Chapter 45

They finished their meal and drove back to the mill. As they arrived and parked, Ward saw Tyler run out of the office, jump in his pickup, and peel out of the lot. Alarmed, Ward got out of his truck and headed for the office. Avery followed.

They’d just about reached the door when an angry Hank Erlich stormed out. He looked at Ward with contempt and snarled, “Your boyfriend’s kid beat my boy up at school!” He sprinted to his Silverado.

“That guy works here, right?” Avery asked.

Ward sighed. “Yeah, he does.” He watched Hank drive off in the same direction Tyler had taken. Shit! What else is gonna happen?Chapter 20

Tyler arrived at Rosewood Elementary School and went directly to the school office. There he was told by the secretary to have a seat, and the principal, Mr. Jennings, would be with him shortly.

Tyler had no sooner sat down than Hank Erlich stormed into the office. He was given the same message as Tyler. When Hank turned and saw Tyler already sitting there, he took the seat farthest away and sat staring straight ahead, his fists clenched on his knees.

After what seemed to Tyler a very long time, the door to Mr. Jennings’ office opened, and the principal, a handsome, youngish black man, probably in his early thirties, came out. He was dressed in a white shirt with tie loose and cuffs turned up.

Tyler had never met him before. Tiffany had handled all the school business. Since her death, Tyler’s mother had taken over those duties.

Mr. Jennings acknowledged the two men and then went to his secretary, apparently asking her something.

When he was done, he turned to them. “Gentlemen,” he said, “please come in.”

As Tyler and Hank approached the door, Mr. Jennings stepped aside. They reached the door at the same time. Hank glared at Tyler and then stepped back. “After you…boss!” Tyler could hear the sarcasm in his tone.

After all were seated, Mr. Jennings, from behind a cluttered desk, said, “I see you two know each other.”

Tyler and Hank looked at each other, then quickly looked away.

“Yes,” Tyler said, “Hank works at the mill.”

“Your family owns the mill, doesn’t it, Mr. Hughes?” the principal asked.

“That’s right,” Tyler said.

“It seems your sons got into quite an ugly fight during lunch recess. I had them in here earlier, and they didn’t seem to want to tell me what the fight was about. Do either of you have any idea?”

Tyler knew. He’d known the minute he had gotten the phone call at the mill to come to the school. He felt his chest tighten. What was he supposed to say? Tyler couldn’t bring himself to confess he was the reason why the boys had fought. So he just kept quiet.

Hank did the same, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. Here was Hank’s chance to out Tyler. However, he didn’t seem to want to take it. Was it because he feared for his job? Or was it because he really didn’t know that Tommy had passed on the slur that he, himself, had supplied his son?

“It seems the only way to get to the crux of the matter is to have the boys come in. Maybe in front of their fathers they’ll be more open about what brought this on.”

“Don’t you think it was just boy stuff?” Hank offered quickly. “Ya know, like I’m a better baseball player or something?” Clearly he didn’t want to get to the real basis of the altercation any more than Tyler.

This convinced Tyler even more that Hank was afraid of the consequences his homophobic words would have. However, he hoped Hank was right, and the boys had fought over something completely benign and unrelated to the name calling.

“I think it was more than that,” Mr. Jennings said. “Mr. Hughes, your son was very angry. According to the teacher on playground duty, Edward seemed to be looking for Tommy and was intent on doing him bodily harm.”

Hank looked at Tyler with narrowed eyes. Tyler looked away.

When neither man seemed to be willing to say anything further, Mr. Jennings got on the phone. “Mildred, would you page Tommy Erlich and Edward Hughes to the office? When they’re both here send them right in. Thanks.”

The three men sat and waited. Mr. Jennings began going over some papers on his desk. Hank and Tyler sat rigid in their seats, staring at opposite walls. Tyler could feel a cold sweat run down his back.

After what seemed an eternity, the office door opened and Mildred ushered the boys into the room. When they saw their fathers, both Eddie and Tommy looked apprehensive.