They Rejected My Daughter novel · Chapter 4 of 24

Chapter 4: The Porch

I parked behind his sedan and sat for a moment with the engine ticking.

Howard Haskins did not look up.

His shirt was wrinkled, and one of his shoes was untied.

I got out and walked around to his window and tapped on the glass.

He jumped, then fumbled the door open and nearly fell out of it.

"Ms. Lund," he said. "Ms. Lund, thank God."

"Mr. Haskins."

"I have been calling you since seven this morning."

"I saw."

"I tried your office, and they said you were out." He wiped his forehead with the back of his wrist. "I didn't know. I want you to understand that. The enrollment form said Sharples, and nobody told me whose child she was."

"Would it have mattered?"

"No! Of course not." He stopped. "I mean, I would have handled it differently."

"Handled what?"

His mouth opened, and nothing came out of it.

I waited.

Behind me the porch light came on, and the front door opened.

Ruby stood in the doorway in her socks, holding the doorknob.

She looked at the principal, and then at me.

"Mom?"

"Go back inside, sweetheart. I'll be a few minutes."

She did not go.

"Dr. Lund," Haskins said, louder, and the word went down the quiet street. "Superintendent Lund. The district sent the notice out on Monday and I didn't read it. I didn't put your name together with the girl's. I'm so sorry."

I saw Ruby's face change.

"You told me you got a promotion," she said slowly. "You said it was a bigger office. You didn't say that."

"I said the title when you asked, and you fell asleep."

"I was twelve."

"You were thirteen in November."

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