Save Me - Lisa Scottoline [140]
“It’s so different.” Melly looked around, in wonderment. Heads were turning everywhere, as they approached the ramp. “It’s like a birthday party.”
Mr. Rodriguez emerged from the front door and headed down the ramp and strode toward them with a big grin, buttoning his jacket. “Rose! Melly!”
“Hi, Mr. Rodriguez.” Rose met him on the sidewalk. “Good to see you.”
“Rose, I can’t thank you enough. We’re all so grateful to you. You risked your—” Mr. Rodriguez stopped, catching himself in front of Melly. “Well, we’re grateful, leave it at that.”
“Thanks, and I have to tell you that Leo and I never had any intention of filing any lawsuit.”
“I know. I got a phone call this morning, from Oliver Charriere.” Mr. Rodriguez looked down at Melly and touched her shoulder. “And I heard you volunteered to take Amanda her homework.”
“Yes.” Melly nodded.
“Thanks for helping out. That’s the way all of our students should act, at Reesburgh. That’s what community is all about.” Mr. Rodriguez looked up at Rose. “Would you like to stop by the office? I know the staff wants to thank you in person.”
Rose smiled, surprised. “I’d love to, thanks.”
“Great. Mind if I escort Melly inside?”
“Not at all.”
“Melly, come with me.” Mr. Rodriguez smiled, taking Melly’s hand. “Let’s go to class together. I think there’s someone you might want to see.”
“Who?” Melly asked, as they went up the walkway.
The front door opened, and standing in the threshold was Kristen Canton, dressed and ready for work.
“Melly!” Kristen called out, and they ran into each other’s arms.
Rose hung back, tears filming her eyes, finally letting go.
And setting free.
Chapter Eighty-seven
Halloween at the Gigots’ was a houseful of witches, Iron Men, and vampires. Tables were stocked with sandwiches, ginger snaps, and candy bars that kept the boys chasing each other on a sugar high, while the girls bobbed for apples. Rose was dressed as a lawyer in a three-piece suit and a striped tie, Leo was her prisoner in an orange jumpsuit, and John had on a black onesie, as their resident baby judge.
She raised her plastic glass of cider and clicked it to Leo’s. “You know what we’re toasting, right?”
Leo smiled, his glass raised. “Senator Martin’s indictment?”
“No. Guess again.”
“That you look so hot as a redhead. Put me in jail and have your way with me. Got handcuffs?”
Rose leaned over. “This is the first Halloween that Melly hasn’t worn a mask.”
“Whoa, I didn’t realize that.” Leo looked around for Melly, who had dressed as a horseback rider in fringed chaps, paddock boots, and a sweatshirt that read THE BUCK STOPS HERE. At the moment, however, she was with Amanda, Emily, Danielle, and the other girls, her face stuck in a galvanized washtub of apples. They hadn’t become best friends, but the worst of the bullying had stopped, and Amanda had shown a new empathy, after her injury.
“Now drink, felon.” Rose raised her glass, Leo clicked it, and they sipped, then kissed over John’s head.
“Get a room, you two.” Eileen waltzed over, a beaming princess in a rhinestone tiara.
“Hey, girl.” Rose smiled. They’d grown closer, with Melly bringing Amanda her homework in the hospital. “Love the costume. Every mom deserves a tiara.”
“True, except I’m Paris Hilton.” Eileen laughed, then Wanda came over dressed as a witch, followed by some other class parents, Rachel and Jacob Witmer as Barack and Michelle Obama, Susan and Abe Kramer as Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Elida and Ross Kahari as Sarah and Todd Palin. Rose regarded them all as new friends, regardless of political affiliation.
Wanda looked at Rose. “Honey, you know, I have to say it again, I’m so sorry for the way I treated you.”
“That’s okay,” Rose said, meaning it. Lots of people had apologized, and her new email and Facebook page were flooded with virtual love.
“The new CEO at Homestead even mentioned you in his speech. He said the new broom’s gonna sweep clean.”
Jacob added, “I’m so happy that Martin got his.