Page 51 of Mr. Principal

Carter shrugged indifferently. “Sucks to be him.”

We didn’t get a chance to talk more about it because the party quickly started. About twenty students from Meredith’s class showed up and some of them brought siblings. I was grateful that Carter had thought to bring more food. I even got to meet the infamous Danny Schultz and his mom. I was starting to think that maybe Meredith had a crush on Danny. She grabbed him by the hand as soon as he arrived and made him shake all the gifts with her as they attempted to guess what was inside each box.

Tom showed up in the middle of the party, but I noticed Becca attempted to keep her distance. Whenever he was on one side of the room, she was on the other. I knew he was pissed about it and I could see the frown on his face. Tom wasn’t a yeller. He liked to tear you down with targeted insults and the silent treatment. And I knew he wouldn’t make a scene at the party, but I knew it was clear as day that Becca was avoiding being near him.

What I’d thought was going to be a pretty low-key party turned into quite a huge affair. To my surprise, my parents did show up. They murmured something about being in town. I ignored the fact they were always in town and lived only fifteen minutes away from where we currently lived because I was just happy that they showed up at all. I always invited them, but they rarely showed up to any event concerning Meredith.

Carter was surprised to see them as well.

“Wow, I think that’s only the second time I’ve seen them since we’ve known each other.”

“Yep,” I said. “That’s probably the second time Meredith has seen them in like her whole life.”

“They’re still a piece of work.”

I sighed and nodded. “I don’t miss being married to Tom but I do miss his mom. She had been really kind and motherly. I wish Meredith had gotten the chance to meet her.”

Carter nodded. “She was a sweet lady. Piper took her death pretty hard.”

“Between you and me, I think that was the reason Piper stayed away from home so long. I think she just didn’t want to deal with the pain of losing her.”

“That’s something I understand all too well.”

He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and I reached for his hand. I felt that he was talking about me. But I didn’t want to be presumptuous. I missed him though. I realized that now. I’d been unhappy because I’d been so alone. Tom had worked all the time and emotionally checked out of our marriage early. I’d done the same. I’m not sure why we’d married each other. We’d both clearly been unhappy.

Carter went off to go supervise the kids in the bouncy house in the back that I’d rented. Piper had been in charge of the bouncy house at first, but she had invited her magician boyfriend to the party so her attention had been torn. I guess now they were official. She had abandoned the bouncy house to perform some tricks for the children, so she was acting as her boyfriend’s trusty magician assistant. She even had her own uniform. She looked like she was having the best time.

The end of the night was approaching and slowly the students began to go home. The parents thanked me, and Meredith was a gracious host, happily saying goodbye to all our guests before breaking down and letting out a sleepy yawn.

It wasn’t even seven o’clock, but we were all tired.

I had Piper take Meredith to her room for a nap while Carter helped me clean up. Tom looked on angrily. Eventually, he approached me and asked me if he could talk to me in private for a second.

Carter looked concerned but didn’t interfere.

When we were out of earshot, Tom said, “I really would appreciate if you wouldn’t flaunt your relationship with a man you’re not even married to while Meredith is over here. I’m trying to raise her with morals and watching her mom slut it up with a school administrator doesn’t make a good impression.”

I was instantly livid.

“Slutting it up? First of all, you have no right to judge me. You married a teenager, Tom. Before the ink was even fresh on our divorce paperwork you were already screwing someone else, so save your judgment.”

He didn’t even blink. “Is he sleeping over at your house?”

“What I do in my own home is none of your business.”

“It is my business when my daughter is involved.”

“You really have some nerve, Tom, trying to tell me how to live my life as if you’re some sort of paragon of virtue.”

“You’re no mother Teresa yourself,” he snapped back. “If I find out that asshole is staying over, I swear there will be hell to pay.”

“The only asshole here is you. And once again, you don’t tell me how to live my life or what to do. I’m not your wife anymore. You couldn’t control what I said and did then, you must be crazy if you think you can control me now. And instead of worrying about what’s happening in my relationship, maybe you should worry about your own.”

I felt I’d already said too much and instantly wanted to backtrack. I didn’t want him to think I’d influenced Becca’s decision. And I knew Tom too well. He always needed someone to blame and I wasn’t interested in being his scapegoat anymore.

Not wanting to say more, I tried to walk away before he could get in another word.

He caught me by my elbow and then I heard a voice say behind me, “Everything okay, Dana?”