“What’s up?” he asked when Cal seemed to be lost in thought.
“Just trying to figure out how much of this I can tell you.”
“I’m good at keeping secrets,” J.C. reminded him. “The whole patient-confidentiality thing is great training.”
“Right,” Cal said, looking satisfied. “I know you’ve been worried about Misty Dawson.”
J.C. paused before the bottle of water reached his lips. “I have been.”
“Well, I think it’s about to get really ugly.”
Cal described what he’d been told about an incident at school between Annabelle Litchfield and Cal’s stepdaughter. “I don’t know exactly what set Katie off like that, but it had to be really bad,” Cal said. “She’s a pretty even-tempered kid.”
“And Laura stepped in?” J.C. asked.
Cal nodded. “And apparently knew enough about what’s been going on between Annabelle and Misty to convince Betty not to punish Katie.”
“How about Annabelle?”
“She’s off the hook for the moment.”
J.C. was startled. “How can that be?”
“Annabelle’s mother,” Cal said succinctly. “The principal is not going to mete out punishment to Annabelle until she knows with a hundred percent certainty that Mariah doesn’t have a leg to stand on when she leaps to her daughter’s defense. I can’t blame Betty for that. Mariah’s a terror when she’s on a tear.”
“So I’ve heard. How’d Laura handle all this?”
“I think it shook her up, but she’s steady as a rock. She never once wavered in her belief that Katie was in the right. I have to respect her for that, especially when she knows it’s likely to make her Mariah’s first target.”
J.C. regarded him with real concern. “How bad could this get for her?”
Cal actually chuckled for the first time since the somber conversation had started. “Thought that might be your first worry. It could get bad for a time, but Laura’s tough enough and determined enough to weather whatever happens. And if these suspicions about the bullying are confirmed, the whole town would turn out on Laura’s side if necessary. We had a few incidents over the years, and the entire community has come down hard on the kids involved. Everyone wants to send the message that being bullied is not just an acceptable part of growing up. It’s inexcusable, no matter what form it takes.”
J.C. nodded. “Good to hear, and you’ve just confirmed my impression of Laura. Misty and Katie are lucky to have her in their corner.”
Cal gave him a long look. “How about you? Are you lucky to have her in your life these days?”
J.C. thought about denying that she was in his life, but he doubted Cal—or anyone else in town—would believe him. “Yeah, I’m pretty darn lucky, too.”
And more aware of it by the day.
11
Laura was completely drained by the time she got home. She’d never been more grateful to have an entire evening stretching out ahead of her with absolutely nothing to do. She’d finished grading tests before leaving school. Her lesson plan for tomorrow was in place. She could soak in a bubble bath, have a glass of wine and a slice of leftover pizza, then crawl into bed with a book.
However, before she’d even glanced through the day’s mail, there was a knock on her door. She opened it to find Annie, Raylene and Sarah on her doorstep, laden with bags that seemed to be overflowing with chips and who knew what else.
“Did we have plans?” she asked, knowing perfectly well that they didn’t.
“Nope, but I heard from my mom that you’d had a really lousy day,” Annie said, “so we’re here to offer moral support. It’s what Sweet Magnolias do. Mom, Maddie, Jeanette and Helen couldn’t make it, but we’ve pretty well nailed the routine by now. Raylene can almost make Helen’s lethal margaritas.”
“What do you mean, almost?” Raylene said indignantly. “The last ones I made knocked you on your butt.”
Annie grinned. “But I’m a lightweight. And I’m not sure knocking us on our butts is supposed to be the purpose. I think they’re just intended to create a relaxing buzz.”
“Well, I can do that, too,” Raylene said, then turned to Laura. “Do you have a blender?”
“Sure.”
“Plenty of ice?”
“Yes, but no lime juice or tequila,” Laura said.
“Oh, we have the necessary ingredients,” Raylene said. “We never go anywhere without being prepared.”
“Then let’s get this party started,” Annie said exuberantly.
Sarah grinned at Laura. “You look a little shell-shocked. Maybe you should just have a seat in the living room and let us do the work. We’ll find whatever we need.”
Though she didn’t doubt for a second that they could easily handle the preparations, Laura couldn’t seem to stop herself from following along as they pulled together what looked like an entire meal, plus margaritas, in less than fifteen minutes.
“I cheated,” Annie admitted. “Mom made the guacamole. It takes her maybe two minutes. It would take me forever, and it wouldn’t be half as good.”
“I just bought stuff,” Sarah confessed. “Any actual cooking was done by Raylene, so it’s guaranteed to be edible. She might not be a chef, and I would never say this in front of Dana Sue, but I swear Raylene’s every bit as good as she is.”
“Believe me, Mom already knows that,” Annie said. “I caught her asking Raylene for a recipe the other day.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Raylene nodded. “She did,” she confirmed, her expression smug. “I’m not allowed to tell which one, because she intends to put it on the menu at Sullivan’s. I gave her permission to take total credit for it.”
“How is that fair?” Annie protested.
Raylene shrugged. “I’ll know. That’s what counts. I think it’s amazing that your mom, the most celebrated chef in this region, wanted my recipe.”
Laura allowed the chatter to surround her, feeling herself relax without even the first tiny sip of a margarita. It was enough that these three women had heard something about her lousy day and shown up here to bolster her spirits.
Raylene poured the margaritas into the glasses they’d also brought along, handed them around, then held hers up. “To margarita nights and friends,” she toasted.
Laura joined in, took a sip of the drink and nearly choked. “It’s a little strong, don’t you
