Judith pulled out Tristan’s phone, and scrolling to Mr Hennessey’s mobile number, she tapped on the green call button. Michael sat on the edge of the bed. The phone rang a few times, and Judith was starting to rehearse in her head the message she would leave on the voicemail, when Hennessey answered.
He cleared his throat and then barked into the phone. “Have you reconsidered, Bennett?”
“Reconsidered?” Judith frowned.
“Bennett?”
“No, Mr Hennessey, this is Judith, Tristan’s wife.”
“I can’t believe he asked you to phone me,” Hennessey spat, and Judith recoiled at the venom in his voice. She stared at the handset in her hand, and pressed the speaker button so that Michael could also hear. “Tell him the offer still stands; if he signs the document, he can still resign. If he doesn’t, this will get ugly before he gets fired. Either way, he will no longer be an employee at this school.”
Judith’s blood started to fizz with fury, but she forced herself to remain calm. Her Mama Bear was struggling to break free, but she’d learned from her mother that sometimes the best way to win a war was simply to give the fool enough rope to hang himself. “What documentation? And why would he want to resign?”
“Of course he wouldn’t tell you,” Hennessey sighed. “Your husband has violated the code of conduct and has engaged in a sexual relationship with one of our students.”
Judith felt like the floor had been whipped out from underneath her. She stared at Michael, and the set of his jaw and the small shake of his head steadied her. This was Tristan. The man didn’t have a deceitful bone in his body and had shown no evasive behaviour. Ever. They shared everything, and the reason she’d been able to phone Hennessey in the first place, was because Tristan didn’t even lock his phone; that was not the habit of a cheating husband.
Judith stared at Michael, trying to control her anger. “Actually, Mr Hennessey, I was just phoning to let you know that Tristan won’t be in tomorrow. The doctor has booked him off but we hope he’ll be in on Wednesday.”
“Sure he has,” Hennessey sneered. “It won’t affect his suspension.”
“You think I’m lying?” Judith asked mildly.
“I think he’d do anything he can to weasel his way out of the disciplinary hearing. We have proof of his misconduct, so his evasive tactics won’t work.”
Michael’s eyes narrowed and he gestured to Judith to hand him the phone. Judith held up a finger and narrowed her eyes. I’ve got this. “I’ll scan and e-mail the medical certificate to you tomorrow during office hours,” Judith said. “In the meantime, I’d appreciate if you forward me all documentation, including this ‘proof’,” Judith said, then cited her e-mail address.
“I hope you’ll convince him to be reasonable,” Hennessey said.
“We’ll see,” Judith said through clenched jaws.”
She stabbed the red button on the screen and put the phone down with exaggerated care before she gave in to the desire to throw it against the wall. Mama Bear was off her leash, and Judith paced the room in fury.
“He didn’t do it,” Michael said quietly.
“I know,” Judith growled. “Tristan’s incapable of lying to me. And carrying on an affair behind my back? Oh please.”
Judith’s eyes fell on Tristan, and she saw that he was awake. His eyes were still dull and vulnerable, and she just wanted to hold him.
“I didn’t do it, Jude,” he said, his voice thick. “I swear I didn’t do it.”
Michael looked down at Tristan and laid a hand on Tristan’s hip. “We know you didn’t,” Michael soothed.
“What am I going to do?” Tristan whispered.
“Shh,” Judith said, “everything will be alright. We’ll wait until this so-called evidence arrives, and then we pick it apart. Together.”
“Please tell me you believe me,” he whispered.
“We believe you.”
~*~
Chapter 22
Michael did not look forward to the conversation he was about to have, but he didn’t know of a more tenacious lawyer to represent Tristan. And if labour law wasn’t exactly his area of expertise, he’d know who to refer him to. He stared at his brother’s front door for a long moment, then pressed the doorbell and stepped back, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket.
The streetlights had come on minutes ago, casting pools of light on the quiet upper-middle-class neighbourhood. Across the road, a teenager was walking an Alsatian on a lead, a tennis racquet in his hand, and the dog had a tennis ball in its mouth. Two women jogged by, their ponytails bobbing, and the garage door of the neighbour across the street was open, the owner tinkering under the bonnet of his car. Porch lights were on, TVs flickered through windows, and somewhere, Michael could smell someone had meat on a braai.
With the inheritance their father had left the three of them, Gabriel could easily have bought himself a mansion to rival Michael’s but instead he’d opted for the suburban lifestyle near a good school. Gabriel was a family man to his very marrow.
Michael heard footsteps on the other side of the door, and the stoop light came on before he heard keys turning in the lock. “Michael?”
“Gabriel,” Michael nodded. “Could I come in?”
“Of course,” Gabriel said, unlocking the security gate. He stepped aside, and Michael slid past him into the living room. “Have you eaten?”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Michael shook his head. “I actually need to ask you a favour; a professional one.”
“Shit,” Gabriel muttered. “Okay, let’s go to my study.”
“Hey, stranger.”
Caroline, a pink flannel robe belted over her pyjamas, walked over and gave him a long hug. “Can I get you something to eat? There’s some spaghetti bolognaise left.”
“No, I’m good,” Michael smiled softly. He adored his sister-in-law.
“Love, Michael and I have some business to discuss in my study.”
“Oh no – is everything okay?” Caroline looked from Gabriel back to Michael.
“I’m fine,” Michael smiled. “I just need Gabriel’s advice on something.”
“Okay,” Caroline gave him another squeeze. “I was about to make us some hot chocolate. I’ll bring you some.”
“Thanks,” he nodded. Gabriel led the way to his study, a converted bedroom that not only held Gabriel’s desk and a swivel chair, but also several stacked boxes, a book case, a washing basket and ironing board, and a discarded stationary bike with hangers of ironed shirts hanging from the handlebars.
“So, what’s up?” Gabriel asked, scooping ironed and folded laundry and a naked Barbie doll off a chair and offering the seat to Michael.
Michael steeled himself. “It’s Tristan. He needs a lawyer.”
“Tristan?” Gabriel stared at Michael in incomprehension.
“You met him the last time you were at my house.”
“Tristan…” Gabriel’s eyes went large. “Fuck. Judith’s Tristan?”
“My Tristan,” Michael said softly. Michael saw the moment the penny dropped for Gabriel at that simple declaration.
“Both of them? Fuck, Michael! I thought you’d let go of this nonsense.”
“What nonsense?” Michael asked softly, his hackles rising. Calm down – you expected this reaction, remember?
“If God wanted us to be gay, why would he even bother having two different sexes?”
“I’m not going to allow you to shove me back into the closet,” Michael growled. “This is who I am – do you think I chose to be different?”
The door to the study opened and Caroline entered, the ears of two mugs clasped in one hand. “Hey, cool it, you two! The kids are asleep,” she hissed, placed the chocolate on the desk and stood between the two of them, hands on her hips. She glared at her husband. “And if you wake either of them, they will be sleeping with me tonight, and you can sleep in a pink princess bed. Understood?”
“I’m sorry, Caroline,” Mi
chael said softly.
“You’re not the one I heard clear to the kitchen,” Caroline forgave him, then glared at Gabriel. “My husband, however…”
“Sorry, love,” Gabriel muttered.
Caroline raised her eyebrow, but left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
Michael took a sip from his hot chocolate, buying himself a moment to think. To get his emotions under control. To remember why he was pushing this to his brother, when he could just have continued with the status quo, pretending to ignore the elephant in the room.
“Look, I’m sorry,” Gabriel ground out. “I just don’t understand you.”
“You don’t have to understand me; all I ask is that you accept me.”
“I do accept you.”
“With conditions,” Michael said. “The doctor, you approve of. As long as you can pretend that I’m straight and vanilla, then I’m acceptable.”
Gabriel shook his head, his elbows braced on his knees.
“Look,” Michael said. “I didn’t come here to defend my sexuality, and I didn’t come here to try and convince you to accept it. Tomorrow, we can go back to you not-so-secretly hating a fundamental part of me, and I can pretend to be oblivious. I came to ask a favour from the best lawyer in Cape Town. I don’t expect you to defend him for free; it’s just that I don’t trust anyone else to fight for him the way you would.”
“I don’t want your money,” Gabriel growled.
“You said yourself you liked him. He’s a good man, he’s got the deck stacked against him, and I know, without a doubt, without hesitation, that he’s innocent. If there’s anyone in Cape Town who can help him, it’s you.”
Gabriel sighed and pushed both hands through his hair before meeting Michael’s gaze. “You love him.”
“I love them both. And I think they both love me; it’s something that can’t be said of a lot of people, and I’ve had few enough people in my life who’ve loved me – the real me – to appreciate it for the miracle it is.”
“Okay. I’ll meet with him, and I’ll let you know. I’ll be around your house tomorrow around five to meet with him.” He rolled his shoulders. “And there had better be marinated steaks and your garlic bread on the menu.”
Michael smiled at Gabriel’s gruff olive branch. “That can be arranged.”
~*~
Chapter 23
Tristan felt like a stranger sitting in the reception area at the school. The receptionist, Frances, who’d normally have shown him pictures of her children and related her news from the weekend, refused to look at him, and pursed her lips as she ducked down behind the counter.
“Mr Hennessey,” Frances murmured into the handset, “Mr Bennett is here, and he brought…” she glanced over to Gabriel, who’d leaned a confident elbow on the counter and flashed her a toothpaste smile, “a friend.” She listened on the handset and her eyes slid up and down Gabriel. “I don’t know, sir, but he’s wearing a suit.”
Despite his nerves, Tristan wanted to grin at her consternation, but he refrained. His eye caught Gabriel’s, and he could see the same amusement twinkling there. For the first time since this ordeal started, he felt confident, and it was thanks to Michael and the man standing beside him.
“Yes, sir,” she hung up, and turned to Tristan. “Mr Hennessey says that he’ll send security to escort you to the hearing in a moment.”
“Thank you, Frances,” Tristan said.
He and Gabriel took their seats on the visitor chairs. It was after eight, and the Monday morning staff meeting had already been dismissed, leaving the reception area silent, except for the switchboard’s intermittent discreet chirp and the receptionist’s smooth voice murmuring rehearsed greetings.
Five minutes later, Hennessey arrived, a security guard on his heels. Tristan and Gabriel stood, and as Gabriel had coached him, he relaxed his shoulders and looked Hennessey in the eye in an outward act of confidence. I didn’t do anything wrong, Tristan reminded himself.
“Bennett,” Hennessey nodded, not offering his hand, to Tristan’s relief. He glanced at Gabriel. “Who is this?”
“Gabriel McIan,” Gabriel introduced himself, but didn’t offer a hand. “I’ll be representing Mr Bennett.”
Hennessey’s eyes snapped to Tristan. “You brought a lawyer?”
“I thought it best, under the circumstances,” Tristan said stiffly.
“You can’t bring a lawyer into these proceedings – this is a disciplinary hearing, not a court case.”
Tristan raised one eyebrow. “The Blakes got to bring a lawyer. I thought it would only be fair if I brought my own.”
“This is a school matter!”
“Either I accompany my client into the hearing, or we turn around this minute, and drive directly to the CCMA,” Gabriel said smoothly, apparently unruffled.
“Fine,” Hennessey growled and spun on his heel, heading deeper into the admin corridor. Gabriel nodded at Tristan, a small smile around his lips, and Tristan was grateful he had this pit-bull in his corner.
They entered the boardroom, and with a nod to the seated occupants of the room, Gabriel sat uninvited and immediately unclicked his briefcase. While Tristan took his seat beside him, Gabriel removed a manila folder and smacked the hefty file down on the table.
Tristan recognized the other lawyer and Edie’s parents sitting to one side, stoically observing the proceedings; the lawyer’s eyes flickered with surprize at seeing Gabriel.
Several people made up the panel around the boardroom table. Tristan recognized one of the Senior Educators, and knew that he represented the school educators on the Governing Body, and Daniel Finley, the deputy principal, sat a few chairs down from Tristan and Gabriel, an exam pad open before him, taking minutes. Tristan had always had a cordial relationship with Daniel, and noted the small nod and miniscule smile when he passed a printed attendance register to Tristan to sign; it was an open secret that Daniel and Hennessey were rivals. Gabriel removed a small recording device from his briefcase, and placed it on the table before him, pressing record.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Hennessey grumbled. “Mr Bennett has seen fit to bring outside counsel to this meeting, in contravention of the school code of conduct, but I have decided to indulge him for the time being. We’re calling this meeting to facilitate the termination of Mr Bennett’s employment –”
Gabriel cleared his throat, interrupting Hennessey and drawing the attention of the other attendees. “Pardon me, Mr Hennessey,” he said, standing up and slowly pacing around the table, the attendance register held up before him. “I’m afraid I don’t know anyone else around this table. If we may do a quick role-call?” He studied the register. “Mr Linton?”
“Yes?” One of the governing body members seemed startled.
“Present,” Gabriel nodded. “Mr de Villiers?” One by one he went through the names, nodding to each of the attendees. Gabriel carefully noted each member of the panel, identifying three Governing Body representatives. Daniel just nodded when his name was called, failing to hide his amusement.
“Mr and Mrs Blake? I take it you’re the parents of the young woman in question?” Gabriel asked, and Mr Blake jerked a nod. “You know who I don’t see on this list? The accuser; will she be joining us?”
Edie’s father jumped up, hands braced on the table, but his lawyer put a hand to his shoulder. “Miss Blake has been excused from these proceedings. We saw no reason to exacerbate her trauma by forcing her to face her abuser,” the other suit said, and Mr Blake sank back into his seat.”
“Alleged abuser,” Gabriel corrected coolly. “However, Mr Bennett has the right to face his accuser.”
“She’s a child!” Blake shouted, slapping his hands on the table-top and surging to his feet again.
Gabriel raised his eye to Edie’s father. “Mr Blake, how old is your daughter? And I mean her current age, as per her ID document.” Blake fumed. “I’m sorry, Mr Blake, I didn’t hear you?”
“She’s eighteen.”<
br />
“She had a birthday in February, didn’t she?”
“Yes,” Blake admitted.
“So according to the law, she is old enough to vote and have her say in how we run this country. She’s old enough to drive, to take out a loan or get married without your consent and she’s old enough to drink. If she wanted to, she could join the army and go to war. She’s reached the age of consent, and she’s old enough to be sentenced to prison for any crimes she commits.”
“That’s enough!” Blake roared. “I won’t have her thrown to the wolves!”
“I’d hardly call myself a wolf, Mr Blake,” Gabriel smiled. He glanced around the table. “Besides, I count only myself here on Mr Bennett’s behalf. I don’t even see a union representative. Your daughter has you, your wife, a doubtless very expensive attorney, and the rest of the school board on her side.”
Tristan could see Hennessey was about ready to blow his top at having his meeting hijacked.
“Look,” Gabriel smiled, and Tristan had no idea how he managed to diffuse the tension without relinquishing an ounce of his authority. In that moment, the resemblance between Gabriel and his brother was overwhelming. “I can guarantee that Mr Bennett won’t speak a word to her. He won’t say a word without being directly addressed while she’s in the room. Would that be acceptable? All we want is a clearer picture of what happened. We can either discuss it now, as reasonable adults in a quest for the truth, in camera, or I can return with a court order, and we can all appear in court.”
Hennessey blanched. “Look, perhaps we could come to some agreement,” he tried. “We could arrange the schedule that Mr Bennett and Miss Blake don’t have any contact.”
“Too late for that, Mr Hennessey,” Gabriel said coolly. “Mr Bennett’s reputation has suffered; I gather you and the Blakes have been less than discrete about the reason for Mr Bennett’s absence from school. I count no fewer than fourteen articles in social media and the press, assassinating Mr Bennett’s character. Would you care to identify the person who leaked this slander to the media?”
Michael Page 24