“Don’t know. She said you had an appointment with her this morning and you missed it.” He looked at her quizzically.
“Damn, it must be my lawyer from the teacher’s union. I had an appointment with her last week and canceled it. I forgot we had rescheduled it for today.” Angry with herself for forgetting such an important appointment, she hurried upstairs leaving Viper to his workout.
The lawyer was waiting for her in the front room. The woman was immaculate in a dress suit, just the way she used to dress for school. Winter didn’t miss that aspect of her job.
The woman extended her hand. “Ms. Simmons?” She was tall, and curvy, making Winter feel small beside her.
“Yes. Ms. Richards? I want to apologize for missing our meeting this morning.”
The woman smiled. “I should have called yesterday and confirmed the appointment. Let’s both admit we’re to blame and move on from there. Is there someplace we can sit and talk?”
Winter bit her lip. She didn’t want to take her upstairs to her and Viper’s room, which left only one place.
“Would the couch by the window be okay?” Winter pointed to a couch with a side table. It was at the end of the room so that if any of the members came in, they wouldn’t be able to hear their discussion.
“That would be fine.” Winter was nervous. None of members were working since Friday was their off day. With any luck, their meeting would be quick. Both women sat on the couch and Winter watched as Ms. Richards placed her briefcase between them.
“I requested your work record from the superintendent’s office and I was happy to see that during your employment you were an exemplary employee. That is going to help our case. I understand that they wanted you to resign and you refused.”
Winter explained about her attack and the following months of her recuperation. She didn’t hold back any information, well aware of how dirty some of these cases could become.
“Are you fully recovered?” Ms. Richards kept her face impassive throughout her explanation.
“Not fully. I still have several issues with my leg and back, but nothing that would prevent me from doing my job.”
“So, there aren’t any physical issues that would hinder you from moving back into your home?” She asked.
“No.” Winter refused to look away. “This is my home now. It will not affect how I do my job. I haven’t committed a crime. The school board might not approve of my living arrangements, but I do know that I haven’t been convicted of any crime.”
The lawyer nodded her head as she studied the paperwork. “I think we may be able to get your job back. Worst case scenario is they let you go with a damaging reference. I am going to try to set a date for a meeting with the school board as soon as possible, but they are going to try and delay it. I really don’t see you returning to school this year.”
“I expected that,” Winter acknowledged.
“I’ll call and make another appointment to go over a few other things after I hear back from the school’s attorney.”
“I promise not to forget it this time,” Winter stated. Ms. Richards was putting the papers back in her briefcase when Knox came down the stairs with Natasha and Jewell at his side as the women were laughing at something he said. The women were wearing t-shirts and panties and Knox had on just a pair of jeans. Winter wanted to sink through the floor.
Knox and Natasha sat at the bar as Jewell got them each a beer.
Ms. Richards rose to her feet with her briefcase. “It was nice meeting you, Ms. Simmons.”
“Please call me Winter.” The lawyer nodded, but didn’t extend the same courtesy. A shrill laugh sounded loud in the room, drawing their attention to see Knox rubbing his cold beer bottle against Natasha’s breast. Winter was just thankful that he hadn’t bared it first. “Let me show you to the door.” Winter hurried her to the door, trying to block her view of the three at the bar, but with her so much taller than Winter, it was useless. She didn’t need to bother; the woman didn’t glance in that direction again, no longer able to hide her contempt of the situation. Winter braced her shoulders following her to the door. It was no one’s business how she lived her private life. She didn’t worry about what skeletons were in everyone else’s closets. Winter knew it was a lost cause. If she lived in a larger city where she could remain fairly autonomous, the outcome might be different, but Treepoint residents judged with their own set of values.
Knox and the women finally noticed the stranger in the room and he removed his hand from Natasha’s ass, letting the t-shirt cover her flesh. He gave the woman a smile, but it was not returned. Ms. Richards turned her head away, flat out snubbing the man. Winter almost laughed at his expression.
“I will be talking to you soon.” Winter closed the door behind the lawyer, both hopeful and resigned as to what would happen.
Chapter 17