Page 89 of Wild Love
I cut in. “May I ask what preceded Cora’s comment? That might help, you know, shine some light on the situation. Because while I agree that she certainly can’t speak that way to a teacher—and we will talk to her—I’d love to get some context why you think she might have said it.”
Mr. Davidson nods along, clearly more appreciative of my approach than Ford’s. “In the report, it simply says they were having a conversation about current events and discussing different magazine articles.”
I cross my legs and hook my hands around my knee as I tilt my head. “And?”
“She insulted her teacher.”
“Some people deserve to be insulted. Sounds to me like this man might be one of them,” Ford bites out.
I can feel him vibrating beside me. I reach over and place a palm on his thigh to calm him.
As any good cop wife would.
“So, you have a report detailing the ins and outs of what Cora did, written only from the perspective of the person she allegedly wronged?”
“He’s a professional.”
I just smile now. The situation hits too close to home on the heels of my last job. The way things are so easily swept under the rug to protect the person in power.
Then I use my most sugary voice. “Yes, well, as you know, sometimes the details getlost in translation with professionals.”
Ford cuts in again. “He told the class, after reading anarticle about a famous young woman who froze in front of a camera and couldn’t speak, that women just aren’t cut out to handle pressure the way men are.”
My jaw drops and I flop back in my seat, giving up on being good cop. Is bad cop, bad cop a strategy?
“Wow, this guy really does sound like a chauvinist piece of shit.”
Ford’s head whips my way, and now it’s his turn to chuckle.
“We… I’ll have to look into that.” The principal pulls his glasses off in a tired manner and scrubs his hand over his face. “I was going to speak to you about a suspension, but?—”
“Take a hike, Principal Davidson,” Ford all but growls.
The man sighs and flops back in his chair. He’s tired. Overworked, underpaid. Probably sick to death of everyone’s shit. I give Ford a little squeeze, my hand still on his thigh.
“How about she switches classes?” I offer.
“We’re short-staffed.”
I scrunch my nose.
“There’s what? One month of school left?” Ford asks and the principal nods. “How about we take the curriculum home with us? We’ll teach Cora what’s left. She can study in the library or here in the office during that period. And she’ll take the final exam when the time comes.”
Principal Davidson hems and haws about it being unconventional but eventually agrees—as if he had a choice once Ford made up his mind.
Once the meeting ends, Ford takes my hand and we stepoutside. “You think Cora will be okay doing the rest on her own?”
Ford scoffs. “She’s not on her own. And she’s really fucking smart. I know she’ll be just fine. But if I could buy a public school just to fire that chauvinist piece of shit I would.”
Then he walks me through the office like he really does own the place.
And when we get out into the hallway, he’s still holding my hand.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
FORD
“You sure you’reokay to go to school today?”
