Page 89 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
I slipped my fingers in my mouth and groaned. “So sweet, Winnie.”
My phone rang from where it sat in the pocket of my jeans in a slump at my ankles.
“Definitely not taking that call,” I said as I leaned down to kick off my boots and jeans.
“You should check just to make sure it’s not Melody. Remember she had a tummy ache this morning, but then she said she was fine after she ate?”
I nodded. This woman was so thoughtful it was hard to wrap my head around it.
“Rosewood River Elementary School” flashed across my screen.
Fuck.
“I need to take this.”
“Of course,” she insisted.
I had a feeling our little afternoon booty call was about to come to an end.
twenty-four
. . .
Winnie
I listened as he spoke,and it was obvious that something was wrong. I gathered my clothes and hurried out of his room and down the hallway to my room. I grabbed some clean panties and quickly got dressed. I was stepping back into the main house just as Archer was coming out of his room, fully dressed.
“What’s going on?” I asked. I saw the concerned look on his face.
“They said Melody got into an altercation, and I need to come pick her up.”
“An altercation? What the hell does that mean?” I grabbed my purse. “I’m coming with you.”
He didn’t fight me, and we hustled out to his truck and drove the short distance to the school.
“I’m sorry for—you know, cutting things off so abruptly,” he said as he stared ahead at the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles were white.
“Don’t apologize. Melody is your daughter. I would be appalled if you weren’t rushing to the school. And you made methe second contact number at the school, so I would have gotten the call next, and we’d be exactly where we are now.”
He nodded as he pulled into the parking lot in front of the school, then put the truck in park. We walked briskly toward the entrance and into the front office before we were ushered into the principal’s office.
“Hey, Archer.” The man extended his arm, and they shook hands.
“Theo, good to see you. Winnie, this is Principal Carver. We grew up together,” Archer said, but his voice was strained. “What’s going on. Where is my daughter?”
“Everything’s okay. Just wanted to bring you in here first to tell you what happened. She’s lying down in the nurse’s office.” He motioned for us to take the seats across from him. “Melody got into an argument with Justine Schwartz, and it got physical.”
“Who got physical? Melody?”
“Justine did, and then Melody acted in self-defense after some words were exchanged about the Valentine treats.” Principal Carver leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I made cupcakes for the Valentine’s Day party. Was that not allowed? I had approved it with Mrs. Groucher ahead of time.”
“No, no, there wasn’t an issue with the cupcakes. Apparently, Justine made a comment that the cupcakes weren’t made by a real mommy because Melody doesn’t have a real mommy. And she told the other kids they shouldn’t eat the cupcakes.” He shook his head with disbelief. “I’m telling you, kids can be cruel, even at a young age.”
“So Justine said the cupcakes weren’t made by a real mommy and they shouldn’t eat them? And then what happened?” Archer asked, his hands clasped together, the veins in his neck strained.
“It happened out on the playground, and several kids shared that Justine was taunting Melody about it. Following her aroundand making fun of her. From what I’ve gathered, Melody said that the cupcakes were made with love and that she loves Winnie, and it just escalated. Justine said something that really upset her.” He cleared his throat.
