Page 98 of Welcome to Forever
Then she watched as he wheeled out of her office. Why did that little boy have to struggle so hard, without a mother to tell him everything would be okay? It wasn’t fair. Life wasn’t always fair. That was a lesson she’d learned in spades, but she was tougher for it and Ben would be, too.
Another loud knock sounded on her door and then Val grinned as she pushed through.
“Dora about choked on the doughnut she was eating. Then she said how nice it was that someone was trying to throw you a bone.”
Kat’s eyes narrowed. She just might land herself in her own Friendship Club by the day’s end because she was going to walk down that hall and have a heart-to-heart with her dear assistant principal.
“What are you doing?” Val’s smile was replaced with concern, and with good cause.
“I’m going to stand up for myself. Dora is a bully, and I’m going to teach her to be nice, damn it.” Kat marched down the hall toward Mrs. Burrough’s door. It was open, so she waited in the doorway for her assistant to look up.
“Yes,” Dora finally said, with that plastic smile that Kat wanted to call her out on. This woman was supposed to support her. She was supposed to back up her efforts and help her make the school a better place.
“Why don’t you like me?”
“Excuse me?” Dora’s plastic smile grew wider.
“You don’t like me. You’ve been pretending like you do, but it’s all a big, fat lie and I want to hear the truth now.”
If at all possible, the color drained from the elder woman’s already pale face. “Principal Chandler, what on earth are you talking about?” She released a shrill laugh.
“You told Mr. Todd that the Friendship Club wouldn’t work. You’ve been against it from the beginning. Against me since I came on board as principal last year.”
Dora straightened and sighed dramatically. “All right. I don’t believe you’re doing a good job leading the school. You’re too young, Katherine. Too inexperienced. Honestly, I feel it was a mistake to put you in this position. Don’t get me wrong. I think one day, you might make a very good principal.”
“That day is now.” Val stepped up beside Kat.
Kat stopped her with a raised hand. This was her fight, and by golly, she was going to fight it. “I’m a damn good principal, Mrs. Burroughs. Do you want to know what I think?” Not waiting for an answer, Kat continued. “I think you’re jealous. I think you wanted this position and you think you could do a better job than me. But you’re wrong. Because a true leader would never undermine a member of her team. A true leader has the best interest of everyone in mind, not just her own interests.”
Dora’s frown deepened. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“And I’m sorry we won’t be able to work together any longer.”
Now, the older woman’s eyes widened. “You can’t fire me. You don’t have that kind of power.”
“No, but I can have you transferred to another school. I have that kind of power, and I’ll use it. Not to get back at you. I don’t care about revenge. I care about this school’s reputation. I care that parents feel good about sending their children here. And what you’ve been doing to undermine my authority has been hurting our students. That’s unacceptable.”
“Katherine, please.” The woman’s voice shook a little.
Kat held up a hand. “That’s all. I hope we can end this relationship professionally.” She turned and started walking back to her office, feeling weak and shaky. And pretty damn good.
When she plopped behind her desk, Val was already leaning in her doorway with one leg crossed in front of the other. “You’ve changed.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Kat I grew up with never would’ve done that. She’d have bitched and moaned about wanting to do that, but she never would’ve actually gone down there and told that prude off.”
Heat moved up into Kat’s cheeks. “Was it too much?”
“Hell, no. It was perfect. I just wish I would’ve gotten it on video. Your sister would be proud.”
“Yeah.” Kat smiled to herself. “It felt good. I can see why men pick bar fights. I feel like going in for round two.”
Val shook her head. “Stay, lady, stay. I think you’ve done enough. And I plan to personally head up the farewell party for Dora.”
Kat chewed her lower lip. “It’s not too mean to threaten to transfer her?” she asked.
Val cocked a brow. “That wasn’t a threat. It was a promise, and you better make good on it or I’ll take back everything I just said about being proud of you.”
“You didn’t say you were proud of me.”
Val’s mouth quirked to one side. “I didn’t? Hmm.”
Kat smiled as she watched her best friend walk away. Then she leaned back in her office chair and laughed a little, feeling good.Reallygood. And she couldn’t wait to share this moment with one person, the man who’d helped her find her way this year—Micah.
