Shaw
Forthethirdtime that day, I punched in my ex-wife's number but deleted it without letting it ring. I placed the phone on my desk and rocked back in my comfortable chair. The one thing in the office I splurged on. Since I was on my ass for most of the day, I’d figured it was a worthwhile investment.
I took up the file about the new student, an Army kid who would likely not be around for long.
The phone buzzing on my desk interrupted my work. That must be Anne. I shook my head. Of course it couldn’t be her. I never made those calls to her. Besides, it was the landline ringing: my secretary.
"Yes, Julieta?"
"I have a parent requesting to speak with you, sir. Do you want to set up an appointment, or do you happen to be free and can take him now?"
She knew damn well I had no pressing matters to deal with. I'd immersed myself in work all morning to stop myself from checking up on Ari every minute. From calling an Uber to take me home to make sure he was still there and wouldn't disappear on me again.
"Who is it?" Hopefully, I'd know the student enough to mentally prepare before the parent walked through the door.
"Judd O'Connor."
Shit, I almost asked her to make up an excuse, but there was never a good time to deal with Judd. We both grew up in Coleyville, and I knew too much about his history. Always got in trouble in school until he was finally kicked out. His wife moved out on him, leaving behind their only son. She should have taken the kid too, but the boy was already so much like the dad.
“You can send him in, in five.”
“Will do.”
I hung up and used the five minutes to take deep breaths, knowing full well what the conversation would be about. It wasn’t the first time he’d shown up or called. The last time he was here, he accused the system of failing his son and threatened to pull his kid out of school. He never once assessed the role he was playing in raising a juvenile delinquent.
The door swung open, banging against the wall, and in barged Judd as if he owned the place. Pompous ass. He must have come straight from work. He still wore his hard yellow hat and a safety vest. His boots were dusty and beaten up, but somehow women always found that appealing. It didn’t hurt that he was built like a tank and had a crude charm about him.
“Shaw, what’s this I hear about my kid being suspended again?” He made no effort to mince words as he slammed the door closed behind him.
“He got into another fight, Mr. O’Connor. You—”
“Why don’t you cut the Mr. O’Connor bullshit. We went to school together, man. You’re not seriously recommending the board remove my son from the school, are you? Because that’s some kind of fucking stunt you’re pulling right there.”
“Your son is out of control,” I said calmly. “During his last altercation, another student had to be taken to the hospital and needed a couple of stitches.”
“They got a little rough, so what? Boys will be boys.”
“I’m sorry, but it can’t be ignored anymore.”
He stalked up to my desk, glaring at me. “You have a responsibility to my son.”
“And I also have a responsibility to all the other students in my care that they can attend school in a safe environment. Your son harms that safe environment, Judd. He has for a while now. Have you thought about getting him into therapy like I suggested the last time?”
“He doesn’t need some fucking therapist messing around in his mind. You gotta get him back into school.”
“It’s out of my hands now.”
“Then take it back into your fucking hands.” He placed both hands on top of my desk and leaned forward. “I don’t care what you have to do, who you have to call, who you have to fuck. Just get it done, or else.”
I raised an eyebrow, prickles skittering down my spine. “Are you threatening me?”
His nostrils flared. “You sleep with men too, I hear. Ain’t the superintendent gay? Why don’t you make him really happy and have him overlook that recommendation you sent to him? You don’t want to fight me on this, Shaw. You wouldn’t want to have to relocate when you’re in the prime of your life, would you?”
“Get out of my office,” I said quietly.
“You have two fucking days to call me to let me know that my son is welcome back in school.”
I shook my head. He must be delusional. “Instead of threatening me, have you thought about changes you need to make so your son has a better role model in his life?”