Weaver of Dreams (8 page)

Maggie stared at the wall of her office. A nice office, it boasted a window that looked out over the courtyard. A color of her choosing painted the walls in a soft blue. She’d picked the color because of the calming effect it seemed to have on the students when they arrived at her door anxious or agitated.

Inspirational posters decorated the walls in simple silver frames. A kitten dangling from a tree limb by two paws told students to “Hang in there.” An empty basketball court reminded them “You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” A beautiful picture of a star-lit night over a still river informed the reader “Ideas are like stars; you will not succeed in touching them with your hands. Believe in them and follow them and you will achieve your goals.”

Maggie had chosen each picture specifically with the students in mind. The basketball poster aimed to inspire the jocks. She intended the kitten to speak to the girls and thought the night scene, with its dark colors, would draw the attention of even the difficult to reach Goth kids.

Maggie leaned back in her chair and sighed. She could use a little inspiration about now. Sometimes this job got to her, especially the paperwork. It seemed to never end. She always had a stack on her desk.

Her eyes glanced to the pile of papers on her left. Things needed her attention. Grades were coming due, special education paperwork needed to be completed, but she wasn’t in the mood to do any of it.

Maggie blew a long sigh through her lips and reached for the paper at the top of the stack. The sound of a knock on her door stilled her hand.

“Come in,” she called, grateful for the reprieve from the forms.

A young lady, dressed in blue jeans and a red sweater, pushed through the door. After carefully closing it behind her, she approached Maggie’s desk.

“Hi,” Maggie greeted. “What’s your name?”

“Kelly Clark.”

“Hi, Kelly. I’m Miss O’Connell.”

“I know.” Kelly’s eyes darted around Maggie’s office, and paused on the picture of the kitten.

“Hang in there,” Kelly read. “I have a friend who needs that advice.”

“Do you want to sit down and tell me about it?” Maggie gestured to the blue padded chairs in front of her desk. When Kelly sat, Maggie got up and made her way around her desk to sit in the other blue chair, knowing it would help make the girl feel more comfortable.

“What brought you to my office?”

“My friend. She . . .”

When the student did not complete her sentence, Maggie gave her a moment to collect her thoughts then prompted, “Your friend . . .”

Kelly paused, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. “I have a friend who may be in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“She thinks she's pregnant.”

Maggie’s heart sank to her toes. There were a few girls around campus with baby bumps. In fact, teen pregnancy happened to be so common these days, each high school in the District had a daycare where the teen moms could leave their children while they attended classes. But Maggie knew it meant a lifetime of difficulty for the students who chose to keep their children, no matter how commonplace it became.

“What is your friend’s name? I’d like to talk to her.”

Panic widened the young girl’s violet eyes. “I can’t tell you her name.”

“Kelly, don’t you think it would be good for your friend to have a grownup to talk to about this? She’s going to need to talk to someone at some point. She can’t do this alone.”

“But she has her friends to help her.”

“What about her parents?”

The girl’s gaze dropped to the floor. “They won’t understand. They think she is still a virgin. They will be furious. She can’t tell them.”

Maggie laid her hand over Kelly’s where it rested on the arm of her chair. “Every teenager thinks their parents won’t understand, but most do. All of us were teenagers once. We remember what it was like, Kelly, even if we are now old.”

“But her parents will kill her if they find out.”

“Sweety, I promise you this kind of secret will come out. Eventually the baby will grow large enough for your friend to start showing. You can’t hide a baby forever.”

Kelly pulled her hand out from Maggie’s, and folded her hands protectively over her stomach making Maggie suspect Kelly’s “friend” might be her. Maggie felt sorry for the girl. She obviously hoped to keep her secret from her parents, but Maggie couldn’t let that happen.

“I tell you what; let me call your mother. We can bring her here and tell her about the baby together. I’ll be here to support you.”

Kelly’s gaze locked with Maggie’s. “Why would you call my mother?”

“Because she needs to know, Kelly. You can’t keep your pregnancy a secret from your parents. You need them. They can help you get through this.”

Tears gathered in the girl’s eyes confirming Maggie’s supposition. “How did you know I was talking about me?”

“The same way your parents will eventually figure it out. You need to go ahead and tell them.”

“No, they wouldn’t understand.”

“They might understand better than you think,” Maggie offered.

“They will kill me.”

“What if we told them together? I could be with you to help you tell them.”

Kelly’s gray eyes grew wide and a tear streaked down her cheek. “No. You can’t call them.”

“I think they need to know.”

“But they can’t.”

“Kelly, even if you keep the pregnancy a secret, you
will
give birth. You can’t keep this from your parents. The sooner they know, the sooner they can accept what happened.” Maggie handed the girl a tissue. “You need to see an obstetrician many times before the baby is born if you want a healthy child. Have you been to an obstetrician yet?”

“What’s that?”

Maggie struggled to keep the emotions from her face. This poor child didn’t even know an obstetrician delivered babies. Obviously she had not been to an ob/gyn.

“It’s a doctor who delivers babies. You need to see one if you plan on having the baby.”

Kelly took a deep breath as if to give her courage before she spoke. “Can you take me to the baby doctor?”

Maggie couldn’t have been more shocked. She’d do a lot of things for the students at this school, but taking a pregnant teen to the doctor in order for her to avoid telling her parents about the pregnancy wasn’t one of them. “I can’t do that, Kelly. But what I can do is call your mother and bring her in here so we can talk to her together.”

“And you’ll help me tell her?”

“Of course I will. I’ll be right here the whole time.”

Kelly nodded, and wrung the tissue in her lap. “Fine. Call her.”

Relief surged through Maggie and she fought the smile of triumph that threatened to curve her lips as she picked up the phone.

The long conversation with Mrs. Clark, was full of emotion and turmoil, but Maggie believed they could work through this. As Kelly and her mother left her office, she couldn’t help but wonder who the baby’s father was. His name hadn’t come up when they were talking. But she hoped he would be involved.

Maggie leaned back in her chair, and her gaze slid across her desk to the looming stack of paperwork on the corner. She needed to go through the list of students to be sure none of their federally mandatory three-year reevaluations for special education went over due.

No sooner did she start the process of compiling a list of the coming due re-evaluations then her mind began to wander to the man of her dreams. Her core warmed as her mind’s eye conjured his handsome looks and toned body. Her face flushed with excitement when she pictured the way he looked when he sauntered across the meadow. He was a fantasy, in literally every way.

Not only was he incredibly good looking, but his personality seemed perfect—exactly what she would want in a real man. He’d acted playful, funny, as well as, charming and sweet. He was too good to be real.

Which of course was exactly what he was—not real.

A heavy sigh escaped. Too bad it had only been a dream, but at least it wasn’t a nightmare. For the first time in months she had slept through the night. If it hadn’t been for the stupid leg cramp, she might have even slept until her alarm went off.

“I wonder if I’ll dream of him again tonight,” Maggie murmured to herself.

“How sweet. You still dream of me.”

Maggie’s head jerked up and turned toward her office door to discover Mark standing there in all his boss-like glory. What the heck could be so important it brought Mark Carver to her office?

Mark’s smug look made Maggie want to gag. She decided instead to wipe the arrogance from his face.

“Dream of you? I don’t think so, Mark. I can assure you I no longer dream of you or your thinning hair." She perused his hairline with her eyes, knowing he secretly fretted about it.

He let it slip once that losing his hair was his only real fear. Maybe that was the reason for his poor libido when they’d been together. Perhaps he thought himself unattractive because he was going bald. It could certainly explain his lack of interest in having sex.

“Low blow, Mags,” he taunted by saying his nickname for her in a sing-songy voice.

Maggie’s hands fisted in pique under her desk. She hated when he called her that and he knew it. “You lost the right to call me by that name when we broke up.”

“You mean when
I
broke it off,” Mark corrected, closing the door behind him after he entered her office.

He traversed the small room and took a seat on the corner of her desk. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down on her, looking every bit the intimidating boss.

He isn’t playing any games today.

Mark could be a real bastard when pissed. She would do well to back off and let him say what he came to say. But then she’d never been one to back down from a fight. Which may have been one of the reasons he called off their relationship.

Maggie leaned back in her chair, overlapping her arms to mimic his stance. “As I remember it, we came to a mutual agreement on ending our relationship.”

“Relationship?” A rude scoff came from his throat. “More like me always trying to satisfy you and you never being appeased.”

“Excuse me? As
I
remember it, I always tried to be good enough for you; sexy enough for you, and you never seemed to appreciate the effort.”

Mark’s look of disdain twisted his features. “I would have appreciated the effort, Mags, if it had been enough.”

“You have made it perfectly clear you don’t find me attractive, Mark. We don’t need to go there again.”

The look of shock on his face would have been almost comical if she was not so hurt.

“Not attractive? I never said that. Never. I find you a very attractive woman.”

“Liar. You found me
so
attractive you never wanted to have sex,” Maggie accused.

“Just because I wasn’t in the mood, didn’t mean I wasn’t attracted to you. For God’s sake, I never would have dated you if I didn’t find you attractive.”

The sincerity in his voice took some of the bite from her anger. She was so tired of this fight. Tired of dealing with this infuriating man. She just wanted him gone so she could be left in peace.

“Why did you come today, Mark?”

He braced his hands on her desk. “Jennifer arranged for a press conference this afternoon.”

“Great. Who’s going on camera?” She knew what his answer would be, knew her pleas yesterday would go unanswered, but hope that it might just be someone other than her made her cross her fingers discreetly in her lap. Maybe, just maybe, she got through to them in his office and he decided to let someone else speak for the District.

“You,” her ex informed her.

Of course!
Annnnd her anger came back in full force just that quick. “No way!”

“Yes way.” Mark pinned her with an intense stare, obviously trying to intimidate her into accepting this.

“Nuh-uh. Not gonna happen. Get someone else.”

“Jennifer says it should be you.”

“Tell
Jennifer
to do it herself.”

“She thinks it will be better received by the public if it comes from the school guidance counselor rather than the District’s attorney.”

“I actually can see her point,” Maggie conceded. “But I’m not doing it.”

“Yes, you are. The press will be here at four.”

“That’s after school.”

“Exactly. The kids and teachers should be gone, so the press won’t be able to get any sound bites from anyone except you.”

Butterflies the size of birds fluttered in Maggie’s stomach. She couldn’t do this. She just didn’t do public speaking.

The few times she tried talking publicly in the past, she shook so bad, her teeth chattered. Wouldn’t that make a lovely sound bite for the Six O’clock News?

Wonder how Miss Jennifer Lawler would like that?

“I can’t do this.” Maggie hoped her voice sounded stronger than she felt.

“You can and you will, Mags. The District needs you. The school, the students need you.”

Way to play on her love of the students. The jerk still knew exactly how to get to her. Loyal to her school and the students who attended, she always said she’d do anything for them and she meant it.

“Maggie, if you give the press conference, our side of the issue will be believed. Just think how good the school with look once the public knows the truth of the situation.”

She had to admit, the secretary mentioned earlier the front office got several calls from parents looking to withdraw their children. The principal seemed sure the negative press led to the sudden calls. If too many students withdrew, they could lose teachers and staff.

A forceful sigh blew out between her clenched teeth. “What should I say?”

A superior look took Mark’s face—she really hated that look. “I knew you would do it,” her ex declared, clapping his hands together.

“I’m only doing this for the school. Not you, Mark.”

“Fine, fine.” He stood and withdrew a piece of folded paper from the pocket of his suit jacket. “Here, Jennifer wrote this up last night after dinner.”

Did she even want to ask how he knew when Jennifer Lawler wrote it?

Nope
.

“Memorize what is written and say exactly those words during the press conference.”

Maggie took the proffered paper and opened it. She gave the statement a quick read-through while Mark stared down at her silently. Her eyes met his as she spoke. “This is our official line?”

“It’s the truth.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t say much. What if the reporters ask questions?”

“You say no further comment and walk away.”

“Easier said than done,” Maggie muttered.

“But that’s what you will do. Understand, Maggie?” Mark's eyebrows narrowed menacingly over his hazel eyes. “Don’t get diarrhea of the mouth. Just say the approved statement and stop the press conference.”

“If you are so worried about me messing things up, why don’t you find someone else to say this?” Maggie shook the paper in his direction, wishing he sat close enough so she could hit him with it.

“It needs to be you, the innocent, pretty guidance counselor.”

Only he could make a compliment sound like an insult. “You’re a real bastard. You know that, Mark?”

He turned heading for her office door. “I might be. But at least I get things done.”

With one hand on the doorknob, he stopped to look back at her over his shoulder. “Oh and Mags, don’t mess up. I’d hate for the school to look for another guidance counselor this late in the school year.”

The threat came through loud and clear—mess up and she could start looking for another job. Got it. Thanks a bunch. Her nerves were much calmer now.

Her stomach tightened and breakfast threatened to make a second appearance as Mark left her office. When he disappeared from sight, she walked over and closed the door behind him.

She leaned against the door, trying to compose herself. It didn’t work. Her hands trembled as she went back to sit behind her desk. Perspiration dotted her brow while her stomach tightened further. She reread the prepared statement, the words blurring from her trembling.

“I don’t know how I am ever going to get through this,” she mumbled, staring sightlessly down at the shaking paper in her hand.