Chapter 6

"Can we do it now?" I asked.

"Yes," Evie replied.

Inside the office, the principal, Peter Johnson, was in his fifties, and Carla's report card was on his desk.

He didn't beat around the bush. "Mrs. Clark, we all know Carla is an excellent student. But airing family issues in public isn't good for her reputation."

I said, "She was sharing how she feels."

Mr. Johnson pushed up his glasses. "Her feelings shouldn't come at the expense of her father."

The door opened.

Shane walked in, with Vanessa trailing behind him.

When he saw me, his expression hardened. "Mr. Johnson, I'll handle this."

Vanessa set a fruit basket on the desk. "Mr. Johnson, sorry for causing you trouble. Shane didn't sleep a wink last night. He was worried sick about Carla."

I glanced at Shane.

His shirt cuffs were perfectly pressed. He didn't look like someone who'd been up all night at all.

Peter politely invited them to sit down.

Shane spoke up. "Carla's speech hurt me and misled everyone at school. I want her to set the record straight at the flag-raising ceremony."

I asked, "So what exactly does she need to say?"

"She needs to let everyone know her father is still alive."

"That's simple enough. What else?"

Shane frowned. "Then she needs to apologize to both Vanessa and me."

Evie couldn't help but speak up. "Mr. Preston, Ms. Bradley isn't a parent here. Why should Carla apologize to her?"

Vanessa's eyes turned wet. "Ms. Newton, I'm not asking Carla to apologize. But my son was gossiped about today. Kids said he was taking someone else's dad. He's just eleven years old."

I asked, "How did his classmates even find out?"

Vanessa froze for a moment.

I looked at her. "Was I the one who sent those parents' meeting photos around?"

Shane said, "If it wasn't you, then it had to be someone from your side."

I pulled out my phone and opened the photo Emily had sent me. "I didn't forward this to anyone last night. If you want to know who put the video and photos together, maybe you should ask Vanessa. She's sitting right next to you."

Vanessa shook her head. "Serena, you can't blame me for everything just because you don't like me."

Shane slammed his phone down on the desk. "Enough. Serena, I'm not here to argue with you today. Carla has to apologize, or I'll file for a change in custody."

The office fell silent.

Evie's expression shifted. "Mr. Preston, this is Carla's most important year before graduation. Please don't threaten her with this."

Shane said, "I'm not trying to threaten her. Serena's emotions and finances are all over the place. She's not in a good position to keep raising Carla."

I looked at him. "You want to take Carla away from me?"

"At the very least, I can't let her keep being led astray by you," he said.

I smiled. "Do you even know who her homeroom teacher is?"

Shane was taken aback.

I asked, "Do you know which subject she struggled with the most in her last mock exam?"

Shane kept a straight face. "Those little things don't matter."

I pressed on, "Do you even know she's allergic to mangoes?"

Vanessa's face went pale, and she quickly reached for the fruit basket on the desk.

Right on top were two mangoes.

Evie caught sight of them. Peter noticed, too.

Shane looked embarrassed. "Of course I know."

I said, "Last year, she had some mango cake and had an allergic reaction in the middle of the night. I was the one who took her to the ER. Where were you?"

Vanessa murmured, "Shane was helping me move that night."

Evie shot Vanessa a look.

Shane snapped, "Vanessa, stop talking."

I could hear students running in the hallway outside the door.

Carla stood in the doorway, her face pale.

She had no idea how long she'd been standing there, listening in.

She looked at Shane. "So it was you that night, too."

I walked over, meaning to get Carla out of there.

Shane stood up. "Carla, come in. Let's settle this right now."

Carla didn't move. She asked, "Are you trying to take me away from my mom?"

Shane said, "I'm your dad. I have every right to look after you."

Carla nodded. "Alright. Then tell me, when's my birthday?"

Shane opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Vanessa whispered, "September?"

Carla let out a laugh. "It's October 23rd. Dr. Preston, even when you try to cheat, you still get it wrong."

Peter picked up his cup, unaware that a drop of coffee had dribbled down the side.

Evie looked at Carla, her eyes blazing with anger, but she forced herself to stay calm.

Shane's face burned with embarrassment as he walked up to Carla. "Are you really trying to embarrass me?"

Carla shot back, "I'm not the one making you look bad. You're the one who can't even defend yourself."

She turned and ran out. I chased after her.

At the stairwell, Carla leaned against the railing and let out a long sigh.

She said, "Mom, I don't want to be a Preston anymore."

I said, "We don't have to rush this."

She looked at me and said, "But he's so eager to parade me around like I'm some prize."

I straightened her backpack straps. "Go to class. I'll take care of everything else."

She stared at me. "Mom, don't try to shoulder it all alone."

I said, "Okay."