Read Online Graceful Submission by Melinda Barron - Free Book Online Page A

the mantra to herself as they made their way to Watson’s office, exchanged greetings, and sat down. Her hands were clammy and she grasped them together in her lap.
    “I think we should get straight to the point,” Medina said. “Grace, you’ve given years of service to this school. But in light of the allegations of the two students involved, we feel an investigation is warranted. We believe this probe will be in the best interests of all involved. It will clear up the matter, totally, no matter what the outcome.”
    Grace tightened her clasped hands and bit her lip.
    “How long do you expect this investigation to take?” Grace marveled at Preston’s calm voice.
    “A week or so,” Media replied. “We will take official depositions from everyone involved, starting with Grace, tomorrow, if that will give you time to get ready.”
    “That’s good for us,” Preston said. “We don’t need time to prepare, because we have nothing to hide. Ms. Kinison will tell the truth about events.”
    “We will schedule the official hearing two weeks from tomorrow night,” Medina said.
    “Valentine’s Day.” Grace’s voice was flat.
    “Yes, Valentine’s Day,” Medina said. “In between now and then, you will be suspended, with pay.”
    “I was already scheduled to be off three days next week,” Grace said.
    Medina informed her that the office would change her time off from personal time to suspension, so that Grace could keep her time off. Then they agreed to meet at Preston’s office at nine the next morning.
    Preston accompanied Grace while she went to the office to make sure her lesson plans were up-to-date. The office workers were sympathetic, but cautious. It wasn’t until they got to her room to pick up her personal items that the tears she’d been holding back began to flow. Rebecca was sitting behind her desk, waiting to hear what had happened.
    “I answered your phone,” she said as she hugged Grace. “Toffer’s called three times.”
    Grace nodded as she cried into her friend’s shoulder, with Preston patting her back gently.
    “I’m sure they’ll want to depose you, too, Rebecca.”
    Becca nodded at the lawyer and then the phone rang. Grace looked at Toffer’s number on the ID, and tried to steady her voice when she said hello. After she’d told him what happened, he asked to speak with Preston. They talked for a few minutes, while Becca tried to comfort Grace.
    When she took the phone back, she could hear the anger in his voice. “Go out to dinner with Becca and Preston. Enjoy yourself and try to relax. Call me when you get home. And don’t worry, Lolly, everything’s going to be fine. I promise.”
    Dinner passed in a blur, and when Grace finally called Toffer at ten that evening, she had resigned herself to the fact that she would probably lose her job. Even if she was found innocent of all charges, which Preston assured her she would be, things would never be the same for her in the classroom. She could swallow the pill a little better if she’d heard back for one of the publishers she’d sent her work to, but she hadn’t.
    Toffer answered on the first ring.
    “You’re early,” he said. “I didn’t expect to hear from you until eleven or so.”
    “I just walked in the door.”
    “Does that mean you haven’t stood in the corner, yet?”
    Toffer’s “tut-tut-tut” followed Grace’s answer of no.
    “Do it now. It will help you focus on getting into your Lolly-mode.”
    Grace quickly stripped and stepped into the now familiar corner.
    “Don’t you feel better already?”
    “Yes, Master.”
    “Good. I’m sorry about your bad day, baby. But this Preston guy sounds like he knows what he’s doing. He’ll prove you innocent in no time.”
    “Thank you, Master. I’m trying to stay positive.”
    “You’ll be too busy once you get here to think about much. You’ll be getting ready for the party, and, of course, serving me.”
    Grace laughed. “That’s almost a whole