“We could hold a rally,” Sarah said eagerly. “If we do it in the square, Travis and I can cover it live on the radio. That kind of publicity will stop Mariah in her tracks.”
Raylene lifted a brow. “Are you sure you’re not just a little bloodthirsty because you think Mariah tried to make a move on Travis?”
“I know she did,” Sarah corrected. “And I might have overreacted just the teensiest bit at the time, but that is not why I think we should do this. We want to get public sympathy on our side, and we need to do it fast. Isn’t that what you just said, Helen? This is the best way.”
Laura shook her head. “If you all want to hold a general rally against bullying in our community, I’ll be there, front and center. But not if this is going to turn into some us-against-them thing. I’ve told you before, that’s its own kind of bullying, and I don’t want to resort to it.”
“But it could be the only way to counter Mariah,” Annie argued. “Fight fire with fire.”
“And be no better than Annabelle or, for that matter, Mariah herself,” Laura insisted, shaking her head. “No. I won’t let you do it. Whatever you all want to do—and believe me, I appreciate so much you wanting to do something—it can’t be something that will make the situation worse and maybe even get Misty’s name dragged through the mud all over again. We need to remember that she’s the reason I got involved in the first place. She’s been through enough.”
“But you know she’s going to want to help,” Raylene said, “especially after the way you were so supportive of her.”
Maddie nodded. “Diana called me earlier. I know her from the spa and from school because Misty and Katie are so close. She asked me if I’d heard about what Mariah is up to and wondered how she could help. I told her I’d get back to her once we had a plan.” She gave Laura a sympathetic look. “I really admire you for thinking about Misty first, but if you ask me, it’s time now to worry about yourself. And as much as it pains me to say it, after the ordeal Betty Donovan put Cal and me through, Betty should be doing the same.”
“I agree,” Helen said. She studied Laura intently. “Are you totally opposed to Sarah’s idea?”
She considered the question carefully before responding. “Not if the theme of the rally is an anti-bullying message,” she said. “I’d even be happy to speak at something like that. I imagine Betty would, too.”
Even as she spoke, she warmed to the idea. Turning to Maddie, she said, “Your mother mentioned she might be able to convince Frances Wingate to speak to the parents about bullying.”
Helen’s eyes lit up. “That would be awesome. Is she able to do it? Frances is amazing, and there’s no one who grew up in Serenity who escaped a knee-knocking, terrifying lecture or two from Frances while they were in school.”
“I’ll say,” Dana Sue said with a shudder. “More than my share, I’m afraid.”
“Because you were rebellious,” Maddie teased.
“And you were a saint?” Dana Sue countered. “Please.”
Helen laughed. “Let’s not go there. I think we can all agree that the three of us were thorns in Frances’s side back in the day. Bottom line, she’d be the perfect person to remind this entire community of its moral compass. I’m liking this idea of an anti-bullying rally better and better, especially if we can get her help.”
Laura turned to Maddie. “Your mother said she’d work on it.”
Maddie nodded. “Then she will. I’ll give her a nudge, though I doubt it’s necessary. She seems to have taken up this cause eagerly. The activist side of her is a new one to me.”
“Well, believe me, the situation would still be out of control if it weren’t for her willingness to get involved,” Laura said, exchanging a pointed look with Helen, who nodded her own confirmation.
“Why don’t you see what you can find out from Paula tomorrow, Laura?” Helen suggested. “Tell her about our thinking and see what she thinks the odds are that Frances can help, then give me a call. We need to get right on this. Sarah, how quickly could we schedule something that you could get on the air?”
“We could do it immediately,” Sarah said. “But I’d like at least a few days’ notice so we can spread the word. We want that square packed with people who totally get that bullying is unacceptable.”
Helen nodded. “How about a tentative date for a week from Saturday? If all the pieces fall into place, would that work?”
“It would for Travis and me,” Sarah said at once. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“And we’d have time to rally teachers and parents,” Raylene said. “I’ll put Adelia Hernandez on that. She seems to snap her fingers and the parents at school fall into line to do whatever she needs.”
Helen gave a nod of satisfaction. “Then we have a plan. Laura, are you okay with it?”
“If we can stick to the plan, absolutely,” she said. “And if you’re looking for speakers who have strong feelings, ask J.C. I think he’d be a powerful advocate for the cause.”
“Or for you,” Annie teased. “Isn’t that right?”
Laura blushed furiously. “Do not go there.”
“Then that wasn’t him I saw pacing around outside your place last night when I was driving home from work?” Raylene inquired innocently. “Or his car I saw still there this morning? I’m fairly certain he has the only dark green Jaguar in town, but of course I wouldn’t want to jump to any conclusions.”
Laura sighed at the realization that with such strong support came a complete breakdown of boundaries. Apparently her entire life was fair game.
“Of course you wouldn’t jump to conclusions,” she said to Raylene, resigned to having such a personal tidbit shared with everyone. “Just please tell me you didn’t mention this sighting to Grace.”
“Heavens, no!” Raylene said indignantly. “It’s only between us girls.”
“But Sweet Magnolias have an obligation to be on top of all the hottest gossip in
