Free The Better Man (Chicago Sisters) by Amy Vastine Page B

similar to the ones in the social work office, which suggested never giving up and declared the space a no-bullying zone.
    “Mrs. Montgomery,” Mrs. Nigel began.
    “Please, call me Kendall.”
    First came the pity smile. “Kendall, I know the anniversary of...” She averted her eyes. “Of Simon’s father’s passing was difficult. Simon has had a hard time rebounding.”
    Mrs. Nigel had no idea. “If this was any other day, I would make him stick it out. But I’m in the middle of a crisis at work and—”
    “Please, I understand. You’re overwhelmed. I just want you to know that we’ve been discussing as a team how to best help Simon, and we’ve come to the conclusion that his needs may need to be supported differently.”
    Before Kendall could ask what that meant, her phone rang. The number was unfamiliar and likely the vendor who mixed up the chair order. She declined the call. “Differently how?”
    “Well, we’d like to meet and discuss Simon’s placement and services.”
    “He already sees Lisa and the speech pathologist. Mrs. Taylor has been following the suggestions the psychologist gave me. What other services does he need?”
    The pity smile was back. Kendall hated the pity smile. “Well,” Mrs. Nigel began.
    Kendall’s phone rang again. It was the same number as before. “I’m sorry, I need to take this.” Kendall answered the call and quickly gave the perturbed man on the other end of the line Owen’s number. She apologized to Mrs. Nigel again and asked her to continue.
    “I guess what we’re thinking is we’re not sure Wilder is the best place for a boy like Simon. We think his needs might be better met in a more...therapeutic setting.”
    “You want to kick him out of school?” Kendall could feel the protective mama bear inside her rear up. There was no way she would let them kick her son out of school.
    “No, Mrs. Montgomery. It wouldn’t be like that at all. We simply aren’t equipped to handle a student who doesn’t talk. His avoidance of school is proof of that. Of course, meeting as a team to discuss his progress will give us a clearer picture and help us determine what’s best.”
    “And you think it’s best that he be put in some special school?”
    “I think Simon needs help. I think you need help.”
    Kendall couldn’t hear that right now. “He needs some time. That’s all he needs. A little more time to feel comfortable here.”
    “We have a meeting scheduled in two weeks. That’s when we’re going to take a closer look at the progress he’s been making. I think you need to understand that if his attendance doesn’t improve and his behaviors continue to escalate here at Wilder, we’ll have no choice but to take a more disciplinarian approach.”
    Kendall’s face was so hot, she imagined smoke coming out of her ears. “So, if I don’t let you send him to a special school, you’ll punish him for not adjusting well to his father’s death? Is that what you’re telling me?”
    “If that’s the way you see it, that’s the way you see it. We all have Simon’s best interest at heart here. I hope you see that as well.”
    “ I have Simon’s best interest at heart.” Kendall stood and made her way to the door. “And I guess I have two weeks to prove to you he doesn’t need to be kicked out or punished.”
    Simon was anxiously waiting for her on the other side of the door. She grabbed his hand and led him out. She tried to give him a reassuring smile and probably failed at that, too. As they got into the cab she had paid to wait, she wondered what Simon did need, because she, like the school, had no clue.

CHAPTER SIX
    M AX WAS LOSING PATIENCE . The designers never listened to him. Not to mention everything took longer than they said it would. And now, in the midst of a delivery nightmare, Kendall had gone MIA. The hundred and forty chairs were stacked all over the restaurant, making it impossible for anyone to do their job. The painters couldn’t