Sweet Carolina Morning (14 page)

Linny tapped a finger to her mouth. “Denny's raising a good point. Sometimes you think you're doing everything right, but the customer has a beef, and most won't tell you what's wrong. They'll just drop you and go to a competitor. Let's get you to ask them directly how they'd rate your customer service.” Several students looked nervous and whispered to one another. “I'll ask your bosses to team up with you to hand out these questionnaires, and your job over the next week is to get at least twenty customers to rate you. Let's tally up your scores and see what they really think about you.” She hid her smile. Let Denny put that in his pipe and smoke it.

She ended the class, and before she left the store, turned her phone back on and called Jack to let him know she was on her way. It'd be nice to see him after having to deal with snarky men. “Hey, there.”

“Hey, Lin,” he said in his deep, warm drawl. “How'd it go?”

“All in all pretty well,” she said. She couldn't wait to see him to tell him about Mr. Perfect Ten.

Jack blew out a sigh. “I hate to do this to you, but Neal just told me he has a biology paper due later in the week that he hasn't even started.”

“Darn,” she said softly, wilting.

“I really wanted to see you,” he said.

“Me too.” Linny said, trying not to feel sorry for herself.

“But I'll see you tomorrow at our meeting with Ms. Courtland. I'll pick you up at four-thirty and we can go out for supper afterward. I remember what you said about wanting more . . . gooey, Lance Romance.. . .” He trailed off, coughed, and was silent for a beat. “I want to . . . work on the romance part, starting tomorrow night.”

“Okay,” she said. A teacher's meeting with his ex-wife to talk about Neal's problems didn't sound like a good start to a romantic evening, but she'd keep a good attitude. He was listening to her, and he was trying. That meant a lot.

“Call to let me know you got home safe,” he said.

Ending the call, Linny's lips turned up. She picked up her briefcase and rolled her shoulders, trying to loosen them. Though she'd like to have seen him, she was tired. A little R & R at home with Roy and an early bed sounded like heaven, she told herself firmly.

O
n Thursday afternoon Linny studied the three outfits laid out on the bed. Roy watched her every move from his perch on her pink slipper chair, which he wasn't allowed to sit on. She rubbed the back of her head. Deciding what to wear was more problematic than just the one-day freezing, next-day balmy weather. She had a lot riding on this afternoon's meeting with Ms. Courtland. What if Neal's problems were related to her and Jack marrying? What if the problems were serious enough to shake her and Jack's foundation? She pushed her shoulders back and made herself banish those thoughts. She and Jack were stronger than that.

Still, this was her debut as stepmother. She'd test-driven the role at home with Jack and Neal, but this was the road test with Vera, Chaz, and Ms. Courtland critically looking on. Plus, how weird was it for Jack to have to be in such close quarters with Linny, his ex-wife, and his ex-best friend, who was now married to his ex-wife? Too California/peace, love, and understanding for her.

Chewing at her cuticle, she peered at the choices. She wanted to look earnest and capable, but not like she was trying too hard. Outfit number one: the black pencil skirt and white stand collar blouse. She was going for serious-minded, but was the skirt tight enough to evoke a sexy librarian taking off her horn-rim glasses and shaking out her bun? Linny hung it back in the closet. Outfit number two was the houndstooth checked slacks and red cashmere turtleneck: a preppy, anti–trailer trash outfit. Grimacing, she remembered that Vera wore a lot of black, white, and red combinations. She thrust it back into the closet and gazed at the last outfit. Maybe outfit number three—the one she'd found in a thrift shop—was the winner. The eggplant-colored, marled wool sweater was richly hued and soft, and with the slim-fitting brown corduroys, the outfit looked casual and sophisticated. Inspired, she scrabbled around in her narrow closet and pulled out her distressed leather boots that had a slight biker chic vibe about them. Wearing them always made her feel like she could kick someone's rear end if need be. She smiled. Good boots for this meeting.

At 3:15, Linny heard a motor and glanced out the window as the shiny muscle car rumbled down the driveway. She broke into a grin. Jack must have gotten a wild hair with today's balmy weather and pulled his baby out from its parking spot in the barn. She shook her head at her crazy husband-to-be and stepped out on the porch to wave hello.

The windows were up and the heat blasting, but the top was down on the cherry red Camaro. He pulled up grinning and gave a cool salute of a wave. “Lance Romance here. Thought we'd go in style,” he called.

She laughed and felt a fluttering excitement as she locked the door to the trailer and jumped in. He looked like trouble—the Johnny Depp/James Dean kind of trouble—and her heart gave a flutter. When he leaned over and kissed her, she inhaled the scent of him: clean man, laundry detergent, and Dial soap. Leaning her head back in the seat, she gazed at him. “What a perfect day. Can you believe my breath was freezing two days ago and now it's seventy-five?”

“Spring's coming,” he said and gave her a meaningful glance. “We need to get the date for the wedding nailed down.”

“We will. This weekend,” she promised. Patting the seat, she broke into a smile. “I love this car.”

He nodded, slipped on his sunglasses, and pulled away.

As she turned her face up to the winter sun and soaked it in, she thought about it. She hadn't always loved that car. Her rat of a late husband had bought it for his mistress, and Linny'd inherited the payments for it when he died, along with all his other debts. She'd planned on selling it, but steady, practical Jack had flipped for it. He'd been the science club geek in high school, he explained. He'd missed the whole gearhead, cool car experience. Once she'd managed to pull the finances from the fire, she'd kept the car for him. To remove all traces of ex-girlfriend cooties, Jack had had it detailed, and her sister had smudged it with white sage to get rid of any lingering bad karma. But the sparkle in his eyes and the reverent way he touched it when he worked on it made her glad she'd sprung for it.

She worried more about the meeting and cocked her head at Jack. “What if this car makes us look like the hoodish boys in high school out smoking in the parking lot instead of the responsible parents of a twelve-year-old?”

“We'll park around back,” he assured her and grinned as he gunned the engine.

Linny laughed and pulled her coat closer around her. Closing her eyes, she sat back to enjoy the ride, the crisp air caressing her skin. Riding around in a convertible with a good-looking man made her feel young and pretty.

* * *

Jack and Linny held hands as they walked briskly down the hallway to the classroom. She glanced through the glass panel of the door of Room 143 to make sure they were in the right place. There were Vera and Chaz, seated in too-small chairs across the desk from the woman who had to be Ms. Courtland, a very young brunette with the ends of her hair flipped up and a heart-shaped face.

As they walked into the classroom, she shot a glance at her watch. She and Jack were five minutes early. Had Vera and her brooding husband come even earlier to butter up the teacher? Beside the laptop on Ms. Courtland's desk, Linny spied a plate of cookies. An unsmiling Chaz sat stiffly in his chair, but Vera was leaning forward in her chair, talking to the teacher in a girlfriend-to-girlfriend voice. “. . . so I brought you these gluten-free, homemade chocolate chip cookies because people don't seem to appreciate how hard our teachers work to shape young minds.”

Good grief. What an apple polisher. She squeezed Jack's hand and he gave it a quick squeeze back before he let go.

In the room they greeted Ms. Courtland and then one another. Chaz rose and stuck out his hand to Jack, but as they shook, both men only made the briefest of eye contact with each other. Vera gushed a hello and swept her eyes up and down Linny's outfit, as if she knew she'd paid three dollars and fifty cents for the sweater and two for the pants. Why did she always feel plus-size and gauche around Vera? Linny's eyes widened. Vera was wearing red, white, and black. Thank goodness she hadn't worn a twin outfit. Linny pushed back her shoulders and worked at looking relaxed as she took a seat. Jack eased his comforting bulk into the chair beside her. Linny crossed her legs, giving a quick glance at her kick-butt boots for courage. She smiled pleasantly at Ms. Courtland. With her narrow shoulders and slight build, the teacher wore a fuzzy pink angora sweater that made her look delicate. Linny looked at her doubtfully. She didn't look tough enough to break up a brawl if one broke out.

Ms. Courtland cleared her throat and said in a high, reedy voice, “We're here today to get all the parents involved in finding out what's bothering Neal and get him back on track. Neal is a very bright student, and his performance in the past has been excellent. He's worked hard and taken his studies seriously up until the last few weeks.” Ms. Courtland shook her head, her brows furrowed. “As I told you, he hasn't been turning in key assignments and doesn't seem to care that his grades are being affected. It's not like him.”

Vera frowned. “We're so worried that this will affect him getting into a good college.”

Linny was afraid to look at Jack because he knew what she was thinking. The twelve-year-old's chances of getting into Duke or UVA weren't their biggest worry right now.

After asking questions about Neal's progress in his other studies, homework habits, and how he managed his time, Ms. Courtland tapped a pen on her desk blotter and looked thoughtful. “First things first is what I always say. Let's start by finding out why his behavior is changing.” She looked at each of them. “Any ideas from you parents? Any changes in the household routines? Any clues that you might have about why he's not doing well in his studies?”

“We've tried to talk with him about the low grades, but he just shuts down. And there's not a thing new in our household,” Vera said, patting Chaz's arm and dimpling up at him.

Was it Linny's imagination or did Chaz stiffen when Vera touched him? She remembered the tension between them she'd seen in the wine aisle at Earth and Sky.

“He won't tell me a thing,” Jack said. He pointed to Linny and to himself. “We're getting married soon. That's a big change. I know kids can have trouble with mixed-up loyalties and letting go of the idea that their parents will get back together.”

Linny looked at him, admiring his candor and feeling a wave of love, realizing he'd read every article she'd sent him on the subject of how to manage kids' reactions to remarriages.

Vera held out her hands palms up. “That's what's causing the problem.”

Linny simmered. When had Vera gotten her degree in child psychology? Bristling, she stared at her boots for a moment and felt her internal biker chic. Time to speak up. Quietly, she asked, “How much trouble did Neal have when you two married?”

Vera looked puzzled. “Why, none. He was delighted to have Chaz be a part of his life, and for me be so happy.” She sent her husband a sweet smile, but he didn't seem to catch it.

Jack rubbed his chin and said mildly, “I remember him being pretty torn up about the breakup and you remarrying.”

Her mouth tight, Vera smoothed out a wrinkle in her skirt. “Should we get him a tutor?”

Ms. Courtland shook her head. “That may be premature. We know he's capable of the work. We can't come up with a course of action until we know the root of the trouble.”

“Well, it's clear what's bothering him,” Vera said huffily. “The remarriage, having to let Linny in his life, having to share his daddy with some other woman.”

Linny bristled but took a breath and collected herself. “Neal and I are doing pretty well. We have our moments, but we're building a relationship.” She gazed at Vera and Chaz and said, “I really like him, and I'm growing to love him.”

Vera had a speck in her eye that seemed to need her full attention, but Chaz looked directly at her and gave a nod.

“It's wonderful that you're trying and that you know it will take time,” Ms. Courtland said, looking at Linny and then Jack. “Let's remember, though: we're only guessing about what's bothering him. Frankly, my bigger concern is that he bottles up feelings instead of talking about them. I'd like us to schedule a few sessions with the guidance counselor to see if she can get Neal to open up.”

They all nodded except Vera, who gasped. “A counselor? Surely you're not saying he has mental health issues?”

“No, I'm not,” Ms. Courtland said in a measured tone. “Clearly, though, the young man has something on his mind.”

Vera frowned, looking unconvinced. “Will that be on his permanent record? Will he have to carry around the stigma of having seen a counselor?”

“We're very pro counseling here at Parkland Middle School. We believe it's healthy to talk through feelings,” Ms. Courtland said serenely. “All the students here are required to meet with the counselor to talk about academics and to begin to form ideas about career paths. Neal's visit to the counselor won't be anything out of the ordinary and won't appear on his permanent academic record.”

“It's a good plan,” Chaz said brusquely.

Startled at hearing his voice, Linny glanced at him, starting to understand why he was so good in the courtroom. At six foot four, with his jet-black hair, burly build, and penetrating black eyes, he had a commanding presence. How did he and strong-willed, high-maintenance Vera not kill each other?

Vera looked at Chaz and nodded reluctantly. “It seems unnecessary, but as long as it won't go on his record.”

Ms. Courtland glanced at the clock. “I'm afraid we're out of time. I've got another family waiting for me.” Rising to her full height of four feet eleven inches, she walked with them to the door. “Nice to see you all. Let's meet again after Neal has talked with the counselor to see if we can get your young man to talk with us about what's bothering him.”

* * *

The four were silent as they walked down the long hallway. Linny felt a pang of sympathy for Neal, the honor student quietly flailing around and isolated by not being able to talk about what was bothering him so. For his sake, Linny knew she and Jack had to try hard to work as a team with Vera and Chaz. Trying to put a positive spin on things, Linny said, “I think that was a productive meeting.”

Looking unconvinced, Vera sniffed. “We'll see.”

“It was fine,” Chaz said firmly.

Linny glanced at Jack, and he gave a little leave-it-for-now shake of his head.

Though they'd parked in the back, Vera and Chaz followed them out of the building and turned in the same direction. In the parking lot, the only two cars left were a glistening black Lexus sedan and the cherry-red convertible.

Jack pulled the keys from his pocket and Chaz gazed at the Camaro and then at Jack. He whistled. “Cool ride.”

“Thanks,” Jack said. “Linny bought it for me.”

Linny loved the little O on Vera's mouth as she tried to compute how Ms. Trailer-Trash-Marrying-Jack-For-His-Money had bought a muscle car for him. Jack held open the door and she slipped in.

* * *

At the restaurant, Marnie greeted them. “Good evening, lovebirds. So good to see you.” She gave them each a kiss on the cheek and ushered them to a table tucked in a corner. “Our new chef is working on jazzing up our traditional Southern fare. We've got two specials tonight,” she said as she handed them menus. “We have pulled pork served with smashed potatoes, fresh collard greens, a cabbage and carrot slaw, and jalapeño hush puppies. Also, we have crispy fried oysters served with roasted baby spinach, sweet potato casserole with sorghum, and black pepper cornbread.”