Free The Good Mom by Cathryn Parry

would know how difficult it can be to catch up academically to St. Bartholomew’s standards.”
    â€œThat’s a wonderful recommendation,” Ashley murmured. “Thank you.”
    She wasn’t going to say so, but it was apparent that now that she’d chased him away, Aidan no longer wanted to help.
    Her biggest problem with the entire situation was that she’d been blindsided. She hadn’t appreciated being caught off balance. By Brandon’s mischaracterization of the note sent home, by Vivian’s behind-the-scenes monitoring of Ashley’s family, by Aidan’s involvement. Even so, she was doing her utmost to be a good mom here. To keep her attention focused on Brandon and what was best for him.
    â€œThank you, Dr. Pingree. You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
    Dr. Pingree just sat at his large desk looking at her, tapping his fingers together. “I’m sorry, Ms. LaValley. As you recall, Brandon’s entry examinations last spring showed him to be behind in math. He was to have studied for the autumn pretests over the summer. I thought we made that clear.”
    Yes, he had worked with Lisbeth. She was highly skilled and capable—even Aidan had said so.
    â€œMaybe Brandon was simply nervous,” she said. “Could he take the math portion of the test again, please?”
    â€œI’m sorry, but we can’t change the rules for one student. I’m sure you understand.”
    â€œIt’s not a change,” she said. “It’s more of a bend...”
    Dr. Pingree shook his head.
    At that moment, Vivian Sharpe’s distinctive voice could be heard in the outer office.
    â€œThank you, but could you excuse me for a moment?” Ashley asked.
    Dr. Pingree stood. “You’re quite welcome, Ms. LaValley. Feel free to call me and make an appointment to talk anytime you need to.”
    She nodded, impatient to see Vivian before she left. “Yes, Dr. Pingree. Thank you for your time.”
    She finished the niceties and then hurried outside. A secretarial worker was on the phone, her back to Ashley, but Vivian Sharpe wasn’t there.
    She wasn’t outside in the hallway, either. How did an elderly woman with a cane move so quickly?
    Ashley sighed. She was still absorbing the fact that Vivian Sharpe had turned out to be a hidden puppet-master mentor for her son’s education. She wondered if Lisbeth knew. She was the one who had helped select the schools for Ashley to apply to for Brandon. And other than feeling threatened and worried, Ashley wasn’t sure what she thought about it.
    The worry was for herself. It was scary to think she could lose Brandon—her influence over him, his love for her—to someone wealthier and more powerful. Vivian Sharpe controlled all the things that Ashley’s son cared about. His work with the Sunshine Club charity. His weekend job as a Captains Club ball boy. And now even his entrance into his new school.
    She pressed her hands to her cheeks. She was grateful, at least, that Aidan had told her. At least now she knew .
    If she had met Aidan at any other time—before she’d had a son, or after her son had grown—then maybe things could be different. She was drawn to him, attracted to this gruff, sweet, complicated man who was dealing with even worse issues than she was.
    Crazy as it sounded, the fact that he seemed to have a touch of a stress disorder from his stint overseas, even the fact that he was clearly still grieving, made him feel safer to her, because he was more like her than she’d first realized. Another woman might run away from the problems, but Ashley was flawed herself. Her alcohol issues. Her excessive worry. Her problems with being a single mom...
    Brandon , she thought. When she’d left him, he’d been talking with Aidan, no doubt assuming that Aidan would be his mentor. Now that it wasn’t happening, he would naturally blame her for