Page 18 of Mr. B

Cassandra stood and looked at the signatures. “It’s right there.” She turned to look at him. “Did you forge his signature?”

“No. One of his bandmates did.”

“Whatever happened to Billy Simms?”

“He’s probably sitting behind a desk somewhere. Meanwhile, this younger generation is asking, Billy who?”

“Poor Billy. He sure was cute, though.”

“Cute only gets you so far.”

She looked at him. “I don’t know, Mr. B. It seems to be working for you.”

Chapter five

“The Wicked Ex of the West.”

Wes, Luke, and Milo watched Abe help Maggie gather what she needed for Kai, as she prepared to leave the house for the brothers’ poker night. Justin was late, and Gentry was on the phone with Marti about a problem with one of the boys.

Abe’s house had been transformed since Maggie moved in. It even smelled different. The smell of food, beer, and a little sweat had been replaced by vanilla candles and lemon-scented cleaning supplies. The place was small for a family of three, but the old Victorian would be ready to live in before the holidays arrived.

Luke scowled. “What the hell happened to our poker night?”

Milo nodded. “Wives, girlfriends, kids.” He looked at the three candles burning on the counter. “Candles.”

Wes picked up the cards and shuffled them. “It was only a matter of time. It won’t be long before one of you joins them.”

Luke shook his head. “No way.”

Milo thought about it. “I guess I wouldn’t mind. You know, you could get caught too.”

“Nah. Too old.”

Milo laughed. “Says the man who is kept well supplied with baked goods from the appreciative and hopeful single mothers of Bridgeport High.”

“I’d never go out with a parent of one of my students.”

“Well, they all graduate at some point.”

Gentry returned to the table. “What did I miss?”

Luke took a sip of his beer. “Wes telling us he’s too old to be caught.”

“Ah.” Gentry turned to Wes. “How’s it going with Cassandra?”

Milo held up a hand. “Hold on. Cassandra the Wicked Ex of the West?”

Maggie left with Kai, and Abe blew out the candles before sitting down. “She looks pretty good for a wicked ex.”

Wes tapped the cards on the table. “Are we playing poker, or are we gossiping like a bunch of old ladies?”

Luke raised his hand. “I vote for gossip. I thought you hardly saw her.”

“I did.” Wes sighed. “Until she was hired as the new guidance counselor.”

“No way.”

“Can we play cards now?”