Page 69 of Rescuer
He did know that. Gratitude settled inside. “I will. Thanks, Trent.”
He spoke briefly with Swanny on the way out. His partner and best friend ordered him to call if he needed anything.
“Yes, sir.” Jackson gave him a mock salute and headed to his truck.
He didn’t feel like going home. He was restless.
I need to call Mia back.
He dialed her number.
“He-l-lo.” Her voice wobbled.
All thoughts of his morning fled. “Mia? What’s wrong?”
Sobs were the answer. “I—I can’t talk.”
“Mia! I’m coming over.” He disconnected the call and ran the rest of the way to his truck. One thought played in his mind as he hopped into the cab and started the ignition.
Mia needed him.
Mia wiped her tears and pasted on a smile when she heard Gus moving around. She walked to the living room. Gus had dressed in a comfortable pair of purple cotton pants and a loose short-sleeved yellow blouse with white daisies on it.
“Gus, what do you feel like for breakfast? I can get that for you before Jane gets here.” She’d texted her cousin last night and altered the time she needed her, although she hadn’t said why.
Gus’s wrinkled face puckered. “You’ve been crying, dear. What’s wrong?”
She started to deny anything was wrong, but her eyes filled with tears again. She’d thought she’d cried herself dry.
Then Gus was there, telling her to sit down. Mia sat on the couch, the overstuffed cushions cradling her.
The doorbell rang.
“That’s Jackson.” Mia started to rise.
“Sit.” Gus pointed a gnarled finger at her. Then she raised her voice. “Come in, Jackson.”
Jackson entered the house and immediately went to Mia’s side. He took her hand and settled in beside her.
Mia wiped her eyes. When she glanced at her aunt, she was surprised to see the older woman watching Jackson with approval.
“Jackson, Mia was just about to tell me why she’s crying.”
Mia sniffed. “Yesterday, Blaine said the school board wanted to suspend me because someone told them I was a suspect in Dylan’s disappearance. He said—he said he was fighting against it.”
Gus sucked in a breath.
“Well, that’s good, right?” Jackson asked. “I mean that he’s advocating for you.”
She choked back a fresh sob. “It didn’t work. They called me last night. I’m on administrative leave until I’m exonerated. Or until they decide I’m a liability.”
“They didn’t fire you?” Gus asked, her voice confused.
She sniffed again. “No. Not yet. But I need to go and clean out my personal belongings from my classroom. They’ll have someone walk me to my room like a criminal. I had planned to go to the hospital to see Andrea, since she woke up and wants to see me, but I need to get to school first.”
Jackson blinked and seemed to process that for a moment before speaking again. “Look, I’ve been ordered to take the rest of the day off. I’ll go to the school with you. You shouldn’t have to do that alone.”
She wanted to protest, but she couldn’t. She needed him. This was one task she didn’t feel up to dealing with on her own. Having Jackson beside her would help her face down the sneers and deal with the pain of knowing she wasn’t welcome in the school she’d poured her heart and soul into teaching at.
