“The private school I used to work at in New Jersey really wants me to come back, and they’ve made me a great offer.”
“Really? Wow. Good for you,” is all I can think of to say. And then something occurs to me. “You could have just emailed me the news. Why did you want to meet?” Bold, I know. But I’m not walking away without answers.
She looks at me slyly. “I thought you might have some questions for me.”
“I do, actually. Did you want to have an end-of-year party? I meant to email you about it.”
“Sure.” She waves her hand at me. “Anything you want. I’ll leave it to your imagination. Anything else?”
I sigh. She clearly wants me to ask.
“Why did you make up Sasha and Nadine Lewicki?” There, it’s out.
She gives me a smile that lets me know she thinks she has won some kind of standoff.
“Well, I was new here, and I wanted to keep tabs on the class without anyone knowing it. I loved your emails, by the way. You’re very funny.”
“Thanks. Is that the only reason?” I ask.
“I’ve had some bad experiences with class parents in the past. Mothers can be so catty sometimes.”
I look at her, but don’t say anything. She shrugs.
“What other reason would there be?”
I’m feeling very unsatisfied. It’s like having an itch in the middle of your back that you can’t quite reach.
“I don’t know. You went to a lot of trouble just to spy on your own class. I would have cc’d you on the emails if you wanted.”
“Yes, but they wouldn’t have been the same, now would they? I wanted the real flavor of the class.”
“Oh, well, okay. Good. I’m glad it worked for you. I’m just happy there isn’t a terribly neglected sick little girl with a workaholic mother out there.”
She laughs. “I know, right? Hello, Child Services?”
I’m positive there’s more to the story, but I’ve heard all I want to.
“Okay, so I’ll arrange for the party on the last day of school. Maybe we can play freeze tag on the grass behind the school.”
“I don’t need to know the details, Jenny. I’m sure it will be great.”
This is my cue to leave. As I open the door, Miss Ward is right behind me, pulling me into an awkward hug.
“Thanks, Jenny. You were a good friend this year.”
I really don’t know what to say to that, so I just hug her back and walk away.
On my way back to the car, I dial Nina. She answers on the first ring.
“What happened?”
“Well, you were right—she’s leaving.”
“Did she tell you why?”
“She said her old school in New Jersey wants her back and made her a great offer.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I do. Why would she make that up? The bigger question is, does Kim Fancy know, and how is she taking it?”
“Are you friendly with her at all?”
“Not even a bit,” I admit.
I unlock the minivan and slide into the driver’s seat.
“So is this public knowledge?” Nina asks.
“Well, she didn’t say to keep it quiet, so I guess it is. I’m feeling a little bad. She might have been crazy, but Miss Ward was a good teacher. Maxi is going to miss her.”
“Oh, he’ll fall in love with his next teacher. They always do.”
We make plans to see each other over the long weekend. As I pull out of the parking lot, I see a red Grand Cherokee with the hood up on the side of the road. I slow down to see if they need help and regret the impulse immediately when I see JJ Aikens. I roll down my window.
“Hey, JJ, need any help?”
She looks up, confused, then walks from her car over to mine.
“No, thanks.” She sighs. “I’m just waiting for Triple A. I told my husband the transmission was going on this thing.”
“Do you have Kit with you? I can drop her somewhere if you like.”
“It’s okay. She’s playing on my phone and it shouldn’t be too much longer.” She looks at her watch.
She seems disproportionately sad, even for someone with a broken-down car. I decide to tell her the big news about our teacher to take her mind off her troubles.
“Miss Ward just told me she’s leaving the school and going back to New Jersey.”
JJ doesn’t seem a bit surprised. But what happens next really startles me.
“So is Kim,” she says in a weird, squeaky voice. She then screws up her face and bursts into tears.
“She is?” I say a bit too loudly. This makes JJ cry harder.
I throw the minivan into Park and get out. I walk over to her and put my arm around her shoulder.
“I’m so sorry. I know you guys are good friends.”
She shrugs off my semi-hug and looks at me like I’m the crazy one.
“Do you think I’m sad? I’m not sad, I’m mad!” She wipes her apparent tears of anger away and looks me straight in the eye. “You have no idea what I have put up with from her.”
I’m so confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I can’t tell you. I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”
“Tell anyone what?” I lob out there to see if she’ll bite.
She shakes her head. “For almost three years I’ve kept her secrets and supported her stupid ideas.” She is speaking more to herself than me. “Did you know she’s always trying to have stuff delivered, because I guess people in New York don’t go out and do their own shopping?”
“You mean Manhattan,” I say, trying to lighten her up.
“Manhattan,” JJ sneers. “New Jersey is more like it.”
“She’s from Jersey?” I ask, genuinely surprised.
JJ looks panic-stricken. “Oh, my God, don’t tell her I told you.”
“Told me what?” I wink at her. “But is she really?”
JJ wipes her nose with her hand and nods.
“A place called Edgewater.” She shrugs. “It’s supposed to be nice.”
“So why all the talk about Manhattan?”
“She wanted to make herself sound more important. I didn’t even know the truth until this year when that woman showed up.”
I frown. “You mean the jewelry designer?”
“No, Miss Ward!”
“She knew Miss Ward from New Jersey?”
There’s that panic-stricken look again.
“Oh, my God. Don’t say anything. No one’s supposed to know.”
I’m trying to remain cool and calm, but my heart is racing.
“Why would it be a secret that they knew each other in New Jersey?”
“I’m not supposed to tell anyone,” JJ whispers.
Yeah, you’re a real gatekeeper,
As bad timing goes, Triple A showing up right then counts as a winner. JJ is immediately pulled out of our conversation cocoon when Dusty (according to his name tag) walks up and asks what the problem is.
As JJ takes him to the front of the car, I debate whether I should stay and push my luck, or cut and run with what I have.
The decision is made when JJ calls out to me asking if I can drive her and Kit home.
“I’m happy to,” I answer with a smile. I jump in my driver’s seat and pray for lots of traffic.
*
“I don’t think I’ve ever been to your house,” I tell JJ. I know damn well I haven’t.
“I’m off Trail’s End, right by the mall.”