Brianna's Navy SEAL (24 page)

Brianna blinked back a prickle of moisture. She wanted to thank him, but it would have to wait. After such eloquent testimony, giving anyone the idea she coached him would be unfair.

A few more people spoke, then Officer Downey approached the mike.

"Ms. Macgregor has taught more than one of my kids,” he said. “I consider her to be a competent teacher. And I can't claim to have witnessed any inappropriate behavior in school. However.” He cleared his throat. “Last fall, I did catch them ... ah, rolling around in the park, in a pretty compromising position. I thought they were a couple of teenagers."

"Compromising how?” asked one of the board members whose probing questions made Brie think she was leaning toward dismissal. She pushed until Downey, his face bright red, admitted they were wrapped around each other, tongue kissing, though fully clothed and with hands on backs. Brianna had to smother a laugh at his description.

"I was also the officer on the scene when Mr. Addison had a break-in a few months back. Ms. Macgregor was present and was clearly familiar with the entire house, including the bedroom. There were knives in the pillows on the bed,” he added.

Brianna leaned toward Cable. “Is he allowed to reveal that?” she asked.

He nodded. “It's public record, since we reported the break-in."

"It's clear to me that at the time I witnessed these interactions,” Downey concluded, “they were engaged in a relationship. However, I also believe their actions are not severe enough to justify dismissal. Even kissing on the square is something I've caught other parents doing."

The board members quizzed him some more, until his two minutes ran out. It was the most damning testimony so far, but still didn't describe inappropriate behavior at school.

With only five minutes remaining in the hour Karen had allowed, she cut off the testimony.

"We have time for Brianna Macgregor and Cable Addison to make their remarks. Ms. Macgregor?"

Brie stood, carrying her pile of papers.

"I have some documentation for the board,” she began. “Notarized affidavits. Petitions. Sworn testimony from parents who couldn't be here.” She stepped forward and set them on the board's table. Some of the members looked disgruntled.

"Cable Addison and I were involved as a romantic couple from last fall until January,” she continued when she returned to the microphone. “For various personal and private reasons, we ended our relationship at that time. During the months that we were together, we were very careful to be circumspect at school and other public places. Most public places,” she allowed, and there were a few titters. “I am honestly appalled that this proceeding has been required. I cannot imagine who initiated such a thing, wasting the board's and the townspeople's valuable time. I do thank all of you for coming out tonight, however."

She paused to sip from the bottle of water Cable had gotten her. “I would never advocate for bringing our students into this, of course. But if you were to ask, most of them would never have had a clue there was a relationship between us that was more than professional."

"Most?” asked the board member who reminded her of her father.

She had to grin. “There are a couple of girls in my class who chanted the ‘Ms. M and Mr. A, sitting in a tree’ chant."

More, louder laughter.

"You'll also notice that no one has testified tonight that their children have described inappropriate behavior, either.” That had surprised her. She'd been certain someone would have lied, if not dragged their kid in for the meeting. “Isn't that truly the concern? The impact on the students? If there is none, then how can you vote to dismiss us?"

She waited a beat to see if they wanted to ask her anything, then returned to her seat. Cable stood.

"I, too, thank everyone for coming and speaking tonight, no matter the nature of the testimony you provided.” He turned to the board. “I think the information there"—he nodded at the pile Brianna had set on the table—"combined with the facts presented here tonight, will render any self-defense I can make unnecessary. But that's not at issue here, because I tendered my resignation weeks ago.” He waited out the mass gasp. “It is completely unrelated to these proceedings, and my termination only awaits the location of an appropriate substitute, which Principal Dvorak is pursuing with due diligence.” He looked intently at each board member in turn. “The true issue here is Ms. Macgregor's employment, and whether any alleged harm outweighs the value she's brought to this district."

To Brianna's astonishment, he proceeded to list committees she'd worked on, awards she'd won, and even achievements of students who'd named her as an influence when being recognized for their own accomplishments. He opened a slip of paper and read testimonials from a dozen former students and half of her existing ones, who said such nice things she was blinking back tears again.

Cable, still looking at his piece of paper, flashed a grin that would have the women in the room swooning in any other circumstances. Like, if they were in front of him instead of behind him. It even softened Karen Plummer's expression.

"In the interest of full disclosure, Ms. Macgregor did have one student who wasn't as effusive with his praise. He says, ‘Ms. Macgregor is mean. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't even be able to read. Now I have to do the summer reading program at the library.’”

He sobered after the chuckles died. “These are statements made by the kids as part of an end-of-year project we're all doing, where teachers help students in other classes make a gift for their own teacher. None of the children were giving these quotes for tonight. But I think they speak volumes about Brianna's role here. I hope you realize you'll be making a big mistake if you vote for dismissal."

"Thank you, Mr. Addison. Your time is up."

"Then ask me a question.” Cable smiled at Karen again, who froze in her reach for the paperwork Brianna had provided.

"Excuse me?"

"Ask me a question so I have another minute."

"Ahhhh..."

The young woman leaned toward a microphone. “Mr. Addison, are you aware of the identity of any of the complainants?"

It had to be a plant. Nothing Cable had said gave any such indication. Brianna narrowed her eyes at the woman, trying to figure out how Cable might know her. Then Elyse nudged her knee, and Brianna turned to find her mother looking smug.

"Her mother is in my vacation club,” she whispered.

So Cable hadn't been prepared for that question. But he answered readily.

"I do not directly know the identities, no. Some of the parents I spoke with indicated they sided with Darcy Langlais on her goals, however."

There was another gasp in the crowd, this one sounding more angry than the last.

"I'm very curious, of course, why Ms. Langlais would have any reason to file such complaints,” Cable continued. “We all worked very well together on the holiday ball decorations committee, and I sensed no animosity toward any of us on her part. But it's not for us to decide the motivations of others,” he ended humbly, tucking his paper into his pants pocket and giving a tiny bow toward the board before returning to his seat.

The board decided to deliberate and vote that night, instead of waiting a month until the next voting meeting. Most of the crowd drifted away, as the members read through the paperwork and the clock ticked toward ten. Brianna, Cable, and all the Macgregors stayed, as did Ken, Officer Downey, and Darcy.

Finally, at five after ten, Karen initiated the vote, which was unanimous for dismissing the complaints and allowing both Cable and Brianna to remain in their jobs.

Brianna slid downward in her chair, feeling boneless with relief. She thanked everyone she could get near and even hugged Cable, causing laughter and light applause. Even the board was smiling as they prepared to leave.

Then Brianna turned around and almost walked into Darcy, who was glowering with her entire face.

"Hey,” Brianna barked as Darcy started to go around her. “Is that enough of a message? Will you please leave my family alone now?"

"Your family.” Darcy sneered and swept them all with a scathing look, her face darkening even more when it landed on Jake and Cable, standing next to each other. It leached all the beauty out of her. “What would you do without your precious
Macgregors
?"

Brianna laughed. “I hope I don't have to find out. I think that's the point.” She let Darcy go, feeling lighter than she had in months. Feeling like anything was possible.

Even happiness.

Cable felt a lot better after the meeting than he had in weeks, but he couldn't say he felt good. He'd gone home alone, which was harder than he'd have thought after being around the Macgregors tonight and feeling part of their family again. He thought Elyse would always consider him such, but he felt their absence even more than he'd felt their presence.

Gone, too, was his excuse for being with Brianna. As difficult as it was, facing the prospect of her losing her job over him, it meant they saw each other or spoke for hours every day. They laughed and talked about the outcome of the meeting, and he even got to comfort her when stress got too much.

Now he had to go cold turkey back to the way it had been since February.

He had school tomorrow, so he got ready for bed. Early risings were the norm for him, and eleven o'clock bedtimes rare, but he was wide awake ten minutes after he'd slid under the comforter.

"Fuck nobility,” he muttered and reached for the phone.

Brianna answered on the first ring.

"Hi, it's me."

"Oh, hi! What's wrong?” she asked immediately. “Or did I forget something?"

"No, nothing like that. I just couldn't sleep.”
Lame opening, Addison
. “Things went well tonight.”
Stating the obvious
. What was wrong with him?

"Yeah, I couldn't believe how well. Darcy sure hadn't marshaled all her best arguments, had she?"

They talked about the meeting for a while, and Cable relaxed. When they'd said all there was to say on the topic and he could sense Brianna about to say goodbye, he said, “This feels natural, doesn't it?"

She didn't answer.

"I mean, conversation with you has always been effortless. And ... dammit, Brie,” he huffed, releasing all his restraints, “I miss you. I miss us."

"I do, too,” she admitted, her voice soft.

"So why are we putting ourselves through this? Why—” He cut himself off. He knew the friggin’ answer, and didn't want to talk about it again. “I'm sorry. It's not worth rehashing."

He heard Brianna inhale. “Cable, I'm willing to try."

For some reason, that hurt worse than the loneliness he'd been nursing for an hour.

"The problem is, nothing has changed. I don't care about the dangers."

He didn't believe her, but let her keep talking.

"You're worth the risk to me. I'm ... willing to ... it sounds really stupid, but I'm willing to risk being killed to be with you.” She sounded chagrined, and Cable couldn't help a chuckle.

"I feel the same about you. I mean, my own death. But—"

"You're not willing to risk
my
death. I get it. And if we get back together, something will happen to remind you that the risks are still there, and you'll break up with me again, and I just can't take that. Besides,” she added. “Even if I'm willing to risk the dangers, and you were willing to let me, I still couldn't risk how it would affect you if anything happened to me."

Cable didn't have an argument. She was right on all counts.

"I also suspect,” she said into the silence, “that you'd try to wrap me in a bubble to keep me safe. And that would drive me nutser than anything."

He had to smile. “You're right. I would. The fights might lead to some interesting make ups, though."

She laughed at him, then gave a little gasp. “Did I tell you Sophie's pregnancy issues?"

He let her change the subject, if it meant she'd stay on the phone. She rambled on about her sister's elevated blood pressure and impending bed rest, and thought maybe Parker had it even harder than Cable would, with trying to keep Brie safe. Fear of a nonexistent enemy was a lower level of stress than constant fear of losing the baby or worse, his wife.

Talk of Sophie's pregnancy led to talk of Kira's, which led to talk of Elyse and Duncan as grandparents, and finally Brianna realized Cable wasn't saying much.

"How are Alena and Frank and the boys?"

"Alena talks to you every week. You know how they are."

"Well, yeah, I just was dominating the conversation a bit."

"I didn't mind. I just like listening."

"Oh, here's something we can talk about together. Night Tree."

Night Tree was a project the kindergarten and first grades did together in the early spring, taking food for the birds and animals to the nearby nature center. They strung cereal and spread peanut butter on pine cones and then drank hot chocolate to warm up.

"What about it?” He'd thought all their plans were in place and progressing.

Brianna, apparently, thought otherwise, and she was off and running again. This time Cable managed to contribute, and before he knew it, it was midnight and Brianna was yawning.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Brie."

"Okay.” She yawned again, sounding half asleep. “Night. Love you."

Cable froze. Brianna hung up, apparently unaware of what she'd said.

"I love you, too,” he murmured just before the phone clicked to dial tone.

He wished it was enough.

"How did you manage to get twenty boxes of cereal and no peanut butter?” Steve Dvorak surveyed the accumulated supplies on the small stage in the multipurpose room.

Cable shrugged. “I just did what Brianna told me to do."

"What did I tell you to do?” Brianna came through the main doorway, saw the men frowning at the stage, and looked at the supplies. She frowned, too.

"What's this?"

He wasn't sure why she had to ask. “Uh, it's the stuff for the Night Tree."

"Where's all the peanut butter?"

"That's what I was just asking,” said Steve. “There's no birdseed, either."