Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
Valentin sat on one side of Ouida Mae; Principal Ashcraft sat on the other.
The president of the school board tapped a small wooden gavel on the table in front of him. “Quiet, please,” he said. In a more commanding voice, he repeated, “Quiet!”
People in the bleachers settled and stopped talking. Valentin glanced around the gymnasium, amazed at the people who’d gathered. The rows of bleachers that had been reserved for the teachers were filled. Parents had filled in behind them. Students flanked either side of the parents.
Several parents stood near the tables where the school board had taken up residence. One of those parents was Katherine Edouard. She wore a dress and conservative heels, her face expertly made up, not too much, but enough to enhance her features. She’d pulled her hair up in a loose bun, and her lips were pressed into a thin, disapproving line as she stared at Ouida Mae, who’d arrived in what she’d worn to pick vegetables all morning in a garden.
Ouida Mae’s jeans and shirt were dusty, and she had streaks of dirt on her otherwise makeup-free face and beneath her fingernails. She’d secured her pretty auburn hair in a girlish ponytail and looked adorable to Valentin, but the school board might not see her as adorable as he did.
“Wish I’d had time for a shower,” Ouida Mae whispered, rubbing her hands against her jeans.
“Don’t worry,” Valentin said. “A little dirt on your cheeks makes you look badass.”
She raised her hand quickly to her cheek. “I have dirt on my face?”
The president of the school board smacked his gavel on the table once more. “Let’s bring this emergency meeting of the Bayou Mambaloa School Board to order. We were notified this morning that an emergency meeting needed to be conducted and that it was a matter of life and death. This better be good. I’m missing my football game for this. Mrs. Katherine Edouard, since you initiated this meeting, you have the floor.”
Katherine Edouard stepped forward. “President Ford, as you are well aware, our school was attacked on Friday afternoon—specifically, Miss Maudet’s room.”
She laid eight by ten photographs in front of the school board, spreading them across the tables so that all members of the board could see them. “As you can see from the pictures I took shortly after the attack, it is plain to even the least intelligent observer that the attack was in protest against the science teacher's proposed curriculum.”
“We’ve seen these photographs,” President Ford acknowledged. “What is your point?”
She laid another photograph in front of the school board president. “This is a picture of poor Mr. Jones, who was brutally attacked in that classroom. He could’ve been killed and sadly remains in a coma,” she stated.
“Again, Ms. Edouard, the school board is aware of the situation,” the school board president said. “Could you please get to the point?”
Ms. Edouard’s eyes narrowed. “None of this would’ve happened if Miss Maudet hadn’t insisted on filling our impressionable young students’ minds with things that should not be taught in school. Some things are better taught at home. Teaching young people about S.E.X. is criminal. It will plant ideas in their minds that they are not ready to understand.”
A voice from the student section of the bleachers half-coughed, half-shouted, “Bullshit!” Laughter erupted from the students and some of the parents.
Ms. Edouard glared up at the students. “You might laugh and think that’s funny, but because Miss Maudet’s proposed curriculum and the mention of sex education, it planted seeds in their young minds.”
Principal Ashcraft stood. “It takes more than planting seeds in a student’s mind for one to get pregnant.”
“I have the floor.” Katherine Edouard stared down her nose at the principal. “You’ll have to wait your turn.”
“Ms. Edouard,” the school board president said, “people don’t get pregnant from planting seeds in minds. What is the life-or-death reason for which you’ve called us here today?”
“I’d gladly tell you if I could continue uninterrupted,” Katherine said. She waited for the gymnasium to quieten down. “My point is this school is not safe for our students as long as Miss Maudet is a part of the teaching staff. She should not be allowed back in the school with her progressive curriculum that is poisoning the minds of our children.”
The gymnasium erupted in a rush of murmured protests and several parents shouting above them, “Hear! Hear!”
The school board president banged his gavel on the table. “Quiet, please!” Once the audience was sufficiently silent, President Ford said, “It is my understanding that the sex education portion of Miss Maudet’s curriculum was only to be presented to students whose parents had not opted out of having their student receive this information. The school board also reviewed what Miss Maudet had planned to teach in her sex education course. We all agreed it was valuable information for young people to receive, as long as their parents did not object.”
Katherine lifted her chin higher. “Am I to understand that the school board reviewed and approved this curriculum without consulting parents first?”
“No, we did not review and approve this curriculum without consulting parents first,” one of the other school board members spoke up. “We had a focus group review it with us. We were in one-hundred percent agreement that this information be presented.”
Katherine planted a fist on one of her hips. “And why was I, the president of the parent-teacher association, not included in this focus group?”
“We used a random selection of parents,” the school board member replied.
“Ms. Edouard,” the school board president said, “if your primary purpose for calling this meeting was to fire Miss Maudet, that is not going to happen. It’s hard enough to find qualified teachers willing to work in small towns like Bayou Mambaloa. Miss Maudet is an exemplary teacher who cares about her students enough to provide a curriculum that will help them make better choices. However, because of the recent incident, Principal Ashcraft has placed a moratorium on the sex education curriculum. We will revisit that curriculum later in the semester. Now, if that is all you have to say, does anyone else have a life-or-death reason for this meeting to continue?”
Katherine Edouard’s cheeks turned a ruddy red beneath her perfectly applied makeup. “I’m not finished. Whoever attacked her classroom may return as long as she still works at this school. That places our students in danger. Not only that, but the suggestion of her sex education curriculum has also already had a negative impact on one of our students. Because of Miss Maudet’s blatant disregard for the easily impressed minds of our students, one of our own is now pregnant.”
Ouida Mae tensed beside Valentin.
Valentin’s gut clenched as Katherine Edouard spun and pointed her finger at Sophie.
“Oh no.” Ouida Mae was halfway out of her seat when Katherine spun and pointed at Sophie.
There was no stopping Katherine’s tirade. “Sophie Saulnier, one of our poor girls, is pregnant at the tender age of fourteen.”
Everyone in the gymnasium seemed to gasp as one. All eyes shifted to Sophie.
Ouida Mae and Valentin rushed toward her.
Behind them, Katherine continued spewing words. “This would not have happened if Miss Maudet hadn’t insisted on teaching sex education in the classroom. I demand she be fired today.”
Before Valentin and Ouida Mae could reach Sophie, the girl darted for the door.
Thankfully, Shelby was there. She wrapped her arm around the girl and escorted her out of the gymnasium.
Shouts erupted throughout the audience. The school board president banged his gavel continuously, shouting for quiet.
Valentin and Ouida Mae left the chaos behind and hurried out to find Sophie in Shelby’s arms, standing at the far end of the parking lot beside Valentin’s truck. The teenager’s body shook with heart-wrenching sobs.
“Oh, Sophie.” Ouida Mae held her arms open. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t tell her. None of the people who knew would have shared that information.”
“It’s all my fault,” Sophie turned and fell into Ouida Mae’s arms. “I never should’ve trusted him.”
“Trusted who?”
“My boyfriend,” she sobbed.
“Who is your boyfriend?”
“Sophie,” a voice called out behind Valentin. “I’m sorry. Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.”
Everyone spun toward the voice.
A young man stood with his arms at his sides, his forehead dented in a tortured crease. “She was going after Miz Mo. I told her the kids at our school needed Miz Mo’s class to understand what happens when they do it without protection—that things can happen to anyone. That it had happened already. That someone in our class was pregnant and might not have been had she had Miz Mo’s class.”
Sophie flung herself at the boy, pounding her fists against his chest. “You told her? How could you! I hate you! I hate you!”
He wrapped his arms around her, trapping her hands between them. “I didn’t say who was pregnant,” he said. “She guessed.”
“Does she know it was you?” Sophie demanded.
Chase didn’t respond.
“Does she know it was you?” Sophie leaned back and stared up into his face. “She doesn’t.”
His arms fell to his sides. “She thinks we broke up three months ago. I got tired of hearing her say you were a blemish on my father’s reelection campaign.”
Sophie backed away from him. “In other words, I’m an embarrassment to you and your family.” She lifted her chin. “I never want to see you again.”
Chase stepped forward. “But Sophie, I love you.”
With the amount of pain in Chase’s voice, Valentin could tell the boy believed what he said. On the other hand, he’d thrown Sophie under the bus when he’d told his mother.
Valentin faced Sophie. “Are you ready to leave?”
She turned her back on Chase. “I am.”
He helped her up into the truck. When he tried to close the door, Chase’s hand reached out and stopped him.
“Sophie, I’m sorry for everything. I want to do right by you and the baby. Marry me, Sophie. I’ll figure out how to take care of you and the baby. I swear on my life, I love you.”
Sophie reached out and pulled the door closed between them, refusing to look in his direction.
“Sophie!” Chase laid his hand on the window. “I never meant to hurt you.”
Valentin stepped between Chase and his truck. “You need to leave.”
“But—”
Valentin shook his head. “Now.”
Ouida Mae touched the boy’s arm. “You’ve done enough. Let her go,” she said softly.
Chase stepped back. “Can’t you see?” Tears welled in his eyes. “I love her.”
“Then give her the space she needs,” Ouida Mae said.
He met Ouida Mae’s gaze and finally nodded. “I will. For now. But I’m not giving up on her.”
He focused on Sophie. “Your mother might have given up on you, but I’m not, Sophie.”
The young man spun on his heels. Instead of returning to the gym, he walked away from the school.
Ouida Mae turned to Shelby. “I’m worried about him.”
Shelby nodded. “I’ll follow him to make sure he gets home safely.”
“Thank you, Shelby,” Ouida Mae said.
Valentin opened the back door for Ouida Mae to climb in with Sophie.
The teen didn’t scoot over to make room. “You don’t need to sit with me,” she said. “I’m all right.”
Ouida Mae stared up at her. “Are you sure?”
Sophie snorted softly. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for years.”
“Sophie, you’re not alone anymore,” Ouida Mae said. “I’ll help you in any way I can.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Miz Mo.” She gave Ouida Mae a weak smile. “But I know the only person who can truly help me is me. Can we leave now? I’m really tired.”
“Sophie, I’m not giving up on you or letting you do this all on your own.”
“Please,” the girl said, “I’d like to leave before everyone comes out of the gym.”
Ouida Mae nodded. “Okay. Let’s go home.”
Valentin held Ouida Mae’s door open for her and helped her up into the passenger seat. Thankfully, no one emerged from the gym as they pulled out of the parking lot. The drive back to Ouida Mae’s was made in complete silence.
Ouida Mae stared out the window without blinking, worry knitting her brow.
Sophie’s reflection in the rearview mirror was stoney as she faced the side window.
When they arrived back at Ouida Mae’s house, Sophie pushed open her door before Valentin could shift into Park. She dropped to the ground and ran toward the bayou.
Ouida Mae shoved her door open immediately and went after the girl. “Sophie! Wait!”
Valentin shifted into park, shut off the engine and went after the two women.
Sophie was headed for her pirogue. If she reached it before they caught up with her, she would disappear into the bayou. By the time they found a boat to go after her, she could be anywhere.
Valentin raced past Ouida Mae and caught up with Sophie as she struggled to untie the line holding her pirogue to the tree limb. He wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“Let go of me,” Sophie cried.
“I can’t,” Valentin said. “You can’t run away from your problems. They follow you and force you to deal with them. If I let you go, you’ll only be running away. I think you’re a great kid, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Her body sagged against his and shook with silent sobs. “T-they know. Everyone knows.”
Ouida Mae caught up, breathing hard. “So what?” she said and bent over, placing her hands on her knees. “It was only going to be a matter of time. A pregnancy is hard to hide.” When she had her breathing under control, she straightened. “I know you feel like your whole world is falling apart. But trust me, it won’t if you don’t let it. You’ve been taking care of yourself for so long that you can handle this.”
Valentin loosened his hold on Sophie and let his hands drop to his sides. “Miz Mo’s right. Besides, what would you have accomplished by taking off into the bayou?”
“I could disappear,” she whispered. “No one would miss me.”
“You’re wrong,” Ouida Mae said, drawing the girl into her arms. “I’ve always admired you as a student. The more I get to know you, the more I love who you are.”
Sophie looked up into Ouida Mae’s eyes. “Why? I’m not pretty. I’m only an average student. I freaked out holding a piglet. What does that say about me?”
Ouida Mae smiled and brushed the strand of hair out of Sophie’s face. “You’re scared. You’ve been living in a shack without running water or electricity, and you haven’t had anybody tell you how beautiful and important you are for too long.”
Sophie’s brimmed with tears. “He brought me food and blankets and helped me clean up the shack. He said he loved me and told me I was beautiful.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “The one person I trusted most, and he lied.”
Ouida Mae gathered Sophie in her arms. “You’re a strong young woman. You’ll make it through all this.”
“Why should I even try? Everything I do ends in failure. I just want to die.”
Valentin’s chest tightened at the anguish in Sophie’s voice.
“No, sweetie, you can’t think that way. You have your whole life ahead of you. Your baby needs you to survive so she can live.”
“But if I die, she won’t have to live knowing her mother was a loser like her mother before her.”
“You aren’t a loser. You don’t take drugs. I’ve never seen you hurt another person. You work hard in school to make a better life for yourself.”
“If I have this baby, I can’t finish school or go to college. I can’t bring a baby to the shack. I can’t even get a job until I’m sixteen, and I won’t have a place for us to stay.”
“You’ve only just learned you’re pregnant,” Ouida Mae said. “We need to get you to a doctor and a counselor to discuss your options. You don’t have to keep the baby.”
Sophie pressed a hand to her belly. “I won’t go for an abortion. I can barely squash a spider. I couldn’t kill a baby.”
“I didn’t necessarily mean abortion,” Ouida Mae said softly. “There are plenty of people who can’t have babies who would give anything to raise yours. Women like me, who have reproductive issues that could keep them from getting pregnant.” She smiled. “Your baby could find a home with parents who could give her a beautiful, happy life.” She cupped Sophie’s face in her palm. “And you could finish school, go to college and have a family when you’re ready.”
Ouida Mae wrapped her arm around Sophie’s shoulders and steered her toward the house. “Let’s make dinner. We all make better decisions on a full stomach.”
Valentin fell in step behind them.
“You don’t have to do this,” Sophie said.
“Do what?” Ouida Mae asked. “Make dinner? Yes, I do. I’m hungry, and I’ll bet you and Mr. Vachon are, too.” She shot a smile over her shoulder at Valentin. “Am I right?”
“Absolutely,” he said with a grin.
“Not dinner,” Sophie said. “Everything. Giving me a place to stay, feeding me, taking me to Bellamy Farms... Why are you doing this?”
“Because I love you, Sophie. You’re a kind and beautiful person.”
“I’m not pretty,” she argued.
“You are beautiful—inside where it counts and outside as well.”
Sophie stopped as they reached the porch steps. “I can’t go back to school. They’ll stare at me, call me a slut and make fun of the girl who was stupid enough to get pregnant.”
“You’re a strong and independent young woman,” Ouida Mae said.
“Sophie, everyone makes mistakes,” Valentin said. “It takes courage to keep going despite them. You’ve been living alone in the bayou. That takes an incredible amount of courage.”
Sophie frowned. “Yeah, but there wasn’t anyone out there to call me names or judge me.”
“They’re playing the short game,” Valentin said. “You have to focus on the long game. Junior high and high school don’t last forever. Look to your future beyond high school and remember that the best revenge is your own success.”
“That’s right,” Ouida Mae said. “Stay in school, go to college and become your most successful self. You won’t even remember the kids poking fun at you today.”
“Now, about dinner…” Valentin tipped his head toward his truck. “We have fresh vegetables we can cut up to stir fry.”
“I have some chicken we can throw on the grill,” Ouida Mae said.
“Perfect,” Valentin said. “I’m a master grillsman.”
Ouida Mae laughed. “Is that a real thing?”
“I’ll be teaching PE, not English,” Valentin winked. “Just go with it, and I’ll take care of the chicken.”
Ouida Mae grinned. “Grillsman it is.” She hooked her arm through Sophie’s elbow and marched her inside.
Tomorrow might be a difficult day for Sophie, but Ouida Mae was determined to make the rest of the day happy for the girl.
Valentin followed. He was beginning to understand what made Ouida Mae a great teacher. She had a big heart, compassion and empathy for others. Her students loved her because she loved them.
Damned if he wasn’t falling in love with her as well.