Page 38 of Beyond Perfect

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School ended with a bang. Though they had three more months of activities, they’d finished the curriculum. The teachers would be finished in a week. Then the boys would have a week off before summer activities started.

Maisy and Annie met in the classroom, Annie on a high from her honeymoon, Maisy abhorred at the fact that she’d be here only one more week. Annie waxed on about her hot, sexy honeymoon, then stopped abruptly. “What’s wrong?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve been talking to the Grim Reaper.”

“Nah. I have good news. We’re fostering Freddie Pecorino.”

“We, as in you and Jackson?”

“No, silly, me and Caleb. We have to attend a support group for recent foster parents but I’m glad to be doing that.” It would be distracting. The summer loomed before her, empty.

“That’s terrific. I’m happy for you.” She cocked her head. “Why aren’t you happy?”

“I have some other news that you’re not going to like.”

“What is it?”

“I resigned from Pathways.”

“What?”

“I’m leaving this school.”

“Oh, dear, is it because of your feelings for Jackson? Or maybe you’re getting married?”

She gulped back the emotion. “N-neither. He wouldn’t listen to reason about Frankie and sent him to juvie.”

“But he was following policy. Following the rules.”

“Yes, Jackson’s all about rules.” Maisy got up then and went to the window, her back to Annie. “Too bad he has no feelings.”

“That’s bullshit.” Maisy turned at Annie’s vehement tone. “You two had something together. Who ended it?”

“It ran its course.”

“Again, bullshit.”

“Annie, you’re making all this harder.”

“Do you want to stay here at Pathways?”

“No, not if there isn’t any flexibility.”

“That never bothered you before.”

“We never expelled a kid before.”

“Yes, you did. That first year. Jackson mentioned it.”

“I forgot about that. I guess I was too new and learning the ropes to protest.”

“Maisy please, you’re giving up on me, too.”

“Won’t you still be my friend?”