Page 109 of Whispers and Wishes (Untouchable 4)

“If you’re staying, Mr. D, then we’re hardly going to be in private.” Not that I needed or wanted privacy. My arm ached like hell, and my gut churned. If I could drag this out a little longer, Mr. Wittaker would get here.

“Frankie, darling,” my mother said. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one watching the time. “I think we really have just shared a classic misunderstanding. I know that you aren’t comfortable with my engagement, and perhaps I did things a bit out of order.”

Was she high?

I didn’t look at her no matter how much I wanted to figure out the answer to that question.

“Yes, Eddie and I have been almost inseparable. I’ve almost forgotten what it is to be so enamored.” She let out a breathy little sigh. “Mr. Dillard, you remember what that first flush is like? It’s been so long, and I let myself get swept away in it. The simple truth is—we’re in love.”

It was official. I just puked.

My mother rose from her chair and took a couple of steps toward me. “But you have always been my first priority.”

Okay, that did it. I looked at her. The cloying nature of her sentiment cluttered the air like the sticky humidity after a late day storm in the middle of summer. I could barely breathe through the thickness of crap she put out.

“Those boys, however,” she said. “I’m just worried about what they’ve put into your head. Drinking the way they do. Partying…the trains of girls they’ve run through.”

My jaw locked.

“Archie and his father…they are having their issues, sweetheart. I don’t want you getting caught up between them.”

Don’t say it. Don’t rise to the bait.

“And that Jake,” she said with a tsk. “I’ve never wanted to be judgmental, but he’s been in how many fights now?”

“Ms. Curtis,” Mr. Dillard interrupted. “I think we’re getting off subject.”

“Actually,” she said, pivoting like a shark slicing through the water. “This is part of the problem. They’re filling Frankie’s head with a lot of noise when she should be focused on finishing school and keeping her head, rather than making irreparable choices and engaging in God knows what with those boys.” Another glance to me, and as thick as she was laying it on, the act still hit me as a calculated gesture. “Baby, I know what I saw them up to this summer, and it’s nothing that I’d ever want you around.”

Wow.

She really went there.

A sound of the main office door opening had me glancing down the hall. Mr. Wittaker paused at the front desk, then motioned toward me before he headed right for me.

“Miss Curtis.” He managed to sound just a tad out of breath and utterly collected. Must be a legal trick. “Sorry for the brief delay, this was an unexpected summons.”

“You’re right on time.” Now, I stepped back a foot to let the lawyer enter the principal’s office before I followed him. “Mr. Wittaker, this is Mr. Dillard, my principal, and the woman standing there is Madeline Curtis. The defendant in my suit.”

The verbal slap landed, and Maddy’s civilized veneer thinned as she glared at me. “Your mother,” she corrected me.

I bit my tongue to curb the response. Mr. Wittaker gave me an approving nod after shaking Mr. Dillard’s hand. Smoothly, he glanced from one to the other, including them both in the conversation. “Mr. Dillard, I’m actually glad you could be at this meeting, it will save me a little time.”

He set a case down on a chair and opened it before he removed two sets of papers. He passed the first one to Mr. Dillard and the second to my mother.

“I would recommend you have your attorney review that, Ms. Curtis,” Mr. Wittaker informed her. “As Frankie’s attorney, I represent her interests. This is an emergency injunction granting Frankie temporary emancipation until the court hears her case. As such, Ms. Curtis’ rights and privileges are hereby revoked. She will have no more access to Frankie’s records, accounts, or the right to check her out of the school. Frankie will self-manage in the meanwhile with moderate support from my office.”

Mr. Dillard frowned as he reviewed the document, then glanced at my mother. Disapproval flashed in his eyes, but he focused on my attorney, then me. “I see. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Frankie, I’m sorry for inhibiting your day. If you would like to return to class, just get a note from…”

“Wait a damn minute,” my mother said abruptly as she snapped her gaze up. “You can’t just emancipate her and remove my rights. I’m her mother.”

“I applied for the injunction,” Mr. Wittaker said smoothly. “The judge granted it. All the pertinent details are in that document. Consider yourself legally on notice, Ms. Curtis. You are to have no further contact with Frankie, beyond having your attorney speak to me, and I will transmit the messages to her.”

I wanted to smile. But I didn’t.

Freedom from Maddy was what I’d wanted, but it wasn’t a good thing. The hurt in my mother’s eyes cut at me. It didn’t matter if it was a play or just one more calculated maneuver. I didn’t think she faked it.

Guilt nibbled at me, and I locked my jaw.

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