6. Chapter 6
Chapter six
“How about we put a pin in it?”
Wes leaned back in his chair and listened as the two women excitedly discussed fundraising options for the senior class fall trip. It seemed to him that being there wasn’t really necessary. When he stood, Cassandra and Theresa Alpert looked at him.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just going to go get another cup of coffee.”
He left the office and went to the coffee station behind the reception counter. Polly looked up from her desk. “How’s it going?”
“You’ll have to ask them. I’m superfluous.”
“I doubt that, sir.”
He filled his cup. “I wonder if I walked out of here and took a walk, if they’d even notice.”
“I’m sure they would.”
“Hmm.”
“It seems Dr. Jordan wants to be involved.”
“She can be as involved as she wants on this end. But I draw the line at her attending the camp.”
“Right.”
Wes raised an eyebrow. “Polly, I know the sound of that ‘right.’”
“So far it seems the kids have accepted her. A lot of them didn’t really care for Mr. Bishop.”
“That’s because he was a little bit…strange.”
“She might be an asset at camp.”
“Not happening. I look forward to senior camp every year. I’m not going to let her ruin that for me.”
“Of course.”
Wes took a sip of his coffee. “As much as I’d like to go take a walk, I suppose I should get back in there.”
“It would probably be best.”
Wes returned to his office, and Cassandra smiled at him. “I think we have a pretty good plan.”
“Great.”
“Part of it involves you, though. Or your family.”
“What part would that be?”
“Rocco’s. Could you talk to your brothers about having a fundraising night where a portion of the proceeds would go toward the fund?”
Theresa leaned forward in her chair. “We believe it would be the most effective and productive way to raise the money. With the limited time we have, bake sales aren’t going to cut it.”
“I’ll talk to them.”
“Thank you, that’s great.” Theresa checked her watch.
“I’ve got a class starting in a few minutes.
” She turned to Cassandra. “This has been a very productive meeting. I’m so glad you’re taking over for Brian.
He should’ve been running fundraisers all summer, but obviously his heart was no longer in it. ”
“I’m happy to help.” Cassandra looked at Wes. “I’m looking forward to going to camp, too.”
Theresa left, and Wes shook his head.
“Um…you want to go to the camp?”
“Yes. It sounds fun.”
“You know it’s not like staying in a hotel. It’s cabins with shared bathrooms, lots of mosquitoes, and smelling like wood smoke for a week. Unless, of course, you jump into the freezing lake.”
“There are no showers?”
“The shower in the counselor’s cabin is barely adequate.”
“I can deal with barely adequate.” She smiled. “You don’t want me to come.”
“I don’t.”
“Why? Am I still that hard to be around? I thought we had passed the awkward stage.”
“Being around each other in the office and spending time at camp…two very different things.”
She got to her feet. “Weston, it’ll be fine. I’ll keep my distance.”
“Our cabins are joined by a shared bathroom.”
“Hmm. We’ll work it out.”
Wes rubbed his face. “How about we put a pin in it?”
“Consider the pin placed.” She moved closer to the desk and stuck a finger into the soil around the plant. “You’ve been watering it.”
“I’ve got a few more hours ahead of me before I get to go home.”
“Right.” She headed for the door. “Have a good night, boss.”
As Cassandra closed the door, Wes stared at the plant. “I should let you die just to spite her.” It was leaning toward the window, and he turned the pot ninety degrees. “Don’t worry, it’s not your fault you were a gift from her.”
Wes worked the next hour without interruption, and it seemed he’d get out of the office on time today. He’d stop by Rocco’s on the way home to talk to Gentry and Abe about holding a fundraiser there. He was pretty confident they’d be behind the idea.
At the sound of raised voices coming through the wall his office shared with Cassandra’s, he stopped what he was doing to listen. The sound certainly wasn’t joyful. He stood and left his office. Cassandra’s door was closed, and he opened it without knocking.
Dennis McFee was standing much too close to Cassandra, who was backed up against the desk. Dennis looked over his shoulder at Wes, but didn’t back up.
“What’s going on here, Dennis?”
“Nothing.” He took a step back, and Cassandra stepped past him and went behind her desk.
“I need you to back away from the desk and have a seat.”
“Don’t want to sit.” Dennis picked up the one frog Cassandra had kept. It was cut-glass made to look like crystal. Solid and heavy. He turned to Wes, then threw it at him before trying to rush the door.
Wes dodged the frog, which hit the wall, leaving a hole in the drywall before dropping to the floor.
He grabbed Dennis’ arm and stopped him before he got to the door.
Dennis looked at him for a moment, then dropped his eyes to the floor, while making a weak attempt at freeing his arm from Wes’ grip.
“Are you ready to sit now?”
Dennis nodded, and Wes dropped him into the chair, then looked at Cassandra. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, then brushed some hair from her face with a trembling hand.
Polly appeared at the door. “Mr. Buchanan?”
“Polly, will you lock the front door and put a sign on it? We’ll be back… et cetera.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then call Mrs. McFee and Sheriff Buchanan.”
“Right away.”
Dennis looked at him. “You’re calling the sheriff on me? And my mom?”
“Dennis, you’ve been suspended three times now, which is one over the limit. This will make four. This time it’s permanent expulsion.”
Dennis looked at Cassandra, who was still standing next to her chair. “I’m sorry, Dr. Jordan.”
She glanced at Wes, then sat in the chair.
Wes put a hand on Dennis’ shoulder. “That’s not going to save you.” He looked at the glass frog. “You could’ve killed me with that thing.”
“I wasn’t trying to hit you.”
“Well, you have terrible aim, then. If I hadn’t dodged it, I’d be lying on the floor next to the damn frog.”
Dennis suddenly started crying. “My mom is going to kill me.”
Wes looked at Cassandra. “How did this escalate?”
“He’s missed four days since school started. When he does show up, he’s late to class. I just asked him what was going on, and he…” Her hands were still trembling, and she clasped them on the desk.
“I’m going to sit here with Dennis until Justin shows up. You can go sit in my office, or go home if you want.”
“I’ll see this through.”
“I can fill you in.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Dennis suddenly jumped to his feet and tried to get to the door again. Wes grabbed him by the back of the collar and dragged him back to the chair. “Sit, dammit.”
Dennis scowled. “You can’t touch me like that.”
Wes nodded toward the frog. “In this instance, I believe no one will have a problem with it.”
Justin arrived ten minutes later and came through the doorway. “What’s going on?”
Dennis sat up straight. “He grabbed me. Twice.”
Justin looked at Wes and raised an eyebrow.
“I did. Right after he chucked that glass frog at my head.”
Justin picked up the frog and tested its weight. “This could’ve done some damage.”
“I know.”
Justin took the frog to the desk and set it down, then looked at Cassandra. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
He turned back to Dennis. “So, young man. What are we going to do with you?”
Dennis nodded his head toward Wes. “He says he’s going to expel me.”
“That is his prerogative. Seeing as he’s the principal and all.” He turned to Wes. “Would you like to press charges? I’d say that frog constitutes assault with a deadly weapon.”
Dennis got to his feet. “No way, man.”
Justin put a hand on his chest. “Sit down.”
Dennis sat. “You guys are trying to frame me.”
Mrs. McFee appeared at the door. “Dennis?” She looked at Wes, then at Justin. “What did he do now?”
Wes looked at Cassandra, who still seemed shaken.
He turned to Mrs. McFee. “Ma’am, your son is formally and permanently expelled from Bridgeport High for harassing Dr. Jordan and trying to assault me.
Sheriff Donahue is here to escort your son off the property.
If he returns at any time in the future, he will be arrested for trespassing. ”
She sighed. “Can we get his things from his locker?”
“Of course. The sheriff will go with you.”
She pulled Dennis to his feet, then dragged him to the door. She glanced at Cassandra. “I’m sorry, Dr. Jordan.”
Cassandra nodded, and Mrs. McFee removed her son from the office.
Justin smiled. “Um…that was easy.”
Wes nodded. “It’s been at least four years of visiting my office on a regular basis. She knows her son. I hate to give up on the kid, but there’s nothing else we can do for him.”
Justin patted Wes on the shoulder. “I’ll make sure he leaves peacefully. Do you want me to charge him?”
“Nah. He’s going to have a rough enough time out there in the world without being charged for trying to bean his principal.”
“You’re a better man than me, brother.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Hmm. I’ll let you know when he’s off campus.”
“Thanks, Justin.”
Justin left, and Wes turned to Cassandra. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, sure.”
He cocked his head. “You’re still shaking.”
She held up a hand. “He…I don’t know, I...” She looked at him. “I could really use a hug.”