The next afternoon, Adrienne pulled into a parking spot in downtown Aura Cove and closed her eyes to inhale the scent of cocoa beans and browned butter. Through the plate glass window, she could see the shop had emptied out from its typical morning commuter rush where a long line often snaked down the sidewalk. Grateful she’d timed it just right, she hid behind a pair of enormous black sunglasses and quickly exited the car, hoping to make the stop unrecognized. The idea of being confronted by an Aura Cove High School student or parent was more than her fragile heart could take. She walked into Kandied Karma where a beautiful woman with luminous green eyes and thick white hair that was gathered into a ponytail offered her an approachable smile.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes.” She returned the smile. It was the first one that didn’t seem forced since the news had broken, and she asked, “Can you recommend something to help butter up a teenager?”
“Whew! That’s a tall order! They are the toughest critics.” She laughed, then confided her biggest frustration. “How can they be so jaded when they haven’t even experienced the worst life has to offer yet?”
Adrienne chuckled at her observation and watched the woman deftly fold up the sides of a golden box. “My sister is addicted to your truffles,” she said to make conversation. It was second nature for her to always look for a positive comment to share when meeting someone new.
“We love hearing that, don’t we, Yuli?” The woman turned her huge grin of undeniable pride toward an older woman seated at a small bistro table surrounded by paperwork. The lines of her face were deeply etched into her softening skin, but there was no denying their genetic link. They shared the same luminous green eyes and white hair. She looked up from her stack of paperwork, accepting the compliment with a warm smile.
“Who is your sister?”
“Davina Thorne.”
“Oh, yes!” The woman’s warmth tripled with this new information. “Davina was actually my attorney in my divorce. That woman is a powerhouse! Be sure to tell her Katie Beaumont says hello.”
“She is and I will.” Adrienne felt herself relax.
Katie started layering the bottom of the box with rich dark chocolates with caramel centers and a pair of crunchy turtles with pecans. At the register, she wrapped the box in a fuchsia bow and handed it over to Adrienne. Her cool fingers gently pushed Adrienne’s hand away that was offering her credit card.
“Your money is no good here. These are on the house.”
Adrienne felt a little jolt of static electricity pass between them when their skin connected and she jumped.
“Sorry to shock you! This cold snap has us running the furnace more than usual and it’s so dry,” Katie explained as her eyes bored into Adrienne’s.
Adrienne’s gaze darted away. She busied herself putting her card away and pulling a pair of fingerless gloves from her handbag. “I feel your pain! Don’t tell anyone, but I keep these bad boys in my purse for days like this.” She looked down at the beautiful gold box. “Thank you for being so kind. I have a feeling these will do the trick.”
“How are you holding up?” Katie’s voice was kind, yet Adrienne flinched when the salt hit her wound. She’d convinced herself that Aura Cove Community School District was a tiny ecosystem, and the dismissal from her appointment as Superintendent of Schools was already yesterday’s news. A tight knot formed in her belly, and she felt the shame coloring her cheeks a scarlet red.
“Oh no! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” Katie apologized.
“No. It’s okay,” she said, dismissing the painful topic of conversation. “I am going to have to get used to speaking about it.” She heaved a heavy sigh. “It’s been rough. I never in a million years thought I would be unemployable in education.” She quivered as a tremor of humiliation passed through her. “I feel so violated.”
“Of course you do. I am so sorry,” Katie empathized.
Her lips tightened and a grim expression settled on her face. “I always told my students, ‘Be careful what you share online and on your devices. One poor decision as a teenager can impact the rest of your life.’” She shook her head and offered a worn, self-deprecating grin. “I’m finding this slice of humble pie particularly hard to swallow.” Katie’s warm gaze held hers for a long moment.
“We’re huge believers in Karma, aren’t we, Yuli?” Katie said, and the old woman grunted in agreement as she continued to sort through the paperwork in front of her. “At Kandied Karma, we believe the universe has a way of righting its wrongs and bringing even more success and favor to good people than it ever takes away.”
The warm sentiment calmed Adrienne’s shame and doubts, and she held the beautiful box of truffles aloft as she said goodbye. “I’m going to hold you to that! Thank you for the candy and the cheering squad.”
“You can’t hold a good woman down,” Katie encouraged. “You wait and see.” The door jingled as Adrienne walked to her car lighter than she’d been when she got out of it. She punched Maisy’s address into her GPS and navigated toward the house.
She drove through the iron gate and turned down a winding street of impressive homes lining the beach. Massive palm trees ringed the impeccably landscaped yards in the pristine subdivision. At her destination, Adrienne pulled her car into the driveway and made her way to the front door. She pressed the doorbell and waited, and a few moments later, a middle-aged woman opened the door with a weary smile. Her lined face was plain and unassuming, with gray hair cropped close to her head, and she was dressed in flowy linen pants and a baby blue tunic.
“Yes?”
“I’m Adrienne,” she said with a bright smile, offering the box of chocolates to Tricia with both hands. “Thanks for letting me visit today. Maisy was one of my favorite students.”
“She was?” Utter shock walked across Tricia’s features and settled in. Adrienne could read between the lines; this was a woman who wasn’t used to school officials saying anything positive about her daughter.
“She’s got a brilliant, creative mind,” Adrienne gushed. “We were working together to get her enrolled in Central Florida Community College’s fashion and textiles program. Maisy seemed excited at the prospect of earning college credits while still in high school.”
“Oh, yes, she did mention that. It’s the most excited about school she’d ever been, and then this…” The rest of the sentence faded away in the awkward silence. “I’m sorry. Where are my manners? Please, come in.”
Adrienne followed her into the sunny entryway. “You have a beautiful home.” She glanced around at the minimalist interior where not a single item was out of place or a stitch of clutter was visible. The house was painted in cool ocean tones with an impressive two-story bank of windows offering a panoramic view of the sea. It was difficult to imagine Maisy’s gothic punk aesthetic being embraced by her mother’s adoration of modern coastal design.
“Thank you,” Tricia said, then abruptly turned and shouted down the hallway where faint music could be heard. “Maisy! Ms. Thorne is here to see you!” She turned to Adrienne. “Sorry. It’s the only way I can get her attention.”
A few minutes later, a pale-faced Maisy stumbled down the hall wearing a pair of sweat pants and a wrinkled concert hoodie. Her face was devoid of any makeup and she looked much younger than the version she presented at school with the full lashes and eyeliner that added years and a theatrical quality to her look.
“Why don’t you two sit on the lanai?” Tricia offered. “I’ll bring out a tray with some lemonade.”
One of Maisy’s natural brows arched up, and she narrowed her eyes at her mother, scrutinizing the offer.
“Fresh air sounds great,” Adrienne agreed, eager to bridge the obvious divide between them. “Right, Maisy?”
“Fantastic,” Maisy muttered under her breath as she led Adrienne out the door to an all-weather wicker patio set that overlooked the ocean. Only a hundred yards out, the aqua water tickled the white sugar shore. It was a spectacular view.
A few minutes later, Tricia appeared with a silver tray of cut crystal glasses and an ornate plate of truffles. She set the tray down and quickly left them alone.
“So…” Adrienne began, unsure where to lead the conversation. “How are you today?”
“Better than a few days ago, I guess,” Maisy said, her cheek twitching nervously. The stud in the valley of her dimpled cheek jostled around as she bit at it and rubbed it with her tongue. She thrust a hand into her mouth and began chewing on the remnants of her fingernails. Katie could tell it was a self-soothing tic that had been used often to curb her anxiety as they were worn down to peeling nubs.
“Things haven’t been so great with me either,” Adrienne started to explain, finding common ground with the teen. “I’m sure you’ve heard all the rumors,” she mumbled. Surprised by the truthful admission, Maisy’s glance darted over, her interest piqued. “It’s been a bit of a nightmare, to be honest.” Maisy, who wasn’t used to the concept of unbridled truth coming from the mouth of an adult, was bowled over by it. “I’m on administrative leave pending a full investigation. Looks like we both have some extra time on our hands.”
“They weren’t photoshopped?” Maisy asked, stunned.
“Nope. The photographs were supposed to be part of a modeling portfolio. I made a poor decision and trusted the wrong person when I was your age, and it caught up with me,” she offered in explanation.
“Are you getting fired?”
Adrienne decided to be frank with her, hoping it would encourage her to do the same. “I’m not sure, but I had to relinquish my appointment as superintendent because of the controversy.”
“You did?”
“It was the right thing to do,” Adrienne admitted sadly. “I love the Aura Cove School District. Ultimately, I had to put it first.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know.” Adrienne looked out at the ocean. “Right now, I am just going to have a day. It doesn’t have to be the best day of my life, but I got up, I took a shower, and I got some candy for a friend. And now I’m sitting in the sun, looking at the waves, having a conversation with someone I care about. So, as far as days go, this one is better than most of last week already.”
The beginning of a grin twitched at the corners of her mouth. Maisy pulled one of the chocolates off the plate and peeled off the liner before sinking her teeth into it. She chewed slowly, letting the sugar flood her bloodstream. Adrienne pulled a dark chocolate caramel off the plate and popped it into her mouth, letting it dissolve on her tongue while she waited for the teen to speak.
“Something kind of similar happened to me.” When Maisy finally spoke, the sentence was barely above a whisper. Now that she was opening up, Adrienne was afraid to say anything to spook her, so she waited for her to continue. “A guy contacted me on Snap, and we started messaging back and forth.” Her gaze darted away, and she swiped a tear from her cheek before letting out a wry laugh. “He told me I was beautiful.” She said the word so wistfully that Adrienne instantly knew why it hit so hard. The melted chocolate on her chin reduced her to an innocent child, and it broke Adrienne’s heart.
“No one has ever called me beautiful before,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “He started asking me for selfies and I sent them. It was exciting to be wanted. It kind of felt like a high, you know?”
Adrienne nodded.
“I thought he was in love with me. He kept asking for more skin. It was kind of fun at first, and I knew it was wrong, but that was part of what made it thrilling.” She sniffled. “It wasn’t just me sending photos. He did, too,” she admitted as she pulled another chocolate off the plate and popped it into her mouth.
“Then he sent me a naked one and dared me to text one back. I tried to stall, but he wore me down. It was easier to just do it instead of arguing with him why I shouldn’t. He said it would be our little secret.”
Adrienne felt her stomach churn as she sat there listening to Maisy being groomed by a skilled predator. It was sickening.
“Then he wanted me to record myself… doing things.”
“Oh, honey.” Adrienne reached out and squeezed her hand, and a fat tear rolled down Maisy’s cheek.
“He made me feel wanted… and… sexy, I guess?” She looked down. “He kept pushing me farther and farther until I told him no and that’s when he changed.”
Adrienne waited, already knowing the direction this was going and unable to stop her heartbreak.
“I didn’t realize he’d been recording the screen the entire time. Saving every photo and video I ever sent. It was Snap, so they were supposed to disappear,” she cried, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
“He knew where I lived. He sent me a list of students at Aura Cove he was going to send my photos and videos to if I didn’t send him more explicit ones.” Her voice deepened. “Then he threatened to share them on the internet, and with my mom and my grandma unless I gave him some money.”
“Did you comply?”
“At first, but he kept coming back for more. Threatening me, telling me he was going to sell my videos to the highest bidder on WhisperHub, and leaking them to my friends. I just didn’t see another way out.” She hugged her knees to her chest and gently rocked forward and back as she sobbed, trying to self-soothe. Adrienne’s heart was broken for the young girl. The name WhisperHub made goosebumps break out on Adrienne’s forearms. She tucked the information away, eager to share when Davina came by tomorrow after work.
Turning her full attention back to Maisy, she leaned closer and said, “I am sorry you were manipulated.”
“I was such an idiot. God, I wish I could go back and block his first stupid message in my DMs.” She sniffled as she picked at the arm of the wicker chair. “I tried to forget about it, and I thought I was getting better, but every day my mind got caught up in the worry and the fear. The idea of my mom seeing them? It made me sick.” She trembled as more tears coursed down her face. “What if he posted them online and my future college doesn’t accept me? I had a pit in my stomach every day, and it seemed like the only way out was a permanent one.”
“I understand exactly how you feel,” Adrienne said. “I felt hopeless too, but I am so glad you were unsuccessful.”
“I’m not,” she admitted and burst into tears, covering her face with her hands.
“Do you have a plan to try it again?” Adrienne had to ask. She was terrified for the girl.
“No. I just want to run away and hide, but I can’t. I hate myself for being so stupid.”
Adrienne exhaled a hot breath. “I wish I had a magic pill to make this all go away, but I will tell you that one day you will feel better. My sister is helping me understand that you and I were victims. We didn’t do anything wrong except trust the wrong people.”
“I hate myself, and when I think about it, I feel terrible.”
“Me too,” Adrienne empathized. “You feel exposed, like you are naked in public and everyone can see.”
“Yeah,” Maisy croaked out, brushing hot tears away.
“When I was violated, I didn’t report it, and because I didn’t, it destroyed my future. I don’t want that for you Maisy.” Adrienne reached out her hand. “Do you think you could be braver than I was and file a police report?”
“No.” Maisy was panicked at the thought of voluntarily entering a police station. “I can’t.” She wrapped her arms around her middle in a defensive position.
“I don’t blame you. I couldn’t either. But because I wanted to hide my head in the sand and pretend nothing happened, he probably did it to someone else. When we are silent, they continue. They get even bolder and hurt more women. I am asking you to be stronger than I was, and I promise I will stand next to you, shoulder to shoulder.” Another fat tear slid down Maisy’s flushed cheeks. “Please think it over.”
Maisy nodded slowly, and Adrienne backed down. She didn’t want to add to the fragile girl’s pain.
“The only way out of this nightmare is to walk through it. And, although there are no shortcuts, I would like to help you.” She held out her hand. “When you are having a bad day and you feel your self-worth slipping, I want you to reach out to me. What’s your phone number?”
Maisy rattled it off, and Adrienne fired a text over to her. “Day or night, you call me and I will talk you through it. Promise?”
Maisy nodded. The heavy conversation cast a pall over them both, and to shake it off, Adrienne changed the subject.
“Now, let’s dry our tears and eat chocolate until our bellies ache in the Florida sunshine,” Adrienne offered. “It’s time to put down the shame we’re carrying and forgive ourselves for the mistakes we made.”
“I’ll try.”
“That’s all I’ll ever ask you to do.”
“Ms. Thorne?” Maisy said, “You’re a good person.”
“So are you, Maisy.” A full five minutes passed while they sat in the sun. When Maisy spoke, her voice was so soft Adrienne had to strain to hear it.
“Okay. I’ll go with you to the station.”