Leaving the Dust to Settle

When I opened the door, I found Samantha speaking to someone on the phone.

"Please come to the school immediately, Ms. Johnston. Desiree's father is giving her a beating! We couldn't dissuade him at all."

"He's her biological father! It's not like he's going to injure her or anything. If she does end up with injuries, we'll be able to press him for monetary compensation," Vivian said in an exasperated manner.

She continued, "She's just an insignificant kid. I'm really busy, so please don't call me over something so trivial!"

Samantha had put the call on speaker, so Desiree heard every single word.

After Vivian hung up on her, Samantha stomped her feet in frustration and barked, "How irresponsible! What kind of a mother is she? Her daughter's about to get beaten to death, yet she doesn't even want to drop by the school."

Then, she turned around and realized that the door had been open the entire time. Her expression became awkward at that.

Desiree's face drained of all color, and she ran outside without saying a word.

After Andy and I left the school, I took him to the hospital so he could get his wounds bandaged.

Andy put on a forced smile and tried to tell me that he was okay. Despite that, I could still tell that he was upset. He was probably still thinking about Desiree's nasty comments.

Once we got home, I wanted to fill in the paperwork to transfer Andy to another school. But before I could do that, he hesitantly asked me a question.

"The school is holding a parent-teacher meeting tomorrow, Dad. Are you free to attend it with me?"

Before I could reply, he added in a small voice, "It's okay if you don't have the time…"

I tapped his forehead.

"What are you talking about?" I asked incredulously. "As your dad, it wouldn't make sense for me to miss your parent-teacher meeting. I'll definitely be there."

Once he heard my firm answer, he instantly relaxed.

…

The next day, Andy and I headed to the school together.

Moments after we sat down in our seats, Desiree and Liam showed up.

She introduced Liam enthusiastically, saying, "This is my dad, Ms. Berkeley."

Then, she turned to look at me with a defiant look on her face.

I flashed her a nonchalant smile in response.

…

As the parent-teacher meeting drew to a close, Desiree stood up.

"I wrote my dad an essay, Ms. Berkeley. May I please go on stage and read it to him?" she asked.

While all of the other parents praised her for being a well-behaved young girl, Samantha turned to look at me with an awkward expression. She only agreed to Desiree's request after she noticed that I was okay with it.

Desiree made her way onto the stage under Liam's approving gaze.

"My dad is a college professor. He's really smart and knowledgeable. Whenever I ask him a question, he's always able to patiently explain the answer to me," she said proudly.

She went on, "My dad is really nice to me and my mom. No matter how busy he gets, he'll always come home to have dinner with us."

Before she could reach the end of her essay, a girl stormed onto the stage and physically attacked her.

As the two of them grappled with each other, the girl barked, "You brat! He's my dad! Who does your mom think she is? She's nothing but my dad's maid!"

Blushing profusely, Desiree retorted, "No, she's not! My mom and my new dad are dating. They're going to get married soon too!"

The girl, Wendy Larkin, stared at Desiree with utter contempt.

"You're giving your mom too much credit. If Dad wanted to marry her, he would've done that a long time ago!

"You've never seen your mom appeasing my dad in a maid's outfit, have you? She's nothing but a lapdog who does whatever we ask her to do!"

Seething, Desiree started hitting Wendy even harder.

Worried that Wendy might get seriously injured, Liam frantically went up to the girls and pried them apart.

Frowning, he tucked Wendy behind him and said, "Your mom and I are just friends, Desiree. I only attended the parent-teacher meeting with you as a favor to her. How could you pick on my daughter?"

Desiree's eyes widened in shock.

The parents who were watching the situation unfold stared at her with complicated expressions. They couldn't help but assume that Desiree had asked someone else to act as her dad.