CHAPTER 41
Cora Chapman
I PRACTICALLY CHEWED OFF THE fingernail on my right index finger. Stared down at my blue Chucks with red laces. The same ones I wore the first day I saw Landon. It was silly, but they made me feel like Wonder Woman in some strange way.
I had to be strong.
My phone rang. It jarred me from my seat. Landon had said to leave them on. Everything like normal until it was time to run. It still felt like I’d done something wrong. I didn’t know how to behave or act.
The screen lit up. Principal Williams.
What the hell?
I flashed Janet a strange look. She shrugged.
I answered it.
“Hello?”
Why was he calling me at nine forty-five? He knew the fight was about to start anytime. He knew where I was. Knew I was still out because of my arm. I’d taken all my vacation days after my sick time ran out. I figured I might as well get paid up for the days I’d earned until I disappeared. If I had to disappear.
“Cora. We have a problem.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of dealing with other things at the moment.”
“We need you to resign from your position.”
I chewed my fingernail down harder. What did this mean? Landon had taught me there was a reason behind everything. I’d figured I probably wouldn’t be back for a long time. I’d said goodbye to my family.
Even though it was going to be hard to leave my kids behind, even after only one school year, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make for Landon and Logan. Resigning would have implications though. References mattered in teaching. I’d hoped to leave on a good note so I could teach somewhere else if I wanted.
“Why would I do that?”
“There are things you need to know. This is coming from high places, but you know Charles Hastings’ wife is on the school board. They know you’re with Landon. They’re claiming you treat kids unfairly in the classroom because you’re dating one of the parents. It looks bad. I got another call from the regional superintendent.”
“I did no such thing with regards to treating anyone unfair.”
He paused. It almost sounded like he was being forced to say the things he was saying. It was probably true to an extent. It seemed rehearsed, like he was reading from a teleprompter.
“Did you know Landon assaulted Hastings and five other men? Actually, he did it more than once.”
“No, he didn’t. He talked to Hastings once outside of a convenience store.”
“That’s not what I heard.”
I thought back. The day Hastings grabbed my ass Landon had disappeared. He’d said that he’d taken care of it. I’d seen Hastings since then and he didn’t look like he’d been beaten to near death. Anything Landon did probably paled in comparison to the shit Hastings had put me through.
“Hastings is one to talk. Did he tell you what he did to me? And I don’t care.”
“Well, this will follow you around. Things like this don’t go away. They say if you resign they won’t disclose anything to other potential employers. But if you don’t, they’ll make sure you don’t teach anywhere again. Ever.”
I couldn’t deal with that shit right then. “Why are you calling me right now? You know Landon’s about to fight.”
“They told me to call at this time.” He paused. “Shit,” he muttered. I didn’t think he meant for me to hear that part.
He must’ve said more than they wanted him to. And who were they? Hastings didn’t have that much power over Williams. His wife was only one person on the school board. It dawned on me all at once. They wanted to get to me to get to Landon. It was the Edmon guy. They probably thought I was ringside or in a locker room with him. Anything to create some extra doubt in his mind. Landon had mentioned it all in front of the elevator when we’d run into him. Said that he’d interfered with me.
“Fine, I’ll resign. I’ll call you next week to talk.”
I hung up before he could keep me on the line any longer.
“Everything okay?” Janet glanced over.
I wrapped my good arm around Logan’s shoulder. He’d been glued to the TV the whole night. The last fight before Landon’s had ended. They were wrapping it up on the screen.
I looked around at all of them and back to the TV. A million thoughts swirled through my head. Why were we there? In the room? The man we loved needed us and we sat in the comfort of a suite while he battled for his life. No.
No!
I looked down at my shoes. Blue Chucks, red laces. One foot in front of the other. One step at a time.
I stood up.
“Grab your stuff.”
Janet’s eyes bugged out. “Where are we going?”
I nodded to the TV. “Down there.”
“But—but—Landon and the plan. No—”
“We need to be down there for him. He thinks he can carry the whole world on his shoulders, but he needs us too. And I’ll be damned if we aren’t going to be there for him. Now both of you get up and let’s go. The man we love is putting his life on the line for us. We will be by his side.”
I stomped toward the door and turned around in front of it.
Janet sat there, catatonic. Logan stared up at me.
I gritted my teeth. “Now!”
They both jumped to their feet.