Maizy the Bear Charmer(Diving Creek Ranch 16)(146)

Cody kissed Maizy’s forehead and said, “Lucy called us and asked us if there was any way we could get at least part of the evening off. We rearranged the schedule with a couple of the guys and they’re covering for us. I don’t know what’s going on.” Heath and Spencer both shook their heads and shrugged before kissing her forehead, too.

Grabbing Lucy’s arm, Maizy pulled her close and said, “Come on, sis. Confession time. What did you do?”

Lucy grinned like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland and said, “I didn’t do…much. When I found out what was happening after we got back from our honeymoon, I just made a few calls.”

“I didn’t know about any of that. You were doing that while I was still teaching?”

“Sneaky, I know, but it was necessary. I called some parents and grandparents and we found out when the next school board meeting was. I’ve never been involved with a school before now, but with PJ in kindergarten, I felt like it was time to become active. If women like Tabitha Lester, who doesn’t even have a child in this school district can have as much influence as she does, someone needs to get involved, stand up, and call her on her bullshit. Grace, Jayne, and Rachel are here for moral support, since they have kids, too.” The girls all nodded when she turned to look at them. “Teresa said she would’ve been here, too, but little Isabella has a respiratory infection and she didn’t want to leave her.”

Maizy nodded in understanding. “Poor baby. That happens when they have older siblings in school. But why are we here?” she asked as Lucy motioned her to one of the back rows where there were still seats available.

Several of the attendees turned, and when they saw her, they came to greet her. Many of the people she spoke to were the parents of kids she’d taught in years past or in the current year, but none of them would tell her what was going on.

The president of the school board called the meeting to order and that was when Maizy noticed Beverly Dumphrey, still looking frail, being accompanied to her seat on the board by her husband.

Maizy let out a deep breath and took a sip from the sweet creamy coffee Heath had handed to her moments before. She smiled when she tasted it and blew him a kiss. It was perfect and such a small thing was a big comfort.

Several minutes passed, with various school district business being handled. Then the school board president acknowledged the high attendance that night and opened the meeting to comments from the floor, after reminding the attendees to be brief if possible.

Lucy rose from her seat and walked to the front. She identified herself as the parent of a student in kindergarten and mentioned that she was also related to Maizy through marriage.

She shared her experience with Maizy as PJ’s teacher and then said, “We have lost an excellent teacher because of an anonymous threat, delivered by a gutless jackal. Maizy was forced to resign because of personal decisions she’s made that had no bearing on this school or her students, when she was faced with the threat of defaming pictures being sent to the national news networks. She resigned her position to save Divine, and this school district, from being dragged through the mud. Ladies and gentlemen, what Maizy does consensually in the privacy of her home is no one’s business but Maizy’s. I strongly protest the resignation of Maizy Owen and ask the board to do something about this situation.”

Maizy sat in stunned silence. She’d never imagined that someone would stand up for her publicly, especially when the issue at hand involved an alternative lifestyle that wasn’t widely understood or accepted outside their circle. She waited for the frowns, the questioning stares from members of the audience.

Amber’s grandfather, Rudy, took the podium next. Normally so soft-spoken and congenial, he leveled his gaze on each of the board members and said, “Instead of expecting our hardworking teachers to cower under such threats, we should be working diligently to find the culprit behind this anonymous threat that cost my granddaughter her beloved teacher. I must protest this resignation that was given under duress. Divine, Texas, is better than this.”

Jasmine’s mother stood before the board, obviously nervous as her voice and hands shook, and explained that Maizy had taken extra time to tutor her daughter the year before. The sweet memory tugged at Maizy’s heart as she recalled the morning Jasmine had read her first sentence all on her own. A light had entered her eyes along with the knowledge of what she’d done, and her struggles to read had turned the corner and she’d gone on to be one of the best readers in the class.

“Jasmine is now thriving as a reader in Ms. Gaylord’s first grade class. How can you so easily let a dedicated teacher go? How can you not defend her against such victimization? I hate that Miss Owen has resigned but understand that she must follow her heart. I don’t see why she can’t have both the love of her heart and the job she loves. I respectfully request that she be reinstated as kindergarten teacher.”