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“Preston Bean thinks he’s better than us because his dad’s a cop. It was none of his business getting into my family business. Dad’s given that school so much money for projects to better the facilities. Now some kid’s telling tales, and they seem to have forgotten all of that.”
My face bunches at thin air before me. My boy has a point. Problem is . . . “Well, Preston wasn’t telling tales, was he?”
“It was between Preston and me. The shitbag was all mouth in front of his buddies. When I got him on his own, he crapped his pants and went snitching to Principal Tucker.”
“You weren’t on your own. There was a witness.”
“My bad. Next time I threaten someone, I’ll make sure it’s his word against mine.”
“Daniel—”
“And do you know what sucks most, Mom? Preston Bean is at school being all macho, telling people he kicked The Brit’s son’s ass.”
The little weasel. I have a good mind to pay a visit to Preston Bean’s parents and give them a subtle, polite warning to tell their son to back off my boy, and to tell the dad to back off my husband. I stop and turn Daniel into me, taking the tops of his arms, shaking him so he looks at me. “We can’t control other people’s actions, but we are in charge of our own.”
“Dad would sort it if you’d let him.”
“Oh my God, Daniel, you can’t go through life threatening people to get what you want.”
“Dad does.”
Fuck it. “Dad’s set in his ways.” What the hell am I saying? “I mean—” God damn it, how do I approach this? “Your dad doesn’t go around shooting people for fun, Daniel. He’s got a reputation”—a deadly one—“and a lot of money and power.”
“I thought you had all the money?”
I roll my eyes. “That’s besides the point. Unfortunately, when you have a reputation like your father’s, there are people who want to ruin it. When you have power like your father, there are people who want to take it. The world is full of megalomaniacs, darling. Your father is simply protecting what’s his, including us.”
His ever-widening shoulders drop. “I know that,” he says. “I just miss school. Miss Barney. Miss soccer and football, Mom. I even miss algebra!”
Oh my heart.
“We’ll figure it out,” I say. “I promise.”
“Rose!” Tank yells.
“We’d better catch up.” Daniel puts his arm around my shoulders. Because he’s the biggest of us now. “I know you worry about me, Mom.”
“Always. I don’t want you to face prejudice or discrimination.” Because that’s what’ll happen if Daniel returns to school now everyone knows who he is. And everyone includes his teachers. There’s no way they’ll remain impartial. So, as much as he thinks he can handle it, I’m not certain Principal Tucker and Daniel’s teachers will make his re-entry easy.
“I’m a big boy,” he says quietly.
And he also knows where his father’s gold letter opener is kept.
I know he’s right—he’s a big boy.
But he’s still our little boy.
* * *
“How do you think he’ll take it?” Beau asks quietly, aware that Pearl and Anya aren’t privy to the latest bombshell news about Brad and Nolan.
“That’s anyone’s guess.” I’m worried. Worried for Brad, for Nolan. For us.
“He might surprise us and embrace it,” Beau muses.
I look at her, smiling, even if I’m doubtful. Brad has been a little unhinged lately. Lost. I doubt finding out he has a kid over twenty years too late is going to force him into levelheadedness. Although, admittedly, he’s been a bit perkier this week. “Do you know if he’s seen the lawyer since last week?”
“He said he was, but he seemed unenthusiastic about it. I don’t know if she’s right for him. We’ll see, I suppose.”
