Page 87 of The House on Blueberry Lane

“Word got around the cove that a teacher was being brought before the board for some conflict-of-interest issue, and everyone is curious as to what it is. Nobody seems to know.”

Velvet shrugged. “Neither do I. And aren’t school board meetings private when it’s a one-on-one with a teacher or school employee?”

“No,” Sierra said. “All Catalina Cove school board meetings are public and we’re all here to give you support.”

“Why would I need support?” Velvet asked, confused. “Mr. Dunning felt it was nothing more than a misunderstanding that could be cleared up at this meeting.”

“Well, let’s hope that’s all there is to it, but I heard that Dwight Beaks called the meeting, and that made me uncomfortable,” Vashti said.

Velvet’s brows drew together. “Who is Dwight Beaks?”

“Dwight Beaks used to be an attorney in town,” Bryce said. “And if you ask me, I think he’s been on the school board way too long. Heck, he’s been a member since my brothers were in high school.”

“To show you how conservatively he thinks,” Vashti explained, “he’s the one who called for a vote to kick me out of high school when I got pregnant.”

“And it passed?” Velvet asked, shocked.

“Before they could take the vote, my parents sent me to a home for unwed mothers,” Vashti said. “However, there is no doubt in my mind had he pushed for a vote, he would have gotten one in his favor. He pretty much rules the school board. Always has.”

“That’s what’s bothering me,” Sierra said. “Nobody seems to know what this meeting is about and those who do are keeping it hush-hush. I don’t like it.”

“I don’t, either,” Bryce said. She smiled when she looked beyond Velvet’s shoulder. “There’s Ashley and Donna.”

When Ashley and Donna approached, Ashley said, “The guys are outside talking and will be inside in a minute.”

“What guys?” Velvet asked.

“Our husbands,” Donna said. “When I heard Mr. Beaks called the meeting, I figured there would be trouble. We’re here to support you.”

Velvet sighed. That’s the same thing Vashti had said, and both Donna and Vashti had grown up in Catalina Cove. This Dwight Beaks sounded like someone who was known to stir up mischief. She hoped that wasn’t true because she really wasn’t in the mood.

VAUGHN CHECKED HIS watch and said to the men standing around him, “The meeting is about to start. We’re all here and the place is packed. I contacted Jaye and he’s flying back tonight. Evidently, Dwight Beaks intends to try to shame Velvet in front of the entire town like he tried doing to Vashti.”

Sawyer, who was leaning against a lamppost, straightened upon hearing his wife’s name. “When did Dwight Beaks try shaming Vashti?”

Every man heard the sting in Sawyer’s voice. Before Vaughn could respond, Kaegan said, “Calm down. It was years ago, Sawyer. When Vashti was pregnant at sixteen and refused to reveal the identity of her baby’s father, Beaks called a board meeting to get her kicked out of school.”

“What the hell!” Sawyer exclaimed angrily.

“Did they kick her out?” Ray Sullivan asked, who, like Sawyer, hadn’t grown up in the cove.

“No,” Isaac said. “If I recall, her parents sent her away to have her baby before that happened.”

“Babies. She had twins, remember,” Kaegan said, grinning, trying to lighten the conversation.

It didn’t work with Sawyer. His jaw was still tight when he said, “I knew I never liked Beaks for a reason.”

Isaac chuckled. “Very few people do. They tolerate him but I’d figured he’s too old for this kind of nonsense.”

Vaughn’s phone rang. He pulled it out of his jacket and after glancing at the screen said, “It’s Jaye.” He answered the call. “Hey, Jaye, where are you?”

“Bad weather caused delays, but we’ve just landed in New Orleans. I should be there in an hour or less.”

Vaughn was glad Sawyer hadn’t heard that because, as the town’s sheriff, he would have taken issue with the or less. “The meeting is about to start, so hopefully you’ll get here in time.” And then he added, “Drive carefully.”

VELVET GLANCED AROUND the crowded room. Whatever the school board thought they had on her, they intended for this to be a spectator show. And why was Webb sitting on the other side of the room and staring at her with a smirk on his face? Did he have anything to do with this? And if he did, why and how?

Drawing in a deep frustrated breath, she broke eye contact with Webb and glanced down another row and saw Allen Bordeaux. When their gazes connected, he quickly looked away. Was she mistaken or had she seen a flash of guilt in his eyes? If so, why? She decided not to waste her time trying to figure out who might be behind tonight’s meeting. Hopefully, it was just a misunderstanding like Mr. Dunning had said.

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