Catching Fireflies(111)

Hamilton Reynolds cleared his throat. “Okay, then, first things first. Does anyone up here see any need to discipline Betty Donovan or Laura Reed for the actions they took to protect Misty Dawson?”

“I vote for a commendation,” Bernice Walker said fiercely. At a look from Ham, she grinned. “Oh, I know, it’s supposed to be a motion. Well, I’m making it.”

“Second,” Trent Ayers said.

Ham gave a nod of satisfaction. “Any discussion?” He looked around but the other board members were merely nodding acquiescence. “Okay, then, all in favor?”

The commendation was approved unanimously.

“Now to the expulsion,” he said. “Do I have a motion for that?”

It, too, was quickly approved by a unanimous vote.

Laura finally let out the breath she’d been holding. J.C. gave her hand a squeeze. “I told you it was going to be all right.”

“You told me, but anything could have happened in here,” she said.

“Not with Helen on the case,” he said, then stepped aside as well-wishers came to surround her.

The Sweet Magnolias were first in line. Laura was enveloped in hugs from Sarah, Raylene and Annie, then from Maddie, Jeanette, Dana Sue and Karen Cruz.

“I think a celebratory margarita night’s in order,” Annie declared.

Sarah immediately shook her head and nodded toward J.C. “This is an occasion for a coed gathering, if ever there was one.”

“My house, then,” Raylene said. “I baked lasagna this morning just in case.”

“I can bring salad,” Dana Sue said. “And some killer guacamole, since it wouldn’t be a true Sweet Magnolias gathering without that.”

Helen joined them just then. “I just got off the phone with Erik. The dessert’s covered.”

Laura looked around at them, feeling oddly choked up at yet another display of such loyalty. “Are you sure?”

“Of course we’re sure,” Sarah said. “You’re one of us, aren’t you? And this is what we do to celebrate.”

“I’ll round up all the guys and let them know,” Annie offered, then rolled her eyes. “And the kids.”

“I think we should include Frances, Flo and Liz,” Karen said hesitantly. “Would that be okay?”

“Of course,” Maddie said at once. “They have Senior Magnolia status with us.”

Laura looked over at Betty, who was standing with a couple of other teachers but basically seemed pretty alone. “Would it be okay,” she began with a glance toward the principal.

Everyone looked to Maddie for a response, since she’d been most affected by Betty’s attack on Cal several years earlier.

“Oh, why not?” Maddie said. “I’m married to the best man on the planet. I can afford to let bygones be bygones.”

Helen draped an arm over Maddie’s shoulders. “What a woman!” she teased.

“That’s me. Generous to a fault,” Maddie said. “What time is this party starting?”

Raylene glanced at her watch. “It’s nearly five now. How about six-thirty?”

Everyone quickly agreed, then went off to handle their various assignments. Laura turned to J.C. “You are coming, aren’t you?”

He looked hesitant.

“Hey, what about all that talk about going public, admitting we’re a couple, not that it’ll come as a huge shock to anyone.”

“But this crowd?” he said, looking oddly shaken. “They’re liable to take the news and run with it.”

“Run with it where?” she asked, bewildered.

“Straight down the aisle,” he murmured, then looked sheepish. “Overreacting, huh?”

“Just a little. We’re tougher than them. Nothing goes on between us unless we want it to. We’ve done okay so far with that philosophy, haven’t we?”

“What I want is a little privacy and a very long night with you in my arms,” he said.

She warmed to the comment but held firm. “First you have to play nice with our friends.”

“How long?”

She grinned. “Until you can persuade me there’s more intriguing entertainment at home.”

J.C. chuckled. “I imagine I could persuade you of that before we ever leave the school building, if you’ll join me for five minutes in a broom closet.”

“Ambiance, sweetie,” she teased. “You’ll have to do better than surrounding me with mops, water buckets and wet rags.”

He gave her an endearingly solemn look. “I swear, you won’t even notice they’re there.”

“Not gonna happen,” she repeated.

But she couldn’t seem to shake the thought that it might be fun to let him try.