“My family moved around a lot.”
“But you’ve always received high marks in your academics…and a lot of notes about your behavior.”
Principal Kidd lifted his brow at her. But he didn’t roll his eyes like the last two principals did. Or like her father did when she tried to talk to him but he was too busy, always too busy.
Principal Kidd didn’t look too busy at all. He didn’t frown or look upset, or angry. He was still smiling at her.
It reminded her of how her mom smiled. In fact, his laugh had also reminded Molly of her mom. It had been so long since she’d heard her mom laugh.
“I think you’re a special kid,” Principal Kidd was saying. “In fact, you’re my favorite kind of kid; smarts and imagination. I think you can fit in here if you give us a chance.”
Molly felt something twitch in her chest. She gazed up at the principal and the sincerity in his gaze. He wasn’t playing any tricks. He meant it. Maybe he wasn’t like the rest? Maybe she could give him a chance?
“I will have to call your parents.”
And no
w she wanted to revoke that chance. Her shoulders slumped at the thought of her mother receiving yet another call from a school. “It’s just my mom.”
“I’m guessing by your tone, she won’t think the fairy eraser was funny?”
“She would’ve thought so. Before the divorce. Now she’s always so serious.”
Instead of reaching for the phone, Principal Kidd leaned forward. “My parents are divorced too. They got divorced when I was your age.”
Molly spied a picture at the corner of the principal’s desk. In it was a picture of an even younger version of the man, still with gray hair. He wore a square cap on his head and was dressed in a dark cape. Likely his graduation. He was standing between two smiling adults.
“Yup, that’s them. Oh, they get along. They just weren’t right for each other. They’re both happily remarried to other people.”
Molly knew her dad was seeing other women. He’d started while he and her mom were still married. Maybe that’s why they got divorced? Molly wasn’t sure. But her dad did seem happier now. The few times she’d seen him since the divorce.
Her mom hadn’t dated any other man at all. Maybe her mom should start to date? Then maybe she’d laugh again.
Just like the principal laughed…
Molly looked up at Principal Kidd. He didn’t have a ring on his left hand. She hadn’t seen any pictures of him with women his own age. Just pictures of him with his parents and with kids.
“What’s your mom’s name?” he asked. “Oh, I’ve got it here. Kylee...”
“Kylee Romano,” Molly finished for him. “But she’s going by her original name, her maiden name.”
“Kylee Bauer? Your mom is Kylee Bauer?”
“Yes. Do you know her?”
“Yeah,” said Principal Kidd. “Yeah, I know Princess Kylee Bauer.”
Molly rarely heard her mom’s name spoken with the royal title. It was as though most of the country had forgotten who she was after her father ran off to marry a commoner. But Molly supposed these were different times. After all, both King Leo and Prince Alex had married commoners. And Queen Esme and Princess Jan weren’t even Cordovian. They were Americans.
But Principal Kidd wasn’t looking as though he was disapproving of her family. His eyes got that gooey faraway look like a Looney Tunes cartoon character when they fell in love.
Wait? So, Principal Kidd knew her mom. And he got the lovey-dovey look just at hearing her name. And he wasn’t married.
A plan began to form in Molly’s brain. One that would require a bit of imagination and probably some fairy sparkles if it were to work.
Chapter One
“We can’t keep going over this again and again.”