“Action? Seriously?” He raked a hand through his hair. “How did this get so completely turned around?”
“Stop fretting,” Helen soothed. “There will be no action, except maybe recognition that Betty and Laura acted totally appropriately. If I were on the board, they’d get an award.”
J.C. nodded. “What kind of testimony do you need from me?”
“Just back up Laura and Betty that this was a serious situation. I’ll only call you if I need to, but we have to be prepared.”
“Oh, I’m prepared,” he said grimly. “Who else are you calling?”
“I’ve spoken to Diana Dawson. She’s eager to speak out. When Misty overheard our conversation, she volunteered. I think she’d be the most compelling witness of all, but I won’t use her unless I absolutely have to. The poor kid’s been through enough.”
“If she wants to do it and you need her, call on her,” J.C. advised. “Every time she has a chance to stand up for herself or someone else, she gets a little stronger.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Helen admitted. “I’ll trust your instincts then. See you this afternoon.”
By the time J.C. walked into the school auditorium, he’d worked up a full head of steam over the absurdity of this entire gathering. Sure, there were a million and one legal reasons things had to be conducted this way, but he considered it a colossal waste of time when the outcome was preordained.
No sooner had he walked in, than Laura caught a glimpse of him. She broke away from the group with whom she was speaking and headed his way, a frown on her face.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’d have been here anyway, but Helen called me,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “You okay?”
“She says I will be,” she replied, though her hand in his was like ice. “I’m trying to believe her.”
“You can,” J.C. said with confidence. “Nobody’s going to get railroaded here today.”
They were joined by Diana and Misty.
“I’m so sorry you’ve been put in this position,” Diana told Laura.
“Me, too, Ms. Reed,” Misty said. “But don’t worry. We’ve got your back.”
Laura frowned at Misty. “I thought you were coming back to school today, young lady.”
Misty grinned at her mother. “Told you she was going to be ticked.”
Diana flushed guiltily. “After I spoke to Helen about what was happening this afternoon, Les and I decided Misty needed another day away from this atmosphere. Hopefully tempers will have cooled down and things will be back to normal later in the week.”
“I think that was very wise,” J.C. told her approvingly. He nudged Laura in the ribs. “Right?”
Laura smiled weakly. “Of course it was. Sorry, it just makes me so mad that Misty is missing classes because of this.”
“I’ll make up all the work,” Misty promised. “Katie’s bringing over all my assignments later. My grades are not going to suffer, I swear it. Remember what I told you. I’m done letting those jerks mess up my life.”
“Okay, then,” Laura conceded. “I guess I can’t ask for more than that.”
Helen joined them then. “Let’s head down to the front row. I want all of you close by, in case I need to call you up on stage. I still don’t think it will come to that, but I’d like to be prepared.”
As they walked to the front of the auditorium, J.C. kept Laura’s icy hand firmly in his grip. Once they were seated, he leaned closer to whisper, “This is going to turn out okay. Believe that.”
She gave him a surprisingly shaky look. “I want to.”
“Did you not see how much support you have in this room?” he asked incredulously.
She blinked and shook her head. “What do you mean?”
“The place is packed. People are waving signs in support of you and Betty. I detect Liz and Flo’s hand in that. They’re handing them out at the door, and Frances looked to me as if she’s whipping people into a frenzy in the hall outside. Every one of the Sweet Magnolias is out there, too. They have quite a rally going on, in fact.”
“How did I miss all that?” Laura asked.
“I’d like to think it was because you couldn’t take your eyes off me,” J.C. teased, “but I imagine it had more to do with being scared out of your wits.”
“I’m not scared,” she retorted, then sighed. “I’m terrified.”
He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Don’t be. I’m right here. Just squeeze my hand if you get nervous.”
She gave it a tremulous squeeze.
“There you go,” he said.
“It didn’t make me any less nervous,” she confessed as the microphone on the stage crackled to life.
He leaned closer and sealed his lips over hers, lingering just long enough until he felt a hint of heat in her skin. He smiled as he moved back. “Better?”
“Sure,” she said with a shaky grin. “Now Mariah can come after me on a morals charge.”
J.C. laughed. “Good. Your sense of humor’s intact. I was getting worried.”
“I wasn’t joking.”
“Well, you should have been. You’re a great teacher, and everyone in this room, with the possible exception of Mariah, knows it. By the time we all get through, the board will think you’re a saint.”
“Unless they saw that kiss,” she grumbled, but at least this time her eyes were sparkling.
22
Hamilton Reynolds banged his gavel down so hard, it looked as if it shook the table. The sound drew startled gasps, then silence as the crowd waited for the drama to unfold.
“I see we have a full house,” the board chairman said. “Too bad more of you aren’t here when we conduct our regular business.” He looked pointedly around the auditorium. “Now, it seems we have two issues before us for this emergency session. The formal expulsion of Annabelle Litchfield and countercharges from Mariah Litchfield that principal Betty Donovan and teacher Laura Reed were engaged in some sort of conspiracy against Annabelle.”
He sighed heavily. “I suppose we have to deal with the latter before we can vote on the expulsion.”
He glanced into the audience. “Mariah, do you have legal representation here?”
“No,” she declared in a ringing voice. She stood up, marched up to the stage and turned to face the crowd.
“Address me and the rest of the board,” Ham commanded. “You’re not at some political rally.”
“Oh, don’t get all smug and righteous with me, Ham Reynolds,” she said. “You’re no better
