Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“That was a sneaky move, you know,” I said quietly.
She shrugged “I love you, Sav, but whatever you and Max have going on has no place in our renovation objective.”
“Max and I have nothing going on,” I huffed.
“Of course not. Let me correct myself. Whatever you and Max will have going on⎯”
“You’re still using the wrong tense, Stacey,” I rolled my eyes at her cheeky grin. “There is nothing going on between Max and me, nor will there be.”
She gave me a funny look. “We’ll see what time has to say about that, won’t we.”
I narrowed my eyes on her. “Do you know something I don’t?”
“I know something is not right. I don’t believe he stole that money.”
“Er… news flash. He pleaded guilty.”
“Sometimes people make deals for a lesser sentence, you know?”
I shook my head with exasperation. I couldn’t discuss this with Stacey. She was just too naïve. “Look. I know you mean well and think the best of everyone, but in this case you’re wrong, okay?”
“No, you’re wrong,” she shot back passionately. “You should be Mrs. Blackstone with a couple of little Blackstone’s running around. I don’t take you to walk away from a man in trouble or to be the snobbish type to hold a guy’s prison record over his head. I saw how you looked at him. Hell, you were vibrating with need.”
“Stop being so dramatic. I wasn’t ‘vibrating with need’.”
“Well, whatever it was, fix it and get the hell on with being happy and in love again. I could eat some wedding cake.”
“So, go get married then.”
“No thanks. I’m far too picky. I’ll wait for yours.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “You don’t stop, do you?”
“Nope. And I’m usually right on the money too. You and Max were made for each other. You’ll get back together. You’ll see.”
“You finally got the tense right – were. There is no more Max and me. All I want is to get the check, and call it a day.”
My tone brooked no further conversation on the matter and though she made a face, she said nothing else. We finished cleaning up in a matter of minutes.
The rest of the week was taken up between classes and working on the final report to present to Max. I half-hoped that he would be one of the cop-out pledges who called to say he could not honor his word after all. It would give me some more ammunition to fuel my anger at him as well as make it clear that he was no good. I had nothing to regret. But all week, no call nor email came from him. I turned the figures over to Arthur on Friday afternoon and he promised to have the official report ready by Monday.
I spent the weekend grading final assignments as we were heading into two weeks of end of year tests. I started working on my report cards as well.
We had another committee meeting on Monday for me to present the final report. As I had predicted, the shortfall came to approximately ninety-seven thousand dollars and some change. Everything was neatly put together and accompanied by the necessary pro forma invoices and other related documents. I promised, with a pounding heart, to call Max the next day.
Tuesday afternoon after the last student left, I sat staring at the business card on my desk. The letters swam before my eyes as raw panic took hold of me. I felt like a giddy schoolgirl about to talk to her crush. No. Wrong analogy. I felt like a prisoner about to have an interview with her jailor about the possibility of early parole. I tapped the card a few times before picking up the phone and dialing. It started to ring.
“Hello?”
“Max Blackstone?” I kicked myself mentally. It was his personal number and there was no need to ask if it was him. Stupid!
“Speaking.”
I could hear the amusement in his voice. I cleared my throat and rushed on. “This is Savannah Maitland from Dunrobin Middle School.”
“I know it’s you, Savannah. To what do I owe this call?”
“I would like to discuss the donation you promised for the lab.”
“What about it?”
“I did as you asked and have a figure for the shortfall.”
“Okay. You can come by my office so we can discuss it further.”
I almost swallowed my tongue. “I beg your pardon?”
“I said, come by my office so we can discuss the matter further.”
“But, why? You said you would fill the gap. I don’t think there’s anything further to be discussed that we can’t do over the phone.”
“But I would prefer to discuss it face to face.”
“So that’s it then. This is your way of backing out on your promise. Typical. You build up our hopes and when the time comes to back your word you come up with excuses.” I knew I sounded irrational, but the anxiety I was experiencing just thinking about having to interact with Max again was flooding through my veins.