Page 91 of Inferno
Chapter 23
An hour after Prissy arrived at work the nextmorning,she received the phone call from her boss that she—and everyone else in the office—had been anxiously anticipating. Dr. Dewhurst informed her that the citizens of Coronado had overwhelmingly voted to pass the $17.4 million bond proposal.
Prissy accepted her boss’s hearty accolades and congratulations, then hung up the phone and squealed with triumphant elation.
Seconds later the door burst open and Gayle rushed into her office holding a bottle of champagne and two wineglasses. “We heard you squeal out here. Looks likeit’scelebration time!”
“Yes! Oh, my God, Gayle. The bond proposal passed!” Unable to contain her excitement, Prissy jumped out of her chair, and she and Gayle hugged and celebrated the good news with a happy dance around the room.
Doubling over with breathless laughter, they dropped into the visitor chairs across from Prissy’s desk and sighed contentedly. “The others are on their phones calling everyone they know,” Gayle informed Prissy, “but you know they’re gonna be rushing in here any minute to congratulate you. In the meantime”—Sheuncorked the bottle of champagne with a softwhoosh—“let’s get this party started!”
Prissy grinned broadly, watching as Gayle poured champagne into the two wineglasses and handed her one. “I see you came prepared this morning.”
“Oh, no, boss lady. I’ve had this stuff in my desk for months. I’ve been saving it for this special day.” Gayle smiled, her eyes twinkling with warm admiration as she held up her champagne flute. “I’d like to propose a toast to the hardest working, most dedicated and brilliant superintendent that the Coronado School District has ever had.”
“Oh, Gayle,” Prissy guffawed, flushing with embarrassment. “You’re giving mewaytoo much credit. I couldn’t have accomplished anything without the hard work and support you gave me every step of the way—setting up my meetings with the various community organizations, preparing my presentation materials, keeping me on schedule, running interference for me with parents and teachers, staying late whenever I needed you to, and the list goes on and on. You’ve been the best right-hand woman I could have ever asked for.”
Gayle’s expression softened with gratitude. “Thank you, Dr. Wolf.”
“Thankyou.” Smiling, Prissy held up her glass. “A toast to you, and to the good people of Coronado who put our children’s needs and best interests above everything else.”
“Hear, hear,” Gayle heartily agreed.
They clinked glasses and sipped.
“Now that the bond proposal has passed,” Gayle said, “I know you’ve got your work cut out for you with getting the construction projects under way.”
“Yes.” Prissy sighed. “The next several months—heck, years—are going to beverybusy. But right now I’m just looking forward to having next week off to relax and spend time with my family.”
“Amen. I can’twaitto go home and see my family.”
Prissy smiled warmly. “I’m sure they can’t wait to see you, either.”
Several years ago, Gayle had left behind the only home she’d ever known and immigrated to the United States to attend school. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she’d landed a job with the Coronado School District, serving as secretary to the previous superintendent. From the moment Prissy came on board, she and Gayle had bonded. Prissy could talk to Gayle for hours, whether she was sharing humorous anecdotes about her childhood in Ocho Rios or venting her frustration over the asinine behavior of one of her graduate school professors. And every time Gayle made Prissy some jerk chicken, plantains, and rice and peas—which Prissy had craved throughout her first pregnancy—she wanted to give Gayle a raise.Which she deserved anyway.
As much as Prissy dreaded the thought of losing her invaluable secretary once she earned her master’s degree in education administration, Prissy intended to do everything in her power to ensure that Gayle secured the position of her choice within the school district.
She gave Gayle a teasing sidelong glance. “You know I’ve been craving jerk chicken lately. Will you bring some back for me?”
Gayle laughed. “I’ll bring youanythingyou want. But wait a minute.” A speculative gleam entered her dark eyes. “You used the word ‘craving.’ You and Mr. Wolf aren’t expecting, are you?”
“Girl, no!”Prissy exclaimed with a laugh. “I had my tubes tied, burned and thrown out the window after Mason was born! Good Lord, I already havefivechildren. How many more do I need?”
Gayle grinned impishly.“About five more.”
“Five?”
“Yes. I have some nieces back home who will make excellent wives for your sons someday.”
Prissy could only laugh and shake her head.
“By the way,” Gayle said, “I felt really guilty about ditching you last night. I hope you and Stan weren’t stuck at the fire station too long.”
Prissy smiled demurely, her cheeks heating at the memory of their explosively erotic encounter against the fireman’s pole. “That’s okay,” she murmured, sipping her champagne. “I don’t mind being stuck anywhere with Stan.”
Observing her intimate smile, Gayle let out a shriek of wicked laughter. “I bet you don’t mind being stucktohim, either!”
Prissy laughed, nearly choking on her wine. Dabbing at the corners of her mouth, she grinned slyly at her secretary. “Which reminds me, I couldn’t help but notice that you and Jake left the station together last night. Something you’d like to share?”
