Forever With You (Bayou Dreams Book 5) (18 page)

Gratitude pumped through Leslie’s veins at her words. To know that her sister-in-law was willing to go to such lengths to stay in Kristi’s and Cass’s lives meant everything.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Leslie said. “We’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Well, except for the beach.”

Shayla’s eyes widened. “The beach?”

“Gabriel asked me and the girls to join him at a beach house he rented in Biloxi. He’s bringing his siblings out for spring break.”

“You’re going to the beach in Biloxi?” Trepidation colored Shayla’s voice. “Does Gabriel know that’s where Braylon killed himself?”

Leslie shook her head. “I haven’t told him.”

“Are you sure you’re ready to handle this, Les?”

“Last night, after you left—after Gabriel left—I had a long talk with Braylon. I told him I loved him.” She took a deep breath. “But that I had to leave him behind. So, yes,” she said with a vigorous nod. “I’m ready to handle the beach. I’m ready to start making new memories with the man that I love. And where better to start making them?”

“Oh, honey,” Shayla said, enveloping her in a hug. “You are the very definition of incredible. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thank you,” Leslie said. She laughed. “Now all I have to do is figure out how to tell my daughter that I’m dating her teacher.”

Shayla laughed. “Good luck with that. You never know. She may think it’s cool.”

Leslie was astounded to discover that Shayla was right. After they left the park, Leslie took the girls on a stroll around the neighborhood so that Buster could get some exercise. As Cassidy struggled to get the stubborn dog out of Mrs. Black’s prized blue-eyed daisies, Leslie brought up the subject of Gabriel.

“Cass, you’ve noticed how Mr. Franklin has been coming over to the house, haven’t you?”

“Yeah,” Cassidy said. “Get out of there, Buster! Why is this dog so stupid?”

“Stop calling Buster stupid,” Kristi protested. “You’re stupid.”

“Kristi,” Leslie admonished.

“She called Buster stupid, but Buster can’t say it back, so I said it for her.”

Leslie didn’t know how to defend herself against that logic. She wouldn’t even try.

“As I was saying,” she continued. “Mr. Franklin has been coming around lately because we’ve been seeing each other.”

“You’re Mr. Franklin’s girlfriend?” Cassidy asked.

Leslie’s breath stilled in her lungs. Apprehension skirted down her spine as she nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I’m his girlfriend. Are you okay with that?”

Cassidy tilted her head to the side, then shrugged. “Sure. You needed a boyfriend.”

Leslie’s jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

“Mom’s got a boyfriend,” Kristi sang, shaking her hips. “Mom and her boyfriend sittin’ in a tree...
k-i-s...
What’s the rest?”

Cassidy rolled her eyes.

Leslie looked between her two girls and burst out laughing. “You two never cease to surprise me. Come on, let’s get Buster home. The two of you are giving her a bath.”

Kristi and Cassidy both groaned.

Leslie used the ace she kept in her pocket, a bacon-flavored dog treat, to cajole Buster away from the daisies. As they turned onto Collins, they encountered Sawyer Robertson jogging up the street.

“Well, hello,” he said, his entire body drenched in perspiration.

“Hello, Sawyer,” Leslie greeted.

“Guess what?” Kristi said.
Oh, no.
“My mom has a boyfriend. He’s Cass’s teacher.”

Oh, Lord
. Leslie’s eyes went wide.

“Really?” Sawyer said, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked at Leslie. “Congratulations. Maybe now the deaconesses will lay off. I was a real disappointment to them when it came to snagging your attention.”

Leslie shook her head, a mixture of chagrin and relief washing through her. “I knew it,” she said. “Those meddling women. I’m so sorry for anything they said to you.”

“It’s okay,” Sawyer said. “If I was at another time in my life, I would give that new boyfriend of yours a run for his money.” He winked, then waved at the girls before continuing along the sidewalk.

Leslie watched him jog away, thinking that one day that man would definitely make some lucky lady very happy.

Chapter 12

L
eslie snuggled closer into the cocoon Gabriel’s body created around her. She rested her head on his firm biceps as they rocked slowly from side to side, watching the volleyball game taking place just down the beach.

Gabriel’s younger brother, Elias, held Kristi up on his neck so she would be tall enough to hit the ball over the net. Cassidy was busy trying to impress her new idol, Daniela, by diving for each and every ball that came her way.

Even though dusk would be upon them soon, Leslie didn’t want to stop the game until she absolutely had to. It was their last night at the beach house, and she wanted the kids to soak in as much fun as they could. Besides, she was perfectly fine where she was, her bottom settled in the sand, her back resting against Gabriel’s solid chest. She could feel his heartbeats, the steady rhythm lulling her into a state of such contentment. She could stay right here forever.

Leslie had been cautious about her and Gabriel being too affectionate around the girls, even choosing to sleep in the room with Kristi and Cassidy their first two nights at the beach house. Then, yesterday, Cass had come up to her while she was packing their picnic lunch and told Leslie that she and Mr. Franklin sure didn’t act like girlfriend and boyfriend. It was then that Leslie decided her girls would probably be okay with seeing a little affection between her and Gabriel.

And she was ever so grateful, especially after spending last night in bed with him. He’d spent hours showing her just how affectionate he could be. It had continued throughout today. Now that they’d given themselves permission to be more open about their relationship around the kids, Gabriel didn’t hesitate to show it.

During the past hour as they’d sat wrapped in each other’s arms out on the beach, Leslie had grown used to his featherlight kisses along her cheek, down the slope of her neck, on her bare shoulder.

He tightened his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. “You still doing okay?”

She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “For the hundredth time, yes, Mr. Worrywart.”

“You can be as sassy as you want to, smart-ass. Still won’t stop me from asking.”

Leslie had decided to wait until they’d arrived at the rented beach house before giving Gabriel the full details of Braylon’s suicide. She’d told him about the trip she, Braylon and the girls had taken two years ago to the beach in Biloxi, and how the day after they’d gotten back home, Braylon had returned to Mississippi, parked on the beach and shot himself in the head.

Just as she’d anticipated, Gabriel had been horrified that he’d brought her to this place that had such awful memories. He’d insisted they leave immediately, but Leslie had refused. And she was happy she hadn’t let him talk her into returning to Gauthier.

She’d found peace again on this beach.

Coming back to the place where Braylon had taken his life, confronting the memories it held and accepting that it was okay to move on had been the true start of her healing process. It felt as if every burden she’d carried for the past two years had lifted from her shoulders. She was ready to face her future. Knowing the man whose strong arms surrounded her would be a part of that future brought her peace so immense that Leslie couldn’t put it into words.

But words were unnecessary. All it took was one look, one faint caress of his fingers along her skin, one gentle press of his soft, sweet lips against her own. And there it was. Peace.

“Do you think we can get them away from that volleyball game?” he asked.

“It’ll be difficult, but I think I know one way,” Leslie said. She pushed up from the sand and walked over to the volleyball net.

“Who wants to roast marshmallows?” she called.

The volleyball game was instantly forgotten.

Ten minutes later they all were seated around the beach house’s built-in fire pit. Kristi squealed every time the orange flame licked her giant marshmallow.

“This needs chocolate and graham crackers,” Daniela said.

“Oh, s’mores! That would have been so good.” Leslie playfully elbowed Gabriel in the rib cage. “Why didn’t you think of that?”

“Sorry,” he said. “Maybe next time.”

The thought of a next time sent a spiral of pleasure through Leslie’s bloodstream. “Definitely next time,” she said.

The sun had just begun its descent into the calm gulf waters when Gabriel’s cell phone rang. He slipped it out of his pocket and answered.

“Hey, Tristan, what’s up?”

His brow creased in concern, setting Leslie instantly on edge.

“What the hell?” Gabriel said. He jumped up from the Adirondack chair. “Ask Matt to stall for as long as he can. I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

Leslie stood, her heart in her throat.

Gabriel looked at her, his expression a mixture of fury and disbelief. “We need to get back to Gauthier right now.”

* * *

The normally hour-and-a-half drive from Biloxi took them almost two hours due to spring-break traffic heading from the many beachfront properties. Gabe had filled Leslie in on his short phone call with Tristan.

Before they’d crossed the Mississippi State line, Tristan had already called twice more, relaying what was taking place at the emergency meeting that had been called after word broke that the school board had convened in a hastily called Sunday-afternoon board meeting and decided that Gauthier Elementary and Middle School should be closed and all students moved to the new facility on Highway 421.

Gabe banged his fist on the steering wheel.

“Tristan told me this would happen. You told me this would happen. Hell, everybody told me this would happen.”

“It hasn’t happened yet,” Leslie said. “Let’s just get to the school.”

When they pulled up to GEMS, there were so many cars that Gabe had to park along the highway.

Leslie had called Shayla when they were still ten minutes out. She spotted her sister-in-law waiting outside the doors of the school auditorium. Shayla wrapped an arm around Cass’s shoulders and the other around Kristi’s and asked the girls if they were up for a late-night movie. She invited Daniela and Elias to come along, as well.

Leslie gave her a grateful kiss on the cheek before hurrying into the auditorium.

The place looked to be on the brink of pandemonium. Angry parents barked at the superintendent and other school-board members, while Matt Gauthier and his wife, Tamryn, implored people to get in line and use the two microphones that had been set up on either side of the auditorium.

Leslie rushed to the nearest microphone.

“Quiet down, everyone,” she called. “Please, quiet down.”

Well, that didn’t work.

Leslie spotted a gavel on the table where the school-board members sat. She grabbed the gavel, brought it to the microphone and banged with all her might. That got their attention.

“People,
please
,” Leslie said. “We all know that screaming won’t get us anywhere.”

“I told you they were gonna close the school,” Janice yelled. “I told you!”

“Has the school board explained their position?” Leslie asked.

“Not yet,” Matt Gauthier said. “I think we should all quiet down and give them the chance to do just that.” Matt turned to the seated board. “Superintendent McCabe, the floor is yours.”

The head of the school board stood and buttoned his suit coat. He walked over to the microphone on the other side of the auditorium and began.

“After much consideration, the board has come to the conclusion that it is in the financial best interest of the parish school system that both the elementary and middle-school portions of GEMS join with Maplesville Middle School.”

“What about the merger? Wasn’t it supposed to be just the middle school?” a parent asked.

“The merger was originally part of a pilot study being funded by the Department of Education, but the DOE has decided to postpone its rollout of the program for another two years. However, the board believes it is in the best interest of the parish that the merger still take place.”

“What about the best interest of our children?”

“And what about the teachers? Will they all still have their jobs?”

McCabe held his hands up. “The majority of the teachers will retain their positions, although there may be a few who will have to move to other schools within the parish.”

“This is a big parish,” Matt pointed out. “That can mean a long drive for some, depending on where they are placed.”

The superintendent hunched his shoulders in an “it’s the best I can do” gesture.

“What about Principal Williams? Will he still move to the new school?” came another question from a parent.

“Technically, it will not be a new school,” the superintendent said. “Only a new building. Thus, Principal Grayson at Maplesville Middle will retain his principalship over the school. The board is recommending Principal Williams for early retirement.”

There was a collective gasp followed by a torrent of angry outbursts directed at the school-board members. It took another three minutes before they were able to quiet the crowd again. Superintendent McCabe continued with the justification for closing GEMS, spouting numbers and explaining how the money saved would benefit the town of Gauthier in other areas.

No one in the room was buying it. They all knew that whatever money was saved would be filtered into the more densely populated cities within the parish. They’d been through this before.

Leslie looked over at Gabriel, who had been quiet since entering the auditorium. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his jaw so hard it looked like granite.

“What about the other administrative positions?” Leslie asked McCabe. “The secretary, school counselor.” She glanced at Gabriel again. “The assistant principal.”

Gabriel turned and locked eyes with her.

“The other positions are safe,” the superintendent said. “The larger student population will warrant an additional secretary, counselor and librarian. And a school that size warrants two assistant principals, so Mr. Franklin would move into a permanent assistant principal position there.”

“I don’t want it,” Gabriel stated.

Leslie’s eyes widened at his cold, direct statement. He turned his attention to the school board as he made his way to the microphone. Leslie stepped aside so that he could speak.

“I was offered a permanent assistant principal position at Gauthier Elementary and Middle School, not Maplesville Middle School. I made promises to the people of this community based on information you provided, Superintendent McCabe. Those promises I made have turned out to be lies, and I won’t allow you to stand here and make a liar of me.”

Leslie wanted to yank the mic away from his mouth. Being insubordinate to the board in front of the entire town was one way to guarantee that he would never get that assistant principal position. It meant too much to him—too much
for
him and his entire family—to jeopardize it.

At the same time, she wanted to wrap her arms around him in front of the entire world. She wanted to show everyone just how much she loved this strong, brave man who would risk so much for his convictions. Her heart felt on the verge of bursting with love and pride as he continued his denouncement of the school board’s decision.

“The people of Gauthier will not stand for this,” Gabriel said. “And I plan to be the first one on the front lines as we fight to keep this school open.”

The crowd, who just weeks ago had ranted at him, now stood and cheered.

Matt Gauthier leaned over to the microphone. “And I’ll serve as legal counsel for the parents of GEMS,” he said, eliciting more cheers.

Another of the school-board members made it to the microphone where Superintendent McCabe stood, his neck as red as a fire hydrant.

“Nothing the superintendent has discussed is set in stone,” the board member said. “These are all just recommendations. There is still much discussion that will go on before final decisions are made.”

“I know you all just got voted back into office, but there is this thing known as a recall,” Janice Taylor said. “If any of you want to keep your positions on the school board, you’d better make sure one of those decisions is that this school stays open. I don’t make empty threats. I will work day and night to make sure none of you ever serves on a school board again.”

Janice’s impassioned proclamation riled the crowd up again, but Leslie didn’t bother to quiet them. Everything that needed to be said had been said.

Instead, she grabbed Gabriel’s wrist and tugged him to her. Then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him square on the mouth in front of everyone. Although, it wasn’t as if anyone was paying attention to them.

“Do you know what you just did?” she asked him.

“Do you know what
you
just did?” he asked, motioning around them.

“I don’t care who sees us together, Gabriel. I want everyone to see us together.”

His eyes softened, love and gratitude beaming in their brown depths. He linked their fingers together and urged her to follow him. They stepped out a side door and into a slim corridor just off to the right of the auditorium.

“As much as I love the thought of you ravishing me in front of the entire town, it was too damn loud in there.”

Leslie laughed, linking her arms around his neck and pulling his mouth to hers again. The kiss was swift but deep, tinged with the promise that there would be more to come later. But right now they needed to talk.

“Gabriel, I’m concerned about you,” she said. “About your future. You do realize that you can kiss that assistant principal position goodbye, don’t you? Even if they do keep the school open, McCabe will find a way to make you pay for what you did tonight.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” he said. “No matter what happens, I’ll be okay. So will Mami, Daniela and Elias. I’ll find a way to make it work.” He enclosed her in his arms, linked his fingers at the small of her back and pulled her in until she was flush against him. “As for my future, as long as you’re in it, nothing else matters.”

Leslie’s heart melted then and there.

“I mean it, Leslie,” he whispered against her lips. “None of that other stuff matters. All I want is to be forever with you.”