CHAPTER THIRTY
ITWASPASTnoon on Monday when Jaye walked out of a meeting that had started at eight o’clock and should have ended more than an hour ago. One of the other bankers in town, who was rumored to be entering politics, had wasted everyone’s time grandstanding.
After talking to Dean and Franklin and making lunch plans, he pulled his phone out of his jacket and saw he’d missed a couple of calls, and all from Vaughn. He hadn’t seen or talked to Vaughn since the wedding. Since the newlyweds had only planned to be gone a week, chances were Vaughn and Sierra had returned from their honeymoon by now.
He returned the call. “Vaughn, this is Jaye. I was in a meeting and see I missed your calls.”
“Thanks for calling me back. There’s something going on here in the cove that I think you should know about.”
“What?”
“The school board is bringing Velvet before them this evening on a code-of-conduct violation.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I wish I were. It took a lot of digging to find out the reason, since some of the board members don’t even know why. I understand Velvet doesn’t even know, and they won’t tell her until the board meeting tonight.”
“And what’s the reason?” Jaye asked angrily.
“Someone found out that you purchased land for her in Reid’s new development and they are trying to say it is a conflict of interest.”
Jaye gritted his teeth. “And just how is that supposed to be in violation of anything? Velvet and I are adults and it’s nobody’s business what we do. And it’s my money to do with as I please.”
“True, but no one knew you and Velvet were involved. I heard they first tried saying it was a morality violation but, just like you said, you’re both adults and you can do as you please with your money. They knew that wouldn’t stick so they went after a code-of-conduct violation since you’re sponsoring that cooperative bank at the junior high school.”
“What does that have to do with anything? Velvet isn’t involved with that and, even if she was, how would anything that would benefit the school cause a problem?”
“It doesn’t and shouldn’t. Once the school board agreed to allow you in to partner with the schools, they’re saying since your purchase of that land was a gift to her, she should have disclosed it.”
“What the hell? Velvet doesn’t even know I purchased that land for her. It was going to be a surprise wedding gift.”
“The two of you are getting married?”
“I’m working on it. Damn. I’ve been working on it since coming here, but dumb crap like this will not put things in my favor with her, Vaughn.”
All Jaye had to do was remember what Velvet had said the last time they’d talked. She’d seen his coming to town and taking over the bank and deliberately becoming her neighbor as manipulations. He could just imagine what she’d think when she discovered he’d bought that land for her, too.
“If you ask me,” Vaughn said, “it sounds like someone has it in for Velvet and is trying to shame her into admitting the two of you are involved in an affair that no one knew about. There are some in Catalina Cove, even members of the school board, who feel it’s their God-given right to know everything.”
“Well, I got news for them, it isn’t. And if they were so concerned about it, then why didn’t they contact me or bring me before the school board? This is nothing but bullshit and I’m not having it.” Jaye rubbed his hand down his face, not wanting to believe any of this. “What time is that school board meeting?” he asked.
“At six.”
Jaye glanced at his watch. In order to make that meeting, he would need to leave now. “I’ll be there.”
VELVETPULLEDINTOthe school’s parking lot and when she saw all the cars, she figured a basketball game was probably going on as well. She checked her watch as she swiftly walked up the steps and entered the school.
“Velvet?”
She turned upon hearing her name and saw Sierra, Vashti and Bryce. Smiling, she headed toward them. “Hey, guys. Are all of you here for the game?”
Vashti looked confused. “What game?”
She gestured at the parking lot. “I saw all the cars and figured there was a basketball game going on.”
Sierra shook her head. “Those cars are here for you.”
Velvet’s eyes widened. “For me? What on earth for?”
“Word got around the cove that a teacher was being brought before the board for some conflict-of-interest issue, and everyone is curious as to what it is. Nobody seems to know.”
Velvet shrugged. “Neither do I. And aren’t school board meetings private when it’s a one-on-one with a teacher or school employee?”
“No,” Sierra said. “All Catalina Cove school board meetings are public and we’re all here to give you support.”
“Why would I need support?” Velvet asked, confused. “Mr. Dunning felt it was nothing more than a misunderstanding that could be cleared up at this meeting.”
“Well, let’s hope that’s all there is to it, but I heard that Dwight Beaks called the meeting, and that made me uncomfortable,” Vashti said.
Velvet’s brows drew together. “Who is Dwight Beaks?”
“Dwight Beaks used to be an attorney in town,” Bryce said. “And if you ask me, I think he’s been on the school board way too long. Heck, he’s been a member since my brothers were in high school.”
“To show you how conservatively he thinks,” Vashti explained, “he’s the one who called for a vote to kick me out of high school when I got pregnant.”
“And it passed?” Velvet asked, shocked.
“Before they could take the vote, my parents sent me to a home for unwed mothers,” Vashti said. “However, there is no doubt in my mind had he pushed for a vote, he would have gotten one in his favor. He pretty much rules the school board. Always has.”
“That’s what’s bothering me,” Sierra said. “Nobody seems to know what this meeting is about and those who do are keeping it hush-hush. I don’t like it.”
“I don’t, either,” Bryce said. She smiled when she looked beyond Velvet’s shoulder. “There’s Ashley and Donna.”
When Ashley and Donna approached, Ashley said, “The guys are outside talking and will be inside in a minute.”
“What guys?” Velvet asked.
“Our husbands,” Donna said. “When I heard Mr. Beaks called the meeting, I figured there would be trouble. We’re here to support you.”
Velvet sighed. That’s the same thing Vashti had said, and both Donna and Vashti had grown up in Catalina Cove. This Dwight Beaks sounded like someone who was known to stir up mischief. She hoped that wasn’t true because she really wasn’t in the mood.
VAUGHNCHECKEDHISwatch and said to the men standing around him, “The meeting is about to start. We’re all here and the place is packed. I contacted Jaye and he’s flying back tonight. Evidently, Dwight Beaks intends to try to shame Velvet in front of the entire town like he tried doing to Vashti.”
Sawyer, who was leaning against a lamppost, straightened upon hearing his wife’s name. “When did Dwight Beaks try shaming Vashti?”
Every man heard the sting in Sawyer’s voice. Before Vaughn could respond, Kaegan said, “Calm down. It was years ago, Sawyer. When Vashti was pregnant at sixteen and refused to reveal the identity of her baby’s father, Beaks called a board meeting to get her kicked out of school.”
“What the hell!” Sawyer exclaimed angrily.
“Did they kick her out?” Ray Sullivan asked, who, like Sawyer, hadn’t grown up in the cove.
“No,” Isaac said. “If I recall, her parents sent her away to have her baby before that happened.”
“Babies. She had twins, remember,” Kaegan said, grinning, trying to lighten the conversation.
It didn’t work with Sawyer. His jaw was still tight when he said, “I knew I never liked Beaks for a reason.”
Isaac chuckled. “Very few people do. They tolerate him but I’d figured he’s too old for this kind of nonsense.”
Vaughn’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his jacket and after glancing at the screen said, “It’s Jaye.” He answered the call. “Hey, Jaye, where are you?”
“Bad weather caused delays, but we’ve just landed in New Orleans. I should be there in an hour or less.”
Vaughn was glad Sawyer hadn’t heard that because, as the town’s sheriff, he would have taken issue with the or less. “The meeting is about to start, so hopefully you’ll get here in time.” And then he added, “Drive carefully.”
VELVETGLANCEDAROUNDthe crowded room. Whatever the school board thought they had on her, they intended for this to be a spectator show. And why was Webb sitting on the other side of the room and staring at her with a smirk on his face? Did he have anything to do with this? And if he did, why and how?
Drawing in a deep frustrated breath, she broke eye contact with Webb and glanced down another row and saw Allen Bordeaux. When their gazes connected, he quickly looked away. Was she mistaken or had she seen a flash of guilt in his eyes? If so, why? She decided not to waste her time trying to figure out who might be behind tonight’s meeting. Hopefully, it was just a misunderstanding like Mr. Dunning had said.
She looked toward the front of the room where six men and one woman sat at a long table. The man she figured was Dwight Beaks occasionally glared over at her with what looked like disgust on his face. The other board members avoided eye contact with her. Now she was beginning to get concerned. Mr. Dunning had once said Allen Bordeaux was a popular person in town. She had suggested to him that if he didn’t like the required school’s curriculum that he should take it up with the school board. Had he done so in a way that made them question her integrity? Surely, failing Lenny Bordeaux wouldn’t constitute any type of conflict of interest when he didn’t deserve a passing grade, so she remained baffled about the purpose of the meeting.
She let out a deep breath. Even with her friends and their husbands sitting around her for support, she wished the man she loved were here, too. But it was her fault that he wasn’t. She accepted that now. Over the past few days, she’d had time to think about everything Jaye had said. Then there had been the look in his eyes when he’d said it.
Velvet wished that she hadn’t overreacted, but it might be too late now. A part of her refused to believe that it was. Love didn’t work that way.
If no further complications occurred in Birmingham, he would be coming home Thursday. She would have a lot to say to him. She had thought of calling him today just to hear his voice, but knew what she had to say was best done face-to-face.
“Are you okay?”
Velvet looked over at Sierra. Before she could answer, the lone woman on the board stood.
“Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to this special meeting of the Catalina Cove school board. Since I only got word of this meeting today—” the woman didn’t hide her annoyed tone “—I’ll let Mr. Beaks inform everyone of the reason for this meeting.”
Velvet found that odd. A meeting was called by the school board, yet some of the members didn’t know why? She had never heard of such a thing. As if Sierra knew her thoughts, she leaned close to her and whispered, “Only in Catalina Cove.”
The microphone was passed to Mr. Beaks. Instead of standing, he remained seated and said, “Ms. Velvet Spencer, could you come forward, please?”
Sierra gave Velvet’s hand a squeeze as she stood. At that moment, she felt like more than a hundred pairs of eyes were on her, but since she knew she hadn’t done anything wrong, she walked to the front with her head held high.
When she came to a stop, she said, “I’m Velvet Spencer. Could someone tell me what this is all about?”
“We will in a minute, but we need you to confirm a couple of things,” Mr. Beaks said.
She lifted a brow. “Confirm what?”
“That you teach ninth grade at Catalina Cove Junior High School. Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And you’ve been teaching there for close to two years. Is that correct?”
Velvet wondered where all this was leading. “Yes, that’s correct.”
It seemed Dwight Beaks was taking his time to ask the next question, clicking his ink pen with his fat little fingers like he, and everyone present, had all the time in the word. She suddenly understood his ploy. If he thought for one minute that he would make her squirm, he was mistaken.
“Your next question, please,” she said, not hiding her annoyed tone.
Dwight Beaks frowned when he heard several chuckles from the audience. “Do you think this is an amusing matter, Ms. Spencer?”
She lifted her chin. “No. In fact, I have no idea what the matter is. Amusing or otherwise.” If she sounded flippant, that was too bad. She refused to let this man intimidate her.
He leaned back in his chair and eyed her speculatively and said, “You were once overheard saying you intended to purchase some of the property in Reid Lacroix’s new development. In fact, you spoke specifically about a tract of land on the ocean.”
Velvet wondered what that had to do with anything and what business was it of his or anyone else’s. “Yes, I said that.”
She could recall just when she said it and who was around her when she had. It was at the town hall meeting when Reid Lacroix announced the news about the development. She had been talking to Sierra, but her words had been overheard by Webb and his sister, Laura.
“Of course, you knew at the time you said it that such a thing was impossible on a teacher’s salary.”
At that moment, Velvet was tempted to tell the man that she could buy anything she wanted, but decided not to. She wanted to see how this all intended to play out. In the end, she would put Mr. Beaks and anyone else who thought her business was their business in their place.
“What concern is it of the school board how I spend my money?” she asked.
“It deeply concerns us if it’s money you don’t have.”
She heard a few chuckles and snickers from the audience and refused to look back, certain one of them was from Webb. “I honestly don’t see why.”
“Obviously, you didn’t read your teacher contract thoroughly. If you had, you would have noted that any gifts over a thousand dollars that is exchanged between teachers, administrators, or school partners must be disclosed.”
She wondered why he was telling her that. “I am aware of that.”
“Then would you like to explain to this board why our new banker, Jaye Colfax, who is also your neighbor...in fact the two of you live in the same house on Blueberry Lane, although you maintain separate residences...purchased land for you, in Reid Lacroix’s new development that cost over a million dollars?”
Gasps sounded around the room and Velvet’s mouth nearly dropped open. Jaye had done that? He had purchased land for her in that new development. But why? She recalled mentioning to him once that she planned to buy property there. Had he bought it for her instead? Then she remembered what he had told her more than once... I will give youwhatever you want. No matter what it is...
“The board is waiting for your response, Ms. Spencer.”
She drew in a deep shaky breath and finally said, “I wasn’t aware he had done that.”
Mr. Beaks laughed as he threw his pen on the table. “Surely, you can do better than that, Ms. Spencer. A man you barely know buys you property worth over a million dollars, property you let it be known you wanted, and you don’t know he bought it for you?”
Velvet frowned. Now she understood the reason behind Mr. Beaks’s earlier questions. He had deliberately painted a picture of her as some sort of gold digger who was sleeping with the banker to get perks. Namely, a piece of property that cost millions.
“I didn’t say that I don’t know the reason he did it, Mr. Beaks. I said I didn’t know that he had done it. And since I didn’t know he had bought that property for me, there’s no way I could have filed a disclosure.”
There were several chuckles from the audience, which didn’t sit well with Mr. Beaks. He leaned over the table and said in a loud irritated voice, “That’s for this board to decide, Ms. Spencer, as to whether a conflict of interest has occurred. And since you didn’t know he was buying you such an expensive piece of property, but know why he did, will you please advise us of the reason he did it?”
“Did you ask him?” she replied smartly.
Mr. Beaks frowned. “You’re the one claiming the conflict doesn’t exist.”
“It doesn’t, and the reason Jaye bought me that land,” she said, not caring that using his first name indicated a personal closeness between them, and making sure she spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, “is because he loves me.”
There, she’d said it and had done so with the confidence she now felt. Jaye did love her, and buying her that land was just another way he’d wanted to prove that he did.
“If she believes that, then she needs her head examined,” a feminine voice in the audience said out loud.
Velvet knew without turning around that Laura Crawford had made the comment. Velvet’s gaze remained on Dwight Beaks. He was grinning like he agreed with Laura.
“Honestly, Ms. Spencer. Do you actually think a man of Jaye Colfax’s caliber would fall in love with a—”
“Teacher?” she finished for him. “I don’t see why not because he certainly fell in love with me,” she said with self-assurance and poise.
“And, I most certainly did.”
Velvet jerked around at the sound of that masculine voice. And she, like everyone else in the auditorium, watched Jaye walk forward. His expression might be unreadable to some, but Velvet knew that look. He was fighting mad.