Page 95 of Suddenly Entwined

“It’s Ms. Wolfe,” I correct.

“Right, apologies.”

I feel Tamara’s eyes on me before she folds her arms across her chest.

“I understand the concept of a zero tolerance policy, but Natalie was standing up for her little sister.”

Principal Miller ran us through the basics of the incident. Milly told Louisa that me winning the highest bid for the cake sale didn’t count because her mom didn’t make it. Louisa said she didn’t have a mom and started crying and Milly called her a crybaby. Then Natalie came in with a mean jab to the nose, which I’ve yet to figure out where exactly she learned such a thing. I’ll be interrogating my brother later.

“She’ll need to stay home for Monday and Tuesday of next week, Mrs–”

Oh my god, if this guy calls me Mrs. MacMillan onemore time.

“You know what? Call me Carolina, please.” I hold my palms up. “We’re a month from the end of the school year. What does this suspension prove?”

“That we’re serious about violence.”

My eyebrows rise. “But not about bullying? Words hurt.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose.

Tamara clears her throat. “You should suspend Milly too.”

I stare at her profile, wondering if I heard her correctly.

She continues, nodding. “I’ll keep Milly home as well. What she said wasn’t right. I don’t like it. I’m sorry, Caro.”

Who is this lady and what has she done with the smart-mouthed, well-groomed Tamara?

I stammer a bit before I find my voice. “Th-thank you. I’m sorry too.”

The principal sees us out and since it’s close to the end of the day, Louisa goes to collect her bag from her classroom so we can all head home together.

“Caro? Can we talk for a second?”

Milly and Natalie go their separate ways in the schoolyard while Tamara and I pause on the top of the school steps where I can wait for Lou.

“I owe you an apology. Not simply for what happened today.”

I have no idea what this is about.

“I’ve been a raging bitch.”

My eyes go wide. “Oh, no you have–”

Tamara holds a hand up.

“Please, I know I have. Let me finish.”

I nod, allowing her to go on as I watch Natalie drag her hand along the top of a fence.

“I was really jealous of you and Berg. Or,” she glances at the sky like she’s searching for some strength up there. “I am jealous of you and Berg. When you first started showing up and I saw how effortless you were with his daughters and the way he looked at you? It upset me. What you might not know about me, unless Berg told you, is that I’m a widow as well.”

My chest clenches at her sad admission.

“My husband died more recently, about four years ago now. And when I found out that Berg had been through a similar loss? Well, I felt connected to him. I thought, here’s someone who will understand what it means to lose a spouse. To lose your child’s parent. And, of course, I was attracted to him too.”

Heat blooms across my cheekbones.

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