Lake News by Barbara Delinsky Page B

front page of every paper in the state. It’d be suicide for Kagan if you play at her event. I can’t do it, Lily. I’m sorry.” She backed toward the door as the phone rang. “Don’t answer it,” she warned as she left, “and don’t turn on Justin Barr.”
    Unbeknownst to Elizabeth, her instructions were connected, and remarkably prescient. But she wasn’t there to hear what Lily heard on her machine, the pompous voice of a guy who thought he was bigger than big. “Lily? Are you there, Lily? This is Justin Barr, and we’re on the air. My listeners want to hear your side of the story—”
    â€œThey do not,” Lily muttered and turned off the machine.She packed up for school, went down the back way, and ran off through the waiting crowd, wearing sunglasses so that no one would see if she cried—and if she did, it wouldn’t be from fear or sadness. Her jaw was rigid. She was absolutely, positively furious.
    Michael Eddy was waiting for her at the large wooden door of the school. He let her in and held up a warning hand to the press, but the warning shifted her way when he said, “My office, please.”
    Putting the sunglasses on her head, she followed him there. He didn’t offer her a seat. She didn’t take one.
    â€œI’m getting calls from parents and trustees,” he said, with one hand on the back of a chair and the other at the nape of his neck. His eyes were accusing. “They want to know how we could hire someone with a criminal record to teach their children. I told them we didn’t know. I want you to tell me why we didn’t.”
    Lily’s heart was pounding so hard it practically shook her blouse. With what little breath was left, she said, “I don’t have a criminal record. The case was dismissed. The file was sealed. I was told that that protected me.”
    â€œWho told you that?”
    â€œMy lawyer. The judge. It was very clear.”
    â€œDidn’t you think the parents here would care?”
    She thought about how to answer, but the longer she thought, the more angry she grew. “What’s there to care about? I’ve told the truth. I was never convicted of anything.”
    â€œThen why the probation? And why a sealed file? You’re teaching children here, Lily. You should have said something.”
    She disagreed. But Michael wasn’t in her shoes—and she wasn’t in his. She looked at him, not knowing what to say.
    He sighed. “I hired you, and I’m the head, so I’m on the hot seat. I mean, hell, Justin Barr is making us look like fools. He’s riling up the same people we solicit for the annual fund.” His shoulders drooped. “I won’t fire you. You’ve done too good a job. But I’m asking you to take a voluntary leave of absence.”
    Her eyes went wide. She loved her work here, she needed the money, and she hadn’t done anything wrong! Frightened, she asked, “For how long?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œUntil this blows over? Until people forget?”
    â€œThat may take a while.”
    The way he said it, the way he stared at her without blinking, told her more. “A permanent leave of absence,” she said, because the whole situation was so absurd, why not that?
    â€œAn indefinite leave. Just until you find a job somewhere else.”
    She stared right back, angry at him now and not caring that he knew. He could play with words all he wanted, but yes, he was firing her. She tried to see it from his side. All she saw was a man who didn’t have the courage to stand up for someone he believed in.
    The bottom line, of course, was that he didn’t believe in her.
    Fitting her sunglasses to her nose, she left the office. She refused to think about the a cappella groups that she had brought so far, refused to think about the soccer player who couldn’tplay the piano for beans but was