An Unlikely Family. Cynthia Thomason
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is the new principal.”
Brenda nodded once. “What’s going on? You going to tell me, Billy?”
He frowned at her. “It seems that five dollars you gave Gemma at the Dollar Mart was not a particularly wise investment.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She bought a few hundred plastic bugs and has been sticking them on everything inside school property.”
“Oh.” Brenda’s perpetual motion ground to a stop as she considered her son’s statement. “So that’s where my glue went. I tried to seal the crack in a vase earlier and couldn’t find the tube of cement.” She stuck her hand out at Gemma. “Give it back, young lady, and the rest of those bugs, too.”
“I can’t, Nana. It’s all been con…confis…” She looked at Billy. “What’s the word?”
Evie answered for him. “Confiscated, Gemma. Not to be returned.”
“She glued plastic bugs on Bernard Hutchinson’s shirt.” Billy filled Brenda in. “It’s probably ruined.”
A sound inappropriately like a bark of laughter came from Brenda’s cherry-red lips. “I’ll bet the little heir to the Hutchinson fortune just stood there and let her do it.”
“Ma…”
Brenda quickly recovered and said, for Evie’s benefit, “Oh, Gemma, what a naughty thing to do.” Then, under her breath she added to Billy, “Guess she couldn’t find any live ones.”
“Mrs. Muldoone…” Evie said.
“I know, I know.” Brenda stared at the shirt. “What are the damages, Miss Gaynor? We Muldoones pay our bills.” She slipped her hand into the pocket of her shorts. “I’ve got a few bucks on me.”
“I don’t know yet,” Evie said. “If we can remove the bugs without damaging the shirt, then I’ll give it back to Mrs. Hutchinson for her approval.”
Brenda waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “That’s no problem. I’ll have that shirt looking like new.”
Billy took hold of his mother’s arm. “Ma, you’re not helping Gemma realize what she’s done.”
Brenda’s brows came together in a scowl. “I’m not finished with her yet. We haven’t started talking punishment. Now, what else?”
“The schoolyard has to be cleaned up. Those bugs are everywhere.”
Brenda strode to within a few feet of Gemma’s chair. “You really did it this time, didn’t you? Got yourself in a peck of trouble.”
Gemma shrugged. “Looks like it.”
“No dessert for you tonight.” She tugged at the tangled bangs on Gemma’s forehead. “Well, come on. You look a mess. I’ve got you an appointment to get your hair trimmed over at Ida’s. Then I’ll come back with you later and we’ll unstick all those bugs.” She turned to Billy. “With three of us working, we’ll have the place exterminated in no time.” She looked at Evie. “I’m going to go ahead and take my granddaughter and the shirt now, Miss Gaynor. We’ll fix up the schoolyard.”
“But wait…”
Gemma had already taken her grandmother’s words as her release from custody. She bolted to the door.
“Stop right there, Gemma,” Evie said.
Brenda grabbed her granddaughter’s arm and held her still. “We’ll see that Gemma learns her lesson.”
“I wish you could also assure me this type of behavior won’t be repeated.”
Staring at the top of Gemma’s head, Brenda said, “My granddaughter is a bit high-strung. But this was just a childish prank, a stupid one to be sure, but still a prank.” She curved her hand over Gemma’s hair. “I think we can assure Miss Gaynor that you won’t do this again, can’t we, Gemma Scarlett?”
The girl nodded. “I won’t do this again.”
“There, you see? So I’ll take Gemma and we’ll come back later for clean-up duty.” Brenda’s lips widened in a calculated grin. “You tell Missy Hutchinson that Brenda Muldoone is taking charge of Bernard’s shirt. I don’t think you’ll have any more trouble from her.”
“I’ll take you at your word, Mrs. Muldoone.”
“Call me Brenda. Everybody does.” She turned Gemma around and nudged her out the door. “You coming, Billy?”
“Not quite yet, Ma. If you need to use my truck to go to Ida’s, the keys are in the ignition.”
“Never mind,” she said. “I’ll use the Minnie Winnie. See you at home.” She flicked a wave at Evie and left.
Evie walked around her desk and sat. “Minnie Winnie?”
“Winnebago. My mother drives a motor home.”
“Is she always like this?” Evie asked.
Billy scratched the back of his neck. “Who? Ma or Gemma?”
Evie laughed. “I was talking about Brenda this time.”
“Yes. Pretty much. She’s kind of hard to ignore. But she takes good care of Gemma. And she means what she says. We’ll see that Gem doesn’t act out in this way ever again.” He gave her a sympathetic smile. “I know this wasn’t how you hoped to start the school year.”
“No, but with kids you can never be certain of anything. I’m aware that you’re a single father, and raising a child isn’t easy under the best of situations. I’m sorry I had to call you.”
“Don’t apologize,” he said. “I’m not sorry I’m here.” He passed his hand over the start of a grin. “Well, I’m sorry about the circumstances that brought me, but now that we’re alone, I’m kind of glad.”
He was glad? That wasn’t the response Evie had expected. “What do you mean?”
“I was hoping we could get to know each other a little better.”
CHAPTER FIVE
EVIE STARED AT Billy while she caught her breath. He would never win an award for impeccable timing.
After her silence became uncomfortable, she folded her hands in her lap and said, “Billy, are you asking me out?”
He walked over to the pile of litter Gemma had left on the floor, scooped up the bugs and deposited them into the trash can. Then he pulled his chair to the opposite side of Evie’s desk, sat and leaned back. “I’m not sure. But you have this look on your face that tells me you wouldn’t say yes.”
She sat forward. “No, I wouldn’t. We just had an incident with your daughter. I’ve had to appease Missy Hutchinson, who, I’m starting to believe, is not the town’s most understanding and forgiving citizen. And I’m still somewhat breathless over encountering your mother.”
She shook her head. “And to top it off, I’ve spent the day adjusting to a new job, new staff and the responsibility that comes with preparing for the arrival of one hundred and twenty-five youngsters the day after tomorrow.”
“Looks to me like you could use a night out,” he said. “With a friend.”
She pointed at him, then pointed at herself. “You and I? Friends?”
Billy shrugged one shoulder. “Sure, why not?”
“But we’re here as parent and school administrator. I was just about to discuss your daughter’s behavioral problems.”
“Okay. I know Gemma can be a handful. She’s going through a stubborn phase right now. Why don’t you and I talk about it over a couple of seafood dinners at the Tail and Claw restaurant?”