Page 9 of Guarding Truth

“Not to mention you have zero social life since moving to Savannah last year. When’s the last time you went on a date or even just had a night out without Ivy?”

Caleb shook his head, even though his friend couldn’t see the gesture. The image of one woman popped into his mind, and he shoved it out as fast as it came. Juliette Montgomery was in his past. She’d walked out on him without so much as a forwarding address.

“I probably should take your advice. But right now, I’m pulling into the school. Wish me luck.”

“Praying for you, man. Let me know if you need anything.”

Caleb disconnected the call and trudged into the school office. The brick exterior and lush landscape made the private school seem like a resort rather than an institution.

The receptionist ushered him into Principal Rodgers’ office. He sat in front of the principal’s desk with an awkward feeling, like he was the one in trouble. He tapped his foot as he counted ceiling tiles in the office. Sixty-two.

He silenced the buzz in his pocket. A sneak glance at his phone showed the headline of a news article Blake had sent about the bank robbery.

One problem at a time. He’d have to think about work issues later.

Principal Rodgers entered the room and sat at her desk. “This is the third incident in four weeks,” she said, looking down at him through her long eyelashes. The gob of mascara in the corner of her eye made it difficult for Caleb to concentrate on her words. “We know Ivy is highly accelerated in math and computer science, but she needs to be reeled in. The school has every right to report this incident to the police. Maybe it’s time to consider getting help.”

Translation:Are you sure you can handle being a parent, Caleb?

Why couldn’t people just say what they meant? “Sorry, ma’am. I know she’s getting out of hand. But if you can give us just one more chance before suspending her, I’ll make sure this doesn’t happen again.” If Ivy got suspended, he couldn’t go to work. Assuming he still had a job if the situation didn’t improve with the hacker threats.

The principal stared him down, and he forced himself to not slouch in his chair under her scrutiny. Why did this woman have the intimidation factor of a rabid wolverine? After being in the military for eight years, he should be ready to face anything. But he’d left those days behind to take care of Ivy.

The principal sat back in her chair, which squeaked from her ample girth. Her eyes softened. “I know your situation is difficult. Ivy losing her parents has forced her to deal with grown-up things. But I can’t have her circumventing the rules and disrupting other students.”

“I agree. I just ask you to please give her one more chance. There isn’t another school in the area as prestigious as this one that can challenge her.”

The woman’s face lit up with the compliment of her school, and Caleb prayed it would buy him some time.

“I know Ivy’s been in counseling. Maybe you can increase the number of visits.”

Caleb nodded. “I’ve already texted her counselor after the last school incident for Ivy to have more sessions.”

The principal stared at Caleb, her unruly salt-and-pepper curls bouncing as she sized him up. “I think you might be the one that needs help. You’re doing this all on your own.”

First Blake, now the principal chimed in on the relationship desert in his life. He had Ivy, but forming new friendships, even dating, wasn’t on his list of priorities. In his mind, that just made things more complicated.

And the one thing he didn’t have room for in his life was more chaos.

Caleb forced a smile. “My neighbor, Abigail, has been helping me watch Ivy in the afternoons. So I have some help.”

She sighed. “I know it’s been a difficult transition for both you and Ivy, but she can’t continue down this path. Take her home today and I’ll allow her to return tomorrow with one last chance to prove herself. But she’ll need to stay in line.”

“Thank you, Principal Rodgers.”

He left the school office and found Ivy sitting in the hallway on a bench. “Let’s go, kid.” Ivy grabbed her bag, and they walked to the car. He didn’t have the energy or the words to argue with her now. Hacking the school computer? Even when he was a kid he hadn’t been bold enough to attempt that. In the future, her computer skills would either lead her to a high-paying job or a prison cell. At this point, it was a toss-up.

Once they got in the car, he let out a breath. “How much did the kid give you?” He held out his hand, and she passed him a twenty-dollar bill.

“Why would you risk getting in trouble, Ivy? I’m taking away all your electronics. No going online.”

Ivy folded her arms and sulked in her seat. “He didn’t think I had the skills to do it.”

“So it was a dare? You hacked into a school computer to prove your ability?”

He should be mad, but the shallow part of him beamed with pride that she had pulled the stunt off. “You need to learn when it’s okay to show off your talents. Just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should. You are so smart, but you’re going to be in so much trouble if you keep this up. The school has the right to suspend you. Or worse, involve the police.”

“Well, maybe you should teach me a few things about hacking. Then I can get a job and help stop crimes and stuff.”

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