Owen then came back over to the table and sat down by me. “Nice job,” I whispered.
“Thanks,” he replied, with a wink.
If I thought I was already an anxious wreck, it became amplified as I had to sit through William’s attorney’s spiel. His was much like Owen’s—citing the wonderful person William was through his philanthropic donations and charity work. Detailing how when he was a teacher, his students excelled in the history portion of the graduation tests as well as all the contributions he had made as an assistant football coach. By the time William’s attorney sat down, I had chewed my fingernails ragged.
Dr. Levinson cleared his throat before staring out into the crowd. “We will first render a decision against Ms. Jameson. After hearing the argument by Mr. Sandborne, coupled with the fact that Ms. Jameson does not have district or state tenure, I make a motion that she be released from her contract,” Dr. Levinson said.
“They’re still going to fire me?” I hissed in Owen’s ear.
He held up a hand to silence me while curiously peering at Dr. Levinson. “I would also add that she would receive a letter of recommendation should another school system see fit to hire her. There would be no registered blemish against her record with PSC.”
One by one the school board members each voted in agreement. My heart plummeted to my knees, and I fought the bile rising in my throat. I couldn’t listen as they voted about William. Owen leaned over to whisper in my ear. “It could’ve been a lot worse. They could have revoked your certificate to where you would have never been able to teach in the state of Georgia again. This way you can get another teaching job—it’ll just be like this one didn’t exist.”
“Then when they ask for previous employment, what do I say?”
“You give them the recommendation letter as well as your student teaching contact information.”
I took a moment to process his words. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. It could have been a lot worse. We were told horror stories of certificate revocations in my teaching classes. Those were the instances you didn’t come back from. I had the chance to come back from this unfortunate set-back. “You’re right. I don’t like it, but you’re right.”
The bang of the gavel caused me to jump. I realized that during my conversation with Owen, I hadn’t heard what happened to William. I craned my neck to get a look at him. He appeared disappointed but not devastated before he exited out one of the side doors. When I thought I might have to ask Daddy or Ansel what had happened, William’s attorney, a man named Walter Atkins, stopped at our table. After pumping Owen’s hand, he said, “That was one hell of an argument. I’m glad to see the backwoods folk got a taste of why they call you Sanborne, the killer shark.”
Owen laughed. “Why thank you. I must say your argument wasn’t too shabby.”
“I hope William will come to appreciate that. I don’t think he’s too happy with the transfer.”
Before I could stop myself, I blurted, “What transfer?”
Walter looked at me like, “Weren’t you listening five seconds ago?”
Owen gave an apologetic look. “I’m afraid that Sophie and I didn’t hear the ruling because we were talking about hers.”
“Oh, I see. Well, they’ve put William on administrative leave for the rest of the year. He’ll be working behind the scenes at the county office until all this blows over. Then he’ll come back next year as an assistant principal. Not sure when he’ll ever work his way back up to a principal.”
“So he gets to stay?” I questioned brusquely.
“In a way, yes.” Walter gave me a somewhat haughty look. “I’d hardly say that he wasn’t going to feel the sting of punishment.”
“Oh no, he just gets to keep getting paid as a principal while getting to keep a job in education. Me, I’m just kicked to the curb.” I shook my head furiously. “It’s total bullshit!”
Since my voice had raised considerably, a few people around us turned to stare. Owen took me by the arm. “I think it’s time we retired for the evening. Walter, nice seeing you again.”
Although I was still fuming, I let Owen lead me away. The crowd parted for us like I had leprosy, and if they got too close, I might infect them. Ansel and Daddy fell in behind us.
Once we were out of earshot of the others, Daddy said, “Sophie, it isn’t as bad as you think it is.”
“Yeah, Owen said the same thing,” I grumbled.
“Give it time. You’ll come to see that things could have been worse.”
I threw up my hands in frustration. “Once again, Owen said the same thing. I know it should make me feel better, but it doesn’t. Nothing is going to make me feel better except for draining a bottle of Jack!”
“Then go home and have your Jack. Throw up and pass out. Then tomorrow even though you wake up with a hangover from hell, make sure you wake up with a renewed sense of purpose in your life,” Daddy replied.
Owen smiled. “Ditto what he said.”
“Fine. I will, okay?”
“Okay.”
I wrapped my arms around Owen and squeezed him tight. “I can never thank you enough for what you’ve done for me.”
“Although thanks aren’t necessary, you’re welcome. You just make sure to keep your chin up. The Sophie I know doesn’t let anything get her down. You won’t do yourself any good if you let those bastards win.”
“I’ll try. I promise.”
After Owen kissed me on the cheek, he helped me into van. Ansel had already gotten Daddy inside. When we pulled out of the parking space, I sighed and buried my head in my hands. “If you two don’t mind, can we not talk about the meeting?”
“Whatever you say, Soph.”
Thankfully, they honored my wishes for the ride home. After we got home, Ansel and I started helping Daddy get ready for bed. At the bang at the front door, Ansel and I exchanged a look. “Want me to handle it?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No. You finish helping Daddy.” I then stalked over to the corner where Daddy’s shotgun was propped up. In the last twenty-four hours, we’d had a couple of crazies showing up at the house, wanting to talk to me. Mainly, they were men who wanted to sexually harass me. Thus, the need for the shotgun. It’s amazing how fast they’ll get the hell out of Dodge when you answer the door packing heat.
After slinging the shotgun over my shoulder, I strode down the hallway. Without bothering to ask who it was, I threw open the door and shoved the muzzle of the shotgun forward. “What the fuck do you want?” I demanded.
When I saw it was William standing before me, I lowered the gun. “I’m thinking I want a clean pair of pants because you just scared the shit out of me,” William replied, with a tentative smile.
“I’m sorry, but this has become necessary in the last few days with all the weirdos roaming around. Maybe I should have asked Robert for Calla’s home address and then I could have sent them her way.”
William’s expression darkened. “So it’s true you went to 1740 last night?”
I cocked my brows at him as I propped the shotgun up against the porch railing. “How did you hear about that?”
“I have my sources.”
With a contemptuous snort, I said, “Don’t tell me Calla called wanting your pity?”
“No. She didn’t. You should know me well enough by now that I would never speak to her after what she did.”
“Considering I gave her a pretty fat lip, she’s probably not speaking very well today.”
“Aren’t you going to ask me in?”
I shook my head. “Daddy isn’t asleep yet, and I don’t want him overhearing what I have to say.”
A wounded look appeared in William’s eyes. “Okay. What is it you have to say?”
Drawing in a deep breath, I walked past him to the end of the porch. As I gazed out at the pasture bathed in the glowing light of the full moon, I tried not to think of the time I rode Sampson with William. Thinking of happier times like that made it harder to do what I was about to do. “You and I are like a slow poison for each other. In the small amount of time we’ve been together, we’ve managed to ruin all that was good and decent in each other’s lives. A relationship forged on a rotten foundation like we’ve built can never survive. We’re simply not meant to be.”
At William’s sharp intake of breath, I turned around. His anguished expression almost broke my resolve. But I had to stay strong and remain firm. Even though Daddy would have argued about Grand-Maman and Grandpa’s relationship’s foundation, I wasn’t them. I couldn’t look at William without thinking of what had happened. “I know that no matter how hard I tried, I would always resent you. I would always blame getting involved with you for not being able to live my dream of teaching.”
William took a step forward. “Sophie, you will teach again. I know that.”
“One day, I hope I will. And when I do, it will be a fresh start. Just like my life has to be a fresh start and not polluted with the past.” I fought the sobs rising in my throat. “I’m sorry, William. I’m sorry, but this is the way it has to be. Deep down, you have to know that to be true.”