Page 18 of Bullet

“My room is done. What can I help you with?” she asks.

“Thanks, Izzy. I’m almost done, but I could use a hand placing booklets on each chair if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” Izzy goes to the edge of the stage and picks up the booklets I’ve put together. The booklet lists all the faculty and includes pertinent information about the curricula by grade level, including all the field trips and fundraising activities planned for the year. I believe that parents need to be involved in a child’s education and have the opportunity to ask questions.

Izzy leafs through the pages. “You did a lot of work on this,” she comments.

I shrug. “I like to keep parents informed.”

When we’re done, Izzy stands back and looks at the room. “It looks fabulous.”

I admire the results as well. On a limited budget, I still managed to make the room look festive. In preparation for tomorrow night, I had each class prepare a banner with positive words and phrases in their own writing and have hung them on the walls.

“Are you done for the day?” Izzy asks as we walk back to my office.

I laugh. “Never done. I have a ton of paperwork to sift through. Why?”

“Can it wait for another time? The ladies and I would like to invite you to coffee at Millie’s Diner.”

“The ladies?”

“Ava, Vi, and some of the others are dying to meet you,” she says enthusiastically. I guess my confused expression spurs Izzy to tell me more. “Look, Bullet is a club brother, and he’s family. Bullet has never been serious about anyone until you. Since you mean something to him, you’re part of our family too. Ava is kind of like the leader of the women of the Pride. She’s so great, I know you’ll just love her. She wants you to get a chance to know us better. They already know you’re amazing because I tell them how wonderful you are to work with, and the kids go home and they not only talk about their teachers but the principal who made it possible for them to continue with extracurricular activities, even though there’s no budget for them.” She lifts her shoulders to her ears and says hopefully, “What do you say?”

I look back at the pile of paperwork in my desk. Then I consider Bullet. These are the people he calls family, and I like him a lot. A whole lot! I want his friends to like me, and to do that, they need to get to know me. Sure, it’s a little out of my comfort zone, mainly because I am the principal of their kids’ school, and I can’t show favoritism…

“Izzy, being the principal⁠—”

“They get it. I drew the same line in the sand when Romeo was in my class. They understand. Most of the people in town have kids in our school. What are you going to do, avoid everyone?” she says, pointing out that this isn’t possible.

“Let me text Bullet. He wanted me to let him know when I would be coming home. I’ll let him know I’m stopping off for coffee with you and your friends first.”

“Tell him the Lady Pride are staking their claim!” she says with gusto, pumping her fist in the air and causing me to burst out laughing.

Bullet replies with an emoji of a hand slapping a forehead, adding just kidding, and asking me to let him know when I leave Millie’s. I grab my purse and lock up my office, and drive over to Millie’s, which is filled with Lady Pride wives and girlfriends.

Ava is the first to give me a hug and introduces me to the others. I wish they’d all wear name tags, because there’s no way to remember who is who, except for Maddie. I recognize her from all the photos in the tabloids and television appearances. I’m speechless when she says hello and draws me in for a hug. She is so incredibly caring and down-to-earth, nothing like the diva she appears to be when she’s on stage.

“It’s called showmanship,” Maddie says with a grin. “This is the real me. I hope you’re not disappointed.”

“Oh no!” I insist. “I have to confess, I have all your music. I especially like the song you sing with Lucien Bardon. He’s one of my other favorites. I loved him when he was part of his band, but I like his new stuff even more. It’s like he’s pouring his whole heart out when he sings.”

“That’s because he is,” Maddie responds before she turns to the woman next to her. “This is his wife, Sofia. She’s a⁠—”

“Lawyer,” I finish for her, looking at Sofia. “Bullet has warned me to call you if the police come to see me. He even programmed you into my phone. I hope you don’t mind. It’s lovely to meet you.”

“I would have kicked Bullet’s ass if he didn’t.” Sofia comes to her feet and gives me a hug, whispering in my ear, “We’ll get through this.”

I know she’s talking about the whole mess of the police thinking that Bullet and the others would have anything to do with Sal’s death. “Thank you. I still can’t believe that happened.”

“Yes, well, there are many unhinged individuals out there,” Sofia answers with a heavy sigh.

“Don’t hog her.” I hear this from a very cool, chic redhead standing nearby with a hand on her hip.

“Have patience, Vi,” Ava tells her.

“Oh please! At this rate, I won’t get two minutes with her until Christmas.” Vi comes to greet me. “I’m Vi, Orion’s wife and better half. Those are his words, not mine. I’m also Gabby’s mom, and my little guy will be coming to your school soon. It must be said, Gabby thinks you’re the shit. She says you got Mark Hamilton to stop bullying the kids in the yard, and you didn’t raise your voice once. That’s a superpower I want to have.” She giggles, and the women join in.

I give her my best smile, feeling good about her lovely compliment. “He’s just a little misunderstood. It’s unfortunate, but Mark is dealing with another issue that can lead to frustration and him acting out. I hope his family is able to come up with the money soon to make things easier on him.” I can’t say too much, but I would hate for any child to be labeled a bully when in many cases, there are other factors that influence a child’s behavior.