Cathandsaraforever55: I don't actually know if you read this, but I love your writing. Take it easy and let it flow, your talent will persevere.
To all of you: Thank you so much for the feedback... I really, really appreciate the reviews, they make me smile and I'm glad you're enjoying this.
Love, CSI-330
Sara pushed open the bathroom door and found Catherine sitting on the floor, back against the wall and head tilted back. Her eyes were squeezed shut, and Sara could tell she was forcing back tears. Sara slowly moved in front of her, folding her legs beneath her she sat down facing Catherine. She waited for Catherine to take a few deep breaths.
"Did you talk to Lindsey?" Catherine asked.
"I told her the truth, that you're worried about her, not yourself. Oh, and that it's not O.K. to fight, ever."
Catherine sighed, "I just never wanted any of this to get back to her, we moved, switched schools… god."
Sara moved so she was directly in front of Catherine and took her hand. "Hey, you're strong enough to get through this," Sara said.
Catherine looked down, "Fuck, I'm a terrible mother… mom's right."
"Don't you dare," Sara hissed, "Don't you dare say that you are no good for that girl."
Catherine was silent.
Sara's voice softened, "Catherine, remember when you used to bring her to the lab? We'd hang out sometimes and she would light up when she talked about you… you were always taking her shopping or out for ice cream or spending time with her. I remember your desk cluttered with wrapping paper before her birthday, planning her parties. Catherine, take it from someone who grew up without those things… those are the really important things. Those are the things that I missed."
Catherine swallowed and looked up at Sara.
"Lindsey knows who you are. I know who you are. And most importantly, you know who you are," Sara raised Catherine's hand and kissed the back.
Catherine looked at her, "So what do I do now?" she asked.
"I don't know. But I know you won't give up until you make this right. That's what I admire the most about you. Oh, and you do need to go and talk to your daughter. She needs to hear it from you why you're upset. Although I am friggin' good with that girl."
Catherine smiled.
"There it is," Sara smiled at the smile.
Catherine took a deep breath, "Thank you."
"For what? You're my family," Sara smiled, pulling Catherine to her feet, "You're allowed to lose it sometimes. Go… call me if you want me. Please… you're all I'll be thinking about."
Sara turned to go.
"Sara?" Catherine called, "It's not if I want you, it's when I want you."
Sara smiled, "And I'll be there."
After locking the door behind Sara, Catherine went back up to Lindsey's room. She gently pushed open the door and saw her daughter lying on her side facing away from the door, headphones in her ears. Catherine walked over and sat down on the bed. Slowly, she laid down on her side behind Lindsey, pulling out the top earbud.
Lindsey didn't react.
"I'm sorry I ran off, I needed a minute."
No reply. Catherine gently stroked Lindsey's hair.
"You're the most important person to me Lindsey. It just scares me to think that my past would ever be an issue that affects your success."
Lindsey slowly rolled over, "I know, that's what Sara said. I believe you guys. And I'm sorry."
"Wanna tell me what happened?" Catherine asked.
Lindsey sighed, "Jessica is a senior and I was walking into the cafeteria at the start of lunch today when she pointed me out to her friends. She said she heard her dad say that he had seen you…" Lindsey paused.
"Dancing?" Catherine offered.
"Stripping… at some place that started with an 'm'."
"Mirage?"
"Yeah… anyway, then she said what she said so I decked her. In the face. She went down."
Catherine bit back a laugh.
"Did you speak to them, touch them, or have contact with them in any way before that?"
"Mom, no! I swear."
"Alright Linds, I believe you."
"She's a liar."
"Hmmm?"
"You're not a whore."
"No Lindsey, I'm not. I never have been. I was a dancer, you know that… I've never lied about that.
Lindsey sighed.
"What's Jessica's last name?"
"MacDonald."
"O.K. Well, we have a parent-principal meeting tomorrow at three. You are grounded until further notice… I need to work out the terms of your punishment."
Lindsey gave a little shudder. Catherine leaned forward and tucked her hair behind her ear. She planted a kiss on her daughter's shoulder.
"O.K. you need some dinner. There's a lasagne I'm going to stick in the oven. Get washed up please. We'll get this sorted out."
In the kitchen, Catherine sighed again, bracing herself against the counter. Suddenly she froze… wait, the Mirage? And Jessica's a senior… oh NO WAY! Gotcha. Smiling again, she grabbed the school directory and looked up the MacDonald family's information. Gary MacDonald… alright. She hollered to Lindsey to watch the kitchen for half an hour and ran out the door.
Ten minutes later after driving faster than she would normally, Catherine pulled up outside the Mirage. Stepping quickly inside, she quickly located an elderly bartender unloading liquor and stacking it behind the bar.
"Mick!" Catherine shouted, "Remember me?'
Mick turned and his face lit up, "Catherine! Oh man… wow. Long time no see," Mick looked up and down her body appreciatively.
"Over ten years, Mack. Glad to see that I made an impression though," she smiled.
"What can I do for you? Not coming back for a job, are you?"
Catherine laughed, "No, no Mick… I'm a criminalist now. Listen, I have a question… do you remember a regular by the name of Gary MacDonald? Would have been around when I was dancing?"
"Yeah, Gary Mac… Funny, usually if you asked me something like that the answer'd be no… but I saw him a couple of weeks ago. He came in for a bachelor party or something, he remembered me and we got to talking. Says he goes to some upscale place now to get buzzed… the Macardo? With his office buddies… can only get to the strip joints every now and then."
Oh this is too good. You still go to strip joints Gary, tsk.
"Thank you, Mickey… that's great," Catherine grinned.
"Don't leave me again, you heartbreaker," Mick called after her.
"Bye Mickey," Catherine slammed the door behind her.
Three hours later, Lindsey was fed and on lockdown and Catherine headed into work. Stuck on paperwork until her lab results came back, she shut herself in her office after a quick hello to the guys. Blinds drawn, door closed she found her mind wandering back to her upcoming meeting at Lindsey's school.
Suddenly, there was a tentative knock on the door. It slowly opened and Sara poked her head inside. Seeing that Catherine wasn't busy, she quickly slipped inside and shut the door, leaning back against it.
"I'm just heading out into the field… and I feel a double shift coming on so I wanted to see you before," she smiled shyly.
"Good because I want to see you too," Catherine smiled back.
"Listen, I know you're 'fine' but I just wanted you to see a friendly face. Ready for your meeting?"
"I've gotten it under control... I'll tell you after, OK?"
Sara grinned, "Do I detect a master plan?"
"Maybe."
Sara walked over to the desk quickly and leaned over, giving Catherine a kiss on the forehead and squeezing her shoulder.
"I'm waiting for you," she said as she pulled back and walked to the door. Catherine just smiled.
Before she opened the door again, Sara turned and looked at her again. Catherine felt the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up as Sara's stare sunk into her.
"You're amazing."
And then she was gone.
Catherine stood up and noticed a piece of paper slide off her thigh and flutter to the ground. She picked it up and opened it.
Cat,
You know that I'm here if you need anything.
Please,
Sara xo.
Puzzled at the familiarity of the note, Catherine flipped it over and saw that it was written on the back of the note she had written for Sara on the day that they first kissed. The words were the same, the names reversed. She smiled. I know, Sara.
Catherine strode into the principal's office with Lindsey behind her. The principal, a large, imposing black man, Mr. Reynolds, was already seated behind his desk. Catherine said a silent thank you for not having to wait in silence with Jessica and who she assumed was her mother. Jessica MacDonald was tall and thin with long black hair hanging loose around her face. Catherine saw a dark bruise on her cheekbone and fought back a smile. Damn, my girl can swing. Stop it, bad thoughts. Her mother sat in a stylish A-line skirt in a floral pattern and a tasteful blouse, legs crossed primly. She didn't look at Catherine. Once Lindsey and Catherine were seated, Mr. Reynolds cleared his throat and began.
"Thank you both for coming. I want it known that violence is an issue that we take very, very seriously at this school and I think it's best that this is dealt with right away."
"My daughter was attacked! I don't know how I can expect her to come back to school and focus productively on her academics after this viciousness. This is totally inacceptable," Mrs. MacDonald began.
For god's sake, your daughter's a senior who has twenty pounds and six inches on Lindsey. Quit whining. Catherine turned to Mrs. MacDonald and nodded solemnly.
"I completely agree and Lindsey and I discussed this at length. It was completely unacceptable for Lindsey to hit Jessica. However, I think that there's something that was said beforehand, right girls? Something that should also be dealt with?"
Jessie turned bright red when Catherine looked at her.
"Lindsey?" Catherine prompted.
"She said my mom was a slut. She called her a whore."
Mr. Reynolds paled.
Genuinely shocked, Mrs. MacDonald turned to Jessie.
"Jessica, am I hearing this correctly?"
Jessica said nothing.
"Jessica?!" Mrs. MacDonald's voice went up an octave.
Can't lie, huh Jess? Or too afraid of Lindsey right now.
"How dare you say something so insulting… this is incredible… Ms. Willows I am so, so sorry for Jessie's behaviour. Now I understand why…"
"No! Please, I thank you for your apology but there is no excusing what Lindsey did. That's why she will be grounded for the next two weeks and on strict, strict supervision for the two after that." Lindsey's jaw twitched, "And this is not a time to comment, Lindsey," Catherine finished.
Mr. Reynolds leaned forward, "Well it is clear that there are some new facts that need to be taken into consideration. Jessica, this kind of behaviour is unacceptable… and sounds familiar from your little clique of friends. The wilful, targeted bullying of another student and character assassination of another parent… I'm afraid I have no choice but to take action," he said as he opened his file, "This is completely against the recent measures we've taken to combat bullying…"
Out of the corner of her eye, Catherine saw Mrs. MacDonald go white. Suspended right as she needs to apply to college… would be a real shame for Jessica. She took her chance.
"Mr. Reynolds, this is escalating into a much more complicated situation that it needs to be… with all respect to your school policies, may I make a suggestion?"
"Go on, Ms. Willows."
"Jessica will serve a week of detention; Lindsey will serve two. However, this incident appears on neither record. We make it clear to the girls that they are to stay away from each other and let this blow over. They only have one class together, Advanced Biology? That should be simple enough. Two apologies and then let's just let each parent punish as they will."
"Ms. Willows, that seems like a very reasonable suggestion," Mrs. MacDonald replied, turning to Catherine looking relieved, "My husband, Gary, and I will certainly make sure that Jessica faces the consequences for what she said. Other than that, I think that we'd all appreciate moving past this affair."
"Please, call me Catherine," Catherine smiled back.
"Maxine," Mrs. MacDonald answered.
Mr. Reynolds exhaled, "You know, I think that this is very reasonable. It is slightly unorthodox, but as both parties agree and it seems clear that both girls will face consequences, I am prepared to let this matter drop. Report to detention tomorrow with apologies prepared, which I will oversee."
Mrs. MacDonald rose to leave, shaking Mr. Reynolds' hand.
"Thank you."
She then turned to Catherine, who stood to shake her hand.
"Thank you for being so reasonable, Catherine."
"Oh of course, somebody has to be the adult right? I remember how it is, high school, tempers flare. Please, let's put this behind us."
Mrs. MacDonald smiled one last time and ushered Jessica out of the office.
After she left, Catherine extended her hand to Mr. Reynolds, "I apologize again for the disruption to the school."
"Not at all Ms. Willows, please, let's put this behind us. Lindsey is a good girl and a great student so there is no need for this to hang over her."
Catherine beamed and pulled Lindsey out of the office, "My hopes exactly, Mr. Reynolds."
Catherine pushed a finger to her temple as she opened the door to the car. So Mrs. MacDonald doesn't know that Gary caught my act. Interesting… I wonder if Gary and the guys will be out for drinks tonight? I've never been to the Marcado…