“An unjustified dismissal is going to create a lot of hard feelings, both with the union and in the community,” Theresa said.
“Are you threatening us?” The board president stood, leaning on his fists on the table.
“Not a threat. Merely a warning. Miss Donnelly.” Theresa waved her ahead, so Maureen walked out of the room.
Dismissal. Unjustified or not. This wasn’t going to look good on a resume. Michael might have to support her when she couldn’t get another job. Ever. The small of her back hurt from sitting up straight on the hard plastic chair for so long. “It’s not going well.”
“No.” Theresa pursed her lips. “I’m sorry. There may be nothing we can do. Your contract is up for renewal. They can choose not to renew it for no reason at all. The only thing keeping them from doing that is the flap in the paper. Enough people support you to make it unpleasant for the board in the future.”
“Which isn’t going to help me at all when I’m fired.”
Theresa sighed and opened her mouth. At that moment, her phone rang. She held up a finger and answered it, moving a few feet down the hall for privacy.
The conference room doors opened behind Maureen and she turned. Six of the board members walked out in a self-satisfied mob. A couple of them glanced her way, but didn’t stop. Smug bastards. She hoped they all got voted out next election.
Ginnie Labbe walked out last and alone.
“Ginnie!”
Shoulders bent and deep lines around her eyes and bracketing her mouth, Ginnie waited at the conference room door for her. When had Ginnie gotten old? She had thought they were the same age. “I’m so sorry, Maureen.”
“Isn’t there anything you can do?”
Ginnie wilted another two inches. “You don’t understand. The city’s schools ranked near the bottom in the state. The voters were furious. We needed a reason.”
“And you picked me?”
“You had been in the paper because you were dating Bear D’Amato. Parents don’t want to think of their kids’ teachers having a private life at all, let alone such a public one. One with so much scandal attached to it.”
“Michael and I have hardly been scandalous.”
“Not you, but rock musicians in general. The drugs and the drinking and the wild parties and the sex.”
“Are you kidding? Michael doesn’t take anything harder than aspirin. I’ve been to exactly one party with him. It was a backyard barbecue.”
“But you went on tour with him.” Ginnie made an uncertain face.
“Believe me, it’s not like in the movies.”
“People think you aren’t going to be focused on your job because you’re thinking about your boyfriend.”
Maureen put her hands on her hips. A hundred instances where other teachers hadn’t been focused on their job because they’d been distracted by their personal lives boiled behind her lips, but she didn’t want to start naming names.
Theresa put a hand on her arm. “Maureen, you really shouldn’t be talking to board members without counsel.”
Ginnie took a step backward. “I’m really sorry, Maureen.”
“I got her son through second grade. He’s in high school now,” Maureen told Theresa.
“It’s not fair. I don’t think the board expected you to fight.” Theresa guided her down the hall toward the stairs. “What you need to do right now is be an exemplary second grade teacher.”
“It’s the middle of summer.”
“I know. You’ll just have to keep as straight and narrow as you can. Be home every night by nine. Dress conservatively in public. Play down your involvement with Mr. D’Amato.”
“Michael is visiting me this week. I was supposed to go back on tour with him and now I won’t get to see him again until school starts. How did this become an issue of my morals?” As she pushed open the outside doors, the heat settled around her like a weight.
“I don’t know, but it did. We need you to appear as squeaky clean as possible.”
“I am squeaky clean.”
“Then I guess you’ll just have to be all you all the time. The board meeting is in four days. If they vote for non-renewal, we’ll file for defamation of character. That’s all I can do for you.” Theresa patted her arm. “I’ll talk to you on Tuesday.”
“Thanks.” Maureen crossed the parking lot to Michael’s car. She’d intentionally parked far away from the building so no one would see the mismatched muscle car. Every car she’d been parked near had moved and no one replaced them so now the Satellite sat all by itself, almost on a pedestal. Or a stage. She drove home, certain the heavy growl of the engine was attracting all kinds of unwanted attention.
Someone had carelessly parked dead center in the middle of her driveway. Who could be visiting? Parking on the street, she hurried up the drive to the house to have them move so she could hide Michael’s car in the garage. Maybe now that he wasn’t fighting with his brother Tony could store it for him.
She threw open the front door. “Michael!”
He walked out of the kitchen grinning. “What do you think?”
He’d shaved, but that wasn’t unusual. The t-shirt and jeans she’d seen him in before. His hair hadn’t been cut, as far as she could tell. “Think about what?”
“Your new ride.” He shifted from grinning to beaming.
“My—” Her mouth didn’t close as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Nice, huh? I wanted to get you the Candy Red, but none of the dealers in the area had that in stock so I figured the Grabber Blue would be good. We can switch it if you have your heart set on a different color though.” He draped his arm over her shoulders, pulling her outside to the front of the car.
From this angle, she could see the little horse on the grill of the light blue convertible sitting in the middle of her driveway. “It’s a Mustang.”
“Yeah, a GT Premium. You want to take it for a spin?”
She pointed at the car. “That is not my car.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, my car— My car. Where is my car?”
“In the garage. You said it wouldn’t start this morning.”
“It’s an intermittent problem.” Her voice had risen to a shriek, but she couldn’t stop herself. He bought her a car. A loud, gaudy, not conservative, un-second grade teacher-like car.
“I don’t like to think of you having that intermittent problem so I took care of it.”
“You took care of it. Are you out of your mind?” She pressed her hands to her temples. Were the neighbors listening? He bought her a car. “Oh my God.” She stomped into the house.
“What is the problem?” He walked through the door and slammed it behind him.
“You bought me a car.”
“I thought you’d be happy.”
“What are people going to think?”
“That you have a rich boyfriend who wants to spoil you a little. Shit, it’s not like I bought you a Mercedes.”
“There’s no difference.”
He sneered. “There’s at least ten thousand dollars difference.”
“Oh my God. I don’t want to know how much it cost.” She started to run her hand through her hair and got her fingers caught in her barrette. “Ow. Damn.” She ripped it out, taking a few strands of hair at the same time, and threw it across the room.
“Maur, you need to calm down. Did you have a bad meeting or something?”
She gripped the back of the couch. “This is not about the meeting.” One of her fingernails snapped on the fabric, sending a sharp pain through her, and tears sprang to her eyes. “Have you not been paying attention?”
“Yes, I have been paying attention,” he roared. Surely the neighbors could hear that. “I’m trying to help you fix things.”
“Fix things? By giving me an extravagant gift?”
“I thought it was logical. Your car is a piece of junk. I got you a better one.”
“A better one. Too much better. Everyone in town is g
oing to know you gave it to me.”
“So?”
“Michael, I am fighting for my life here.”
His face hardened. “No, you’re fighting for your job. There is a difference.” He stomped past her and out the back door.
She wrapped her arms around herself. Through the curtains, she could still see it. It was a nice color and he knew cars so it must run well. Tony said electrical problems were almost impossible to fix. Miles of wires throughout the car. The problem could be anywhere. It could get worse or stay the same. No telling. A new car would solve the problem.
Michael had tried.
And he’d failed so incredibly, spectacularly badly. On a scale only Michael could fail. Why did he have to do something marvelous at exactly the wrong time and make her feel so awful for being angry? Any woman in her right mind would have been thrilled to have her boyfriend go out and buy her a car. He’d done the most thoughtful thing imaginable. He was taking care of her.
If she just walked away. Saved everyone the trouble of fighting it out. She could get another job in California or not if she wanted. He wouldn’t even notice supporting her. A lot of hard feelings in the community would be averted. This mess was going to linger in the air like the stink of burning rubber. She could stem that now by simply giving in, taking his gift and packing her things. Theresa could coach her on what to say to soothe feelings on all sides. He would be thrilled to have her waiting for him at home when the tour ended. Kim would be pleased to have someone to go to farmer’s markets with. Connie could fulfill that promise to take her to the set. Tessa would be glad to know Michael was marrying rock star wife type two so she could cross him off her to do list. Everyone would be happy.
She might even be happy once the dust settled.
The back door opened, he came inside and put his hands on her shoulders. “Baby, I’m sorry. You’re right. I didn’t think it through. I should have bought you the kind of car you needed instead of the kind of car I wanted you to have.”
She turned and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry I didn’t appreciate it.” In his arms, she was secure and safe. His hard chest supported her against all the slings and arrows life wanted to throw. “And I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“So was it a rough meeting?”
“The board is still stonewalling. The lawyer says all she can do if they don’t renew my contract is file a defamation of character suit. Ginnie Labbe told me the kids’ parents don’t want to think of a teacher having a personal life at all, let alone such a public one.”
“A public one?”
“With you.”
He swallowed, but didn’t say anything.
She pressed her cheek against his chest. Why were they making her choose? Her whole life she’d been waiting for someone to love and when he came along he was wholly inappropriate for the life she loved. Why couldn’t she have fallen for some nice accountant who came home at night and didn’t mind a little gardening on the weekends if it didn’t interfere with football?
He guided her face to his and kissed her. It felt like goodbye so she sank her fingers into his shoulders to hang onto him. He responded by kissing her hard, taking possession of her mouth as his arms tightened around her. Welcoming the deep exploration and the tight hold, she melted into him. This man cared about her. He cared about her more than anyone in the world ever had. He wanted to do everything for her.
Why was that so frightening?
He lifted her up and carried her back to the bedroom. Laying her in the middle of the unmade bed, he stripped off her clothes before taking off his own. She couldn’t speak as he explored every inch of her, kissing and licking, tasting and touching. In turn, she touched him, admiring the velvet softness of his skin in the afternoon light. The well developed muscles sliding under that skin, trained for strength and yet capable of such tenderness. His dark eyes held her. Every odd wrinkle or bulge she’d always thought were imperfections, he studied like art. His every sigh was music.
She brushed her fingers down his arm and around his elbow, placing a kiss in the inside. Then she followed the blue veins along his forearm to his thick, powerful wrists. Drew his palm to her mouth, kissed it, traced the creases with her tongue. Which one was the life line? The heart line? Where did they cross?
His other hand trailed up the inside of her thigh sending out soft waves of pleasure as she took one of his fingers into her mouth. His incredible, talented fingers. On stage, she’d watched him spin drumsticks between his fingers before dropping them effortlessly into his palms to pound out a thunderous beat.
His lips brushed her nipples, pulling a gasp from her. A slight breeze blew hot air through the curtains, making them move and letting in a shaft of sunlight across the bed. Outside she could still hear the twitter of birds and children playing on the next street, but all of it was so far away. So insignificant.
Only he mattered. Nothing else. She needed to tell him and hear him assure her that only she mattered to him.
“Michael?”
“Shh.” He closed his mouth over hers again to keep her from speaking. The slow movement of his hands spoke more eloquently than words. Nothing else mattered. This moment in time, this small room, this touch.
She tangled her fingers through his hair. Sweat slicked their skin. She could taste it sliding into their mouths as they kissed. The sharp, salty flavor reminding her that this was real and not some wonderful dream.
He groped toward the table. Yanking open a drawer, he pulled out one condom. She wanted to tell him to skip it again, but this was another part of his taking care of her. He’d done it since the moment they met. Telling her she couldn’t drive the way her brakes were and then taking her out to dinner before driving her home. Fixing them for free. Admitting who he was instead of taking what he wanted and disappearing. Buying her a car because hers had an unfortunate tendency to not start.
She took the condom and tore open the package. Rolling it on, she eased him onto his back then straddled him. He hadn’t wanted her to speak before. No words could meet the moment anyway. Lowering herself onto him, he groaned. His strong hands closed around her hips, guiding her rhythm. She planted her hands on his chest for balance against the tide of sweet desire moving between them until it crested over her. Her breath caught in her throat as she heard his answering groan. They were linked. Eternally.
Slumped onto his chest, she tried to breathe. His heart hammered under her ear.
“Maureen? I can take back the car and switch it for something a little more you. A Saturn or a Taurus or something.” He stroked his finger through her hair. “And I’ll talk to Tony about storing the Satellite at his place. It probably doesn’t look good for you to have it in the street here. He can unload your car for you too. Sell it to somebody who doesn’t mind fucking with it.”
She nodded.
“When is your school board meeting?”
“Tuesday night. First Tuesday of the month.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
Maureen chewed her lip. Trying to think clearly right now was too hard. “I’ll talk to my lawyer and see what she thinks.”
“Good idea.” He tangled his fingers through her hair. “I want to help, baby. Tell me what to do. I’ll do whatever you ask.”
He would. If she told him to leave town, he would go until it all blew over.
But she didn’t want him to go. She wanted a hand to hold. All her life she’d managed everything on her own and now—
Now she needed him.
15
“I’m really not sure about this,” Theresa said.
Maureen clutched Michael’s hand in her lap and hoped he hadn’t heard. The school board meeting had been scheduled for a former classroom in the old school building the board used for offices, but the number of people arriving caused it to be moved to the auditorium. She’d been here a number of times for in service, but never felt like she’d swallowed two cups of lead before. The auditorium wasn’t air-conditi
oned and the fetid heat made the room feel like a scummy classroom aquarium forgotten over summer break. Someone had set up a long table and a couple of folding chairs on the stage. When the school board filed in, a hush fell over the crowd.
Michael sat beside her. He cleaned up very nicely. The neat blue button down shirt and khakis were a far cry from the coverall he’d been wearing or the shorts he usually performed in. Theresa had objected to his being here, saying he would draw unwanted attention. So far he hadn’t. Most of the attention had been focused on her, good and bad. Tony and Pam sat on Michael’s other side. Crowded around her like a personal security barrier, the parents of her former students and many of her colleagues sat in the rows in front of her and behind.
The list of boring housekeeping dragged on while the crowd grew restless. She closed her eyes when they got to the list of renewed teachers. She’d always thought this was a pointless waste of the board’s time. Listing off the names of all the teachers up for renewal and then voting yea or nay? They always renewed everyone so why not do it all at once? Michael put his arm around her shoulders.
“Andrew Dean.”
A chorus of “yeas.”
“Maureen Donnelly.”
For a beat, nothing. Then like the clang of funeral bells, “nay, nay, nay, nay, nay, nay.”
“Yea.”
She opened her eyes at the collective gasp.
Ginnie Labbe stood at her seat, gripping the table like it might fly away. “I would like to lodge...a formal protest...about this vote.” She sounded like she had hiccups or perhaps it was the fact that she couldn’t believe what she was doing. She had the wild-eyed look of someone possessed. “I have personally worked...with Miss Donnelly...and believe that the board is...in error. I would like to call for a second...second— Second vote.”
The other board members scowled at her, but the crowd had started yelling, both in support and opposition. Police officers stationed at the walls, straightened. Police. At a school board meeting. Because of her.
The board president pounded the gavel. “I will have order.” His voice had an edge of panic to it that she could have told him was defeating the purpose of his words. The best way to get order was to stay calm. “I will not have chaos at this meeting.”
Satellite of Love Page 21
