Devotion

Veronica quickly adjusted her expectations. She would get in trouble when the projects were handed back on Monday. It made perfect sense. Monday morning, she would go down like the Titanic while Melody was held up as an example of everything good. Veronica understood that getting kicked out of Randolf was a very real possibility. She should be kicked out. She had behaved like a scoundrel.

That weekend, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan had an out-of-town wedding so Mary stayed over. Veronica taught Mary how to bathe Cadbury. They cleared out the tub, removing the razors and combs and shampoo and conditioner so Cadbury could take a bath. Just as Esme would, Veronica adjusted and readjusted the temperature many times until it was perfect. She and Mary lifted him into the water and Veronica rubbed his body with rosemary oil to stimulate his circulation. She rinsed him carefully and rubbed him gently with lavender oil to soothe him. She dried him with her own towel.

“Here, my baby,” Mary said, and handed Veronica a cup of hot chocolate. “You are taking such good care of your friend.”

“Are you crying, Mary?”

“No. My baby, I am not crying,” Mary said, wiping her face. “Something is in my eye. Should I be crying?”

“No. Because everything’s going to be all right,” Veronica said.

“That is right. Everything will be how it is meant to be,” Mary said. She kissed Veronica before going back to the kitchen. But she only kissed her one time.

*   *   *

When Ms. Padgett handed back the projects a few days later, Veronica was in a panic.

“I had such a good time this week with your projects! Great work. And such a diverse display. I read poems and looked at pictures and I even heard a song,” Ms. Padgett said. Auden Georges was on the edge of her chair. She’d made a watercolor and was really pleased with herself. “You should all be very proud,” Ms. Padgett said as she glided around the room handing back the projects.

Veronica’s finger itched like crazy. She rubbed it against her uniform. She had nothing to be proud of. Becky Shickler got her paper back and hugged Darcy. Ms. Padgett came to Veronica’s table. Sylvie had written what looked like a dissertation. It was long and Ms. Padgett said, “Sylvie, this was so thought provoking. I loved how you wrote about Monet painting his wife as she was dying.” She put Sylvie’s pages on the table. “Athena, wonderful work. You too, Sarah-Lisa.” Ms. Padgett handed back their work. “Veronica,” Ms. Padgett said and Veronica swallowed hard. “You and Melody worked so well together. Lovely.” She placed a paper in front of Veronica with the names Melody Jenkins and Veronica Morgan printed across the top and a big red A in Ms. Padgett’s loopy handwriting.

“You look surprised,” Ms. Padgett said. “You shouldn’t be. Hard work is rewarded in my class.”

Veronica smiled weakly. Why had Melody let her get away with this? To torture her? Then it occurred to her. It was a sign. Instead of being punished for being mean to Melody, she was being rewarded for her devotion to Cadbury. Cadbury was the prize.