28. Chapter 28
Chapter twenty-eight
“A very small, four-legged human.”
Milo played three chords in succession, then nodded at Bailey. “Okay, your turn.”
She took a breath and held it, then played the chords perfectly. “I did it!” She looked at Cassandra. “Did you hear that?”
“It’s great, honey.”
Milo set his guitar down. “Having such a strong background in music makes a big difference. You’ll be playing like a pro in no time.”
She sucked on the end of her index finger. “Is it always going to hurt?”
“No. Your fingers will toughen up. But take it easy at first and give them time to get there.”
“It’s so hard to stop.”
“Can I hear you play the piano? Wes says you’re amazing.”
“I don’t know about amazing.”
Cassandra looked at Milo. “She’s definitely amazing.”
Baily set her guitar down and moved to the piano. She took a moment to calm herself, then began playing.
Milo and Cassandra listened in awe until the end. Then he stood and clapped. “Wow.”
Cassandra smiled. “Right?”
“How long have you been playing?”
Bailey turned on the piano bench. “I started taking lessons when I was six.”
“I hope you’re going to pursue music.”
Bailey glanced at Cassandra. “I want to go to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. But I might go to Cornish in Seattle.” She shrugged. “Haven’t really decided yet.”
Cassandra put a hand on her shoulder. “She’s decided. She’s just afraid to tell her father she doesn’t want to go to Cornish.”
“Hmm. I’m sure they’re both great schools. It was Boise State for me. Hated every minute of it.”
“That’s where Mom went. Mr. B, too.” Bailey blushed. “Of course, you know that.”
“I should get home to Frenchie. But great first lesson.”
“Frenchie?”
“My dog. Although don’t let him hear you call him that. He’s convinced he’s a very small, four-legged human. He hates to be left alone.”
Cassandra laughed. “Bring him next time. I don’t mind.”
“I might do that.”
“What’s with you guys and neurotic animals?”
Milo laughed. “Don’t be comparing my Frenchie to Frank. I’m pretty sure Frank is possessed.”
“My experience with Frank was good. He sat on my lap and purred.”
“No way.”
“It’s true. Wes couldn’t believe it.”
“I don’t believe it. I need to see that. Gentry’s dog is the coolest dog ever. Have you met Pickles?”
“No. Pickles?”
“They didn’t name her. She’s technically Levi’s diabetic support dog.”
“Oh, wow. Is that his youngest boy?”
“Yeah. Tough little dude, though.” He picked up his guitar. “I’ll get a hold of you on Monday, and we’ll set up another lesson.”
“Thank you.”
Cassandra walked him to the door. “This was great. Thank you so much.”
“Not a problem. I’ll see you next week.”
Milo left, and Cassandra went back to Bailey, who had returned to the couch and the guitar. “He’s so cool.”
“Yes, he is. Of course he teaches kindergarten, so it’s expected, I guess.”
“I wish I’d had a cool teacher like him in kindergarten.”
“Miss Debra was cool.”
“Not like him.”
Cassandra smiled. “He’s definitely a lot cuter than Miss Debra.”
Bailey laughed. “She was old.”
“Careful. She was probably only a few years older than I am now.”
“How old is Milo?”
Cassandra thought for a moment. “I think he’s ten years younger than Wes, so he should be twenty-seven.”
“So how old is Luke, then?”
“Hmm. Twenty-two or twenty-three.”
“So, when Mr. B was in college, he had a brother who was, like in kindergarten?”
“Yes. Six boys, oldest to youngest.”
“Crazy.” She looked at Cassandra for a moment. “If you and Mr. B…”
“No more babies for me, honey.”
“Phew.” She smiled. “I guess it’d be sort of cool. But it’d be more weird.”
“I agree.”
Bailey picked up the guitar. “Speaking of Mr. B., there were a lot of rumors going around school today.”
“About why he wasn’t there?”
“Yeah. Since I’m the keeper of secrets, will you tell me the real reason he wasn’t at school yesterday and today?”
Cassandra sat down. “He was asked to take a leave of absence until the poison berry incident is resolved.”
“Oh my gosh. That is so unfair. He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know. It’s not fair at all.”
“What can we do? We need to do something.”
“First off, don’t tell anyone what I just told you.”
“But we need to rally behind him. We need to let the district know how much he means to all of us.”
Cassandra smiled. “I think that would be a wonderful idea. But not until word gets out about why he’s gone. You can’t be the one to let it slip.”
“Right. I know.”
“Everyone who was at the board meeting will put it together sooner or later.”
“What do we do in the meantime?”
“You can plan. But don’t talk to anyone or put anything into motion yet.”
“What do you think would work? A protest? A sit-in? What if we all refused to go to school until they bring him back?”
“That’s a little extreme.”
“Extreme times take extreme measures.”
Cassandra laughed. “My little crusader.”
“I’m serious, Mom.”
“I know. I love it, and I’m proud of you.”
Bailey set the guitar down. “I’m going to do some research before I leave.”
“On protesting?”
“On what works.”
After Bailey left for her friend’s house, Cassandra drove to Wes’ house. He was waiting for her on the porch. He walked to the car with no cane and opened the door for her.
“You’re walking unassisted.”
She got out of the car with a small bag, and he kissed her. “I told you I’d get over it quickly. Besides, I don’t feel like propagating the story the trustees and the school board are putting out.”
She hugged him. “Good for you.” They headed for the house. “Did you tell Frank I was coming?”
“Totally. He’s extremely excited.”
“Not as excited as I am to spend the weekend with you.”
“So Bailey is gone until Sunday?”
“Yes.”
“Perfect.” He opened the front door for her, and they went inside.
“Did you get the groceries?”
“I followed your list to the letter, and I’m very hungry and can’t wait to eat your lasagna.”
“We should get started, then.”
Halfway through the preparation stage, Frank came out of the pantry.
“There’s my kitty.” Cassandra approached Frank cautiously. “Don’t run.” He sat and watched her. “Can I pick you up?” She reached for him, and he let her pick him up.
Wes shook his head. “It’s like an alternate universe.”
Cassandra laughed. “What a precious kitty.”
“Don’t lie to him.”
“Stop. Look at this face.”
Wes scowled at the cat. “I’m pretty sure if he was capable of flipping me off, he’d be doing that right now.”
She covered the cat’s ears. “Don’t listen to him. He’s mean.” Frank meowed. “I know. Life is so tough.”
“So, this lasagna isn’t going to make itself.”
Cassandra kissed Frank on the head, then put him down. He looked up at her for a moment, then returned to the pantry. “I’m not sure I quite believe your version of that cat.”
“Ask anyone who’s ever met him.”
She washed her hands, then stirred the sauce and checked the lasagna noodles. “I think we’re ready to build this lasagna.”
“Then how long to bake?”
“About thirty minutes. Then it needs to sit for ten.”
Wes rubbed his stomach. “I might make it that long.”
Cassandra put the lasagna together while Wes sipped a beer and watched. She glanced at him. “Surely you’ve made lasagna before.”
“No. Mom makes a great one. I’ve only ventured as far as spaghetti. Now that I have all this free time on my hands, who knows.”
She turned to him. “It’s temporary.”
“Of course, if Pete sues me, I may not have a kitchen to cook in. I’ll need to live in my half-built boat.”
Cassandra put her hands on his arms. “Weston, quit feeling sorry for yourself.”
“Sorry. I’ve only been off for a day and a half, and I’m already spiraling.”
She kissed him, then put the lasagna into the oven. “Come sit with me.”
They went to the living room and sat on the couch. “I talked with Bailey this afternoon about it.”
“Poor kid. More secrets to keep?”
“She is incensed and wants to gather the students in some sort of protest.”
“I’m not sure how much good that will do. I don’t want them to get into trouble.”
“She won’t say anything to anyone, but the news is bound to break soon.”
He nodded. “I ran into two parents at the grocery store, and they both gave me the ‘I’m so sorry’ look. I’m pretty sure they weren’t sorry that I messed up my knee.”
“I say, if the students want to let the board and the trustees know how much they love you, then more power to them.”
“Before I went to college, the last thing I thought I’d be doing was working in education.
I figured I’d spend a year or two to please my parents, then go home and help Dad in the orchard.
Then I met this beautiful, crazy girl taking child psychology classes, and I enrolled just to spend time with her. ”
“I wasn’t that crazy.”
“You were a breath of fresh air. I didn’t stand a chance.”
“And how about now?”
“Well, obviously, I still didn’t stand a chance. You blew back into my life, and here we are a couple of months later eating lasagna together.”
“You, me, and Frank.”