Page 30 of Beyond Perfect

She grabbed the phone from her brother. “I’m right here. Did you find him?”

“My team did. They’re bringing him and Freddie to Pathways as we speak. I’m heading over to the school.”

“Does this mean you aren’t kicking him out.”

“No, this is temporary. I want to get him back there and talk to him before I make my final decision.”

“I’ll be right there.”

When she handed the phone back to her brother, he said, “This is not good. You’re both going to get hurt.”

“What do you mean?”

“Pathways is his baby. Bringing Frankie back will have a negative effect on the other kids.”

“We don’t know that.”

“Of course we do.”

“I’m going over there now.”

“That’s a bad decision, too.”

“I’m not going to abandon Frankie.”

“I think you’re really saying you’re not going to abandon Jackson.”

“So be it. I’m going.”

Maisy’s heart was in her mouth as she drove to Pathways, only a short distance from her house, but seemed interminable today. At Jackson’s office, she got out and saw the door was ajar. Once inside she crossed to the first doorway. There, she found Frankie, Freddie and Jackson. “Hi, everyone.”

Frankie wouldn’t look at her. Freddie was staring down at his hands. “Hey, guys.”

Jackson said, “Hello, Ms. Shepherd. Frankie, Freddie, say hello.”

The little boy’s face was dirty, his clothes too. He resembled an orphan out of those old movies. He just stared at her.

Frankie glanced up. His face was bereft. Hopeless. God, she hated seeing that. Her gaze went to Jackson. His face was blank.

“First off, Frankie, Ms. Shepherd is suspended from teaching for not reporting your absence.”

His dark eyes widened. “What the hell?”

“Language, Frankie!” This from Maisy. The chiding just came out.

“Sorry. Why you punishing her?”

“She broke the rules.”

“So did I.”

“And you’ll be punished. I haven’t decided how.”

“Could he come back to Pathways?” Maisy asked. She knew the question was out of line, to discuss this in front of the student involved, but that didn’t matter right now.

Jackson’s face flashed with anger. It was hard to believe this was the same man who had made sweet love with her only hours ago. “I said I haven’t decided. I asked you to come here today because I know you were worried. But I’m…considering all the factors.”

“I see.”

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