It Happened at Christmas

by Christen Krumm

  “Please, have a seat,” Headmistress Kingfisher motioned to the seat in front of her desk next to the one Mrs. Potts had a death grip on.

  Murphy side glanced at Mrs. P, who still hadn’t looked her way, and back to the Headmistress. “I think I’ll stand. Thanks.”

  Headmistress studied the two for a moment before lifting her shoulders in a shrug. “Whatever you wish.”

  Headmistress sat back in her chair and studied the duo in front of her, over her tortoise shelled glasses. She may not have been the tallest woman and may have been staring up at Murphy and Mrs. Potts, but there was no denying who had the power in the room.

  Murphy glanced from Headmistress Kingfisher to Mrs. Potts and back, wishing someone would tell her what was going on already.

  When Headmistress seemed to decide the stare down was over, she tented her hands together in front of her.

  “Miss Cain,” she drew out Murphy’s last name more than necessary. “I’ve gotten some disturbing reports.”

  Disturbing reports? Who had given said reports? Claire? She hadn’t been here for two weeks. Surely the Headmistress couldn’t believe whatever Claire had claimed, could she? Was this about Fiona? Tripp?

  When Murphy didn’t say anything, she sighed and continued. “It has been brought to my attention that you have been leaving campus the past couple of weeks.”

  Murphy felt like her lungs were forcing air through a straw. She didn’t think leaving campus had been against the rules. And besides, she had had Mrs. Potts’ permission. She glanced again at the older woman wishing that she would say something or look at her or something. Anything.

  “And as such you have been failing on your duties here at Iverson.”

  She knew she maybe hadn’t been doing her job to the fullest, but failing? She thought that might be taking it a bit far.

  “Why is Mrs. Potts here?” Murphy asked in barely a whisper. Mrs. Potts shifted uncomfortably.

  Headmistress turned to Mrs. Potts as if just realizing she was still standing there.

  “Carol is here as she was the acting representative of Iverson.”

  Murphy could feel her fingers ball into fists, readying herself for whatever bad news came from the woman in front of her.

  “With the travesty at the train station and how these past weeks have been handled, Carol Potts has been let go from Iverson due to her incompetence.”

  “What the—"

  “Miss Cain!” Headmistress Kingfisher cut off Murphy’s protesting, smoothing her jacket of non-existent wrinkles before continuing. “I would appreciate if you would refrain from such outbursts, and it would behoove you to watch your language.”

  Murphy took a breath, trying to calm her raging nerves. “There’s no reason you need to fire Mrs. Potts.” Mrs. Potts loved this job. What would she do now? This was all her fault. “Please. I take full blame for everything.”

  “Murphy,” Mrs. Potts turned and put her hand on Murphy’s arm. Murphy shrugged her off.

  “You shouldn’t lose your job because of my bad choices.” She had to make Headmistress Kingfisher understand. She had to fix this.

  “Be that as it may,” the Headmistress cut in. “My decision is final. Carol, you may go.” She dismissed Mrs. Potts.

  Mrs. Potts looked as if leaving Murphy in the lion’s den was the last thing she wanted to do, but Murphy pushed her toward the door wanting to get her out of the line of fire as much as possible. Mrs. Potts squeezed her hand before disappearing, closing the door behind her. The click echoed in the silence of the room. Murphy studied the towering bookshelf covered in books. She’d be surprised if Her Royal Highness had ever cracked any of the spines. She didn’t strike Murphy as a reader. She stared at the intricate design in the dark crown molding. The swish and swirls in the Oriental rug beneath her feet. Anywhere except for at Headmistress Kingfisher.

  “Miss Cain,” the Headmistress’ tone was ice. “Is it true that you have had a pet on school property?” Her thin eyebrows rose.

  “I—”

  Without breaking eye contact, Headmistress Kingfisher reached to something beside her, out of view from Murphy. She set an animal carrier on her desk. Fiona mewed. She was more than annoyed.

  Murphy’s heart sank. Apparently this day could get worse. She hung her head. “Yes, ma’am.”

  It’d be so easy to explain the Fiona situation, but that would mean throwing Tripp under the bus. If anything, she felt she owed Tripp and the Harringtons. She could give them this. It wasn’t as if Headmistress Kingfisher would listen to her anyway. She could tell the Headmistress’ mind was made up. Fiona could have belonged to the President and it wouldn’t have made any difference.

  “You are aware of Iverson’s policy on pets. Are you not?” It was statement, but Murphy answered anyway.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Headmistress Kingfisher nodded. Looking slightly surprised. Did she want Murphy to agree with her? She had the evidence right there in a horrible purple colored cat carrier. Murphy was tired of lies. Was tired of the deception.

  “You will gather your things.”

  Murphy’s head snapped up. Gather her things? But didn’t that mean? “You’re kicking me out?”

  Headmistress Kingfisher looked up from the paperwork she was tidying on her desk. “Miss Cain, you broke school policy. You admitted that you knew you did so. I see no other recourse than to dismiss you. You are now eighteen. Legally an adult.”

  Murphy blinked. “B-but where am I supposed to go?” She was supposed to have a little bit longer before she needed to figure it out.

  The Headmistress heaved a sigh as if dealing with Murphy had taken a toll. “I don’t know, nor do I care. I’m sure you will figure it out. I will let you have one day to gather your things and make preparations to leave. I will need you off the premises by noon tomorrow.”

  Murphy could see by the challenging stare in the headmistress gaze that she excepted her to beg on hands and knees to stay. But Murphy just stood there, mute, watching the woman straighten her desk around the cat carrier that continued to growl and hiss at her.

  Murphy didn’t have any tears left to cry, and even if she did, she certainly wasn’t going to give Mistress Kingfisher the satisfaction. She was completely … numb.

  Since she was leaving, there was one more question she had to ask. “Why do you hate me so much?”

  Headmistress Kingfisher looked up in surprise. “Murphy, I don’t hate you,” her tone of voice said otherwise. “Someone has to teach you the hard lesson that life isn’t easy.”

  Ironic since most of the students in her school weren’t learning that life lesson in the least.

  Murphy nodded. Stepping forward she curled her hand over the handle of the carrier lifting it off the desk. She could see the Hyde’s mind was made up.

  “Please do not let that thing out of the cage for the remainder of your stay.”

  Murphy didn’t reply. She turned and walked out of the office letting the door slam shut behind her.

  Notification Center

  Message from Emmaline Harris (08:42 AM)

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  It was still snowing when Murphy woke up the next morning. Big fat flakes floated past her window.

  Today was the day she was leaving Iverson. Her eyes and nose were raw, her throat felt like she had dined on sandpaper. Not like this. I didn’t want to leave like this. Leaving was supposed to be on her own terms. It was supposed to involve a plan.

  For the first time that she could ever remember she wanted to stay at Iverson. She was finally breaking free, and all she wanted to do was stay.

  Her wall was now bare. Map carefully folded and squeezed in the slot next to her computer. Everything she owned fit into one suitcase, one duffle bag, and the satchel the twins had gotten her for Christmas—which were all stacked by the door.

  Mrs. Potts had been waiting outside the door when Murphy stormed out of the Headmistress’ office. Th
ey practically marched to the kitchen together, holding their heads high — not that anyone had been hanging around waiting for a verdict. Murphy had been glad that school wasn’t back in full session yet. As it were, she’d be gone before everyone showed back up.

  Murphy apologized again and again, but Mrs. Potts just shrugged her off. She had been planning on retiring after next year anyway. The visit with her daughter and grandkids made her ache for a simpler life. She had already decided to move in with her daughter until she found a place of her own.

  Murphy knew she could call Emmaline. She should call Emmaline, but she didn’t want to feel like she was taking advantage of anyone anymore. Floyd and Lloyd stopped by while she stuffed clothes in a suitcase and helped her wiped everything down. They had put together what had happened through the school grapevine. It had been Willow and Charlotte that had turned her in to Claire. Headmistress Kingfisher had come home early because a storm had cut her vacation short—nothing to do with Murphy.

  Willow and Charlotte had put two and two together after Murphy left the party. Charlotte, after getting shut down numerous times from Hank, somehow had found out that everyone thought Murphy was Tripp’s girlfriend. Willow saw Murphy get in the car with Floyd and Lloyd, and both girls decided to text Claire who had apparently already been stateside. After getting the full story, Claire had made a visit to the Headmistress. When they couldn’t find Murphy that morning, Fiona was discovered in her room. Claire had to have arrived at the Harrington’s only a few minutes before Hank and Murphy had gotten there.

  Stretching in bed, Murphy smelled the air waiting for that first whiff of morning coffee, until she remembered that Mrs. Potts had already left to go back to her daughter’s—after their failed plan making session the night before. Mrs. Potts wanted Murphy to stay with her at her daughter’s house, but there was barely enough room for her as it was. Mr. Gruber offered Murphy his extra room, but since he still lived on campus, she declined his offer. She really didn’t want someone else to get in trouble trying to help her out.

  In the end, Mrs. Potts and Mr. Gruber had shoved some bills into her hand. Not much, but enough to get a hotel room for a few days and work on figuring out a game plan, find a job.

  Murphy stared numbly at the white ceiling, listening to Fiona purr in her ear. She had completely ignored the Headmistress demand to keep the cat cooped up in the carrier. She wasn’t happy being contained in the tiny space. It wasn’t like the Headmistress could kick Murphy out of school again. Been there, done that.

  Pushing back the covers, Murphy rolled out of bed, careful not to upset Fiona too much. Not even the chill in the room bothered her already freezing body.

  Skipping a shower, she got ready, acutely aware of every “last-day-at-Iverson” task she was performing. How strange it was to think in lasts. She assumed this was what someone graduating and moving to the next stage in life would feel like. Minus the absolute despair from being kicked out early and the fear from the lack of a destination.

  Dumping a cup of food into Fiona’s dish, she shook her head and pasted on a smile. At least Fiona didn’t seem to mind they were going on an adventure.

  In search of food, Murphy wandered into the kitchen. Beth, the part time help who got a promotion with Mrs. P’s vacancy, was already beginning to prep lunch with a new assistant. Murphy hated the pang she felt at being replaced so quickly. So easily.

  “Breakfast in the mess hall has already been cleaned up,” Beth said without turning from the counter.

  Murphy stood in the middle of the kitchen. She wasn’t sure if Beth would like if she got in the pantry or not. Mrs. Potts had never minded, but then again Mrs. Potts always saved her food when she slept in and had a fresh pot of coffee waiting. Murphy looked to where the coffee pot sat on the counter. Shiny, clean and very, very empty.

  Ignoring Beth’s voice droning on about what she should and shouldn’t be doing per the Headmistress’ orders, Murphy headed toward the back staircase. Maybe the twins would have an energy drink. She needed caffeine.

  Heading up the stairs, she picked at the polish on her nails. Only two days ago this was a perfect manicure for the perfect evening. The Harrington Christmas Ball seemed forever ago. Murphy sucked in a deep breath. So maybe now, just a little bit, she wished she’d taken Hank up on his offer to stay. She could figure this out on her own. She had to. She’d stay a night in the inn and make a plan. Go from there.

  When she’d watched Tripp fall, she never would have guessed she’d end up here.

  Murphy knocked on the twin’s door. There was no answer.

  Strange.

  She knocked again.

  Peter Cho stuck his head out of his bedroom, smacking hard at a piece of gum. “They aren’t here. Left to go somewhere this morning.”

  Murphy blinked. When had Peter gotten back to campus?

  Surely the twins would be back before she had to go. “Did they say where they were going?”

  “Somewhere.” Peter shrugged a shoulder before disappearing back into his bedroom.

  Murphy went back to picking at her polish. No point it trying to keep it perfect since it was already half gone. She turned on her heel. What now? There was at least another half hour before her taxi would arrive. Mr. Gruber wanted to take her to the train station, but the Headmistress had found something to keep him busy.

  She huffed out a sigh and pushed her hair back from her face. There were a lot of decisions that she was going to have to make on her own in the next couple of days. Time to grow up. She sunk her hands into her hoodie, hoping to keep herself from chipping off all her polish. She guessed she could go ahead and move her bags and Fiona out to the hallway. Maybe she’d see the twins before she left and maybe she wouldn’t. The thought made her ache. It was bad enough that she wasn’t going to get to see Emmaline.

  It took her a good fifteen minutes to get Fiona back into her carrier. She promised the cat that she wouldn’t leave her there for long. She debated on taking the cat to the Harringtons. In the end, she figured that she’d contact Tripp later. Truth was she’d kind of gotten attached. She secretly hoped that he wouldn’t, or couldn’t, take her back.

  Stacking the duffle bag on top of the suitcase, she slung the computer bag over her shoulder, and grabbed the cat carrier. Fiona let her know just how unhappy she was at her current situation with a strangled meow. Murphy hoped she’d calm down sooner rather than later.

  Looking back into her now empty room, she felt a pull. The place that she called her own for the past seven years now looked like an empty shell. Murphy wondered if the Headmistress would let her replacement have this room. She snorted. The Headmistress would most likely turn this into a second pantry. The school needed it.

  Leaving her door open, she pulled the suitcase behind her listening to the click clack as the wheels bounced over tile. Fiona’s mewing almost sounded like she was trying to make music.

  No. Murphy tilted her head. There was actual music playing. She furrowed her brow. Was that—? It couldn’t be.

  Someone was playing Your Song. She followed the sound of Elton John’s voice through Iverson and ended in the grand entryway. Murphy let the handle of her suitcase go and it fell to the floor with a clatter.

  “It’s you.”

  What was Hank doing here? Standing there in dark jeans, a hoodie, and the black Converses he was always wearing, he held out a cupcake with so much pink icing on top that it looked like it was getting ready to slide off. A single candle stabbed through the middle was flickering. She wanted to feel something other than the numbness. He remembered. The song, the cupcake. She had told him they wouldn’t work. Why was he making this harder than it needed to be?

  Murphy glanced over Hank’s shoulder. Eloise was bouncing on her toes. The biggest smile Murphy had ever seen on the girl’s face. Floyd and Lloyd, with their arms around each other looking like they were pulling off the biggest prank ever. And an elderly woman, tears glistening in her eyes. The woman looked vaguely familia
r, but Murphy couldn’t place her. “What are you doing here?”

  Hank ignored her question, his smile faltering for half a second at the flatness of her tone, before lighting back up. “What’s with the luggage, Cain? Are you going somewhere?”

  Murphy looked down at the luggage at her feet. Fiona let out another annoyed meow. Almost as if telling Hank how observant he was.

  She set Fiona down. The carrier got heavy fast. She toed the tile with her scuffed up converse, trying not to compare her old, worn-in pair with the newness of Hank’s. She sighed not really wanting to re-tell the entire story, she shortened it. “I have been dismissed from Iverson, so I’m heading out.”

  “You what?” Hank took a step forward, but remembering the burning candle stopped. “What happened?”

  Murphy squinted her eyes. “Why are you here?”

  “Well, for starters, we missed your birthday.” Hank looked back at Eloise who waved at Murphy. “Wheezy was just beside herself when we realized it was yesterday. So, we decided we would pop over and say happy birthday. Grandpa Jack is back at the house hoping you’ll swing by for a game of cards later. He says to bring your pipe.”

  Murphy felt her head shaking back and forth. “But, yesterday—”

  “What about it?”

  “Hank.” Murphy bit her lip. Was he really going to make her relive everything? Admit again how wrong she was.

  “Murphy. I told you we could work it out.”

  She let out a shaky breath. Her name on his lips would forever send chills over her. “I lied, and I’m not like you. I don’t come from money. I—” Her voice cracked. Of course, now the tears decided to start back up.

  Hank put a finger to her mouth putting a stop to her self-sabotage. “If I recall correctly, you never actually said you were Tripp’s girlfriend. That was actually me.” He put his thumb to his chest. “Plus, you tried to tell me, probably multiple times, but I would never shut up and listen. I don’t care that you aren’t like me. That’s one of the things I love so much about you. Also,” he leaned forward and motioned Murphy to do the same.