Better Than Before (RightMatch.com Trilogy) (18 page)

“I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“You did, Annie. I told you my outlook has changed since meeting you. I like the side you brought out in me. But in most ways, I’m the same man, especially the same businessman.”

“You said you changed your mind about AllGreen.”

“I did, because the deal will be lucrative for Global. But if the Hendersons drop the ball in any way, I’ll recommend termination.”

They’d driven to the lake during their conversation, and after he’d pulled into the parking lot, Spence sat back and stared out the window, the picture of a man restraining himself. She appreciated it, and she certainly didn’t want to cause him pain, but she was entitled to know about his life, about what she was getting into.

“Look, Spence, this is a bit overwhelming—your clothes, this car and your high-powered career. I thought you were just an average guy.”

“I understand. But as long as we’re being honest, you should know it cuts me to the quick when you seem to dislike the real me so much.”

 “I’m just trying to find out who you are! You know I was looking for someone different online.”

“And I misled you. Again, I apologize again for lying.”

“I accept that.”

“Do you really? Because your interrogation leads me to believe otherwise.”

Maybe he was right. Maybe she was going overboard. Her insecurities surfaced full-fledged. “If so, then I’m the one who’s sorry. I’m only trying to find out if I can care about this side of you, too.”

 “I understand where you are with all this. But you’re going to have to at least try to accept the parts of me I lied about if this relationship is going work.”

“I agreed to this date, Spence. It’s premature to speculate about a future together. So let’s see how it goes and then we’ll decide if there will be a next time.”

“No pressure there!”

His hand had curled around the wheel—because he was frustrated?—so she touched his sleeve. “Do you think we can just enjoy the music, get some ice cream after the concert and try to have a pleasant night?”

“All right. I think I can do that.” He held her gaze unwaveringly. “I hope you can do the other.”

o0o

The next morning, Annie was cranky when she awoke to get the kids off to school. Throughout much of the night, she’d replayed the evening with Spence and could sympathize with his dilemma. Which was also hers. He didn’t want to change who he was. She understood the parallel to her own situation with Keith. But she wasn’t sure she could ever accept Spence’s lifestyle and the trappings that went with it. Considering all that, they’d managed to enjoy the music and the treat afterwards, tabling their earlier upsetting dialogue.

 Hope came to the kitchen table, smiling and chattering away. Annie took a moment to savor her daughter’s disposition, made her some pancakes and listened to her talk about her upcoming dance recital.

Alex wandered in ten minutes later. He’d had a restless night, too, she could tell by circles under his eyes that had no business being there.

“Want some pancakes, honey?”

“No, I got a stomachache.” He put his hand on his middle and grimaced. “I don’t wanna go to school.”

“Did you eat anything different with your dad last night?” Annie asked.

“No.”

Hope sat back from her plate. “He told somebody on the phone that he hated school and didn’t ever want to go back.”

Alex’s face contorted. “You’re a tool.”

“What’s a tool?”

“The term’s an insult, honey. Like a jerk.”

“That’s not nice,” Hope said frowning.

Dropping down in a chair, Annie tried to take Alex’s hand, but he pulled it away. “What’s going on, Alex?”

“Nothing.”

Motherly worry escalated. “Alex, I can help.”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he repeated. Pushing back his chair, he stood. “Never mind. I’ll go to school.”

With one last glare at Hope, Alex stormed out of the kitchen.

“He’s Mr. Grumpy,” her daughter said.

“Yes, he is.”

“You, too, Mommy.”

“What, honey?”

“You been grumpy, too.”

Damn it, she was trying to hide her problems with Spence from the kids, but obviously wasn’t doing it well. “I’m sorry, Hope, I guess I have. I’ll be better.”

Her child slid off the chair, crossed to the drawer in the kitchen desk and pulled out a
HighPoints
magazine. She ripped a sheet from it and gave the paper to Annie. Hope’s face shown with such affection it made her mother’s heart lighten. Some things were still uncomplicated in her life and she vowed to appreciate them instead of dwelling on the negative.

“What’s this?”

“A free pass. My new magazine came. It says we all disappoint people. One of these will get you off the hook. But you can’t use them too much.”

Annie knew
HighPoints
was doing a big push on self-esteem for children. “Thanks, baby.”

Throughout the day, Annie kept thoughts of Spence at bay but worried about Alex. Her son’s attitude was reaching a critical point. By the time she finished her lunch stint at the café, she’d decided some real intervention was needed. Later, after Alex got home from school, she was going to call Keith and ask him to come over. This time, they would find out what was bothering him.

She was waiting in the kitchen when her son’s bus arrived, but instead of using the garage entrance, which was his usual pattern, Alex entered through the front door.

“Alex, I’m in here,” she called out.

No answer. She got up and walked to the foyer. Against house rules, he’d dropped his backpack in the entry and his shoes were near it, one at an angle, one against the bag as if he’d kicked them off and left them where they’d landed. Upstairs, she found the door to his room closed. She knocked.

“Alex?”

“Go away.”

Alarm bells went off in her head and all her other concerns dissipated in the wake of her son’s angst. “I’m not going away. I have to come in, honey.”

No response.

She opened the door. Spring sunlight slanted in through half-closed blinds. Alex was curled up on the bed, his back to her. Annie sat down on the edge of the mattress and put her hand on his shoulder. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

Maddening silence.

“Alex, talk to me.”

He shook his head.

“Please, I love you. I’ll help.”

After a few moments, he rolled over. Tears filled in his eyes. But that wasn’t what made her gasp. There was a huge bruise on the side of his left cheek.

“Oh, my God. How did you get that bruise?”

Her son didn’t answer.

“Alex, did somebody attack you? Dear Lord, we’ll call the police.”

“No!”

“Honey…”

“I got hurt at school. The door on the boy’s bathroom hit me when I was going out and somebody opened it to come inside.”

Annie waited a beat. Though his explanation was plausible, she didn’t believe him, mainly because of his attitude toward school these days. And the news was full of stories about bullying, both physical and online. She remembered his being on his friend’s FacePage. “Alex, are you being bullied?”

“No!”

“Who did this to you?”

“Nobody did anything.”

“Have you told a school official?”

“Mom, I’m not a narc. Kids don’t tell when stuff like that happens. Not that I’m saying it did.”

“You should have told your teachers. All schools have antiharassment policies. And there are laws against bullying. If you won’t let the administration know about what’s happening to you, I will.”

“Stop it, Mom!” he shouted at her.

“I can’t do that. Not when there’s this kind of evidence.”

“Mom, please, don’t do anything. You’ll ruin my life.”

She had to ignore his comments. “I’m going into school tomorrow morning.”

“For what?”

“I’ll talk to Mrs. Lang, your principal. See if she knows anything about what’s going on with you and how she plans to handle it.”

“I’ll tell her nothing’s wrong.”

“Your cheek says otherwise, honey.”

“Leave me alone.”

“Alex…”

“Just leave!” He rolled over away from her again.

Sometimes, a mother had to go on instinct. No way was Annie leaving her son, or the situation, alone. So she slid onto the bed and lay back onto the spare pillows.

He glanced behind him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m staying with you until Hope comes home.”

“Why?”

“Because something bad has happened to you and I’m not ready to leave you alone with it. I’ve been sad in my life, Alex, and it hurts worse when nobody’s there for you.”

“Whatever.”

“Or, we could get a video for my laptop.”

“No, I’m tired.”

“Then go to sleep.”

“I’m not a baby, Mom.”

“But I’m your mother and I’m worried about you. We’ll compromise. I’ll stay until you doze off.”

On his stomach now, he stretched his arm over his head. She moved in closer and brushed a hand down his hair. When he didn’t balk, she breathed easier. Despite the havoc in her own life, she knew how to be a good mother.

Once Alex fell asleep, Annie left the room. She had fifteen minutes before Hope got home, so she went downstairs and called Keith. His secretary told her he was in a meeting but she insisted he come to the phone.

“Annie, what is it?” Impatience dripped from every word. “I was in an important loan meeting.”

“We have a problem that you need to know about.”

“With the kids?”

“I think Alex is being bullied at school. He came home this afternoon with a bruise on his cheek.”

“
What?
How did he get it?”

“He says it was an accident, but he’s lying.”

“Let me finish this meeting, then I’ll come right over. Maybe I can get him to talk.”

“One more thing. I’m calling the school for an appointment tomorrow with the administration. When I was teaching, if a parent was upset enough to come into school, she was seen right away. Besides, schools are more concerned than ever about bullying, after the rash of school shootings lately.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“Really?”

“I know you hate me, Annie, but I have the kids’ best interests at heart.”

“Let’s not talk about us. It’s better to work together on helping Alex.”

“I’ll be over soon.”

Feeling marginally better that Keith would be there to help with Alex’s situation, Annie went downstairs to wait for her daughter. She tried not to worry about her son, but she couldn’t help it. She kept seeing that ugly bruise on his face and it hurt to the core.

o0o

On Friday morning, Jacob Henderson flew to Rockland. When he walked into Global Industries, there was a spring in the man’s step that hadn’t been there previously. With Henderson was his son, Eli, a young man of about thirty, with piercing blue eyes and curly hair, which disguised a mind like a steep trap. He reminded Spence of Cole.

“I didn’t know you were coming,” Spence said, nodding to Eli.

“I got a ticket at the last minute. I hope it’s all right.”

“Whatever your father wants.”

They took seats at the conference table and Jacob plunged right in. “Have you thought any more about the uniform part of our business plan?”

“Well, first, I had to discuss not closing you down with my partners. I got the go ahead to do whatever I think is best.”

“And?”

“Since then, I’ve been busy with something else. I haven’t worked on AllGreen’s account much. But I’m ready to discuss the environmentally friendly uniforms. If we can get that line going, your company could be salvageable.”

Then men exchanged relieved glances.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Eli pulled out a file from his briefcase and handed it to Spence. In it was a sheet listing the names of companies Global Industries had acquired or financed that used uniforms.

Spence looked up in surprise.

Jacob sat forward. “The businesses that you’ve worked with are public information. When you mentioned the idea of throwing your weight behind us, I put Eli right on it.”

“You could have asked me. I would have gotten the list to you.”

“Frankly, Mr. Wickham, I wanted to give you as many reasons as I could to stick with us.”

“More power to you. And call me Spence, Jacob. You, too, Eli.”

“If you’ll agree,” Eli continued, “we can contact these companies using your name as a reference and ask them if they’ll consider shifting over to us. A save-the-planet-with-your-work-clothes tactic.”

“And,” Jacob added, “the president recently signed the tax-break bill for companies who invest in green avenues. Not only will AllGreen get it, but any of the companies on that list who work with us will, too. That ought to sweeten the pot.”

Their actions showed initiative. What’s more, the plan was solid. Spence sat back and watched the two men. This was a good development for them and for Spence, too. He needed some uplifting news today. The date with Annie last night hadn’t gone well and he was still smarting from the grilling he’d taken from her. “Excellent idea. Use my name. Say we’re working together. See how many orders you can get.”

Henderson grinned. The man’s obvious joy bubbled out of him. And Spence was envious of it, for God’s sake. When was the last time he’d felt that kind of satisfaction about business?

Sadly, he couldn’t remember.

o0o

Annie liked the assistant principal, Judith Lang, and had worked with her on a number of events since Alex had reached middle school. The AP trusted Annie because of her own teaching experience. “Thanks for seeing us on such short notice.”

Judith sat in a chair across from them. Her office was small, but well arranged, with a desk facing the window and a chair grouping in front of it. On the walls were pictures of the seventh graders she was in charge of.

“Of course I’d see you, Annie. We don’t take charges of bullying lightly.” Her face darkened. “There have been so many instances of teen suicide as a result. We can’t take any chances.”

Dressed for work in the kind of suit Spence wore, Keith leaned forward. “What’s the probability that our son is being bullied?”

“That’s hard to say. We have zero tolerance for it, there are federal laws against it, and teachers have been given tool kits to use to teach the students about the malady.”