Sister Mary Grace sighed. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Mr. Grayson. I had hoped that perhaps with Amanda’s help, we would have been able to allow Summer to remain at Saint Margaret’s.”
Michael froze. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t Summer be able to continue at Saint Margaret’s?”
Amanda narrowed her eyes. What was Gracie up to? she wondered. She’d said she wanted help in convincing him to allow his niece to receive counseling. But nothing had been said about dismissing the child if their plan failed.
“Mr. Grayson...Michael,” Sister Mary Grace amended. “I had Frances Green speak to you because I wanted you to see what you’re up against. Saint Margaret’s has a rigid teaching structure bound in Catholicism. And as you know, Summer’s been exposed to a great many other cultures and beliefs—beliefs that are very much at odds with what she’s being taught here.”
“I know that, Sister. But Summer will adapt.”
Sister Mary Grace shook her head. “I don’t think so. At least, not without help.”
“You and I have discussed this before, Sister. I’m not interested in putting Summer in any kind of therapy. She doesn’t need it. All she needs is some time to adjust.”
“She needs more than time, Michael. She needs help. I know you were opposed to the idea of counseling when I first suggested it. But I had hoped that after meeting Amanda and learning that Summer could work with her, here at the school, you might reconsider.”
“I don’t have to reconsider. The answer’s no.”
“Then you leave me no alternative. I have to consider what’s best for the child and, under the circumstances, I honestly don’t believe Saint Margaret’s is good for Summer.”
Michael sat forward, his face a mask of disbelief. “What are you saying?”
Amanda couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Really, Gracie—”
“I’m saying that I think it would be in Summer’s best interests if you were to transfer her to another school. One that’s less structured in its teaching matter, particularly where religion is concerned.”
“Sister, you can’t mean that,” Michael said.
“I assure you I do.”
“But don’t you realize what affect this will have on Summer? She’s never known any stability. Until now, her life has been nothing but a series of moves, from one city, one village, one country to the next. If I take her out of Saint Margaret’s, it’s just one more change. There’ve already been too many.”
The anguish in his voice surprised Amanda. He seemed so strong, so defiant, not the kind of man who pleaded for anything. And yet he was pleading—for his niece’s sake. “He’s right,” Amanda told her friend. “More changes wouldn’t be good for the child.”
“Neither will more incidents like today’s.” Sister Mary Grace leaned back in her chair and fingered the silver cross that hung from the chain around her neck. She looked at Amanda then at Michael. “Of course, if you were to reconsider and allow Summer to work with Amanda, if I knew she would be receiving professional guidance that would help her to deal with these adjustments she’s having to make where the school’s curriculum is concerned, I suppose it would be okay for her to remain at Saint Margaret’s.”
Amanda flushed. “Gra—”
“Well, Michael?”
Michael scowled. He curled his hands into fists. “It doesn’t look like I have much choice. Do I?” But before Sister Mary Grace could respond, he conceded. “Never mind. What do I have to do to get Summer in the program?”
Sister Mary Grace stood, a smile spreading across her face. “Good. Then I’ll leave it to Amanda to explain the details of the program to you and to work out a schedule for Summer.”
* * *
Moments later, seated across from Amanda in the tiny office the school had designated for her use, Michael tried to squelch his irritation at having allowed a five-foot-nothing nun to outmaneuver him. It had been a long time since anyone had forced him into a corner this way. Not since the Winthrops—
Suddenly thoughts of Martha Winthrop and her demands to see Summer came back to him. Would the woman be able to use Summer’s being in therapy against him? If she could, then maybe it would be better to transfer Summer to another school.
No. He wouldn’t do that, he decided, pushing the thought aside. He’d been honest with Sister Mary Grace. Another change would be bad for Summer. He couldn’t put her through that. But what if...
“Mr. Grayson?”
Michael jerked his attention back to Amanda.
“Are you all right?”
“Yeah. No.” He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the tense muscles. “Listen, do you think we could go somewhere and get a cup of coffee or something while we do this?”
Amanda eyed him warily. “I’m sorry, but I have another appointment in thirty minutes. Besides, I don’t usually conduct meetings outside of the office.”
“What about the school cafeteria?”
He read the no in her eyes, but before she could issue it, Michael added, “This hasn’t exactly been a blue-ribbon day for me. And as I’m sure Sister Mary Grace has told you, I’ve spent a lot more time in these school offices during the past few weeks than most of the kids here. Now it looks like I’m going to be spending even more. I’ll answer your questions and you can tell me about your program, but can’t we do it someplace other than this office?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Grayson, but I—”
“Michael,” he corrected. “Come on, Amanda. All I’m asking is for you to cut me some slack. What do you say?”
She hesitated. “Well, I guess it would be okay for us to go to the teachers’ lounge. It’s not usually busy at this time of the day.”
A few minutes later in the more relaxed setting, Michael had succeeded in reining in the panic that had threatened to swamp him earlier.
“As Sister Mary Grace told you, I’ve been working with a number of the students here and have attained a certain degree of success. Right now, I’m working with six other...”
Half listening as she explained the merits of the counseling program, Michael allowed the soothing sound of her voice to wash over him.
“...And while I know you’re not happy about Summer participating in the program...”
He studied Amanda, noting her cool, efficient manner, her chic clothing. Everything about the woman—from the understated but expensive jewelry to the cultured tone of her voice—screamed “class” with a capital C. So why was she wasting her time in New Orleans counseling kids for nothing instead of hobnobbing with the rich and powerful back east?
What difference did it make? As long as it would make Sister Mary Grace happy and keep Summer at Saint Margaret’s, that’s all that mattered to him. Besides, it wasn’t as if Summer really needed a shrink, he told himself. She didn’t. And who knows, maybe the lovely Dr. Bennett could actually help him later. In fact, if he did find himself in a custody battle with Martha Winthrop, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have someone with Amanda’s credentials in his corner.
“...And while I can’t make any promises, I can assure you I’ll do my best...”
His gaze slid from her sculptured features to her generous mouth. Colored a soft pink, her lips looked infinitely soft and inviting. He shook his head, surprised by the direction of his thoughts. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
She