“Not an option,” Betty said flatly.
Helen confirmed it. “The transfer’s already been approved. Ham put through the paperwork this morning. The Litchfields can choose a different school, but Annabelle won’t be staying here.”
Laura regarded her worriedly. “Without even a public hearing? Could Mr. Reynolds do that on his own?”
“Certain circumstances allow him to act in the best interests of the district,” Helen explained. “And, frankly, he was furious that Mariah managed to get the meeting delayed. He made calls to the other board members after the prosecutor and Chief Rollins explained to him what they felt was in the best interest of the community. Every board member backed him up after what they saw at Saturday’s rally. Every single one of them has privately expressed to me how dismayed they were by what happened. They’ll still take a formal vote this afternoon. That will tidy up any legal loose ends.”
“If I weren’t still so outraged with Annabelle for what she put Misty through, I’d almost feel sorry for her,” Laura said. “She’s just a teenager, and this could change her life.”
“Hopefully for the better,” Helen said, undeterred by any hint of sympathy. “Today’s board meeting is in the auditorium at four o’clock. Can you both be there by 3:30 in case there are any last-minute surprises or details we need to go over?”
“Absolutely,” Betty said. “Are we going to need character witnesses or anything like that?”
“I’ll handle that,” Helen said. “I’ll have a couple of people on standby just in case, but I promise you I don’t think they’re going to be necessary.”
Laura hoped she was right. She’d never in a million years anticipated things going this far just because she’d been trying to protect one student from another’s bullying.
J.C. had listened quietly as Helen explained why she needed him to attend that afternoon’s emergency school board meeting.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he said incredulously when she was finished. “Mariah has actually gone through with this? When the meeting was postponed, I thought she’d had second thoughts.”
Helen shook her head. “She’s not the sort of woman to go down without a fight,” she said wryly. “This is her last-ditch attempt to turn her daughter into the victim of some terrible conspiracy.”
“That’s absurd!”
“Well, of course it is, but it’s hard to ignore someone who’s shouting not only in your ear, but making phone calls to every media contact she has in the region. The school board has no choice but to address these charges and formally take whatever action they feel is warranted.”
“Action? Seriously?” He raked a hand through his hair. “How did this get so completely turned around?”
“Stop fretting,” Helen soothed. “There will be no action, except maybe recognition that Betty and Laura acted totally appropriately. If I were on the board, they’d get an award.”
J.C. nodded. “What kind of testimony do you need from me?”
“Just back up Laura and Betty that this was a serious situation. I’ll only call you if I need to, but we have to be prepared.”
“Oh, I’m prepared,” he said grimly. “Who else are you calling?”
“I’ve spoken to Diana Dawson. She’s eager to speak out. When Misty overheard our conversation, she volunteered. I think she’d be the most compelling witness of all, but I won’t use her unless I absolutely have to. The poor kid’s been through enough.”
“If she wants to do it and you need her, call on her,” J.C. advised. “Every time she has a chance to stand up for herself or someone else, she gets a little stronger.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way,” Helen admitted. “I’ll trust your instincts then. See you this afternoon.”
By the time J.C. walked into the school auditorium, he’d worked up a full head of steam over the absurdity of this entire gathering. Sure, there were a million and one legal reasons things had to be conducted this way, but he considered it a colossal waste of time when the outcome was preordained.
No sooner had he walked in, than Laura caught a glimpse of him. She broke away from the group with whom she was speaking and headed his way, a frown on her face.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’d have been here anyway, but Helen called me,” he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “You okay?”
“She says I will be,” she replied, though her hand in his was like ice. “I’m trying to believe her.”