Raj nods, processing the information. “We need to meet with the school administration. Discuss all the possibilities.”
He has calmed down, taken a step back to view the situation objectively. When Marin’s parents selected his résumé, listing all of his qualifications, Marin was impressed. Holding advanced degrees in both engineering and math, he had climbed the corporate ladder with both his social skills and knowledge base. He had proved himself a capable leader. Though not as ambitious as Marin, he held his own. Marin had never sought out his expertise or called on his skills, but now she found herself grateful for them.
“It has to be someone at the school,” he murmurs, thinking. “She’s been studying late night?”
“Yes, for exams.” Marin goes through the list of Gia’s friends and their parents in her head. All the steps that were impossible to see days ago now are clear. “Let me contact her friends’ parents. If Gia won’t tell us who did this, maybe they will.”
“Let’s wait,” Raj says, the voice of caution. “Gia could end up hating us if we go behind her back. We should try coaxing it out of her.”
Now that Marin had a game plan, she hesitated about not putting it into play. Her instinct demanded she pick up the phone, overriding Raj’s concerns, and call the parents to set up a time to talk. “I already tried that.”
“But I haven’t.”
What he doesn’t say is that sometimes Gia is willing to confide in him instead of Marin. The resentment comes rushing back. It takes Marin a moment to temper it, to remember their objective, and not focus on the course. “Fine. Once she shuts you down, we can take step two.”
“This isn’t a competition, Marin,” Raj says simply, staring at her.
“No,” Marin agrees. “It’s our daughter’s life.”
They try to work for the rest of the day, but find themselves wandering the house, desperate for a distraction. Marin’s normal five-minute shower turns into twenty. She lingers under the hot water, wishing the spray could wash away the ache that has become permanent in her heart. Leaning against the cold tiles, she watches with detachment as the soap bubbles circle the drain before disappearing from sight. She reaches for the shampoo before remembering she has already shampooed. Twisting the knobs, she increases the hot water, welcoming the scalding sting. When her skin begins to shrivel from the heat, she turns on the cold, blasting her body with the arctic water. She refuses to stand back, though. Accepting the self-torture she is inflicting feels good. She wonders if Gia felt the same pain when she was hit. If her mind cried for the torment to stop while her body acclimated itself to the pain. Maybe she is her mother’s daughter and stood silent while her body was beaten. Marin turns toward the tiles, hitting her head against them, wishing for tears to rush down her face.
“Marin?” Raj calls into the bathroom. “It’s almost time for Gia to be home from school.”
“I’ll be right out.” She quickly dresses, pulling on jeans and a T-shirt instead of a business suit. She pulls her wet hair back and clasps it together with a pin. Slipping her feet into a pair of loafers, she rushes downstairs to wait with Raj.
Gia arrives home on time. Her backpack thrown carelessly over her shoulder, she waves to her friends still in the car as it pulls away. Raj opens the door before she can insert her key. “Dad!” Gia smiles at the sight of him. “You scared me.”
“Hi, Beti.” He takes her backpack and sets it down in the foyer.
Gia notices Marin standing there, both of them staring at her. She swallows, shaking her head in clear disgust. “You told him?” she accuses Marin.
“Yes.” Marin imagines reaching out, enfolding her daughter in her arms, but instead chooses to stand in place, her arms lying limply by her side. “I’m sorry.”
“Great.” Gia pulls her hand away when Raj reaches for her. “It’s not anyone’s business.”