by Laura Moore
“It was a pleasure, my dear. Your family means a great deal to me.”
“Well, you are one of us.”
“An honor that leaves me humbled.” He fell into step beside her, the two of them bringing up the rear of the snaking line as everyone made their way back down the hill to the glorious old house and barns below.
“I’d have thought you realized that we consider you part of the family, Stuart. Jordan doesn’t bake her lemon cake for just anybody, you know.”
Stuart turned pink as he smiled. “Now I’m not simply honored but gratified.” Turning serious, he continued, “So, Jade, may I speak not only as an old friend but as a great-uncle too? Are you all right? Are you holding up?”
“Yes—at least with regard to Mom. I never realized how much anger and resentment was still inside me, even after all these years. It’s a relief to miss her again, the way I did in those early days before I found the diary. Actually, and you probably understand this better than anybody, Stuart, I want to say my grief is purer somehow. It’s no longer mixed with confusion or hurt, because I finally understand the roots of her behavior.”
“And the other?” he asked gently.
They knew each other well. Stuart didn’t need to spell out the entire question for her to identify what he was alluding to.
A gust of cold wind sliced at the layers of wool she wore. Shoving her hands deep in her jacket pockets, she smiled sadly. “Ah, well, all will be revealed in a matter of hours, right? High drama in Warburg. It might get ugly,” she admitted. “But at least I’ve grown up enough to avoid the typical self-destructive behavior I resorted to in the past. Rest assured, I will not be calling my best frenemy Blair to suggest we go barhopping. In fact, I will avoid any activity that might land me in the Warburg police station, which would result in my not being able to pass go and collect my two hundred dollars. More than that I cannot promise.”
“These are all admirable goals. Would you like some company this afternoon while they’re voting on your fate?”
She hooked an arm about his, squeezing the sleeve of his green herringbone jacket. This man had kept her company through some of her worst moments, sometimes talking but more often enduring her stubborn adolescent silences with unwavering patience and kindness.
“Thank you for the offer, Stuart. But as I don’t have a riding lesson to teach today and Margot and Jordan kept me company yesterday evening, I’m dragooning Ned into taking the littlest clan members to the Shake Shack with me. The goal is to see how much ice cream we can consume in one sitting. I imagine by the time we’re finished, Georgie, Will, and Neddy will be so buzzed on sugar, I’ll be forced to run laps with them around the property. Then I plan to collapse on my sofa and reflect on my sins until my cellphone rings with news of my fate. I’d invite you along to the Shack, but I think Ned is looking forward to some quality time with the little ones. He’s especially proud that he and Neddy share a favorite flavor—strawberry.”
“I quite understand. They’re fine children and lucky to have such a terrific aunt. Everyone at Rosewood is so happy to have you back where you belong,” he said, smiling.
Jade, however, was familiar with her canny friend’s ways. He’d guessed that she was thinking of leaving Warburg.
Best to distract him before he broached the topic openly. “Did I tell you that Jordan’s been experimenting with a chocolate, walnut, and pear crostata? It’s a pretty scrumptious combination. You might even call it divine. I think she mentioned baking one so that you could taste test the latest version.”
There were perks to living in a small town. Rob didn’t even have to make the rounds of the station to find someone to fill in for him so he could meet with Maryanne Ferris and take their petition to Ted Guerra before the school-board meeting convened. One of his fellow officers, Tory Bryant, approached him.
“I read in the Courier about the flak Hayley’s teacher’s been getting,” she said. “A shame. We need young people to be informed and responsible, not ignorant. If she got kids to remember to put on a condom before having sex, we should be giving her an award, not firing her. Anyway, I told the chief I’d be happy to take the last hour of your shift this afternoon.”
When he arrived at the school, Maryanne Ferris was waiting in the school lobby. “Hi, Rob. I’ve got the petition here.” She handed him a stapled sheaf of papers filled with names, addresses, and signatures. “One hundred and eighteen names!” Maryanne said triumphantly. “Ted’s in his office.”
As the school-board meeting was set for 3:30 P.M., Rob knew he and Maryanne had only a few minutes to make a pitch for Jade.
Handing Ted the petition, Rob said, “Ted, you know I had certain reservations about Jade Radcliffe when the school year started. They were completely misguided. I’ve seen firsthand what a wonderful teacher she is. You don’t want to lose someone this good who obviously loves what she’s doing.”
“I agree and, as I’ve told Jade, I intend to fight for her.” He paused to flip through the petition. “You’ve gathered an impressive number of signatures here. This may help convince any board members still sitting on the fence. Thank you, Maryanne, Rob, for making this effort on her behalf.”
“We want to do everything we can to keep her as our children’s teacher. Do you think the board will actually vote against her when it’s clear so many parents and people in the community support her? Has anyone on the board even considered how disruptive and stressful it will be for the children? They’ve grown so attached to her,” Maryanne said.
“That’s definitely an argument I’m going to make. Judy Altmann, the school-board president, will be stressing what a superb job Jade has done and that her abilities as a teacher are unquestioned. The challenge will be to convince certain board members that what Jade wrote in college has no relevance in determining her fitness as a second-grade teacher. It helps that people have been talking nonstop about Eric Drogan’s editorial supporting Jade. His was truly the voice of reason. Do we want young people to be informed about sex and sexuality through the intelligent writing of their peers, or do we want them turning to the distorted world of reality TV or Internet sites for their information? It’s an important question, and I’m glad people in our community are discussing it.” Ted picked up the folder on his desk and slipped the petition inside it. “But, unfortunately, there are some who are simply going to focus on the fact that Jade wrote about sex and consider it grounds for immediate dismissal.” He checked his watch. “Well, our conversation has served as an excellent warm-up. I feel more than ready for the next hour or so of head-butting. I’ll put the petition in Judy’s hands as soon as I see her.”
Rob extended his hand. “Good luck, Ted.”
“Thanks,” Ted said, shaking it. “I’ll need it. Certain of our school-board members’ heads are awfully thick.”
Rob hoped that Jordan and Margot’s conversation with Nonie Harrison had packed enough dynamite to make a lasting impression.
Hayley’s first words when he picked her up in the classroom were, “Can we go see Miss Radcliffe, Daddy?”
“Absolutely. You hungry, sweetheart?”
“Yeah. Maybe we could stop at Braverman’s on the way. We could pick something up for Miss Radcliffe too. She really liked that pumpkin muffin. You could give her that and I could give her the card I made.”
“An excellent idea, Hayley.” He ruffled her hair. “So, you have all your stuff? How was school?”
She hefted her book bag and let it drop against the beige-flecked linoleum floor, its thud proof that she did indeed have all her stuff. “It was okay.”
“Okay”? This from a child who bubbled with enthusiasm when she described the projects Jade had devised for the class or repeated the funny things Jade had said? Nothing would be sadder than if the remainder of Hayley’s fall became a string of “okay” days.
Pushing open the school door, he paused, his eyes widening in surprise. A crowd had gathered on the front steps, a crowd composed of many of
the parents whom Rob had contacted about signing the petition. He spotted Eric Drogan too. Next to him stood a young woman wielding a camera with a telephoto lens, obviously one of Eric’s staff photographers.
Eric must have decided the afternoon’s school-board meeting warranted full coverage in the Warburg Courier.
Busy scanning the crowd himself, Eric saw Rob and Hayley. He flashed Rob a happy grin as he gave a thumbs-up sign.
Rob waved back. Just then there was a shift in the crowd, and two figures stepped into his line of vision. Jordan and Margot Radcliffe were waiting with other parents from the elementary school, but instead of exchanging idle chitchat, their attention was fixed on the board members who’d begun to arrive and who were climbing the stone steps to the school entrance.
“Daddy?” Hayley tugged his hand. “Why are all these people here?”
“There’s an important meeting today and they want to know what’s going to happen. Hey, do you see Mrs. Gage and Ms. Radcliffe, Miss Radcliffe’s sisters, standing over there? Let’s go say hi to them.”
“Okay.”
Margot was the one who noticed their approach. “Hi, Hayley, Rob.”
Jordan turned. “Hello, Hayley.”
“Hayley, we missed you yesterday,” Margot said pointedly. She’d gone back to watching the board members’ progress on the steps, but Rob had no need to see her expression to know her protective instincts were in the red zone.
Understandable, he thought. Nevertheless, Margot Radcliffe needed to recognize a few facts, the first being that he was no pushover.
“Hayley had to leave school in the middle of the day with a bad sore throat, and I spent the remainder of it helping clear the car crash at the intersection of Routes 50 and 626.”
At his explanation Margot turned back, remorse in her expression. “I’m so sorry. The photos in the paper were terrible. It’s only that Jade’s especially vulnerable right now.”
“Hayley and I are going to see her, right after we pick up a snack for Hayley and a muffin for Jade at Braverman’s.”
Jordan nodded her approval. “She’ll like that—”
“Very much.” Margot’s smile made it clear he was back in favor.
“I made Miss Radcliffe a card yesterday,” Hayley offered shyly.
“That she will absolutely love, Hayley,” Margot said.
Then Jordan spoke, her voice low and urgent. “She’s here, Margot.”
Rob looked. There, coming up the sidewalk, was Nonie Harrison, dressed in a gray skirt that screamed power suit and thus was a little over the top for an elementary-school-board meeting. Fascinated as he was by the sight of the woman determined to destroy Jade’s reputation, Rob’s attention abruptly shifted back to Margot. He blinked in awe.
Without a wardrobe change or the help of some makeup professional, Margot had suddenly morphed from a concerned sister into the supermodel whose face and body had earned millions in front of the camera and on the catwalk. All it seemed to involve was a straightening of the shoulders, an angling of the head, and a smile that was as powerful as the sun. She stood out among the sea of faces.
Nonie wouldn’t be able to miss her. And he bet that, for all her beauty, Margot would cast cold fear into Nonie Harrison’s heart.
Rob noticed that the photographer, probably following Eric’s instructions, had moved closer to where they stood. He could hear the whir of the camera’s shutter capturing the other school-board members as they mounted the steps of the building. Most nodded pleasantly at the crowd of parents; some exchanged a few words with friends. All tried for an attractive smile for the camera.
Except for Nonie Harrison. Her demeanor as she marched up the steps was more like that of a soldier marching off to certain death. Grim and tight-lipped. Tight-lipped was fine with him. He hoped she intended to keep those lips buttoned when the school board began to deliberate.
But then Nonie saw Margot, and Rob had a moment’s worry that she wouldn’t make it into the building. She looked ready to faint, her face leeched of color. She faltered and stumbled on the shallow steps, and somehow Margot closed the distance, there to steady her with a hand to her elbow.
Jade’s sister had some seriously quick reflexes, he thought, amused.
“Careful, Nonie. You wouldn’t want to fall and mess your lovely hairdo. I do so admire the work of your stylist. Eugene’s a lucky man to have a wife who takes such good care of herself. I’m always tempted to tell him what an example you are to us all. Do you make weekly appointments, or do you find you need to see your stylist more frequently? Maybe I’ll make an appointment with … what’s his name again? It starts with a T, doesn’t it? Oh, never mind, I’m sure I’ll remember it. Give Eugene my very best, won’t you?” With a smile that left Nonie looking almost as gray as her suit, Margot stepped back to let Nonie continue her wobbly way up to the school’s double doors.
“Oh, well done, Margot,” Jordan said, with deep satisfaction in her voice. “I believe I just saw the picture of a vanquished enemy. And it was beautiful.”
“Yes, it was, wasn’t it?” Margot sounded equally pleased with herself. “I do think Nonie needed that little reminder of the consequences of her actions. Well, I’d say our work is done.”
Jordan nodded serenely. “Yes, it is—unless Nonie has developed a sudden social-suicidal streak. In which case it’ll be my turn to have fun.”
A bouquet of flowers was propped against the door of her cottage when Jade returned from her expedition to the Shake Shack with Ned, Georgie, Will, and Neddy. She hurried toward the spray of pink and white flowers wrapped in clear cellophane, and her heart thudded in her chest as she took in the pretty arrangement: roses and a white-and-yellow flower with a sweet yet peppery scent that she didn’t recognize but knew Jordan would.
It was a lovely bouquet. Hope flared and was extinguished as quickly when she tore open the card and read the words: Jade, Dr. Myszkiewicz and I wanted you to know that our thoughts are with you on this difficult day. I hope that your meeting with Dr. Myszkiewicz resolved many of the questions surrounding your parents. If I can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me. With best regards, GH.
The flowers were beautiful and incredibly thoughtful. She only wished they were from Rob.
He really had no intention of getting back together with her. The tears that she believed she’d exhausted welled, blurring the edges of her vision as she carried the flowers into the kitchen and located a glass pitcher for them.
Placing the arrangement on the center of the coffee table, she picked up her iPod and scrolled down the list of artists she’d downloaded. Lucinda Williams suited her mood perfectly. Few other singer/songwriters expressed the agony of a shattered heart as well. Within seconds, Lucinda’s passion-rough voice filled the cottage. Jade sank onto the sofa and let the tears fall.
“DO YOU want to knock or shall I?” Rob asked.
“You knock, Daddy,” Hayley decided. “And you give her the muffins and I’ll give her my card.”
“Okay. That sounds like a plan. I better knock loudly, because I can hear music inside.” He rapped hard and then stepped back to stand beside his daughter.
The door opened, and the sight that greeted him wrenched his heart: a forlorn and woebegone Jade, her green eyes awash in tears. Hurriedly, she dashed them away with the back of her hand. “Rob? Hayley?”
“Hi, Miss Radcliffe,” Hayley said shyly.
“I—I can’t believe—” Whatever she was going to say was left unfinished and changed to, “Please come in.”
They followed her into the living room, where she hurried over to the docking system and turned off her iPod. Turning around, she exclaimed when she saw them standing, “Oh! Won’t you sit down?”
Still beset by shyness, Hayley squeezed in beside Rob on the large chair. However, her timidity didn’t prevent her from asking, “Have you been crying, Miss Radcliffe?”
Jade’s smile was wobbly. “Yeah, I have been. I’ve been
feeling pretty sad about things lately. Do you ever feel sad, Hayley?”
Hayley took a moment to consider, then she nodded. “Uh-huh. I feel sad sometimes when I think about my mom.”
“Me too. My mom’s one of the reasons I feel sad. Today is the day she and my dad died. She’s been gone for a number of years, and there are so many things I wish I could say to her and I can’t.”
Oh, God, no wonder she looked so distraught. Rob felt a stab of sympathy. What a hell of a double whammy she had to endure on the same day: the anniversary of her parents’ death and the school board’s vote on the future of her career. Yet even in the face of her sorrows, Jade had spoken to Hayley with a simple directness. It was exactly how he would hope an adult would talk to a child about such a difficult, wrenching subject.
He shouldn’t be surprised. She’d demonstrated that she could tackle difficult topics in the articles she’d written for her college newspaper. Her pieces had been honest and candid and funny, yet they’d also been full of sensitivity.
Jade’s explanation had driven away any lingering reserve on Hayley’s part. She unwedged herself to go sit beside Jade on the sofa. “I made you this when I was at my grandma’s house yesterday. I went there from school ’cause my throat was hurting a lot, but I’m all better now.” She offered the card to Jade.
“You made this for me? Oh, Hayley, thank you. I think I recognize the ponies in this paddock. That’s Dickens, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, and that’s Hopscotch and Maggie and Archer, Doc, and Sweet Virginia, and I wrote you a letter too. It’s inside.”
Slowly, Jade opened it. “Dear Miss Radcliffe, I missed you at school today. I hope you come back soon. You’re fun. From Hayley Cooper. Oh, Hayley,” she whispered. “I’m going to start crying again. Thank you very much. This is the nicest card.” She wrapped an arm around Hayley’s shoulders and hugged her.
“You’re welcome. And Daddy brought you two muffins. He got two because he said you liked them so much.”
