Читаем Junior Year Box Set полностью

Junior Year Box Set

“You were there. Both David and Pam said they’d continue to get together with each other. At what point do you back off and let them decide for themselves? That’s right, for you it’s never. I would assume that’s why you punched your daughter, because she wouldn’t bow to your every demand,” Mom said. “Actions do indeed have consequences. Punching your own pregnant daughter, and then publicly blaming David for the black eye you gave her, has consequences too.”

Pam gripped my hand even tighter. Tears were starting to form in her eyes.

“Pam, did your dad hit you?” I asked.

“Don’t answer that!” Cal yelled.

“You shut the hell up!” Lacy yelled back.

Pam looked at me and nodded.

“I hate to ask this, but could you say it out loud?” Ms. Dixon said gently.

“Yes, Daddy hit me,” Pam choked out, and then broke down.

Lacy helped her up, and Lacy and my mom walked Pam out of the room. Cal sat in stunned silence. It seems he’d thought Pam would never say anything. I stood up, and both Tom and my dad jumped up and were on either side of me before I could get around the table. I let them escort me out of the room. As soon as the conference room door closed, we heard Roy Thompson and Cal start yelling at each other.

“You think you can keep him from causing mayhem?” Tom asked my dad.

“If David truly wanted to get to Cal just now, both of us together couldn’t have stopped him. We did, and I think this means he’s grown some inside.” Then Dad turned to me. “Come on David, let’s go find Pam and her mom,” he said, and Tom returned to the conference room.

As soon as the door closed, Tom’s voice joined in the shouting match. I noticed that Ms. Dixon hadn’t left the room. How dumb were those guys, to let her sit in while they screamed at each other?

We found Pam and our moms in Tom’s office. Pam saw me, jumped up and ran into my arms. This was, of course, my worst nightmare. A teenage boy never wants a sobbing girl in his arms. For once, though, I hadn’t caused it. Well, maybe the pregnant part I caused.

◊◊◊

I found out later, from Ms. Dixon, what happened when we left. Roy Thompson had explained to Cal that either he take the deal, or they would help sink him. Cal had shot back that Don Rigby had given him access to the files to begin with. It had devolved into a screaming match until Tom Dole rejoined the meeting.

Tom had gone to bat for me and told them all to accept the deal. Ms. Dixon didn’t tell us what he’d said, but a few minutes later she had the agreement in principle she’d given them, signed by all parties. She came out and found us in Tom’s office.

“It’s done,” Ms. Dixon said when she walked in, shaking her head. "Now I understand why Rigby, Thompson was so anxious to bury this and make it go away so quickly. Don Rigby, the firm’s managing partner, would be in just as much trouble as Cal for deliberately circumventing his firm’s own security procedures and giving Cal access to David’s documents. If this ever got out to the State Bar, he’d be facing potential disbarment himself. He acted to protect his own behind, not just Cal’s."

She shook her head again and continued.

“We’ll work out the details, but everyone has agreed to the terms we asked for. I just need to get your signatures on these documents.”

Ms. Dixon handed them first to Lacy, who signed, and then to my mom and dad. Then she had Pam and me sign to affirm our acceptance.

I sat there and wondered what I did after this? Was this like winning the Super Bowl, and you said you were going to Disney World? Maybe I should get a sweatshirt made as we did when we won State. I could see it now: “I Survived My First Scandal!” Honestly, I never wanted to go through something like this again. I didn’t need a t-shirt to remind me of that.

◊◊◊

Junior Year: Winter

Table of Contents:

Interlude

Chapter 1 – I Would Find Ways to be Me

Chapter 2 – Mmmm, Pork

Chapter 3 – Was it Something I Said?

Chapter 4 – I Can Do This All Day

Chapter 5 – Dr. Love

Chapter 6 – That’s Why We Play These Games

Chapter 7 – Nobody Taught Us to Quit

Chapter 8 – If I Weren’t Careful