Chapter 25
Mama bear – what Chloe turns into when bullying is involved
Chloe
A ddy knocks on the door of the storeroom. “Hey, boss.”
I roll my eyes. “You don’t need to call me boss.” It drives me nuts when people call me boss. I’m Chloe. Nothing more. Nothing less.
She grins. “I know.”
“What’s up?”
“Your phone’s been ringing nonstop.”
“Which is why I left it in my office. I need to finish this annual inventory today.”
“I shouldn’t have looked but it’s your stepdaughter. She’s trying to reach you.”
My brow wrinkles. “Natalia?”
“You have another stepdaughter you haven’t told me about?”
There’s a lot I haven’t told my waitress. Starting with how my marriage to Lucas is fake with a capital F and ending with I’m in so much trouble because I’m falling for my fake husband.
Addy hands me the phone. “Please answer it before the ringing sound drives me bonkers.”
“It’s not ring—” The phone rings and cuts me off.
Addy giggles before waving and shutting the door behind her as she leaves.
“What’s up, Natalia?”
“Can you come pick me up?”
I check the time on the phone. “You’re supposed to be at summer camp for another two hours.”
“I need someone to pick me up now.”
I know what those words mean. I’ve said them to my mom enough times in my life. She’s in trouble. But first things first.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“I promise I’m not hurt. Can you come, please?”
“On my way.” Because I will never not come when Natalia calls. Even after my agreement with Lucas ends, she can call me and I’ll come running. Natalia deserves nothing less.
I get to my feet and throw my clipboard on the floor before rushing out the backdoor to my bike. I pedal as fast as I can to the summer camp.
Lucas’s squad car isn’t parked on the street at the entrance when I arrive. Of course, he could have walked. The police station isn’t too far from here.
I drop my bike on the lawn and hightail it to the office building. I burst inside to discover Natalia and Piper sitting on chairs in the hallway.
“You came!” Natalia shouts and rushes to me.
I wrap my arms around her and haul her near. “Of course, I came.” I release her to search for any injuries. “You aren’t hurt?”
“I’m not hurt. Promise.”
“What happened?”
Madison steps into the hallway. “Mrs. Fellows.”
Now is not the time, but a jolt of excitement charges through me at her use of my married name. I’d love to be a Fellows. Shedding the last name of Summers would get rid of another reminder of dear old mom.
But Maddy using my married name is not a good sign. She’s well and pissed. Crap on a mermaid cracker.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell Natalia before following Madison into an office.
Another girl and her mother are waiting there for us.
“No!” I know a set-up when I see one. Don’t ask me how. I blame Sophia and her obsession with Flynn.
“What’s the matter, Mrs. Fellows?” Madison asks.
“We are not having a discussion about whatever this is with one child present. Either all children involved are present or this meeting isn’t happening.”
Madison scowls. Probably because she knows I’m right. “Sheila, can you wait in the hallway?”
Sheila? Why does the name sound familiar?
The girl fists her hands and glares at me as she stomps toward the door. Now I remember. Sheila is the little girl who bullied Natalia.
Her mom jumps to her feet and blocks the door. “No, the girl who hit my daughter is out there. She won’t be safe.”
I snort. “Safe? Your daughter has been bullying my Natalia all summer long.”
“My daughter is not a bully.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Said by all mothers of bullies all over the world.”
“Ladies!” Madison shouts. “This isn’t helping.”
“As if she’s a lady,” the woman mutters under her breath.
I might not be a lady but – contrary to public opinion – I know when to keep my mouth shut.
“Mrs. Wurth,” Madison growls.
“What? It’s the truth.”
I don’t know this woman and she’s being a bitch to me. No wonder her daughter’s a bully.
“This is not constructive,” Madison says.
“Let’s bring the children in so we can hear both sides of the story,” I suggest.
“There’s no reason to hear both sides! Your brat child punched my daughter! She should be punished. She should be kicked out of summer camp.”
The door flies open and August rushes in. “Sorry, I’m late.”
She has perfect timing if you ask me. Otherwise, I’d be the one in the hallway in trouble for punching Mrs. Wurth.
“Mrs. Hill,” Madison greets.
“Uh oh. We’re in trouble. Maddy’s using our surnames,” August whispers, and I bite my tongue before I laugh. “What happened?”
“Your daughter is a liar!” Mrs. Wurth screeches at her.
August growls. “Do not call Piper a liar.”
“She lied and said my precious Sheila pushed Natalia. Sheila would never push anyone.”
“Quiet down everyone,” Madison orders. “Before I phone the police.”
“Go ahead,” I say. “Contact the police.”
August giggles. “Words no one ever thought Chloe Summers would say.”
“The police are biased since this one,” Mrs. Wurth points to me, “is married to an officer.”
I inhale a deep breath and remind myself I can’t get away with smacking her even though I am married to a cop.
“Please get your finger out of my face,” I manage to say.
She wags her finger in my face. “Why? Does this bother you? Can’t handle it, can you?”
“Geez. I wonder where her daughter learned to be a bully from.” August taps her cheek.
Madison forces her way in between me and Mrs. Wurth. “Why don’t we all sit down and stop using the word bully?”
I frown. “Why? Because Sheila’s been a bully all summer and you didn’t do anything about it?”
Guilt flashes on her face. And I am done. I do not put up with bullies. And I definitely don’t put up with summer camps that don’t do anything about bullies.
“Okay. This is what’s going to happen,” I begin.
“Who do you think you are?” Mrs. Wurth asks.
“I’m the person who’s going to have her daughter report every single incident of bullying by your daughter until the camp does something about it. I’m the person who’s going to phone every other parent in the school and make sure they know your daughter is a bully. I’m the person who’s going to speak to the school district about their bullying policy. Need I go on?”
Mrs. Wurth shrinks away. “No.”
I address Madison. “Are we done here?”
“I can’t allow Natalia to return to summer camp.”
“Fine.” Summer camp is over in two days anyway. We’ll figure out some way to keep Natalia occupied until school starts next week.
“I’m sorry, Chloe.” Madison wrings her hands together. “I know how you feel about bullying after what…”
I hold up my hand before she can mention my past. “Apology accepted but this stops now.”
“Understood.”
I grasp August’s hand. “Let’s go.”
She squeezes my hand. “I’m with you, Chloe.”
I open the door and Natalia rushes to me. I drop August’s hand to hug her.
“I’m sorry, Clo-Clo.” She bursts into tears. “I didn’t mean to get you in trouble.”
“It’s okay.” I sway her from side to side until she stops crying. I lean back and wipe the tears from her eyes. “This is not your fault. You hear me? Not your fault.”
I wait for her to nod before releasing her.
“Okay. Let’s get out of here.”
I wave to August who’s holding a distraught Piper. “I’ll call you.”
“You can send Natalia to my house for the next two days. I work at home anyway.”
I thank her before exiting the building with Natalia. I frown when I notice Lucas still isn’t here.
“Where’s your dad?”
“Um…”
“Out with it.”
“I didn’t phone my dad.”
Fear rocks through me. Will Lucas be mad at me for handling this situation? For not reaching out to him?
Shit. Shit. Shit.
If Lucas says Natalia is his daughter again and I have no say in her upbringing, it’ll break my heart. I can’t handle it.
“Y-y-you need to call your dad,” I stutter.
“But Clo-Clo,” she whines.
“No, I’m sorry, Natalia. But he needs to know. He should have been here for this meeting.”
Lucas didn’t get a chance to have his say and now he’s going to lose his mind. And Natalia will not be the one he’s angry with.
I only hope he doesn’t end our marriage now. I’m not ready to let him go.
I’m afraid I never will be.
Shit.