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Spurrier tapped his watch. “We have to go.”
“Can’t you fly at night?” Burdette asked, obviously agitated.
“I’d rather fly in daylight.” Spurrier was calm but firm. “It’s safer.”
“But it’s not convenient.” Burdette’s eyes closed to shiny slits.
What was it that bothered the headmistress about the pilot? Hammersley wondered. Spurrier was a loner by nature, but affable enough. Not only was he trustworthy in the cockpit, but he was as an educator as well.
“If you didn’t notice, we’re trying to conduct business here,” Burdette groused.
Hammersley had seen this before, an undercurrent of tension, some kind of petty power struggle between these two. Both were just too competitive, in Hammersley’s opinion.
His eyes sparked, but Spurrier tamped down his temper. “I’m just saying it would be best if we left soon.”
“Okay, we get it,” Burdette said.
“Back on topic?” Williams’s brows rose, the chastising face that academy teachers all wore so well. “I’m with Adele. We’re only talking about a few months, but the staff is stretched thin. Things were already tight before Maris left.”
“She was fir
ed,” Burdette cut in.
“Whatever.” Williams sighed, obviously tired of the argument. “Julia Farentino has the qualifications and certifications; she could be just what we need. Her criminal background check came back clean, credit’s okay, though it looks like she could use a steady job. We know why she’s not teaching right now, and she’s single. There’s no husband or children to stop her from taking the job. She’s also willing to move down temporarily. That’s always difficult to find. If, in June, we … you change your mind about her, then don’t renew her contract.” Then, deferring to the director, Williams offered a smile. “But, of course, this is your decision, Reverend.”
“I know.” He smiled benignly and tented his hands, then nodded curtly. “Fine. Let’s do it. Rhonda, give her a call, advise her the job is temporary, get the paperwork together, and see when she can get down to Blue Rock. The sooner, the better. Everything can be handled by e-mail, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good!” He slapped his hands on the arms of his chair. “There, that’s done. Let’s get out of here.”
As they gathered their documents, stuffing them into briefcases, Spurrier dashed outside and jogged toward the dock where the plane was moored.
Lynch’s wife straightened from her chair and proffered her cheek as her husband passed.
“I’ll see you this weekend, darling,” he said. “You’re coming down?”
“Of course.”
Hammersley tried not to stare as Lynch and his wife walked to the French doors. Domestic bliss? The reverend and Cora Sue always looked amiably photogenic, but Hammersley never observed anything to indicate that a real love burned in their hearts. There seemed to be some invisible barrier between them, as if they were acting out their affection. Not that it was her place to judge. First Corinthians told her to “judge nothing,” and she knew good advice when she saw it.
The dogs stretched and nuzzled at the glass to get out. Hammersley thought the poodles might walk them down to the dock, but Lynch had other plans. A firm “Stay” from the reverend was all it took to convince the poodles and their tight-lipped mistress not to follow.
Jules tossed her floor-length apron into the hamper near the back door of 101’s huge kitchen and snatched her purse from its locker. It had been a long night, and her feet ached, but the tips had been good. She might actually have enough for her rent this month, along with a Costco-size box of ramen noodles.
Sometimes she thought if it weren’t for the meals she boxed up here at 101—steaks that hadn’t been cooked perfectly, a dressed salad that was supposed to have its vinaigrette on the side, a piece of salmon that was “just too dry”—she might just starve. She turned on her cell phone and headed out, passing several waitresses, the sous-chef, and a line cook having a final cigarette in the damp night air.
Making her way to her car, she listened to her messages and saw that Rhonda Hammersley had called just before five. “Ms. Farentino,” her message said, “we’re offering you the position at Blue Rock Academy according to the terms discussed with Reverend Lynch this afternoon. Please call me back and let me know that you’ll accept. You can reach me on my cell till eleven-thirty tonight. Otherwise you can leave a message. Thank you.”
Jules was floored.
It was really going to happen; she was being hired. Suddenly her palms were sweaty, and she wondered if she could pull off her plan.
She replayed the message, and then, looking at her watch, noting that it was already eleven-twenty, she placed the call.
Rhonda Hammersley picked up on the second ring.
“This is Julia Farentino. I got your message and, yes, I accept. Thanks!”
