Rose nodded.
“We are currently hoping to have the school rebuilt, but with grants and funds, it looks like it will be about two or three years at the earliest.” Dotty cleared her throat. “I know this is not ideal. But it is better than not reopening at all.”
“Can the kids continue going to school here in non-school buildings until then?” Angie Merritt asked.
“Potentially. They would have to be approved by the district and state education departments and comply with all safety codes.” She sighed and raised a shoulder. “But three years is a long time for students to feel displaced like that. I’m not sure if it would be most beneficial.”
More questions erupted all over the room.
“What about the boys’ basketball team? Can they still go to state?” Tony hollered.
“What are we supposed to do for work in the meantime?” Jessica asked.
“What if we hold fundraisers?” Betty Ann called over the crowd.
“What if we could raise the money by spring?” I’d recognize that voice anywhere. That was Faith.
I turned to see Faith standing in the middle of the room. She stood stiffly and was fiddling with her hands. But she wasn’t backing down either. She stood and stared at the front.
“What was that, Faith?” Dotty asked.
She took a steadying breath, her cheeks turning pink. “Hypothetically, of course, what if we could come up with the money by spring?” She swallowed and spun her ring, uncomfortable with the attention. “Could we keep the classes as is for now, and could the kids still take part in extracurricular activities like sports?”
Dotty raised an eyebrow. “Hypothetically, it would be a miracle.” She shook her head. “But yes, we would find accommodations and try our best to keep every class together if it was thatshort term. The boys would continue to be a team if we didn’t need to split the classes and bus elsewhere. But honestly,” she raised her hands, “I’ve looked over the damages, and I assure you the repairs will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
“Okay, thanks.” Faith quickly sat, her face was flushed red. Rose grabbed Faith’s arm and pulled her toward her. Rose looked angry.
Dotty shrugged. “I think it may be in the students’ best interest, if change is going to happen, that we do so sooner rather than later.”
A rumble of disagreement started like a tumble wave through the audience.
What did Faith mean about coming up with that type of money? I turned around. Rose and Faith obviously did not agree about something.
The mayor cleared his throat. “Okay, let’s put a pin in that one for now. Scott, would you give us a report?”
Dotty turned and went back to her seat. She sat with a forceful drop.
Scott stood and went to the mic, and I desperately tried to pay attention, but all of me was begging to look at Faith.
Chapter Thirty
FAITH
Irefused to sit by and watch so many people that I love lose so much when there was something I could do about it. Rose grabbed my sleeve with her manicured nails and pulled me toward her.
“I know what you’re thinking.” She scowled at me. “Don’t you do it.”
“I’m not seeing a lot of options here.” I muttered under my breath.
“Um, how about not the one that makes you absolutely miserable?” She scoffed. “I’m pretty sure there is a reason you left.”
“Circumstances have changed.” I folded my hands in my lap to keep from fidgeting.
“You know your mom isn’t going to just give you the money without forcing you to come back, right?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I know.”
Rose raised a brow. “I think it’s fair to say everything is still a bit of an unknown right now. At least give it time. Think it through.”
