“You know your mother’s right,” her dad said, regarding her mother with approval for the first time in months. “And on Monday morning we’ll be right there with you while the principal decides how to handle all this. And your mom says Helen Decatur-Whitney called earlier, and she’s handling all the legalities of getting this nonsense taken down from the internet. It could take a little longer than we’d like, but she assured your mom it will be done. Your teacher got her involved.”
“Ms. Reed’s been really great,” Misty said. “Even when I wouldn’t tell her what was going on, she let me know she was on my side. She believed in me from the beginning.”
“Then I guess we owe her,” her dad said.
He stood up then. Misty regarded him hopefully. “Couldn’t you stay here tonight?” she pleaded, knowing that now she was the one who was delusional. Staying wasn’t an option, even under these conditions.
He gave her a sad look. “It’s not a good idea, sweetie. But you can reach me on my cell anytime you need me.”
“You’re never coming back, are you?” she concluded. She glanced at her mother. “I know I’m the one who said that before, but I was still kinda hoping…”
Her dad swallowed hard. “Sorry, kiddo. I can’t do it. We’ll still spend lots and lots of time together. Your mom and I will work all of that out.”
Misty wanted to hate him for leaving, but how could she? Hadn’t she recognized for months now that the marriage was over? It was her mom who’d been living in the dream world. Her mom and maybe Jake, though he didn’t say much about it. She was sixteen. She shouldn’t act like a baby about it.
She stood up and hurled herself into his arms. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you more,” he whispered back.
When she looked into his face right before he turned and walked away, she saw that his cheeks were damp with tears.
Then she dared a glance at her mom and saw that, though her cheeks, too, were damp, she no longer looked devastated. She looked resigned and, despite that, stronger somehow. She reached for Misty’s hand.
“It’s going to be okay,” she assured Misty. “We’re all going to be okay.”
As desperately as she’d wanted to, though, Misty couldn’t entirely believe her.
* * *
Laura’s briefing to Betty Donovan when she reached her by phone on Sunday drew immediate outrage.
“You say there are seminude pictures of this child online, pictures that Annabelle somehow doctored to put Misty’s face on them?”
“There are,” Laura confirmed. “Helen Decatur-Whitney is working to get everything removed, so I made sure we got copies of every single post and every picture just in case that happened before I could fill you in. Helen has her own copies, and I’m almost certain that she’s spoken to Carter Rollins to ensure that the police have whatever they might need in case the Dawsons want to file charges. Helen mentioned something about invasion of privacy, fraud and libel when I spoke to her earlier today. She’s discussed that possibility with Misty’s mother, too.”
“But no one’s gone to Annabelle’s family at this point?” Betty asked.
“That ball’s in your court, at least from the school perspective,” Laura confirmed. “Helen suggested we have a meeting tomorrow morning to determine the next step. She thinks we ought to have a plan that takes all aspects of this into account.”
“Yes, that would probably be wise,” Betty said. “I’ll ask Hamilton Reynolds if he wants to be there. As chairman of the school board, he should know what’s going on. We’re not going to be able to keep a lid on this.”
“And J. C. Fullerton has asked to attend,” Laura said.
“I’m not sure what he could add at this point,” Betty said. “Was including him your idea? I understand you’ve been seeing him recently.”
Laura heard a hint of judgment in Betty’s tone. She seemed to have a particularly jaded outlook on the social lives of her teachers.
“J.C.’s involvement has nothing to do with me. Misty went to him to try to get out of school when things first started getting out of hand. She wasn’t forthcoming about her reasons, so he and I have been trying to get to the bottom of this for a few weeks now. He’s very concerned about the situation and feels he has a vested interest in the outcome. He takes his responsibility as her physician very seriously.”
“Okay, then,” Betty said, apparently resigned. “Sounds as if we’ll have a full house tomorrow morning. Nine o’clock, my office.”
“I’ll let J.C. and Helen know,” Laura said. “You’ll alert the Dawsons, or would you prefer that I do it?”
“I’ll call them. I want them to know I’m all over this.”
Laura hated to bring it up but felt she had to. “What about the Litchfields?”
“Not until we’ve determined a course of action. I’ll make an appointment with them for tomorrow afternoon.”
“Will you want me there for that?”
“Let me give that some thought and let’s see how tomorrow morning’s meeting goes. I’m torn between facing them on my own or bringing in all the backup I can muster,” she said grimly.
“I know you didn’t ask for my opinion,” Laura said, “but I’d opt for the backup.”
“Much as I hate to say it,” Betty said ruefully, “I’m leaning that way myself. We know Annabelle’s going to deny everything, and Mariah’s going to leap to her defense. The only thing not certain is whether Mr. Litchfield will prove to be more reasonable.”
“All the more reason to have voices of reason right there with you. I’ve witnessed a few things myself. Helen has the proof in black-and-white. They won’t be able to deny that.”
Betty chuckled, though there was little humor behind it. “Have you seen the size of Mariah’s blinders? None of the designers make sunglasses that big or that dark.” She drew in a deep breath. “Not to worry, though. I think we have Annabelle dead to rights on this. If I have my way, tomorrow will be her last day at Serenity High School for a very, very long time.”
* * *
“Do you think they’re going to throw Annabelle out on her sorry behind?” Katie asked Misty in a whisper when she met her outside of school on Monday morning.
Misty shuddered. “A part of me almost hopes they don’t,” Misty admitted.
Katie regarded her with shock. “How can you
