Page 60 of Mr. Principal

Carter called me that morning shortly after I woke up. I picked up and told him what I planned to do. He tried to convince me to call the cops, but I wanted to resolve it quickly and on my own. He tried to talk me out of it but I wasn’t listening. I hung up after telling him not to come with me.

I parked my car on the street in front of Tom’s house and made my way to the front door. I could see his car parked in the driveway. Good, he was home. I didn’t see the maid’s car and I was glad that I wouldn’t have any witnesses.

I didn’t hesitate. I banged on the door. Hard. Not able to control my fury.

Within seconds, he was at the door.

“Are you nuts? What are you doing here?”

“Give me back my daughter.”

“Mommy?” I suddenly heard Meredith call out.

“Meredith,” I called, trying to find her behind Tom.

“Go upstairs, Meredith,” he ordered as he shut the door soundly behind him and stepped out to confront me.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m here for my daughter,” I said, trying to get around him.

He grabbed my hand and slapped it off the doorknob. “Get the hell off my property or I’ll call the cops.”

I called his bluff. “So call them. I want you to.”

I reached for the doorknob again and this time I found myself suddenly in the air and then unceremoniously dumped in the bushes next to this front porch.

Now I was furious. I struggled to get up, cursing and swearing when I tried to get my footing.

He looked at me and laughed. I finally found my footing, only to fall back down into the bushes again. Now I was even more pissed off.

I was so angry and determined to get up that I didn’t even notice when Carter pulled up. I was still pulling myself up and cursing loudly when Carter strode up to the porch. He looked angrier than I was.

“Oh, here comes the cavalry,” Tom said, turning towards Carter. “Get off my property, you little sh—”

He never got the other word fully out as Carter decked him once in the face. And before I knew it they were embroiled in a fight. With every punch, you could practically feel the hatred each man held for the other.

I screamed for them to stop and finally found my footing when Carter slammed Tom into his door, sending the door flying open and Tom and Carter crashing into the wall in the foyer.

They were a tangle of arms and legs. And then Carter was on top of Tom. He punched him over and over, his face showing no emotion, his punches almost robotic as they made contact with Tom’s flesh.

I pulled at Carter’s shirt, begging for him to stop, but it was like he didn’t even hear me.

“Carter, stop, Carter!” I said, pulling at his shoulder as Tom tried to cover his face and dodge the blows that came one after another.

“Principal K,” came Meredith’s voice, and I instantly let go of Carter and ran to Meredith to gather her in my arms.

She buried her face in my shoulders and cried, “Please don’t let him hurt Daddy.”

I turned around and saw Carter climbing off Tom and Tom angrily trying to sit up while holding his face. His nose was bleeding, saliva dribbling from his swollen lip. He was a mess.

Carter backed away looking enraged. He reached for me and I stepped away from his hand, still holding on to Meredith who looked from Carter to Tom, her eyes large and confused.

“Meredith—” Tom started to say, and Carter glared at him and he quickly shut his mouth.

“I’m taking my daughter home,” I growled and walked around him.

He didn’t try to stop me, and I turned around sharply when I heard footsteps behind me. It was Carter.