Page 28 of Silver Player

“Might I ask, is there any additional family support?” The principal holds up a paper, skims the page, and glances back at me. “I know about her mother, but there’s no father listed, and you’re her guardian.”

Is there a question in that statement somewhere?

“Is there some other issue? Something I’m missing here?” I question.

“It’s only that, well, Sadie mentioned how her family runs this town, and she can do as she pleases while she’s here. It’s a strange comment coming from someone new to the community.”

There’s still a lingering unasked question, but he won’t get an answer from me. An implication of running this town means only one name—Harrington. The mayor is one. The brewery that employs quite a few townspeople is another.

“I’ll speak with Sadie,” I assure him, standing to express my wish to leave. It’s strange that even as an adult, I feel like I’m the one in trouble in this office.

“You do that, and if there’s anything you need, here’s my card. You can call me. For anything.” My brows pinch as I take the card. Isn’t that what I was doing here? Seeking help and compassion for Sadie, because that’s what I need. That’s what she needs.

I exit the principal’s office and wave at the secretary. Sadie sits in a seat across from the empty cubical desk of a second secretary.

“Let’s go,” I whisper to Sadie, disappointment ringing in my tone. Even if I did ask for some sympathy from the school on Sadie’s behalf, I won’t disguise how upset I am at this situation.

“I’m leaving?” Her brows disappear under her dark hair which she has pulled forward over her face.

“For today.” I press through the door, expecting her to follow me into the hall. She does, keeping pace with me as I walk as quickly as I can to get out of this building.

“Am I suspended?”

“Would it matter?” I snap. When Sadie lived near Atlanta, her mother wanted her to get into the most prestigious schools. She pushed Sadie to work hard, study harder, and learn all the things. Sadie rose to that challenge, but it wore on her. She didn’t get to do anything extra, like be a kid. Sure, she had extracurricular activities, but everything involved practice. Piano. Karate.

“Yes.” The softly spoken word stops me in my tracks, and I turn on Sadie in the middle of the hallway.

“Really? Because this isn’t the Sadie I know. Picking on another girl because of her clothes, calling her a name, and threatening her.” My eyes have a will of their own as I take in Sadie’s appearance. The same could have easily happened to her.

“And what’s this about saying your family runs this town? Acting like you’re superior to the rest of the kids and can get away with something like casting stones.”

“I didn’t throw anything,” she mutters.

“You know what I mean, Sadie Wilhelmina,” I say in an exasperated tone and a little too loudly as my arms flail out to my sides and then slap my thighs. I hitch my crossbody purse on my shoulder although it doesn’t need adjusting and glare at my niece. Where did the sweet girl go? Why is she hiding?

“She started it,” Sadie whines. Her voice reminds me of when my sister and I would fight, putting blame on each other rather than admitting who did what first.

“Sadie,” I groan.

“She said I looked like Violet from The Incredibles and maybe I should disappear like her as well.”

My stomach flips as I considered the same thing. Not the disappearing part, but the overall appearance of Sadie.

“Well, you do look like Violet. I thought that might be the look you were going for.” I try to soften my tone, teasing her with the truth while trying not to insult her. “You can look like whoever you want, honey. But I am worried. Are you trying to disappear?”

Sadie has mentioned to me how the kids are different here. In some ways, she might be right. It’s more in-your-face community than what she’s used to, but it’s another reason I moved back here. I was tired of being just another face in a sea of people in a big city. Sadie looks off at something on the wall and swallows. “That’s what Billy wants. Me to disappear.”

Heart. Ripped. Out.

“Baby, I don’t think that’s true. He’s just…he’s struggling like you. He doesn’t know what to do or how. It’s confusing for a man like him.” Really, it’d be confusing for any man to suddenly have a kid show up, a kid you didn’t know you had.

Sadie huffs, proving she doesn’t understand, and I shouldn’t be defending Billy. She has her own issues.

“Do you need to collect your backpack or anything?” I ask, and Sadie shrugs her shoulder, emphasizing the pack already hanging on her back. “Oh. Okay. Let’s go.”

We walk in silence to the car, but everything still weighs on my mind. We settle into my Honda Civic and head back toward Main Street when I finally ask, “Did you tell the other kids you were Billy’s daughter?”

Sadie’s head lowers, and her hair curtains her face. She simply shakes her head, and her hair sways.