelity with underage females.”

  Bryce ran a hand across his forehead and wiped it on his jeans. Billy whooped and slapped his knees. Both were smiling and shook heads affirmatively. Connie almost shrieked, “Let’s party!” Melanie collapsed in a heap in Natalie’s arms almost knocking her off the expensive chair. They decided as a group to call Braydon back and sing “Many thanks to you.”

  He chuckled, and Noelle laughed on the extension phone. Hopefully, it was over for Melanie.

  But, not quite.

  PART TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Melanie knew who the sky dive instructor was who ignored Natalie when she was injured avoiding the tree. What, she pondered should she do? Share with Natalie? Or, tell Bryce she knows it was him? As they all looked to say good night to each other, she found her eyes locking on Bryce’s. He looked away and put his chin in his hands. Confirmation, or embarrassment, or shame?

  She slid into bed beside Natalie, glad for the comfort of a friend. She noticed Nat had fallen asleep with a journal on her lap and a pink pen in her floppy hand. Maybe she, Melanie, should journal. Putting her thoughts and prayers on paper. Tomorrow she would buy a journal. But, as she looked on the nightstand on her side of the bed, she saw several. Connie was an amazing hostess thinking of everything. There was another pink pen there, too. She picked it up and started writing.

  ~

  Sunday was an early Fall day in Arizona. Only 95 degrees mid-afternoon and a slight breeze was blowing, enough to ruffle the palm tree fronds. She had gotten used to the mid-summer intense heat, but this beautiful day was special. The boys, as she called Billy and Bryce, had left right after church to drive back to Newport. Melanie and Natalie were still here, but they had taken off in Connie’s little car to shop at the Big Lots twenty-percent off sale. She had loved having all her friends visiting, but she and Jaeda hadn’t spent much time alone. Except at night when the other girls were journaling and snoring softly in the guest room on the other side of the house. She grinned to herself embracing her secret. Fortunately, there was the distance of the living room, kitchen and hallway between the two bedrooms.

  She had bought Jaeda’s favorite sushi at Fry’s Market that morning after church and was setting up a pretty snack on the glass coffee table when he came in from his motorcycle ride. His face was glowing reddish from the wind. He saw the repast on the table and licked his lips. “Oh, fab. I am hungry! My favorite spicy tuna roll, too!

  “Nothing here for you, Jakester” he said apologetically. He sat down on the sofa and dropped his hand to rub the dog’s tiny pointed ears. “Maybe Mommy has a treat?” He looked at Connie and gestured toward the treat bowl. But, the little treat-loving dog just sat on his tiny rump and squirmed. “What?” Then Jaeda looked at the wiggling pooch more closely. “What do you have around your neck?” He bent down for closer scrutiny. When her husband leaned down in front of Jake to examine the items around the dog’s neck, Connie prayed she had done the right and clever thing.

  “A bib!” Jaeda whispered. “Why? What does it say?” He fingered the soft, tiny patch of white fabric and leaned closer to read the words embroidered on it. Why did it say Big Brother? He looked at Connie. “Are you planning on adopting another dog?”

  She got hysterical with laughter. Jaeda may be good with numbers, but not so good with innuendo. Finally, Connie saw the chocolate color from his skin pale when he saw the ribbons around Jake’s neck, blue and pink. He looked up from his perch on the sofa with wet eyes and grinned. “Really?” She just nodded with a glow on her face.

  Connie rolled the name Mommy around in her head and held out her hand with a mini treat in it that Jake gobbled up. He cuddled in his doggie bed by the door and sighed loudly, his chin resting on the bib.

  ~

  Natalie and Melanie walked down the short hall at the same time. Melanie had taken her shower first, but went back to their shared room to write a few more sentences in her journal. Total coincidence they laughed that both were ready for coffee at the same time. They had stayed out after their shopping excursion yesterday to have dinner at Mimi’s, then couldn’t resist the sales at Marshall’s and DSW. They came home late with bags and boxes and new shoes they both agreed they deserved. After all, Nat was still getting over her injury from the abortive jump, and Mel from her horrible experience with Bruce Walker. Shopping was fun, shopping was good. They had jammed their loot in the small closet and snuck quietly into bed without even waving to Connie and Jaeda.

  When they entered the living room this morning they were assaulted with balloons. Everywhere. On the floor, on the furniture, some clinging to the ceiling.

  “What?!” both said in unison. Then they noticed the words imprinted on several – BABY!

  Two grinning people were sitting at the breakfast table with coffee mugs shaking in their hands. Jaeda and Connie nodded with radiant faces.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Natalie and Melanie both clapped their hands. Tears dribbled down Nat’s cheeks. “This calls for a group celebration!”

  After the two women hugged the couple they all got on the phone. Cindy in Costa Rica through her California phone connection led the prayer of joy and thanks and for a healthy baby. “And,” Connie quipped, “for an easy pregnancy.” Natalie wondered what made her think of that since she had never been pregnant. Still, it was a wonderful request.

  Melanie was disturbed by Noelle’s response. It was obviously heartfelt to bless Connie and Jaeda, but there seemed to be a bit of sadness in her voice. She and Braydon had been married first, several years ago.

  Next, Connie called her mother. She was shaking a bit since she and her mom had gone through some tenuous times together. As a blessing would have it, her sister Sandra happened to be visiting her parents. She shrieked out in a voice Connie was sure the entire Midwest could hear. “Now,” Sandra said, “you have to design maternity clothes … and baby clothes. I knew you should.”

  That evening, after kissing Jaeda goodnight, she went to her design board. Maybe this was a sign. A whole new line. Maybe she could even model her own mother-to-be designs. That would be a hoot.

  ~

  It was time. Nat and Mel packed their stuff and slid into the rental car Jaeda had gotten for them. Mel was behind the wheel driving too fast.

  “Whoa, Mel! You’re scaring me. Slow down, girl.” Natalie gripped the console between them with one hand and the arm rest on the car door with the other. Mel seemed like she was hell bent at getting home and out of Hades. But, they had had such a wonderful time at Connie and Jaeda’s, and little Jake was so cute and cuddly.

  “Sorry. Disturbed. Thinking about something that bothers me.”

  “Can you share? I mean the Bruce incidents are over, and I think you and your mom are safe now that he is in jail.”

  “Yeh, I agree.” Melanie sucked in a breath and tightened her hands on the steering wheel. “Just a decision I have to make.”

  “About one of the bad boys?” Natalie loved to refer t
o Billy and Bryce as the bad boys. It was a fun moniker even if it held no water. They were both nice men with good intentions. Regrettably, about her. So confusing.

  “Sort of.” Mel stopped there, not explaining.

  “Did one of them hit on you, make you uncomfortable?”

  Melanie laughed softly. “No. No hitting. Both perfect gentlemen, although both a bit strange.”

  Suddenly, she put a hand on Natalie’s leg and squeezed. “How’s your back? Did the PT help?”

  “It did, a lot. That Shane guy and his crew are outstanding, especially Adam, and Claire before she left.” She sighed and squeezed Melanie’s hand back. “They gave me a lot of good exercises. I just hope I will do them. It’s hard to get motivated at home alone.”

  “Maybe Bryce can help you. At the gym, I mean.”

  “Of course. I will sign up for his time just like everyone else.”

  “You don’t want him to help you privately, at home?” Melanie had a strange expression on her face when Nat looked over at her.

  “You don’t like him, or trust him?” Natalie asked.

  “I have a little problem with trust, Nat. Not just Bryce, but men in general now. Get it?”

  “I do get it, but he isn’t an older man with a history of hitting on teen girls in cheerleader uniforms. That I know.” She glanced at Melanie who had finally slowed down to the 65 mile speed limit. Mel’s face was a blank and drained of color.

  “Naw, he goes only for younger women, you in particular.” Suddenly, she changed the subject. “Tell me about his father’s cat rescue. CATastrophe, isn’t it?”

  “The man is a huge, I mean huge, cat lover. Bryce says he’s done a lot of good, especially rescuing feral cats and getting them neutered. So they won’t reproduce. Maybe after being neutered they could be adopted into loving homes.”