So far, Miranda is raising her ex-lover, Dougie's son, Waylon. She obtained temporary custody when Dougie disappeared but now he's back and Miranda is afraid he's back to take his son.

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I have an hour and a half before I have to be at work so I drive to the high school and pull into the visitor parking. I drum my fingers on the steering wheel and stare at the entrance to the building. If there is anyone I could live the rest of my life never seeing again, and be at peace with that knowledge, it would be Elaine Buckley. My ex-mother-in-law and I have a long and uncomfortable history. She despises me and I think she is the Anti-Christ. She blames me for the divorce between her son, Farley, and me. Maybe I am to blame, because I am the one who went out and got a lawyer, but only after years of him stepping out on me.

I pull my keys from the ignition and start for the school. Just stay calm and let her know about Mr. Tomlin. Surely, even Elaine will want to make sure nothing is going on. I won't even bring up Waylon's name, just that kid Trent Evanoff. I pause and rack my brain for the kid's name. I know it started with a T, but Trent doesn't sound right. Why didn't I write it down? I'm terrible at names, especially when I'm upset and what Waylon told me upset me. I'll just call him the Evanoff kid. Maybe she'll slip up and say the first name.

I get to the door and press the buzzer. No one asks why I'm here, just buzzes me on through. I step in to the office and look around. No resource officer is lounging about, thankfully. That little toad of a hall monitor gives me the creeps.

The secretary puts her cell phone down and looks up at me. "Hi, sorry, trying to put in my grocery list. How can I help you?"

"I need to see Elaine," I say.

"I'll see if she's free. And who are you, hon?"

"Just tell her Miranda is here."

She nods and calls to Elaine's office. She whispers something and I hear her as she says my name, then says it again. When she puts the phone back down she smiles stiffly at me. "Have a seat. She'll be with you in a few."

I flip through the yearbooks that are scattered on the side table and look up the faculty pictures. Sure enough, smiling smugly, is a Dennis Tomlin.

Elaine comes up front, greets me with the warmth of a frozen tundra wind. "Miranda, this is a surprise."

"You didn't say pleasant surprise, Elaine," I say, chiding her playfully.

She doesn't seem to defrost one single degree. "No, I didn't. How can I help you?"

"Are you going to invite me back to your office?"

"I'm sure whatever you have to say, it can be said right here in the lobby."

I shrug, knowing the minute I say something about Mr. Tomlin being a predator, Elaine is going to flip her wig and drag me down the hall. "Okay, I'm just gonna warn you that what I'm about to say might not be a great reflection on the school."

"Spit it out, Miranda."

"I think Mr. Tomlin is trying to groom one of his students." I watch as the words settle on her and her bottom lip turns down. Quickly, she looks around to see if anyone might have heard my statement.

"That is the craziest thing I think I've ever heard you say, and I've been around you when you were drinking, Miranda."

"I have it on good, well, pretty good authority that he did this in high school and tried to force himself on several younger boys."

"Lower your voice!" she hisses, then motions for me to follow her behind the reception desk and back to her office.

Once we are both inside, she closes the door. "Mr. Tomlin is one of our best teachers. This sounds like a smear campaign. Who made these accusations?"

"Someone who was there, and caught him."

"Miranda, do you know what our teachers make? Do you know how hard it is to try to rein in teenagers. Sometimes, things teachers do are misconstrued."

"There is something about him, Elaine. Underneath that best teacher act of his, there is bad news. I don't care if you believe me, but watch him. I know you want to protect your teachers, but don't forget to look out for your students." I stand up and start for the door.

"You said he was grooming someone. Who would that be?"

"All I know is his last name is Evanoff."

"I'll talk to him."

I nod then open the door and leave.

When I get back to my car, my hands are shaking. I hope Elaine was being truthful when she said she'd talk to the Evanoff boy. But I won't have anyway of knowing, I'll just have to trust her to do the right thing. This is going to be torture.

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Matt is in the office when I come into work. He looks rough, bags under his eyes, and his clothes are wrinkled.

"Jesus, Matt, are you living in your car or something?"

He looks up confused. "No. Why?"

"Well, look at you. You don't look like you've had any sleep in week and your clothes are wrinkled and a mess."

He sighs heavily. "Wife's been out of town at some religious retreat. I've got the kids by myself. I messed up the washing machine, forgot to send money with them for lunches. I'm worn out."

"Take them out for pizza tonight."

"We had McDonald's Monday, Patterson Deli last night. I can't afford to take them out again. This is killing me."

"When does she get back from her retreat?"

"Not until Sunday," he says, his voice cracking as he speaks. "I love my kids, Miranda, but they are bad. There is no other way to say it. Randy is hitting his sister, she's taking his shoes and throwing them into the fireplace. I can't turn my back on them for a second."

"Grow a pair, Matt. They are kids. You make them behave. You take the remotes and the tablets and everything else. Lock them in the trunk of your car. Tell them if they don't start acting better, you won't give them their things back."

"Do you have any idea what hell they will raise? Kids don't listen to reason. They fight back."

I tap my foot. "You are their father, Matt. Take the wheel."

He sighs again and nods. "You're right. I'm gonna straighten them out. When they get home from school, I'm gonna sit them down and let them know who's boss." He pushes back the chair and stands. "I've got this."

I pat him on the back and smile as he leaves the office and heads for the back door. "You got this, Matt."

I smile until he's safely on the other side of the door and the door is shut. Poor guy. He doesn't stand a chance.