She mouthed an apology as she settled herself, placing her large bag near the leg of the chair.
His only response was a slight nod before he turned back to face the frowning principal.
Candy ran a quick, assessing eye over the room. The principal’s office was spacious and airy. There were no personal touches added to the decor; it was expensively furnished in cool—albeit bland—colors of grey and black, with oversized leather chairs scattered strategically. The dark grey leather chair Anita sat in, behind the large cherrywood desk, was as opulent as the rest of the furnishing.
Abstract art—no doubt acquired from one of the upscale, downtown art galleries—adorning the walls, along with abundant ferns set in the corners near her desk, completed the picture of sophisticated elegance.
Candy smiled, thinking of her own messy office splattered with various “art” she’d acquired from her youngest center members, and held her grin.
Yet for all its cool elegance, the office was impersonal. Beautiful, but impersonal. Despite the warm air blowing from one of the large vents, Candy resisted the urge to rub her hands over her arms to ward off a sudden chill.
Neither did much personality shine through the conservative two-piece, navy blue suit Anita Watson wore, along with the matching mid-heel pumps Candy saw planted close together, beneath the oversized desk. She appeared to be all business, yet, as Candy observed, the gleam in her eye as she watched Davis was anything but.
She filed that bit of information away mentally to revisit later.
“Well, now that Ms. Cain has deigned to join us, shall we begin?” the woman asked and a small, tight insincere smile graced her pinched features.
“Again, I’m sorry I’m late,” Candy offered the apology with a polite smile and settled back into her seat. “Are you waiting for the others to join us as well?” Although the question was directed at the principal, Candy looked to Davis.
“There was a change of plans, it seems. Ms. Watson thought it would be best if she and I had a private meeting. Fortunately, with you joining us, I’m sure we’ll be able to come up with a better plan, in order to resolve this matter with Angelica.”
“Yes, well…the reason for this meeting is to discuss Angelica. It has come to my attention Angelica has committed a series of grievous offenses at St. Monica’s and I am unable to continue to turn a blind eye to them.”
Anita Watson reached a hand over and lifted a pair of square-framed glasses from the top of a manila folder and placed them on the thin bridge of her nose.
She opened the folder and pursed her lips as she scanned the contents. After a brief perusal of the documents, she placed the folder to the side and released a long breath, shaking her head. She then began to speak, verbally outlining the changes in Angelica’s behavior along with her truancy.
As she spoke, her eyes stayed glued on Davis. The rare times she glanced Candy’s way, Candy noted a distinct chill enter the woman’s dark gaze, and a sour look cross her face, her mouth turned downward. If Candy happened to catch her, Anita Watson would check herself and rearrange her thin lips into a façade of a smile.
Candy saw through the woman. She didn’t know what history, if any, she and Davis shared, but whatever it was, it wasn’t resolved. At least not on Anita Watson’s part.
By the close of the meeting, as far as Angelica was concerned, Candy wasn’t impressed with Ms. Watson’s concern for the child. In her opinion, the principal was acting a bit theatrical, just a tad over the top with all the breath-blowing and sighs of feigned concern. And Candy was certain that’s all it was: an act. She was adept at reading people, a skill she’d developed as a child when she and her father moved from home to home, job to job, and she’d cultivated the ability as an adult.
Not that Candy condoned what Angelica had done, skipping school and mouthing off to her teachers, but there was more than concern for Angelica going on.
It was confirmed when Anita suggested Angelica needed counseling, and perhaps she be the one to provide it. After school, one-on-one…and Davis was invited to attend the meetings.
“Perhaps something more is needed. Something she isn’t receiving at home,” she said and cast her gaze in Davis’ direction.
“What do you mean by that, Ms. Watson?” Davis crossed his big arms over his chest, his expression closed.
“I do have degrees in child development and education,” she said, waving a manicured hand toward one of the built-in shelves where several framed diplomas were set.
“And?” he asked and Candice was surprised at the blunt, almost rude tone of his voice.
“And—” she dragged the word out. “I’m offering to provide counseling for our little Angelica,” she finished, her tone that of a queen lowering herself to provide for one of her servants.
Little Angelica she’d called her. Yes, this woman had issues and Candy wanted to help Davis and Angelica more than ever.
“No worries, Ms. Watson, Davis and Angel are going to be just fine. How wonderful that you would sacrifice your time in this way, to help one of your students,” Candy began and smiled widely.
She glanced from the corner of her eye over at Davis and noted that although he remained relaxed in the chair, he was suddenly more alert.
“You’re not going to have to worry about going to that extreme! We wouldn’t dare dream of you doing that,” she said and her emphasis on the word “we” didn’t go by unnoticed, from the narrowing of the woman’s eyes.
Candy ignored Davis’ sudden coughing fit.
“Angelica isn’t going to need the deep one-on-one counseling. They’ve got me, now,” Candy replied and turned her attention toward Davis.
“Isn’t that right, Davis?”
Davis’ lips twitched, trying to hold back a smile. He nodded his head before answering.
“Yes, we do. I think you’re going to see some changes from here out, Ms. Watson,” Davis replied to the woman, yet his eyes were fixed on Candy’s.
It was as though Anita Watson was no longer in the room, the way he looked at her. Candy shivered and rubbed her hands over her arms as goosebumps peppered her flesh.
They both silently acknowledged in that moment the connection they’d mutually felt from the first time they’d laid eyes on one other.
They also acknowledged the instant leap in evolution of their relationship.
8
“W ell, I overheard Ms. Watson talking on the phone and she said your mama didn’t even know who your daddy was! She said your mama lied to your father and said it was him, just so he’d marry her!” Chandra said, hand on hip, laughing at Angelica.
“You did not hear that, you big liar! Take it back!” Angelica yelled.
“I ain’t either lying! I heard her say it. Everybody knows that ain’t your real daddy anyway!” Chandra yelled back and crossed her bony little arms over her non-existent chest.
“He is too my daddy! Now take that back, before I knock your dumb ass teeth down your throat!”
When the little girl openly laughed, Angelica hauled back a clenched fist and was within two seconds from laying one on the child.
Candy ran up, just in time, and caught Angelica’s raised fist in one of her hands, before she made connection with the other girl’s nose.
“That’s enough! Angelica! Girls—what is going on?” Candy asked, separating the two before the fight could ensue.
“Miss Candy, I wasn’t doing nothing! I was just talking to Angel, and she got all mad at me and tried to hit me and cursed at me! I swear I didn’t do nothing to her!” Chandra wailed, instantly turning from the teasing troublemaker back to a nine-year-old afraid of getting in trouble.
“We’re late for session, so we’ll have to talk about this later, Chandra. But you know I don’t allow fighting. Fighting won’t be tolerated any more than hurtful teasing,” Candy leveled a direct stare at Chandra.
“Yes, ma’am,” she murmured.
“And you have one more fight and you’re suspended from
the center, young lady. If I were you, I’d slow my roll. Think about how your parents would feel if I had to tell them you were on suspension, Chandra,” she warned. “I’d also think about how your parents would react if they suspected you were eavesdropping on adult conversations,” Candy finished.
Chandra’s parents worked hard to be able to pay for her to go to the private school she attended along with Angelica. They loved her, but were tough on discipline. The mere suggestion that Candy would tell Chandra’s parents of her behavior would be enough to have her rethink her teasing and eavesdropping in the future.
“It’s time for our session, why don’t you go ahead, Chandra, so you’re not late,” Candy told the chastened young girl. Before she took off running, she turned back to Candy.
“Miz Cain, you won’t tell my parents…will you?” she asked hesitantly and chewed her bottom lip.
“No, not this time, Chandra. But understand you have to be accountable for your actions. If I see a repeat of this, I won’t be so lenient the next time.”
“Yes ma’am,” she said and with a more upbeat look she turned and ran away.
Angelica turned to run off as well. Candy quickly caught her by the back of her shirt, before she could make good on her escape.
“What? You let Chandra go! I’m going to the same session, Miss Candy, can’t I go too?” she pleaded.
“Yes, Angelica, you can. In a minute. First I want to know what happened between you two.”
Candy knew Angelica would rather be anywhere but where she was, but she waited patiently for her to answer. When she remained quiet, Candy sighed.
“Angelica, I heard what she said. And I know that hurt. But honey, fighting isn’t the answer.”
She placed her hand over Angelica’s shoulder. Candy was surprised when she didn’t shrug her away, although she had been, over the course of the last two weeks, much more receptive to Candy.
Candy couldn’t say she’d unearthed the reasons for Angelica’s recent behavior, but she had a few ideas. One of which was a surprise to her.
Angelica had recently asked Candy, out of the clear blue, if she’d known her mother. Candy had gently told her she hadn’t lived in Stanton during the time her mother was living, and she hadn’t known her.
Angelica had feigned nonchalance and shrugged her thin shoulders, telling Candy it was no big deal.
But Candy caught the look of vulnerability in her dark eyes before she could hide it. She wondered why Angelica had asked the question, but after the exchange she just witnessed, she wondered exactly how much the child had known about her mother, wondering if her lack of knowledge was at the root of some of her recent acting-out episodes.
As well as the daily interactions with Angelica, she’d already been given two progress reports from the school. Both had been without incident and Candy had given a sigh of relief.
She remembered Anita Watson’s look of disdain when Candy promised she would be helping Davis. Candy would do everything in her power to prevent seeing the superior look cross her face! Ever.
Since the team meeting with her school, Candy had also been in daily conversation with Davis, mostly over the phone.
She wasn’t sure wanted to see him face-to-face and deal with the sexual tension between them.
The few times she and Davis had met in person, the tension had been there, no matter how hard either one of them tried to ignore it. Ignoring it wasn’t about to make it go away; all it did was intensify the attraction.
For whatever reason, Davis not only tried his best to ignore what was there between them, right there, hovering. In fact he seemed to break his neck trying to avoid being alone with her in the same room.
But she knew their last kiss had affected him just as much as it had her, and no amount of avoiding could negate that.
The way he’d hustled her inside the empty classroom at the center the last time they’d been alone together, his big hands feeling her up, backing her up against the door and kissing her…she forced her thoughts away as she felt her body’s instant response.
Now wasn’t the time to take a trip down memory lane. With her new role in Angelica’s life, Candy was glad for the reprieve from Davis.
She glanced down at Angelica.
“We’ll talk about this after the session, Angelica,” she said, sternly. Candy was careful not to allow any of her feelings of understanding to show. Angelica had to account for her actions as well as her language.
“Okay,” Angelica replied and released a deep, heartfelt sigh. “I guess I may as well get ready for Daddy to lock me up and throw away the key. I know you’re gonna tell him I cursed. He’s gonna be so mad at me,” she whispered. “It’s not fair, Ms. Cain, she started it,” Angelica said, her bottom lip quivering.
With a dejected look of impending doom, Angelica turned and walked ahead of Candy, shoulders hunched down low, lips poked out.
Candy suppressed an unexpected smile at the drama only a nine-year-old could create.
9
“O kay girls, we need to wrap this up, session is almost over and everyone hasn’t had the opportunity to speak yet,” Candy said as the young girls spoke over each other, their voices animated.
“But Ms. Candy, you didn’t answer my question,” one of the girls spoke loudly over the others.
“I’m sorry, Shante, I didn’t hear you over the others. Could you speak up please, sweetheart, so everyone can hear your question?” Candice asked and help up a hand when the other girls continued to speak. “Remember girls, we need to respect one another and when one has the baton, we have to allow her to speak,” Candy reminded them.
She’d implemented the “baton” rule when she’d had her first session with the younger girls, as they all seemed to want to talk at the same time.
After Candy had gotten the others to quiet down, she gave Shante her full attention. When it didn’t look as though she was going to speak, Candy encouraged her, “Go on, Shante, can you please repeat your question?”
Shante squared her thin shoulders and pushed her small wire-framed glasses further up the short bridge of her nose. She self-consciously glanced around at the other girls before speaking again.
“What do you do if a boy wants you to…you know…do it?” She finally spit out her question and Candy suppressed a sigh.
It was a hard fact of life, that although these girls were barely out of early childhood, a few of them had been introduced to the concept of male/female relationships. For some, this introduction had gone beyond an innocent peck on the cheek.
As she prepared to answer Shante’s question, out of the corner of her eye she caught Angelica’s intent stare.
She was probably thinking about the trouble she would be in with her father, among other things.
With caution, she proceeded to answer the question.
“Shante, what have I told you, as well as all the girls here?” Candy began.
Her gaze encompassed all the girls gathered in the semi-circle around her.
“It’s our body and nobody else’s.”
“What else?” she prompted the girl with a smile. “Do we allow anyone to tell us what we should do with our bodies?” she asked.
“No ma’am, we don’t,” they chorused.
“Good, so why don’t we talk about what we do, when we do feel pressure,” Candy said.
The rest of the session Candy encouraged the girls to share their experiences; she was pleased when the girls reiterated what she’d been teaching them for the last nine months.
“Okay, that’s it for today girls.” Candy clapped her hands together at the close of the session. “It’s Friday and I won’t see some of you until Monday, so have a great weekend! For those of you coming to the center’s party tomorrow night, I’ll see you then. And…” she laughed when they collectively groaned. “And…for those of you who so nicely volunteered to help set up—Angelica and Chandra?—I’ll see you both an hour before the party, at five o’clock!”
“W
hat?!” both girls chorused.
“I don’t want to volunteer, Miss Cain! I was coming later to the dance, with some friends,” Chandra wailed and Candy gave her a stern, meaningful glare.
“You will be there, or we can discuss this with your parents. You pick.”
“What did you say, young lady?” she asked when Chandra mumbled something beneath her breath.
“Nothing, Miss Cain. I’ll be there,” she said and she and Angelica exchanged mutually evil looks at one another, before she raced out the door.
“I didn’t sign up to volunteer! No way am I doing that, Ms. Candy! I’m going to be spending the night and tomorrow with my Aunt Milly!” Angelica stomped her foot in frustration.
“Angelica, we can talk about it in my office. I need to speak to you anyway. Could you please wait for me?” Candy wanted to make sure she got Angel’s attention before she could try and run out the door, so she spoke loudly over the sound of the girls laughing and chairs scraping as they left the room.
“This is the last session for today, so girls, please place the chairs against the wall…and pick those chairs up off the floor! That’s brand new carpet!” she groaned as several of the girls dragged the chairs across the floor before lifting them to stack against the wall.
“Ms. Candy, can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Sure Tasha, what’s on your mind?” she smiled at the young girl as she stood hesitantly in front of her, shuffling her weight from foot to foot.
“Everything going well with your new mural?” she asked. Tasha was in the process of finishing her latest mural in the girls’ locker room.
“Oh yeah, it’s all good. I think I’ll have the new scene done in no time,” she said, shuffling from foot to foot, and Candy waited.
“I wanted to know if it’s okay if I still can come to the party tomorrow even if I don’t have the permission slip signed from my foster mother.”
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but without the permission slip I can’t. Has your foster parent said it’s okay?”
Just Like Candy Page 7