7
I didn’t even have to go looking for trouble. It found me.
The school called. Patrick had gotten into a fight.
I floored it, racing to the kindergarten. When I arrived, the former nanny was splayed on the floor of the princ- ipal’s office, putting on a world-class performance of weeping and wailing.
I pulled Patrick behind me, crouching down to check him from head to toe. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding when I saw the only injury was a small scratch on his cheek from another kid’s fingernail.
“You’re this little monster’s mother, are you? Look what he did to my grandson!”
I bent down and pointed at the other boy, whose face was a mess of bruises and swelling. “Did you do this
to him?”
Patrick wouldn’t speak.
“Patrick! Head up. Answer me!”
He obediently lifted his head, his hands fidgeting nervously in front of him. “I did it,” he whispered.
‘He called me a stray with no mom. I got angry, so I hit him.”
ruffled his hair. “Good job. You did the right thing.”
The teacher looked at me as if I’d just sprouted a second head. “Mrs. Miller, children will be children, but you e an adult. You should know better.”
“he nanny shrieked, “An apology? My grandson looks like this, and you think an apology is enough? You’re joing to pay for this!”
Patrick did nothing wrong,” I said, turning to face the spectacle on the floor. “And last I checked, I’m not ead. So how exactly does that make him a child with no mother?”
gave the nanny a pointed look. “You know, I was just about to come looking for you. I noticed some cast nissing from a drawer at home the other day.”
he flinched, but quickly puffed out her chest. “What are you talking about? That’s slander!”
t’s fine if you don’t admit it. The security cameras saw everything.”
he scrambled to her feet, shooting me a venomous glare.
I don’t care about that! Your son beat up my grandson, and you’re going to pay. If you don’t, I’ll make you
egret it!”
triumphant, vicious smirk spread across her face. “I know your husband isn’t home.”
clenched my fists, ready to throw down.
he teacher grabbed my wrist. “Don’t be rash. Just apologize and this will all be over. His father is not some-
ne you want to cross.”
Just as she said that, a deep voice boomed from the doorway. “Who? Who’s been bullying my son?”
