Her lips curved in a rueful smile. “I’m sure of that.”
He sat back and forced a more casual note into his voice. “So, how did it go at school today?”
“I finally had a candid talk with Misty,” she said. “Oh, she’s still pretty circumspect, but at least she’s no longer denying that there’s a real issue between her and Annabelle.”
“That ought to be enough to go to the principal, then,” he said, relieved that the matter might soon be resolved.
“Afraid not. Misty’s adamantly opposed to it. I have a feeling if I try to force the issue, she’ll deny it.”
“Why would she do that?” J.C. demanded in frustration. “She has to know this is wrong.”
“She knows. She’s just convinced that taking this to the principal will make everything much worse.” She gave him a weary look. “She could be right. I’ve heard plenty of stories about Mariah Litchfield and how she works. She’s already put in a few calls to Misty’s mother. Misty is pretty sure she intends to lay all the blame on Misty.”
“It would probably be a good thing to get Diana involved,” J.C. said. “Surely she’d come to Misty’s defense.”
“I’d have thought the same thing, but after talking to Misty, I’m not so sure.”
“I know Diana. She’s a terrific mother.”
“I’ve always thought so, too, but I think there’s something else going on at home. I have no idea what it might be, but I don’t think Misty believes she can count on her mother right now.”
“What a mess!” J.C. muttered. He drew in a deep breath, then said decisively, “Then it’s up to us.”
Laura looked startled. “Us? J.C., I know how much you want to help, but you haven’t witnessed a thing.”
“I’ve seen how distraught Misty is,” he contradicted her. “She wanted to quit school over this. She came to me to get a medical excuse.”
“But for all you know, she could have been having a bad day or wanted to quit for no good reason.”
“I know the signs of bullying when I see them,” he argued stubbornly. Probably far better than she did. He also knew the potential for disastrous consequences if it was allowed to continue.
“And I know Betty,” Laura argued. “She’s going to want solid evidence, incidents that were witnessed. Not because she won’t believe us or Misty, but because she’s the one who’s going to have to deal with Mariah Litchfield’s wrath.”
“It just doesn’t seem right that so much consideration goes to the girl who’s creating the havoc, while the victim’s left to suffer.”
Laura regarded him curiously. “You’ve very passionate about this. Does that go beyond Misty?”
He thought about just how personal the issue was for him, but it wasn’t something he talked about…ever. Well-guarded secrets were apparently something he and Laura had in common. “I care, that’s all.”
She didn’t look as if she believed him, but thankfully, apparently taking a page out of his book, she let it go.
“Will you be sure to let me know if there’s something I can do?” he pressed. “Anything, okay?”
“Of course I will.”
“And how about you? You must be as frustrated about this as I am.”
For the first time, he saw the weariness and regret in her eyes. “You have no idea, but my hands are tied either until Misty gives me more information or I’ve witnessed more myself.”
“You’re not just worried that Mariah would take her anger out on you, are you?”
As soon as he’d uttered the question, he saw the flash of real annoyance in her eyes.
“There’s nothing Mariah Litchfield can do to me,” Laura retorted. “Nothing that I can’t handle. But I’ve been around the system long enough to know that without solid proof, an accusation like this could do more harm to Misty than it will to Annabelle. Surely you know that, too.”
J.C. sighed heavily. “I do, and I’m sorry for even suggesting otherwise. I just find it all so infuriating.”
“Believe me, you don’t have a lock on that,” she said. “We will fix this, though, J.C. Anything else is unacceptable.”
He nodded at her strong declaration and knew with certainty that Misty couldn’t have a better ally in her corner. He was just frustrated that for the moment, he didn’t have that hard evidence she was talking about that meant he could be right there with her.
8
It was after six when Laura finally got home after meeting J.C. in the park. The phone was ringing as she walked in the door. As she reached for it, she noticed she had three messages, a rarity this soon after school. Usually her phone never rang until much later in the evening, if at all.
“Well, well, well,” Nancy said when Laura picked up. “Sitting in the park with Doc Fullerton, sharing some little tidbit of food and coffee, right there where all the world could see. Are you still claiming that there’s nothing going on between the two of you?”
“That I am,” Laura confirmed. “Because it’s the truth.”
“Then explain why I had four calls on my cell before I could even leave the school building?” Nancy teased. “Every teacher who passed that way going home spotted the two of you, sitting side by side and looking quite cozy, according to every carefully documented and eager report.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t drive by yourself to check it out,” Laura grumbled, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“Oh, believe me, I did. I have to commend the accuracy of the reporting. Cozy would definitely be the adjective I’d choose. Intimate might be another.”
“Two people sitting on a bench in a public park, drinking coffee, constitutes cozy or intimate in your book? It’s pretty obvious we were hardly alone out there.”
“Hey, I haven’t had a date to speak of in three years,” Nancy responded. “Just shaking hands with an available man qualifies as cozy in my book.”
Despite her general annoyance at all this sudden fascination with her nonexistent social life, Laura chuckled. “Nancy, you’re the one who put out the word that you were declaring a moratorium on all men after your very bitter breakup with Steve. If you want to date, rescind the moratorium.”
“I might do that if J.C. had taken a look in my direction, but it’s clear he only has eyes for you. It must be that unavailable sign you wear on your forehead. Men can’t resist a challenge.”
“If that
