Page 62 of Mr. Principal

“He really likes you, Mom. He just made a mistake.”

And that was the conversation she left me with.

I didn’t go home. I didn’t want to be alone. I sat in my car sniffling, and then called Piper. “Can I come over?”

She didn’t even hesitate.

“Of course.”

About fifteen minutes later, I was knocking at her door.

“It’s open,” she called. “Magic man never locked it.”

“The magician was here?” I asked, curious.

“Yeah.”

“This early in the morning?”

“He spent the night.”

My eyes widened. “Seriously?”

She sat down across from me and said, “He’s great but I don’t see things working out between us. His career is just so demanding.”

I looked at her and my expression must have been dubious.

“Well, it is! He’s always doing birthday parties or traveling to one party or another. I rarely get to see him.”

“Wow, I didn’t think a magician’s world was so intense.”

She sighed sadly. “You have no idea. It’s like he’s a military officer instead of just some dude who pulls rabbits out of his hat.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to sound sincere, but I thought she could do better than a magician.

“It’s okay. Onto the next one,” she said with forced cheer and then her eyes grew serious, “But we’re not here to talk about me. Tell me what’s going on.”

I filled her in, leaving out nothing. She was quiet the whole time and then said, “I think you and Carter need to talk.”

I nodded.

“He’s always hated Tom, rightfully so. Tom was always a controlling bastard. He used to hold my Barbies hostage. But he was mom’s favorite so he never got in trouble for anything. He made my life a living hell.”

“Ditto,” I said.

“But holding Barbie hostage is one thing, holding a kid from her mom is some prime A bullshit.”

I nodded and said, “And now he’s taking me to court.”

She reached across the table and took my hand and squeezed it. “If you need anything, you tell me, okay?”

I laughed. “You know a good lawyer?”

“I don’t, but Carter does… speaking of which, he should be here any minute now.”

“What?” I said. “You told Carter I was here?”

“I did. I hate that my two best friends aren’t speaking to each other.”