The Devine Doughnut Shop(58)

“What about my scholarship?” Raelene’s chin quivered.

“That’s between you and the school, but this could have a bearing on it,” the principal said. “We will have answers for all of you within two or three weeks. If you want to hire lawyers, that’s up to you.”

“Crystal, you can begin by apologizing to these girls,” Kenneth said.

“I will not,” his daughter said.

“Then that car you want for your birthday next month is off the table,” he said.

“I’ll walk before I tell either one of them that I’m sorry,” Crystal hissed.

“Who’s going to hide your cigarettes?” Audrey asked as she stared Crystal right in the eye and then shifted her gaze over to Kelsey. “And who’s going to hide your whiskey now that the two of you won’t have me to take the fall for you anymore?”

“Is that true also?” Kenneth asked.

Crystal hung her head and refused to answer.

“She’s lying again!” Lisa shouted.

“Then I guess you are grounded until this is all taken care of, young lady,” Kenneth told his daughter.

“And you, young lady.” Walter tapped Kelsey on the shoulder. “What were you thinking? I hope you will enjoy boot camp this whole summer, because that’s where I’m thinking you should go.”

Grace’s blood pressure was so high, she could hear a whooshing noise in her ears when she walked the girls down the hallway and out to the vehicle. “How bad are those cuts?”

Raelene pulled up her sleeve. “It’s just a scratch, honest. I don’t have insurance, and I haven’t saved enough money for a doctor’s visit.”

“It’s gaping open,” Audrey said, “and so is mine, Mama. Why did I ever think of them as my friends?”

“Because you wanted to be popular,” Grace said. “But you’ve learned a lesson, so that’s a good thing. Neither of you need to worry about the cost of getting you stitched up.”

“Thank you,” Audrey said. “It’s not a long cut, so maybe they can just put butterflies on them.”

Grace handed Audrey her phone. “Call Sarah and Macy and tell them what happened. They’re probably already worried to death.”

Grace listened to her daughter and Raelene tell the story, sometimes even finishing each other’s sentences, and by the time they reached the emergency room, the noise in her ears had settled down.

They had barely gotten into the lobby and told the lady behind the desk why they were there when Crystal and Kelsey and their parents arrived.

“What are you doing here?” Audrey snapped.

“We’re here to offer to pay for any medical bills and for my daughter to apologize. Kelsey? Do you have something to say?” her father asked.

“Nope. Put me anyplace you want, but I’m not apologizing,” she said.

“When we get home,” Walter said with a sigh, “I plan to take the door off your room, and you will do your homework at the dining room table. Your privacy is gone, and it’s going to take you a long time to earn my trust again.”

“Come on, Kelsey,” Carlita begged. “Just say you’re sorry, and this can all go away.”

“No, it won’t,” Walter said, “but it will be a start.”

“I won’t,” Kelsey said. “And, Mama, you won’t let him do that, will you?”

“I’m afraid it’s not up to me this time,” Carlita answered with a long sigh.

“One more chance, Crystal,” Kenneth said. “What Kelsey’s dad says is just the beginning. You have lost your phone and your laptop, except for schoolwork. I can’t believe you’ve used my place on the school board to bully other kids, for God’s sake.”

“Then you should take up for me and fire Mr. Barstow for expelling me,” Kelsey said to her father. “Crystal should be the one seeing a doctor. Raelene busted her lip when I was holding Audrey down. She should go to jail.”

“I’ll resign my position when I take the forms back for their investigation,” Walter said.

“So will I,” Kenneth agreed with a nod toward Audrey and Raelene, then shifted his eyes over to the woman behind the desk. “Send the bill for whatever these girls need to me. I will pay it.”

“Why are you doing this?” Raelene asked.

“Because you could go to the police and file a lawsuit against our daughters for assault and battery—and probably should since you’ve been wronged all these years,” Kelsey’s dad said. “I will be glad to pay the bill, but I’m begging you not to ruin their lives with a police record.”

“They already are ruining my life.” Kelsey whirled around and stomped her foot, but her sneakers didn’t make a sound on the tiled floor. “Prom is in a few weeks, and I’ve been invited, and Mama said we could have my dress made special.”

Grace was reminded of that quote about sound and fury meaning nothing, but in her boiling anger, she couldn’t remember the whole thing.

“Sue me,” Crystal spat out. “Prison would be better than what I’ll have to do.”

“Thank you for the offer, but I will take care of my own,” Grace said. “Just keep those two away from me, my shop, and my kids.”