A Sister's Promise (Promises)

by Lenfestey, Karen

  “Mrs. Hopper,” he began. “I hate to ask you this, but could I borrow some money for lunch?”

  Loaning money to students could become an expensive habit, but Kate didn’t mind. This young man took better care of his three brothers than his alcoholic mother. Kate reported the neglect to CPS, but they only stepped in temporarily and then closed the file. Apparently they were too swamped with more visibly wounded children to spend much time on a self-sufficient teenager.

  “Didn’t your mom fill out the forms for free lunches?” Kate asked.

  He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets and shifted his weight. “I brought the papers home, but she lost them.”

  Kate opened her purse and pulled out a five.

  “I’ll pay you back as soon as I can,” he promised, looking happier already.

  Kate shook her head no. “That’s OK. Don’t worry about it. Stop by the office to get another set of forms.”

  He nodded and waved as he walked away.

  Why was it that irresponsible people had children—usually multiple children—while she and Mitch had agonized over the decision to have just one?

  When Kate approached Mrs. B’s door she heard a raspy voice ask, “What did you think of yesterday’s sermon?” Surely not. Kate quickened her pace and peered in as she walked by. There she was. Mrs. B. And she was talking to Yolanda. How could they go to the same church? Somehow it just didn’t seem right that someone as wonderful as Yolanda would talk to Mrs. B as if she enjoyed her company. To Kate, Yolanda was like Godiva chocolate and Mrs. B was a forkful of sauerkraut.

  Disbelief raged inside Kate. Automatically she turned the corner and went to Trish’s room.

  As soon as she saw Trish, she pulled her by the arm into her office and closed the door. “She’s still here,” Kate said in a loud whisper.

  “Who? Oh, right.”

  “You knew?”

  Trish nodded. “I tried calling you several times over break, but you didn’t answer. I was starting to worry about you.”

  Kate shook her head in frustration. “My cell phone battery died and I forgot to pack the charger. So what’s the deal?”

  “My dad met with the superintendent and the lawyer about her.”

  “Aren’t they going to fire her?”

  Trish held up her palms in defeat. “I guess they can’t.”

  Kate put her hands on her hips. “That’s ridiculous. If she fooled around with a student, she obviously should be gone.”

  “It’s not that simple, I guess.” Trish reached for the bottle of echinacea on her desk and washed two capsules down with a swig of coffee.

  “Do you know if Mr. Mohr talked to her? What does she say about it?”

  “I guess she refuses to say anything.”

  Kate’s hands gestured in emphasis as she spoke. “Well, that makes her sound guilty.”

  Trish didn’t reply.

  “Even you think she did it, right? And you like her.”

  “It doesn’t matter what I think.” Trish shuffled through the piles of student papers on her desk and placed her attendance book on top. She reached for her coffee again.

  Kate leaned forward. “Of course it does. She touched your thigh and made you feel weird, remember? Who knows where that could’ve led if you hadn’t left?”

  Trish raised her eyebrows with a helpless look in her eye.

  Kate’s voice rose and her hands continued flailing about. “Who knows how many more there have been? It’s a crime to let her continue working here.”

  “What can we do? The statute of limitations is up and the superintendent has decided to just let it go.”

  “And Mr. Mohr?” Kate’s movements ceased, waiting for the answer.

  Trish stared at the blackness inside her mug. “His hands are tied.”

  Shaking her head, Kate tried to deal with the news. “Maybe Jennifer will go to the newspaper then.”

  Trish took a deep breath. “Actually, Mr. Darrin tried calling to offer her a settlement, but her phone is disconnected. And she won’t respond to e-mail, either.”

  Kate remembered how Jennifer’s voice trembled as she told what happened. She didn’t strike Kate as a person making up a story. She seemed genuinely hurt. “Didn’t she say she knew someone else victimized by Mrs. B?”

  Trish nodded. Just then the bell rang and students rushed into the classroom like horses at the Kentucky Derby.

  “Do you still have the copy of Jennifer’s e-mail?” Kate asked.

  Trish pulled a Physician’s Desk Reference off of her bookshelf. She opened it and handed Kate a piece of paper folded in half.

  “Thanks.” Kate folded it even smaller and hid it in her hand.

  “Wait. How are things with you and Mitch?”

  Kate smiled. “Better. We’ll have to talk more later.”

  Trish agreed. They exited her office and walked into the classroom, only Trish stopped at the podium while Kate continued out the door.

  When she arrived at her office she hung up her coat then unfolded the paper. She logged onto her e-mail account and typed in Jennifer’s address.

  Dear Jennifer,

  I believe you. The problem isn’t solved. Please contact me.

  Kate

  Kate leaned back in her chair. She didn’t know how she could make it through the rest of the day, knowing what she now knew; Foxworth High was no longer a safe haven for her students.

  A minute later her inbox dinged.

  I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following address: jennifer1993@verizon.net. This is a permanent error; I've given up.

  Kate pounded her fist on her desk.

  Why did Jennifer disappear? Maybe she didn’t feel strong enough to keep fighting this battle all by herself. Kate scowled remembering when the lawyer made the comment that Jennifer wasn’t exactly a child when it happened. The administration was against her and the law was against her. Kate couldn’t even imagine how frustrated Jennifer felt.

  She thought about making a to-do list, but her mind whirled. She couldn’t ignore the fact that there was a wolf in the building.

  If Mrs. B did it before, she would do it again. Nothing else mattered. Kate started writing passes for a few of the at-risk girls in Mrs. B’s class. One by one she would interview them until she uncovered more of Mrs. B’s dirty secrets. Then the administration couldn’t hide behind the statute of limitations.

  When the fourth girl sat down in Kate’s office, she looked out from under mascara-clumped eyelashes.

  “Lana, how are things going in World History?”

  “Fine. Why? Did my probation officer call you or something? Geez! It was only one assignment that I didn’t do. She needs to get a life. I can’t believe she called the counselor on me.”

  “Your probation officer didn’t call me,” Kate said. “I was just curious how you get along with Mrs. Cochran.” It took effort to pronounce the teacher’s proper name rather than using Kate’s favorite nickname for her.

  “Oh,” she said, slumping in her chair and examining her French-tipped fingernails. “She’s cool.”

  Kate’s ears tingled. Cool? “In what way?”

  “She showed us how to keep track of all of our scores on homework and tests so that we can calculate what grade we need to get on the final in order to get the grade we want in the class. I only have to get a D in order to pass.” Lana took a piece of gum out of her backpack and started chewing it without asking permission.

  “Does Mrs. Cochran have a rule about gum?”

  “No. In fact, she gives it to kids if they earn an A or a B on a test. I, of course, just bring my own. She said as long as we chew with our mouths closed and she doesn’t find any stuck under our desks, it’s OK.”

  Not exactly a radical rule. Some teachers couldn’t stand the kids chomping away like cows and others said this wasn’t middle school any more. Considering her smoking addiction, Mrs. B must have been sympathetic to others with oral fixations. “Have you ever gone to
Mrs. Cochran’s house after school?” Kate asked, trying to guide her along.

  “No way!” she said, as if she were repulsed at the thought. “Why would I do that?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. To help grade papers or something.” Kate smelled a strong fruit aroma and heard the saliva smack every time Lana opened then closed her jaw.

  She shook her head no, the microscopic diamond in her nose twinkling as it caught the light. “I’m pretty much the last person a teacher would ask to help grade papers.”

  Kate felt desperate to get a name. “Have you ever heard of anybody else helping Mrs. Cochran out after school?”

  “No. Can I go now?”

  Kate squeezed her hands into fists under her desk. “Yes.” After she left, Kate let out a sigh. She didn’t want to raise suspicion by talking to any more of Mrs. B’s current students. Maybe she should look at Mrs. B’s class rosters from last year. She started changing the settings in her computer to locate the data when Antonio told her Rhonda wanted to see her.

  Knowing Rhonda probably just wanted to share about their vacations, Kate kept working. A minute later Antonio asked her if she had heard him. This was taking longer than she thought it would. Finally, she hit the print button and walked over to Rhonda’s office.

  Kate looked at the glowing cream-colored candle and took a seat.

  “How was your Christmas?” Rhonda asked with a smile.

  Kate didn’t want to chat. “OK.” She tried crossing her legs, as usual, but uncrossed them and sat on the edge of her seat. “I found out my mother-in-law used to be an artist.”

  “Really? So you two have something in common.”

  Kate blushed. For Rhonda’s last birthday Kate gave her a pen and ink drawing of her pet cocker spaniel. Rhonda showed it to everybody in the teacher’s lounge saying how talented Kate was.

  “Mitch’s mom was going to go to art school, but she never did,” Kate continued. “Instead she had a baby.”

  “You act as if she made a mistake.” Rhonda tilted her head to the side.

  “Well, yeah. I don’t understand women who sacrifice what they want for their husbands and children.” She looked at the picture of Rhonda’s kids at the beach. Rhonda managed to have a career and raise a family.

  “Everybody makes sacrifices when they have kids, Kate. Did you ever think that Mitch wouldn’t be who he is today if his mom hadn’t done what she did?”

  “I guess so.”

  “You have to admit, you got a pretty great husband. He works hard, he cooks,” she smiled enviously, “and he cares about you. Good character comes from good parenting. What would it matter if Mrs. Hopper were a successful artist if her son were messed up?”

  Kate nodded her head.

  “I still feel guilty because when my kids were in junior high, I taught all day and then went to school for my Master’s in counseling in the evenings. For those few years I just didn’t have the time or energy to devote to them.” Rhonda looked away. “That’s probably why Ellen got mixed up with drugs.”

  Kate felt honored that Rhonda revealed something so personal. Kate knew Rhonda’s daughter didn’t make the best grades while in high school, but Kate didn’t know why. Somehow Ellen got into college. They would have to wait and see how that worked out.

  Apparently, Mitch was wrong. Having a counseling degree didn’t guarantee you knew what you were doing as a parent.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Anxious to tell her friend about her investigation of Mrs. B, Kate climbed the stairs to Trish’s classroom. When Kate arrived, Trish sat in the attached office grading papers. She somehow looked different. Was she wearing a new shade of blush? Kate didn’t think so. Her face was definitely glowing, though. Kate walked closer. Then she saw it.

  On Trish’s left ring finger perched a beautiful square-cut diamond. On each side were two smaller round diamonds supported by a gold band with glittering flecks.

  Her best friend was engaged to a guy Kate had never even met. “Oh, my gosh, Trish! Congratulations!”

  Immediately Trish dropped her red pen and faced Kate. Her cheeks stretched into a smile that came from deep inside.

  Kate turned Trish’s hand slightly to see the stones sparkle in the light. “It’s gorgeous. When did it happen?”

  “On New Year’s Eve. In Chicago. In a drug store.”

  Kate wrapped her arms around Trish in a big hug. She pulled back a minute later to admire the joyful sparkle in Trish’s eyes. “Wait a minute. Did you say he proposed in a drug store? What did he say exactly?”

  Trish twirled her hair. “He had prepared this whole speech. I don’t remember exactly because my mind was racing.” She centered the diamond on her finger. “We were supposed to go on a carriage ride, but it was windy I wasn’t feeling well. So we walked into a pharmacy and I was trying to figure out if I had a sinus infection or a virus and then boom—he bent down on one knee in the cold medicine aisle. He said something about how he never believed in love at first sight until he met me.”

  “Aww. How romantic.”

  “And no matter if life goes as he planned it or not, he would be content because I would be by his side.”

  Just hearing his thoughtful words caused Kate’s heart to beat a little faster. “I’m so happy for you.” Kate had been a bad friend that morning. She should have noticed the ring immediately. Instead she had ranted about Mrs. B.

  Then Kate realized she had lost her ally. Trish definitely wouldn’t be interested in ousting Mrs. B after this. They were going to be family. And for most people that meant something.

  # # #

  On her way home, Kate stopped at the grocery store to pick up some things she needed for dinner. As she reached for a bottle of wine, she recognized the fierce-looking eagle tattoo on the hairy forearm next to her. Looking up, her eyebrows rose in surprise. “Oh! Hi.”

  Uncle Burt furrowed his brow. “Kate?”

  She nodded and put the wine in her cart. “I haven’t seen you since you moved to Florida.”

  “Bill and I have a little shack on the beach. He’s divorced now, too. You remember him?”

  “Sure.” Uncle Burt’s boot camp-style parenting rushed back into her consciousness. “I mean, yes, sir.”

  As a child when she had asked about his tattoo, he explained that he and his friend, Bill, got them in Vietnam. Kate wasn’t sure if it was the shared drudgery of basic training or the graphic bloody scenes they witnessed on the battlefield, but she always suspected Uncle Burt felt closer to Bill than he did to his own brother. Or to anyone in the family.

  She pushed away the cold childhood memories and took a breath. “So what are you doing in Foxworth?”

  “I’m in town for a friend’s retirement party. I can’t wait to get back home, though, where I can sit on my deck reading the newspaper 365 days a year. I had forgotten how cold it gets up here.” As he spoke about running along the shore with his bulldog, Sarge, contentment crept into his voice. “What are you up to these days?”

  “I earned my Master’s degree in counseling and I work at a high school.”

  He nodded. “Yeah. I think I heard that.”

  Kate cringed. Heard that? He’d probably read it on the graduation announcement she’d sent him. The one neither he or Aunt Suzy had ever acknowledged.

  He selected a six-pack of Budweiser and tucked it under his arm. “You and Joely turned out pretty good, especially considering. . . .”

  “Considering what?”

  “Well, you know. Girls need their mother. I tried to be there for you two, but I couldn’t be what you needed. Suzy should’ve done that. But all she cared about was Jonathan. She sure can be one cold-hearted bitch.”

  His acknowledgment of Aunt Suzy’s bias lifted a curtain of doubt that had always hung over Kate’s version of what happened in that white ranch house. Sometimes when she would try to explain to her fellow counseling majors in college what was so horrible about living there, her grievances seemed lame. For every story of a birthday t
hat went by without celebration or a school play unattended, someone always had a crueler incident to relay. How could Kate complain about feeling unwanted when Pam’s mom peeled the sunburn off her shoulders just to hear her scream? How could Kate complain when Lisa’s stepfather told her if anything ever happened to her mom, Lisa could take her place? Every time Kate brought it up, her feelings were diminished and invalidated.

  “Why did she treat us that way?” Kate asked.

  “Part of it was that she wanted more kids of her own. She had been trying for years to get pregnant after Jonathan. Once you two moved in, I told her we couldn’t afford to have any more.”

  It hit with a flash. The reason Aunt Suzy denied them music lessons, dance classes or anything extra. Not exactly a full justification of her treatment, but it satisfied a little.

  Bill cleared his throat. “Suzy thought maybe if she could get her hands on your trust, then I would change my mind. Since your grandfather was a surgeon she figured your dad inherited a bunch of money from him. But she couldn’t get to it. It was for you girls when you turned twenty-one. It drove Suzy crazy knowing there was all of that cash in your names, yet she had only the help of a small life insurance policy to help pay for your upbringing.”

  Kate’s jaw dropped. “So what happened to the money?”

  “It’s still there, I suppose.”

  “Really?” Kate hoisted her purse back onto her shoulder. She strangled the leather strap. “I’m surprised that no one ever told us this before. Why didn’t someone try to contact us when we turned twenty-one?”

  “Don’t know.”

  “Do you remember the name of the law firm?”

  He tapped his finger on his stubbly chin. “Whichever one is downtown on the square. I think it started with an S.”

  Kate couldn’t imagine Uncle Burt giving her anything more valuable than what he just had, but she was wrong.