Forever Fall (3 page)

He had to find a crack in her argument that would allow the board to vote this suggestion into the ground. And he knew just where to look for that flaw.

“Let’s look at the bottom line here, Ms. James. What will it cost the school to get this program started?” Luc leaned back in his chair.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noted that Charles Henderson, ever the accountant, had readied his pencil to write down the figures he expected to be forthcoming from Mandy.

If the board had to take money from their precious, inflated athletic department budget to finance this scheme of Ms. James’, there would be no baby simulators coming into Carson High. And having access to the budget and its allotment, Luc knew Asa had been right in that respect anyway. He could see no other venue from which to get the money. He glanced at Mandy and waited for her bottom line.

“To be effective, the program should start out fully equipped to provide at least half of the students in the class with a simulator to care for during the first phase of the project. The simulators would then go to the other half of the class for the second phase.” She took a deep breath. Her next bit of information would either make or break the entire project. “Please look at the amount I’m about to quote as an investment in your youth and in the future of this community.” She named the price per baby.

With a sinking heart, she watched their collected faces register everything from shock to absolute rejection—everyone except Catherine Daniels. Was she going for the idea, or did money mean so little to her?

Charles Henderson’s accountant’s mind clicked in. “And exactly where would you suggest we access the funds to buy these
 . . .
baby simulators?”

This was the one stumbling block in her plan. She had no idea if the school had money for unbudgeted purchases, but she was aware that they had a huge athletic budget. However, Becky Hart had advised her strongly to allow the board to find their funds without any prompting from her.

Mandy shook her head. “I’m sure you can answer that better than I can. Since I’m not privy to the school’s operating budget
 . . . .
”

Asa Watkins, who had been ominously quiet until now, looked pointedly at Luc. “Perhaps we should get some input on this point from Luc.”

Luc stared at Asa for a long time, hearing the words the superintendent had said as Luc had left Asa’s office the week before.

It’s simple, Luc. If this woman gets her way, I’ll see to it that your contract as principal isn’t renewed.

Luc had gotten the message loud and clear. If this proposal went through, the only logical place to get the funding was to cut back the athletic department’s lion’s share of the school budget. Support anything that would jeopardize the athletic scholarships, and he’d be history in Carson.

Though it grated against his better judgment, Luc was not about to give up the life he had so painstakingly established and start all over.

He straightened in his chair and looked directly at Asa. “Well, the athletic budget has already been strained by adding a new chemistry teacher to the faculty. I really don’t think—”

Becky had warned her, but Mandy still couldn’t believe her ears. “The athletic budget?” Mandy fought to control her anger. “When did sports become more important than the welfare of your children?”

Lucas Michaels glared at her. “That’s not the case at all. If you’ll allow me to finish, Ms. James.” Mandy leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed over her chest, her expression clearly exposing her efforts to control her temper. “The welfare of our children is, of course, uppermost in our minds. However, the athletic scholarships that our students earn are immeasurably helpful in getting them into colleges that would otherwise be financially out of the question for them. It occurs to me that we are already doing a sufficient amount of preventative teaching by supplying condoms and teaching abstinence—”

“Abstinence?” That was the last straw. Mandy jumped to her feet and faced him. “Abstinence, Mr. Michaels? You want to preach abstinence to a bunch of teenagers with raging hormones? Hormones they’ve just discovered and are chomping at the bit to experiment with?”

“Aren’t you being just a bit over-reactive?”

Mandy couldn’t believe this. They might as well put a bottle of whiskey in front of a confirmed alcoholic and say
don’t touch
. If it wasn’t so sad, she’d have laughed out loud at the absurdity of his statement. What was wrong with him? Didn’t he care about these kids?

As far as abstinence went, who was Michaels kidding? What could a man with his good looks and obvious charm know about abstinence? He probably had women coming and going from his bed with all the regularity of planes at Charleston’s Yeager Airport.

That the board would put sports before the welfare of a child enraged her. The collective lack of logic and caring for their own children displayed by the board and the school principal severed her already strained composure, along with any attempt at caution.

“And, of course, you know all about abstinence, right, Mr. Michaels?” Sarcasm dripped from Mandy’s words.

A collective gasp rose from the board table.

Asa smiled.

Instantly, Mandy knew she’d overstepped her bounds and may have made a fatal mistake in attacking Luc, but her frustration level had imprudently pushed the words from her lips before she’d been able to stop them.

Slowly, Luc uncrossed his legs, then targeted her with a dark, censoring glare. “As a matter of fact, Ms. James, I grew up in all-boys military schools, which left little opportunity for anything but abstinence.” His gaze grew colder. “So, to answer your question, yes, I do know about abstinence.”

“I’m very sorry. That remark was beyond rude, Mr. Michaels. I can only blame it on my passion for the subject.”

Luc raised an eyebrow and nodded. “Passion, huh?” The corner of his mouth quirked up in a suggestive half smile, then immediately relaxed into a firmly set expression of censure.

Passion?
She didn’t like the way he’d said that or that smile.

Before Mandy could say anything, Catherine Daniels intervened. “Please, let’s leave personalities out of this.” She glanced at her fellow board members and favored them with a smile. “If the board will allow me, I have a suggestion that might settle this whole matter.”

The members looked at each other and then back to her. Collectively, they shrugged, then nodded in agreement to let her voice her plan.

“I think we should give the babies
 . . .
a test drive.” She looked at Mandy. “Do you have one of these simulators available?”

A glow of hope rose in Mandy. Had she found a sympathetic ear in Catherine? “I don’t have one with me, but I know we can borrow one from the company. They assured me that because of the huge investment, testing the system is quite common.”

Catherine smiled. “Good.” She leaned back in her chair and extracted a white handkerchief from her purse. Carefully, she used the handkerchief to brush a spot of dirt from the lapel of her pristine navy suit.

“Can we get on with it, Catherine?” Bill Keeler obviously had grown impatient with the entire process. Mandy had to agree with him. “I promised Mildred I’d be home by ten.”

“Patience, Bill, patience. I want to get everything straight in my mind before I present it. This young woman’s suggestion has merit, and I think we need to give it more than cursory consideration. As for you hurrying home, I’m sure you’d rather be anywhere but 47 Elm Street, so don’t use that as an excuse to get to Hannigan’s Bar for your nightcap.”

Bill sat back in his chair, his cheeks glowing bright red.

Mandy hid a smile and grasped at the thread of hope Catherine had thrown her. Maybe she hadn’t ruined everything with her outburst.

Asa looked around at his fellow board members. “Let’s give Catherine a chance to explain what she has in mind.” His tone held reluctant resignation rather than enthusiasm.

“We seem to have two distinctly different viewpoints here, neither of which any of us are equipped to make judgments on. My suggestion is that the baby simulator be put to the test in a real family setting. Once that’s completed, we can use the findings to make an informed decision.”

Reverend John Thomas leaned forward to address Catherine. “And exactly who would you suggest do this testing, Catherine? All the board members, having already experienced the dubious joys of parenthood, would know what to expect. Thus making us the guinea pigs would prove nothing. And I’d like to go on record as saying that until the board makes a decision, I strongly object to bringing anyone in from the outside.”

“Exactly, John.” Catherine smiled sweetly and turned back to Mandy and Luc. “That’s why we need a couple who can keep this discreetly confidential and who have no parenting experience. The obvious choices for the test are Ms. James and Mr. Michaels.”

Luc was sure he should be picking his jaw up off the school library’s floor. He looked in horror at the stunned school board, then at the stricken expression on Amantha James’ face. Well, at least he wasn’t the only one who felt as if he’d just taken a punch to his gut.

Could Catherine Daniels mean what it sounded like she meant? Did she expect him to set up housekeeping with this social worker to oversee the testing of the
robo
baby?

Reverend Thomas was the first to find his voice. “Catherine? Ah
 . . .
if you don’t mind my saying so, this sounds most improper.”

“I should say so,” Asa chimed in. “What would the community think if they found out their school board was involved in something like this?”

Catherine Daniels smiled, as if enjoying being able to disrupt the stoic calm of this group of sports-biased thinkers. “If you’ll give me a moment, gentlemen, I intend to expand on my statement, so you can put away your holier-than-thou tone. I can assure you, there is nothing improper about what I am about to propose.”

She settled herself more comfortably in her chair, folded her hands in front of her on the table, and then zeroed in on Luc and Mandy. “I know a teenage girl who is very much enamored with the idea of having a child. She’s only fifteen and has just about driven her parents to the brink of mental breakdown with her misdirected desire to become a mother. I’m sure they would cooperate and agree to anything that might deter her from these inconceivable thoughts.”

Still not understanding why the problems of a teenager involved him and Mandy James, Luc leaned forward. “And Ms. James and I are a part of this in what way?”

Luc watched a smile transform Catherine’s composed face into a semblance of the classic Renoir beauty she must have been as a young girl. “You and Ms. James will get to play parents to this girl for two weeks . . . discreetly, of course. At the end of that time, I will ask the girl if she’s ready to give up her dreams of teenage motherhood. If she is, then the board will reconsider Ms. James’ request. If not, then the subject of introducing the infant simulators at Carson High School will be dropped.”

Catherine cast a sidelong glance at her fellow board members. “Agreed?” Some hesitated, but they all eventually nodded in the affirmative, Asa being the last, his expression clearly broadcasting his reluctance. “Good. Due to the sensitive nature of the situation, I propose that the board leave the details to me, Ms. James and Luc, and that this test be conducted with the utmost discretion.” Catherine looked to Mandy. “Well, Ms. James?”

Mandy hesitated to answer. Living with the insufferable Mr. Lucas for two weeks? Could she do it without doing him bodily harm? Did she have a choice? Finally, she nodded. “Yes. I’ll do the test.”

Luc sighed. He was hoping Ms. James would say no. Since she hadn’t, that left him holding the proverbial bag.

The glaring stare that Asa leveled on him told Luc, without saying the words, that he’d better see to it that the test concluded in Asa’s favor. If not, then Luc would be out on his ear, pounding the pavement, looking for a new job and probably without references. He looked back to find Catherine’s gaze centered intently on him, along with those of the board and that of Ms. James.

Luc sighed. “Very well.”

The following morning,
Luc still hadn’t digested entirely what he’d agreed to. Despite having a pile of work still on his desk, and even though he’d specifically come in early to get caught up, he had swiveled his chair toward the window. He stared blankly out over the deserted athletic field, still convinced the location of the principal’s office had been carefully calculated by the board to remind him of his priorities, and thought about this test Catherine had devised.

The worst of it was, he could see the sound thinking behind Mandy’s request, and, truth be known, he wouldn’t have minded seeing her get board approval, if it hadn’t meant losing his job in the bargain.

He’d gone up against his father too many times not to know that the one with rank held the power. And Asa Watkins, horse’s ass that he was, held both. Yes, Catherine had a huge voice on the board, but Asa was not shy about using any means he could to get his way. Asa’s compliance with Catherine’s test constituted no more than lip service, and he would, if Mandy won, find a way to make his famous “end play” and take home the victory anyway. Mandy didn’t know it, but, if Asa Watkins had anything to do with it, her simulators would never see the inside of Carson High School—no matter how this so-called test concluded.

Luc slammed his hand on the arm of his desk chair. He hated this. Hated everything about the entire mess. Then, he calmed himself. He should wait to see exactly what Catherine had in mind before he went off the deep end. Maybe this wouldn’t be the catastrophe he envisioned. After all, how bad could it be being trapped in the constant company of a beautiful woman for two weeks?

How bad indeed?

His head swirled with visions of her lips, her curvy legs, her soft bedroom voice and that perfume that reached out and wrapped itself around his
 . . .

Sweat immediately beaded his forehead. He pulled a folded white handkerchief from his jacket’s breast pocket, then swiped his brow dry. If his physical reaction was anything to go by, then Chinese water torture would be a breeze in comparison to two weeks with Mandy James.

What in God’s name have you gotten yourself into?

The phone jingled. He swiveled back to face the desk, then lifted the receiver from the cradle. Clearing his throat of sexual frustration, he spoke calmly into the mouthpiece. “Hello.”

“Lucas. Catherine Daniels here.”

“Catherine, what can I do for you?” He fought to hide the apprehension in his voice.

“You can meet Ms. James and me at the Lodge on the Lake today at one o’clock for lunch.”

Luc hesitated before answering. He wasn’t at all sure he was ready to meet Ms. James anywhere, at any time, again soon. “Am I to assume this is in connection with the preposterous test you suggested last night at the board meeting?”

“You may.” Her initially friendly tone had turned crisp. “I will expect you at one o’clock, Lucas. Don’t be late.” The phone went dead.

He stared at the receiver for a time, wondering if he could arrange a quiet, painless suicide before one o’clock.

“Mr. Michaels?”

What now?
He quickly hung up the phone and turned to face his secretary. “Yes, Barbara?”

“The Tanner boy is here.”

“Wait a minute or two, then send him in.”

The door closed, and Luc immediately pushed aside his private problems and directed his attention to the file laying open on his desk.

Jeb Tanner’s grades had dropped significantly last year and didn’t look much better so far this year, and Luc wanted to know why. Jeb aspired to go to UCLA to get his degree and teach. If he kept letting his grades slip, his chances of winning any kind of scholarship, or even being admitted, would seriously diminish—no matter how good his prowess on an athletic field.

The door opened, and a handsome, young blond boy stepped through it, his sky-blue eyes confident and calm. He wore a red sweatshirt with the words
Go Cougars!
across the front and his football squad number below it in white.

“Hello, Jeb.” Luc smiled warmly and motioned toward the chair across from him. “Please, sit down.”

Jeb slid into the chair, then sprawled his legs out in front of him. “What’s up, Mr. M?”

Jeb’s relaxed attitude helped renew the faith Luc had in himself as a fair and just administrator. Luc picked up a pencil and tapped the file. “Your teachers tell me your grades took a big drop at the end of your junior year. And, it seems to be a trend that you’ve continued this year. Is there anything wrong?” Luc adjusted his voice to what he thought of as his
student tone
, one he reserved for dealing with the kids in his school—firm, but friendly.

Had Mandy James heard him now, she would never believe it was the same stern-faced, inflexible man she’d confronted the evening before. He drew a very sharp line between student and adult in his approach, keeping his tone of the night before strictly for dealing with parents and the board of education. That same voice was the one he’d been confronted with on many occasions from his father and the military school superintendents.

A rebellious young man, Luc had been called before the principal many times during his school years, and he’d promised himself that he would not treat any child who came before him like a piece of disposable furniture, without feelings or thoughts. Contrary to Ms. James’ assertion of the night before, he did care a great deal about the students in this school. He treated them like thinking human beings with a right to their opinions and emotions, and he liked to think they all respected and liked him for that.

“No, sir, there’s nothing wrong.”

“The classwork, is it too difficult for you? If it is, we can arrange for extra help.”

Jeb shook his head. “No, sir.”

“If there’s nothing wrong, and the work is not too difficult, then to what do you attribute your grade average drop?” Jeb didn’t answer, just continued to stare at Luc. Maybe a different approach. “This is your senior year. If your marks aren’t higher this year, then you may be endangering your chances of getting into UCLA.”

A smile lit Jeb’s face. “No worry there, Mr. Watkins told my dad I’m a shoo-in for the football scholarship.”

“He did? When did this happen?” Luc felt a ball of anger forming in the pit of his stomach. Asa had no right getting the boy’s hopes up for something that could very well fall through.

“Last fall, after the UCLA scout was here.”

Luc’s nerves tightened at the boy’s words. Jeb was a bright, intelligent young man, with unlimited potential. He was also the star quarterback of the football team, and while his athletic ability could get him into UCLA, if he didn’t maintain a 2.5 GPA, he’d miss out on both the scholarship and the degree he wanted. Right now, he was hovering at 2.8, and one bad midterm grade could pull him down. The worst of it was that Luc knew Jeb was capable of much better work.

It would probably take Luc the remainder of the morning to explain to Jeb why he needed more than just a passable grade and an athletic scholarship to establish a lifetime career. In the end, his parents would no doubt come in and tell Luc to mind his own business. However, Luc felt a responsibility to his kids that superseded the threat of parental confrontation.

Since Jeb had already known about the potential scholarship, and his grades so far this year didn’t show improvement, Luc wondered if something else had caused it, like girl problems. If that was so, Jeb wouldn’t be the first student Luc had counseled through a romantic breakup. But right now, he just couldn’t face that prospect.

Quite unexpectedly, he found himself looking forward to lunch with Mandy James and Catherine Daniels.

Driving to the exclusive
Lodge on the Lake restaurant, Mandy felt sure she could win this little test, hands down. After all, a teenager with raging hormones wanted to date and have fun, not be tied down with a baby. Teens invariably went into this arrangement thinking it would be nothing more than an instant replay of the time they played with dolls, and when they tired of the limitations of parenthood, there was always Mom to take up the slack, while the teen went off and had fun with friends.

Usually, very little time passed before they realized that parenting involved a good deal more than dressing the baby, cooing at it periodically and, when it represented a complication to their social lives, dismissing it completely or handing it off to Mom. Mandy had only to allow this girl to experience the
joys
of motherhood, and the overeager teen would soon be shelving the idea until further notice.

As for the idea of abstinence that Luc mentioned, she’d never heard such utter nonsense. Take two healthy adolescents, throw them together, and they will inevitably gravitate naturally to dark, secret places, back seats of cars and sexual experimentation. And they do it without a single thought for the consequences, either to their health or that a child could result from their pleasure, and that the child could suffer immeasurably from the parents’ transgression. That was something of which Mandy had firsthand knowledge.

Confidence filling her, Mandy swung her car onto the paved drive and followed its landscaped curves to the ornate portico entrance of the picturesque restaurant. Grabbing her purse from the seat, she waited for the valet to open the door, then handed him her keys and climbed out. She smoothed the wrinkles from her beige skirt and headed toward the wide front steps.

However, as confident as she felt, the closer she got to the front door, the more her stomach flipped. Facing Catherine Daniels didn’t make her uneasy. Facing the man who had inexplicably haunted her dreams last night, on the other hand, rattled her more than she cared to admit.

Luc spotted Mandy
approaching across the crowded dining room before she saw him. Eager to have this over with, he’d arrived early for the meeting with Catherine and Mandy. He’d strategically selected a table facing the door, but overlooking the large lake at the base of the hill on which the restaurant perched. He’d always enjoyed the view of the lake. As for facing the door, he’d learned a long time ago to cover his blind side. Back then, his blind side had been his quick-to-anger father, but right now, it was Mandy James.

Now that he saw her again, he was glad he had time to harness his libido before she reached the table.