Her First Mistake by Carey Baldwin (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

She picked it up and looked down at the message.

It was from Ruth Hudson.

Sixteen

Since Alma was on medication that made it unsafe for her to drive, Mia dropped her at her home before heading to the Piano Man for a noontime lunch with Ruth Hudson.

Unlike earlier at the preschool, now, when Mia raised her hand in greeting, Ruth smiled back at her from a sidewalk table. Ruth had changed out of the jeans she’d been wearing this morning into a bright, summery dress printed with birds and butterflies. It was one of those fifties throwback styles with a close-fitting top and flared skirt, and she’d brushed her shoulder-length hair into a bouncy style—a fun look only peppy people like Reese Witherspoon and Ruth could pull off.

Mia entered the restaurant’s patio gate, and then got a close-up look at her lunch date. Dark rings under Ruth’s eyes belied the cheery message her outfit attempted to convey.

Mia tugged self-consciously at her plain blue shift and took a seat across from Ruth at the outdoor table, set with a white cloth and a vase containing a single giant sunflower. The air was heavy with a mix of freshly brewed coffee, cinnamon and well-loved mutt—the Piano Man was one of San Diego’s many dog friendly venues. “Sorry if I kept you waiting,” Mia said.

“No worries. I just got here, and considering I cancelled on you Friday it would serve me right. Thanks for meeting me,” Ruth said, her soft voice as pleasant as always.

You’d never know that just hours ago she’d filed a complaint against Mia. Her shoulders stiffened at the thought, and she eyed her surroundings, noting a camera on the storefront directly across the way. Why couldn’t Ruth have asked to be seated inside the Piano Man so Mia could check out the location of the indoor security cameras? No matter, she could scout them easily enough on a trip to the ladies’ room. “I’m glad you got in touch.”

“Sorry I couldn’t make it the other night, but my goodness, who could’ve predicted what a turn things would take with Celeste?”

True enough, but Celeste going missing didn’t serve as an excuse for Ruth’s behavior. She had yet to explain why she’d left Mia in the lurch. “Why couldn’t you make it on Friday?”

“Oh, something came up.” Ruth leaned in, and the look in her eyes told Mia the subject was closed. They were moving on. “Let me get straight to the point. I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked to meet you today. I’m sorry about complaining to Pinkerman—the old battle axe.”

That knocked Mia back. The last thing she’d been expecting from Ruth was an apology. “Pinkerman’s not so bad. She has a job to do as director, just like you have a job to do as a mother.” Mia decided against pussyfooting around. “I understand why you’re concerned after what you saw on the news. I get why you requested a change for Tennyson. But if I’m being honest, I think he’s better off in my class. It’s taken some time for us to establish a bond but we’ve forged a good one. He’s making friends more easily than he did in the beginning, talking more, participating. Jane is a terrific teacher, but this means he’s going to have to start over again with a new group—and he’ll be at a disadvantage with the five-year-olds.”

Ruth nodded. “You’re right. Tenny did have a rough start, and it will be hard for him to be smaller and younger than the other kids in class. As you know, things haven’t been easy at home lately. You’ve been great for my son. I really mean it, and that’s another reason I asked you to lunch. I need to say sorry, and also to thank you for taking such good care of him.”

“Then why move him?” She wanted to shake Ruth. “And why didn’t you ask me about what happened with that reporter before complaining to Pinkerman? I thought… I thought we were friends. Or that we could be, anyway.”

“I did, too. But I’m sure you understand that’s no longer possible.”

“Why not? Don’t you want to hear my side of the story?”

“There’s no need. I’m sure you were only trying to keep that reporter away from poor Alma Cooper.” Ruth cleared her throat.

Mia had the ironic feeling she was being gaslighted in the Gaslamp Quarter. Everything Ruth professed was a contradiction. She said she wanted to be friends but declared it impossible. She said she understood that Mia hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she’d complained to Pinkerman. She said she appreciated Mia’s care of Tennyson, but she was moving him out of her classroom.

Mia shoved her menu aside and waved off the approaching server.

Whatever game Ruth was playing, she didn’t want any part of it.

After the server retreated, Mia said, “What is it you want from me?”

“I told you. To say thank you, and I’m sorry we can’t be friends.”

“Because?”

“Paul won’t allow it. He’s adamant after what happened between you and that reporter. I tried to tell him we weren’t getting the whole picture, but he says cameras don’t lie. So you see the position I’m in.”

“Not really. I thought you were separating.”

She raised an eyebrow. “If I were, he’d still have every right, as Tenny’s father, to ask me to move him out of your class. But no, I’m not leaving my husband. Paul and I have reconciled.”

The server approached again, far too soon, and this time, to placate him, they both ordered iced tea.

“What about the sea of electrified eels?” Mia asked dryly.

Ruth looked mystified for a moment, then a look of understanding crossed her face. “Oh, that. That’s just something one says when they’re angry. Funny you remember.”

“Funny you don’t. It sounded like he’d done something terrible.” She tried to catch Ruth’s eye but couldn’t.

Tea arrived.

Ruth stirred Stevia into hers and took a few sips, clanked her spoon around again,