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“Veronika?”
“No, thanks.”
Kenyon opened the door and strode down the hall to the elevators. As she reached out to press the down button, the elevator doors slid open and Ms. Stevens stepped off.
“Oh,” she said, stopping abruptly. “Hi.”
Kenyon took a deep breath. Her feminine fragrance sweetened the antiseptic smell in the corridor. “Hello, Ms. Stevens.”
Makayla could tell by his subdued greeting that he wasn’t happy to see her. Still, she could see the deep brown flecks in his eyes more clearly under the fluorescent lights, as well as his flawless skin. The man was truly a sight to behold. “I came to see Terrance. How is he?”
“We’re waiting on the X-rays.”
“Can I see him?” She lifted the bag she was holding in her hand. “I bought him something to help pass the time. Nothing big, just some puzzles, a few coloring books and his homework.”
Kenyon stole a look down the hall. Veronika was standing outside Terrance’s room, talking on her cell phone. “Now’s not a good time.”
“When should I come back?”
“I’ll tell Terrance you stopped by.”
Makayla held out the bag. “Can you see to it that he gets this?”
“Sure.”
“Do you have a few minutes? I was hoping we could talk about—”
“You bitch!”
Makayla froze. Storming down the hall, screaming obscenities marched Veronika Blake. Narrowly missing an elderly man in a wheelchair, she flung her hands and yelled, “How dare you show your face here after what you did!”
Eyes wide, Makayla looked helplessly at Kenyon. She shrank back like a panic-stricken child and frantically jabbed the elevator button. “I’ll leave.”
Kenyon felt for Veronika, he really did, but now was not the time for her to act out a scene from A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. He stepped forward, blocking her path. “We’ll discuss this later.”
“Like hell we will. I’m going to kick her ass!”
Kenyon gripped her shoulders. “No, you’re not. You’re going to go back to Terrance. He needs you, remember?”
The mention of her son’s name momentarily calmed her. Her thin lips curved into an ugly sneer. She wagged a finger at Makayla. “If you ever put your hands on my son again, you’ll be sorry. Trust me. You haven’t heard the last of me, Ms. Stevens. This is only the beginning.” Straightening her sweater, she shot Makayla an evil look and tramped off.
When Kenyon turned around, he was shocked to see Ms. Stevens shaking. Her eyes were heavy with tears and her bottom lip was quivering. As curious as he was to find out what had happened that afternoon on the playground, he didn’t have the heart to question her. Overtaken by compassion, he put a hand on her back, steered her into the open elevator and said, “Let’s go somewhere to talk.”
The main-floor cafeteria was bright, modern and clean. There were dozens of round tables and several gigantic windows, which overlooked an open field. Hospital personnel occupied many of the tables.
Makayla plopped down on one of the cold plastic chairs and buried her face in her hands. This had to be the worst day of her life.
After recess, Principal Gibson had summoned her to his office. He’d stared at her for several minutes before he finally asked, “What happened outside at recess, Ms. Stevens?”
Since Makayla had nothing to hide, she told the truth. “I grabbed Terrance’s arm, but he broke free and jumped off the play structure. Everything happened so fast I—”
“You do know the school’s discipline policies, don’t you, Ms. Stevens?”
“Yes, but—”
“School personnel are not supposed to touch children in an aggressive manner.”
“I am well aware of that, Principal Gibson, but I had no other choice. Terrance wasn’t responding to my orders and—”
“Terrance said you pushed him.”
“He said what!”
“Is that true, Ms. Stevens? Did you hurt that child?”
“No, of course not. I would never—”
Principal Gibson leaned forward in his chair, his gaze strong and intense. “Have you ever heard of teacher burnout, Ms. Stevens? In my day, things like this happened all the time. Stressed teachers would rough up students and—”
Makayla tuned out. Images of being frisked and handcuffed in front of her students attacked her fragile mind. In one of her more lucid moments, she heard Principal Gibson ask if she was okay. She must have nodded, because he advised her to seek legal counsel and informed her the superintendent would be in touch.
Later that night, Desiree showed up with a tall, lean-faced man who smelled like new money. Impeccably dressed in a charcoal gray suit, shiny cufflinks and a designer watch, he strolled into Makayla’s living room as if he had the deed to the house.
Desiree knew a host of white-collar men, everyone from plastic surgeons to city officials to restaurateurs, so Makayla didn’t blink when she was introduced to Chancellor Hughes, attorney-at-law. Somewhere between serving coffee and telling her side of the story, Makayla remembered that she was innocent. She wasn’t burned out, or stressed, or lashing out like Principal Gibson had implied. She was wrong for grabbing Terrance’s arm but she wasn’t responsible for his fall. Makayla listened politely to Mr. Hughes, but when he recommended she take a polygraph test to clear her name, she kindly showed him the door.
“Give it some thought,” he told her, handing over a crisp white business card. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need me.”
After a quick stop at the school, Makayla drove straight to The Children’s Hospital. Terrance could lie to the devil himself and make it interesting, but she had a hard time believing he could look at her, with his mother and uncle listening in, and say she pushed him off the jungle gym. On the drive over, Makayla had geared up for the inevitable confrontation with Mrs. Blake, but when the irate mother stormed toward her, with guns drawn, she lost her nerve.
Using a tissue to wipe her face, she contemplated whether to appeal to Kenyon. Her inner voice told her she could confide in him, but Makayla had faced enough hostility for one day and she couldn’t handle him blowing up at her, too.
Kenyon returned to the table, handed her a cup of coffee and sat down. Sitting across from her, he couldn’t help noticing how much prettier Kay looked with her hair down. She had thick, lustrous hair that his hands were anxious to touch. To keep from acting on his impulse, he sipped his coffee. “Are you okay?” he asked, keying in on her nervousness.
Her words came out in a painful whisper. “I didn’t push Terrance off the play structure. He jumped.”
Kenyon eyed her over the rim of his cup.
“I would never do anything to hurt one of my students. Never.”
Scratching the stubble on his jaw, he slowly shook his head. He knew this was coming, but he was still shocked by her admission. His gut feeling was that Kay was telling the truth. Kenyon loved his nephew, but unlike Veronika, he saw the boy’s devious side. Ms. Stevens wasn’t the first person to complain about Terrance’s defiant streak. Everyone from babysitters to other parents to relatives had labeled him a problem child and predicted a life of trouble if Veronika didn’t lay down the law now. “I’ll talk to Veronika.”
“You will?”
“I had a feeling Terrance was lying.”
“You did?”
Kenyon ate a curly fry. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry about all of this. It’s my fault. I should have waited until all the kids went inside before I confronted him.”
“I don’t blame you. I should be the one apologizing. Terrance hasn’t been the same since my brother died, but there’s no excuse for what he did.”
“Death is hard for kids to cope with. I was a teenager when my mom passed and it almost destroyed me. I was angry at the world but instead of lashing out at others, which I suspect Terrance is doing, I ate. I used food to fill the emptiness I was feeling inside.”
“But at least you weren’t hurting anybody.”
“I was hurting myself.” She toyed with her purse straps. “When I graduated from high school, I was almost two hundred pounds!”
“No way.” Kenyon took in her appearance. He liked her jeans-and-blazer look. It was simple, pretty, casual. Kay had the face of an angel, a long, slender neck and eye-catching curves. It was hard to believe she had once been a candidate for an extreme makeover.
“Believe it. I have the pictures to prove it.”
“I’d like to see them sometime.”
Makayla looked away. She didn’t know what had possessed her to tell Kenyon about her past. If she wasn’t careful, she would jog his memory and he’d remember who she was. It was unlikely, but stranger things had happened. “I should get going.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
“No, you’re not finished eating.”
She was right. He hadn’t even tasted his cheeseburger yet. “Thanks for coming by. I’m sure Terrance will love the gift.”
“It’s the least I can do.” Makayla could talk to Kenyon for hours. He was a good listener, understanding, and he didn’t judge her. She didn’t want to leave, but fear of seeing Veronika again pushed her to her feet. Dangling her keys between her fingers, she lifted her head and met his smile. “I guess that’s it then.”
“I guess so.”
Kenyon concentrated on his burger. There couldn’t be a worse time to put the moves on her. His nephew had blackened her name and there was a good chance she could lose her job. “I’ll be in touch,” he called, as she made her way through the cafeteria. Her jeans hugged the curves of her butt and her leather boots added several inches to her height. Kay was sexy in a natural, unprofessed way. His gaze followed her through the cafeteria doors and into the parking lot. Soon, she disappeared among the rows of emergency vehicles and police cruisers.
Kenyon finished his burger. Getting the truth out of Terrance wouldn’t be easy. He had inherited his mother’s stubbornness and even at the best of times, he couldn’t be reasoned with. Glancing at his watch, he wondered if it was too late to call and set up a meeting with Principal Gibson. The sooner this situation was cleared up, the better. Standing, he collected his garbage and then dumped it into the trash bin.
As he got on the elevator, he couldn’t help wondering who was waiting for Kay at home. She wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t in a serious relationship. There was only one way to find out for sure. After he got the truth out of Terrance, they would pay Kay a visit at home. A bouquet of flowers and a small gift were sure to soothe her feelings. And once everything was sorted out, he would make his move.
Chapter 5
When Makayla arrived at school on Monday morning, Principal Gibson was waiting in her classroom. He greeted her warmly, said he was happy to see her and shared the details of his Friday-afternoon meeting with Terrance and his mother.
“I knew that boy was lying, Makayla. You wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Chuckling good-naturedly, he plopped down on the edge of her desk. “I suggested the boy be transferred to another class, but Mrs. Blake wouldn’t hear of it.”
Makayla shrugged off her coat. “But I made it very clear I didn’t want Terrance to remain in my class.”
“I know, but his mother made a stronger argument for why he should stay. He’d have to start over in a new class, he’d be separated from his friends and he’s a strong student. You said so yourself.”
Makayla couldn’t think of a single student who considered Terrance a friend.
“Just so you know,” Principal Gibson continued, “I let Terrance have it. I told him if he ever pulls a stunt like that again, he’ll be asked to leave our school.”
Makayla found that hard to believe. Mr. Gibson practically slobbered all over himself whenever Veronika was around, so she seriously doubted he had reprimanded Terrance in her presence. Rather than argue with her boss, she said, “I appreciate that, Mr. Gibson.”
“Mrs. Blake was concerned you might penalize Terrance for the stunt he pulled, but I assured her that wouldn’t be an issue. You’re a professional and what happened last week is in the past.” He smiled softly. “Terrance has a lot to deal with. You know, with his father’s passing and all.”
Makayla nodded. “I recently became aware of the situation.”
“Maybe you could cut the boy some slack when he’s out of line.”
She’d tried being extra patient with Terrance, knowing he deserved understanding and sympathy. But the next time he hit a classmate or swiped something off her desk, she would demand he be transferred. Principal Gibson was extending his support, but Makayla had a feeling when push came to shove, he’d relent again. Mrs. Blake was very convincing, and Makayla’s boss was easily swayed. At least where Veronika was concerned.
Makayla thanked Mr. Gibson for coming. When he left, she walked over to the window and stared outside. As she admired the soft, mellow light of the sun, her thoughts turned to her meeting with Brenda Van Buren. It wouldn’t be long before a position in the travel department opened up at The Philadelphia Blaze. For now, she would pen her weekly column as Lady Sexpot and hone her writing skills. But when the opportunity presented itself, she would have no problems resigning and packing a suitcase for Rome. Or Singapore. Or Barbados. It didn’t matter what the assignment was. As long as she was doing what she loved, she’d be happy.
A week after the incident on the playground, Veronika showed up in the middle of the afternoon, with cake, ice cream and soda. When she announced that it was Terrance’s birthday and she wanted him to celebrate with his friends, Makayla slapped a smile on her face, told the kids to put away their math books and donned one of the glittery party hats. She’d hoped to review the subtraction lesson with the class before tomorrow’s test but by the time they finished cleaning up after the cake, there were only ten minutes left in the day.
Makayla kept at least three kids between herself and Veronika all afternoon. It annoyed her no end that her desk was used to cut cake and dish out ice cream, but she kept her mouth shut. One run-in with Veronika was enough. Makayla was walking around the room, collecting garbage and wiping down desks, when Mrs. Blake called her name. “Where is the class going on Wednesday?” she asked from behind the lens of her digital camera.
“We’re going to the zoo to observe the plants and animals in their natural habitat. It’s an opportunity for the students to—”
“Do you still need volunteers?”
The thought of spending an entire day with Veronika made Makayla shudder. “Extra volunteers are always welcome.” She injected her voice with a kindness she didn’t feel. “Are you available on Wednesday from nine to two?”
“No, but my brother-in-law said he’d be happy to go.”
“Great.”
Veronika stared lovingly at Terrance, a wide smile on her lips. “Try not to let anything happen to my son this time.”
Relieved that Mrs. Blake wasn’t coming on the field trip, Makayla chose to ignore her last comment. “Can you remind Terrance that he has to be on his best behavior? If there are any problems, you’ll be called to pick him up.”
“It’s not your place to tell me how to raise my child. And I don’t appreciate you threatening him, either.”
Makayla stood her ground. “I am not threatening anyone, I am merely asking you to speak to your son.” To further underline her point, she added, “We don’t want what happened at the museum to happen again, do we?”
Mrs. Blake made a sour face. No doubt she was thinking about what had happened last month. Terrance had tried to pin the blame on a classmate but the janitor had signaled him out as the one who wrote on the walls in crayon. The cleaning bill had set Mrs. Blake back hundreds of dollars and Terrance had been banned from The Philadelphia Museum for a year.
“If you’d rather I speak to Kenyon, I will.”
Her lips were a tight line. “No. I’ll talk to Terrance.”
“Thank you,” Makayla said with forced gratitude. Making a mental note to replace the sweatsuit she had been planning to wear with something dressier, she returned to her desk and added Kenyon’s name to the volunteer list.
Kenyon chucked his jacket in the back seat, grabbed his camera equipment and slammed the car door. The fickle autumn weather had changed again, providing a surprisingly warm day, and he didn’t want to be stuck lugging his jacket around the zoo.
Kenyon checked his watch as he searched the zoo parking lot. Springs Park Elementary should be here any minute. Instead of standing at the entrance among the crowd, he went inside the customer information booth and settled down on one of the wooden benches. He was engrossed in the morning paper until he heard Kay’s voice, loud and clear.
Tossing his newspaper aside, he turned his attention to the eye-catching woman surrounded by a pack of restless first-graders. Sexy had never looked so good. From his vantage point, he had a clear, unrestricted view of Kay’s delicious backside. Blue jeans outlined her strong legs and a teal-colored shirt hugged her lavish chest. When she tossed a fleeting look over her shoulder, Kenyon was sure he had been made, but just as quickly as she glanced around, she turned away. He allowed himself a few more minutes of quiet reflection. Or rather, lustful gazing.
Last night, he had driven Terrance to her Patterson Park home to apologize for what had happened on the playground. They hadn’t stayed long, but Kenyon had gathered all the information he needed. Dinner and a movie wouldn’t work with a woman like Kay Stevens. She didn’t own a TV, VCR or a DVD player. In fact, the only piece of electronic equipment in the living room was an outdated stereo system. When Kenyon asked her what she did for fun, she motioned with her head to the numerous bookshelves lining the wall and said, “Read.”
That had thrown him for a loop. Most women would have said shopping. Not Kay. She would rather stay home and read than go dancing. Kenyon couldn’t remember the last time he had bought a book but he’d head to the closest bookstore and buy a whole stack of reading material if it meant getting close to Kay.
