“If you’re not scared, then I won’t be. It’s probably nothing. Many people find power sending anonymous letters but won’t do anything about it.”
“Fredrick said he’d take care of Lana about the letter. I heard nothing back and didn’t want to. I told him I just want this to be done with him and me. No more contact. A truce and move on.”
“Do you think he’ll do it?”
“I hope so.” There was a knock at the door. “Crap. I bet that is my first parent.”
“We’ve got five minutes,” Cassidy said. “But best to get started as many run late.”
“Anyway, that’s why I’m staring off into space. Thinking about a new man in my life and wondering if anything will come of it other than a few kisses.”
“I’m willing to bet it will. So, to be continued,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy opened the door to leave, and her first parent was standing there.
“Hi. I’m Ms. Banks,” Meredith said. “You must be Charlie’s mother.”
“Yes, please call me Dana.”
She shook hands and ushered her in and shut the door. There were chairs in the hall for parents to wait and this gave them privacy for the fifteen-minute one-on-one meetings.
By the end of the day, she’d had two no shows and one more to go. They were running late and she’d be leaving in ten minutes.
She turned when there was a knock on the doorframe.
“Are you Ms. Banks?”
“I am. Macy’s grandmother?” she asked, guessing. The woman was older and Macy had brought in the sheet saying someone would be here for her last appointment.
“Yes. I’m Rosie. We talked a few weeks ago.”
“It’s nice to meet you in person. Please come in. Will Macy’s father be joining us?”
“I don’t know where my son is,” Rosie said. “I called Richie three times from the parking lot. I didn’t want to miss this. Hopefully, he shows up, but he’s unpredictable.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “Please come in and have a seat. He can call me with questions.”
“He won’t have any,” Rosie said.
The woman looked frazzled. She’d obviously just come from work with her fast food uniform on. She had a tag that said assistant manager on it.
“Let me show you what Macy’s been doing and what we are learning. She’s such a bright child. A little shy, but she’s coming out of her shell.”
“She’s a good kid. Smart too,” Rosie said.
Meredith turned her head when a man walked in. He had jeans on that were ripped and dirty. Not purchased that way, but from years of use.
His white T-shirt under an open flannel shirt had seen better days. White was a thing of the past and now it was riding closer to tan with other stains mixed in.
“Richie,” Rosie said. “Where have you been?”
“I just woke up. Sorry,” Richie said.
Meredith stood and shook hands. “I’m Ms. Banks. I was just saying that your daughter is such a smart kid.”
“Yeah,” Richie said, waving his hand. “Is she still getting picked on or not?”
“What?” she asked.
