She sat back, a worried frown marring her attractive face. “I do.”
“It seems someone has discovered some irregularities with the original adoption process. There’s going to be a hearing and I need JT to be at home, away from any rumors or…complications that could arise.”
Susan studied me for a minute, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m afraid I’ll need a little more information,” she said with a taint of reluctance to her tone.
I nodded, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I felt like everything I did or didn’t do from this point on would be used against me.
“Can I ask this,” Susan began, leaning forward over her desk, “does it have something to do with Harrison James?”
I’m sure she could read the answer on my face even though I looked down, bit my lip, and tried not to give her a direct response.
She leaned back again, a heavy sigh slipping from her lips.
“Well, just so you know, he quit this morning. Said he had a private issue that was interfering with his ability to do his job. He wouldn’t elaborate, but to have you show up on the same day with this story…it seems like the two are related.”
“He quit?”
Susan looked pained as she nodded. “It’s unfortunate. He was a real favorite of the students even though he’d only been here six weeks. I was hoping he’d agree to a five year contract at the end of this year. But, obviously, that’s not going to happen.”
I just nodded.
“Listen,” she said, drawing her words out slowly, “why don’t we just leave JT where he’s at. If you decide he’d be better off at home tomorrow, well, we’ll deal with that then. But I think with all the disruptions that have been going on in his life, maybe it would be best to let him finish the day. Okay?”
I nodded.
“I’m sorry for what’s happening to the two of you. After everything you’ve been through…” Susan stood and came around her desk, taking my hands between both of hers. “If there’s anything you need, you know Sam and I are always there for you.”
“I know.” I squeezed her hands as I stood. “I appreciate it, Susan.”
“These things have a way of working themselves out, Penny. You just have to have a little faith.”
I wished it was that easy. But a part of me was pretty sure it would take a lot more than faith to see this through to its conclusion.
*****
I went home from the school. I should have been at the bakery, but Nick assured me when I called earlier that he had everything under control. He was still a little angry with me over the whole fiasco yesterday when he walked in and caught Harrison kissing me. I could hear it in his voice. But he had as much at stake in that bakery as I did, so I knew he wouldn’t let me down if he could help. The only problem was that there was more work than three of us could handle. How long would just he and Angela have to keep things from falling apart? What was I going to do if they couldn’t keep up with the orders while I was dealing with this whole mess?
It would be just my luck for me to win the battle, but I’ll still lose the war because I can’t keep our only source of income from going under.
I dropped my bag by the front door and made my way to the back of the house where my parents’ bedroom had been closed up since the funeral. I stood at the door, my hand on the knob, trying to force myself to push it open. I knew, logically, that I should have cleared this room out three years ago. I should have packed up their things and sold the furniture. I should have repainted the room and claim it as my own. The house was, after all, mine now. But I couldn’t make myself do it.
I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. The scent of disuse greeted me, along with a little undertone of the lavender sachets my mom liked to leave in drawers and under pillows. I almost expected to see her standing at the side of the bed, smiling as she watched me come in.
Hello, darling, she would say with that brilliant smile of hers.
It hurt to be reminded—once again—that I would never see that smile again.
I took a deep breath and walked to the closet where I knew my dad had kept a small safe that held all their important papers. Their will had been there, along with their insurance policies and the deeds to the house and the bakery. I’d searched through it in the days after I got the news, blinded by tears. But I hadn’t taken the time to note the other things held inside.