“My husband could get us a bounce house,” the art teacher says.
“I have an old-fashioned popcorn machine going to waste in my basement,” says Mrs. Sullivan.
Mary raises her hand. “My daughter goes horseback riding. They have bunnies, goats, and cows. I can ask how much they’d charge to bring some of the animals over to our school.”
Teachers brainstorm ways to make this as cheap as possible for us to put together. Jaxon writes everything down on his pad. All the while, my excitement soars. This idea might actually work.
After the meeting clears out, Jaxon asks me to meet him in his office to go over the details.
“If you have plans, we can do it another time,” he says.
“No, I’m free. Let’s get started.” I turn to Mary before following Jaxon down the hallway. “Call me once you hear back from the farm.”
“Will do.” She squeezes my shoulder. “This is going to be great, Rae.”
I smile. “It will if we can pull this off.”
“If anyone can pull it off, it’ll be you.”
I wave good bye and head to Jaxon’s office.
“Let’s sit at the table,” he says, gesturing to the oval-shaped table.
I take the seat across from him and click open my pen. “I’ll make a list of everything we need. You can take a look at the calendar and pick a few dates that will work. Once you solidify a date, you can contact the PTO. We’ll also need to make flyers: One asking for parent volunteers, and another for families to purchase tickets. Maybe we should put out a sign-up sheet to form a committee …” My voice trails off when I notice Jaxon’s hand covering his mouth to conceal his smile. “What?”
“I’m sorry,” he says. “It’s nothing. Continue.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “It’s not nothing, otherwise you wouldn’t be smiling.”
“You’re so excited about this. It’s just … it’s cute.”
I laugh. “I just know the kids are going to love this. I get a little enthusiastic sometimes.”
“A little?”
“Shut up.” I toss my pen at him but he catches it. “I used to be a cheerleader in high school. I have a lot of school spirit. I can’t help it.”
Jaxon raises an eyebrow. “A cheerleader, huh?”
I roll my eyes and snap my fingers. “Focus, Waters. We’ve got work to do.”
An hour later, Jaxon’s tie is off and so are my heels. His shirt’s unbuttoned and my hair is in a top knot. I’ve moved to the floor to give myself more room for my timeline. Things feel comfortable between us. Like we’re two friends helping each other out.
My phone buzzes on the table. Jaxon tosses it to me.
“Hey, Mary. What’d they say?”
“They’ll bring their animals for free!”
I jump to my feet. “Are you kidding me? Why would they do that?”
“The owner said it’d be great exposure. She said her daughter went to our school, so she’d love to give back.”
“That is amazing. I can’t believe it.”
“I told you this is going to be great.”
“Thanks, Mary. You’re the best.”
“See you tomorrow, Rae.”
I end the call and squeal. “We don’t have to pay for the animals. That’s one less expense to worry about.”
Jaxon leans over and crosses it off our list. “That’s great news. Looks like we won’t have to pay for much. This is amazing, Rae.”
I’m beaming when my phone rings again. “It’s my mom. She’s probably wondering if I’m coming home for dinner.”
“We could go grab a bite if you’re hungry.”
Dinner with Jaxon? I reach for my phone and press the green button while I toy with that idea. “Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
“Raegan, are you still at work?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“You need to come home.”
“What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”
“Uh, I’m not sure. Do you know why the police showed up at my house with a search warrant?”
My face twists in confusion. “A search warrant? For what?”
Jaxon’s head whips around, eyes wide as he stares at me.
“Apparently someone thinks you stole a piece of his jewelry, so the police are here to look for it.”
My hand clenches around the phone. “I’ll be right there. I’m leaving now.”
I end the call and my hand drops to my side. I can’t believe I fell for it.
Jaxon rushes around the table to where I’m standing. “Raegan, I can explain.”
My words come out slow and robotic. “You got a warrant to search my mother’s house.”
“It wasn’t my idea. It was my dad. I didn’t know he was going to—”
Jaxon’s sentence is cut off by the sound of my palm slapping against the side of his face.
My bottom lip trembles and I use all of my strength to fight back the tears. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you. I knew your truce was a fucking lie!”
“Please, Raegan. Just let me explain.”
I shove my feet into my shoes and grab my purse off the table. “I don’t have time for your bullshit. I have to get to my mom.”
“Let me come with you. I’ll tell the police it’s a mistake.”
“No. Let them search. Let them turn the entire fucking house upside-down. Maybe when they don’t find your grandmother’s ring, you’ll actually believe me when I tell you that I didn’t steal it.”
I storm toward the door and take off running down the hallway. I’m in my car and at my mom’s house in five minutes. Two police cars are double-parked outside. Several neighbors are standing on their porches to watch what’s happening.
When I get inside, Mom is on the couch while two police officers rummage through our belongings. I fling myself into her arms, the tears I’d been holding back spilling free.
“Honey, don’t cry. Everything’s okay. We’ll figure this out.”
Pulling back to look at her, I say, “I know who sent the police and I know what they’re looking for.” I glance up at the men. “But they won’t find what they’re looking for because I didn’t steal anything.”
“Of course you didn’t. That’s what I tried explaining to these nice men before you got here. This is a misunderstanding.”
“Let’s go sit on the porch and I’ll tell you everything.” Standing, I turn around to face one of the officers. “Please stay and search every square inch of this house. I don’t want there to be a shadow of a doubt when you leave.”
“Will do, ma’am.”
Days Left Until Summer Break: 138
Jaxon
“I don’t understand why you’re so mad.”
I stop pacing in front of my father’s desk. “Because I was finally getting somewhere with Raegan! Now everything is ruined.”
“I don’t see how it’s ruined. If the ring turns up at her house, we’ll know it was her.”
“And if it doesn’t? Then what?”
“Harry said he might be able to get copies of the girl’s bank statements to see if there were any big deposits.”
“Bank statements? This is getting out of control. I have to work with this woman.”
He sighs as if I’m boring him. “You’re her boss. You have control of the situation.”
I pull my hair through my fingers. “If the ring isn’t at her house, this ends here.”
“Jaxon—”
“No, Dad! I mean it. I want this to end. Do you hear me?”
He tilts his seat back and crosses his arms, staring at me long and hard.
I spin around and walk toward the door. When I swing it open, Dad calls out to me.
“All of our choices have consequences, son. This is what happens when you take random women home from the bar.”
I bite my tongue and slam the door behind me on my way out. I smack into my mother and clutch my chest.
“Mom. Jesus. You scared me.”
She point
s her index finger in my face. “I don’t care who it is, but someone in this house needs to tell me what’s going on.”
“Nothing, Mom. Everything’s fine.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Oh, everything’s fine? You and your brother have been in and out of your father’s office, whispering about something you don’t want me to know.” She plants her hands on her hips. “You are going to tell me, Jaxon.”
Giving in, I gesture to the living room. “Let’s go sit.”
Mom listens as I fill her in on what’s been going on since August. She remains quiet, even after I’m finished. I can’t tell if she’s mad about Grandma’s ring, or disappointed in my choices. I definitely wasn’t expecting her to say what she says next.
“I’m disappointed in you, Jaxon. I thought I raised you to be a respectful man, and to treat women with kindness.”
“What?”
“You’re attacking this poor woman with no proof whatsoever. What’s wrong with you?”
“All signs point to Raegan taking the ring. I … I just …”
“You listened to your father, that’s the problem.” She shakes her head. “I love that man, Lord knows I do, but he has steered you in the wrong direction. I will deal with him later. As for you, you need to make things right with that girl of yours.”
I scrub my hands over my face. “I don’t know what else to do, Mom. I don’t think flowers and an apology are going to cut it this time.”
“You’re damn right, they won’t. You’re going to have to suffer a little while you think about it. This girl sounds like a tough cookie. I like her and I don’t even know her.”
A smile breaks through my worried features. “She is a tough cookie. She slapped me after finding out about the search warrant.”
“Good. You deserve it. I’d have smacked you too.”
I laugh. “I know you would’ve.”
“You like her, don’t you?”
I shrug and avert my eyes, toying with the frayed edges of the pillow beside me. “I’ve liked her since the moment I met her. Things just got a little … messed up after the ring went missing.”
“Then you’ve got to show her you’re not going anywhere. You’ve got to earn her trust back.”
“How do I do that when she won’t even talk to me?”
“You’ll think of a way. It might take some time, but she’ll come around.”
“How do you know that?”
Mom smiles. “Because she wouldn’t be this angry if she didn’t like you too.”
Monday after work, I walk into the nursing home with a lead ball in my stomach.
I’m hoping to run into Raegan, though I’m not sure how she’ll receive me. She wasn’t at the nursing home this weekend. I know she’s avoiding me, but I went both Saturday and Sunday anyway.
The police’s search proved what I’d suspected: no ring.
Grandpa looks over at me and signs, Everything okay?
I don’t have the heart to tell him about Grandma’s ring. Omitting that part from the story, I try my best to tell him what’s bothering me.
I heave a sigh, pushing the pool water around with my hands before signing, Raegan’s mad at me.
What did you do? he asks.
I laugh. How do you know I did something wrong?
He signs while giving me a knowing look. A woman doesn’t get mad for no reason. She gets mad because a man hurt her.
I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat. I did hurt her. But I didn’t mean to.
Grandpa points toward the pool entrance. So apologize.
I look up and Raegan’s eyes lock with mine as soon as she walks through the door. She stops in her tracks, but Neil says something in her ear to coax her into staying.
I give her space and wait for her to help Annette into the water. She keeps her back turned to me while Neil takes Annette through her exercises.
Go talk to her. Grandpa gives me a nudge.
I swim over to Raegan. She won’t look at me, so I swim around her until she can’t avoid me.
“Raegan, please talk to me.”
Her hands fly to her hips. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“You don’t have to talk. Just listen. Please let me explain.”
She laughs. “Explain what? That the police found nothing in my house? That you’re a conniving asshole? That I never should’ve trusted you? Yeah, thanks. I figured that all out on my own.”
“My father had his friend get the search warrant. It wasn’t my doing. I didn’t know the police were going to show up at your house. I would’ve told you. I would’ve warned you.”
Raegan rolls her eyes. “Is that all? Is that your explanation?”
My shoulders droop. “I’m sorry, Raegan. Please believe me.”
“Believe you? The way you believed me when I told you that I didn’t steal your grandmother’s ring?” She shakes her head. “Leave me alone, Jaxon.”
I do as she asks, and swim back to my grandfather. She doesn’t want to talk to me, I sign.
He nods and pats me on the shoulder. She’ll come around.
I don’t know that she will. The more I think about this whole thing, the more I believe that Raegan never actually stole the ring in the first place.
But that still leaves me with one question.
Who did?
A week goes by and Raegan still won’t talk to me. Aside from personal reasons, we need to discuss the upcoming fundraiser. I resort to e-mail.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Fundraiser
Dear Raegan,
What’s the head count for the fundraiser? Let’s map out where each station will be. I think the animals should go in back of the school, near the playground.
Please come talk to me. I’ll be in my office after school today.
Sincerely,
Jax
Twenty minutes later, a reply pings on my e-mail.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Fundraiser
Dear Mr. Waters,
Beth is collecting the slips from the attending families. See her for the head count. I’ve already drawn up a map. See the attachment.
No need for a meeting.
Sincerely,
Ms. Donahue
I’m desperate for a way to get her to talk to me in person. I fire a quick e-mail back to her.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Fundraiser
Dear Raegan,
The attachment won’t open. Please print it out and bring it to my office so we can take a look at it together.
Sincerely,
Jax
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Fundraiser
Dear Mr. Waters,
I forwarded the e-mail to Beth. She’s printing it out for you. Take a look and let me know if there’s anything I need to change.
Sincerely,
Ms. Donahue
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Fundraiser
Dear Raegan,
What’s it going to take to get you to talk to me?
Sincerely,
Jax
Days Left Until Summer Break: 126
Raegan
The weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break are uneventful.
I steer clear of Jaxon at work as much as I can. We’ve managed to continue planning the fundraiser via e-mail, and I’ve resorted to visiting Grandma during the week instead of on the weekend when I know Jaxon will be there.
Maybe he’s telling the truth about the search warrant. Maybe I’ve reacted too harshly. But I can’t seem to shake the hurt from my system. Just when I’d let my guard down, he gave me a reason to raise the gates again.
And just like that, we’re back at square one.
I’m in Shoprite getting a few last-minute items for Thank
sgiving dinner. Every year, Mom and I cook all the holiday classics and bring them to Grandma. We spend the day with her at the nursing home because taking her to our house proved too disorienting for her. She’d get confused and her anger would flare. Everything’s calmer where Grandma feels comfortable.
Mom calls for the third time since I arrived. “Yes, Mom. What else did you forget?”
“I don’t think I wrote cranberry sauce on the list. Grandma loves the jellied kind.”
“Already got two cans in the cart.”
“You’re the best daughter ever.”
“I know, I know.”
“See you when you get home.”
I end the call and toss my phone back into my purse. As I round the next aisle, my cart crashes into someone else’s.
“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t—” My words halt on my tongue when I realize who I’ve crashed into. “Andrew. Hi.”
“Hi, Rae.” He reaches into his cart and flips open a carton of eggs. “Let’s just make sure you haven’t ruined my eggs.”
My stomach twists, and the apology flies out of my mouth before I can stop it. “I’m sorry. I was on the phone with my mom and I didn’t see you.”
“Clearly.” He deems his eggs satisfactory and returns them to his cart.
“How are you?” I ask, though I don’t know why.
“I’m well. Just doing some shopping before the holiday like everyone else.”
Oh, me? I’m well, thanks for asking. “Thanksgiving dinner at your mom’s as usual?”
A tall, thin red-haired woman struts toward Andrew and wraps her arm around his waist.
“Dinner with Ashley’s family this year,” he says. “Ashley, this is my ex-wife.”
She looks me up and down, and I’m suddenly aware of how frumpy I look. Leggings, fake Uggs, an oversized hoodie, and my hair tied back in a messy ponytail. I didn’t get the memo that must’ve went out about wearing formalwear to Shoprite. Ashley’s in a slinky black dress with a fur coat thrown over her shoulders.
Hating the Boss Page 11
