Secrets (Never to be Told)

Chapter Fourteen

At three p.m. sharp, Tim and Lucy parked the shop on the visitor parking lot, Lucy taking a deep breath before heading towards the entrance. The bell must've rang a couple minutes before that – masses of children were coming their way as they beelined to the principal's office.

"Ready?" Tim looked over at his rookie, waiting for her nod to knock on the door and then enter shortly after. "Good afternoon...ehm-" "Bradford. I'm Tim Bradford, Hailee's father." The principal locked eyes with Lucy to confirm the statement and Lucy nodded. "Yes, that's correct."

Tim turned when there was a barely noticeable scoff coming from his left – a couple, both perhaps a few years younger than him, was standing behind of one of the offered chairs. A little girl sat in said chair, Tim recognizing her as the girl who picked on his daughter the most. "Excuse me?" Tim had now taken the place behind his own daughter, Lucy following suit – checking in with Hailee.

The father looked at Tim with an amused grin. "What? I haven't said anything." Before Tim could even answer, the principal stopped them. "So, Ms. Chen, Mr. Bradford. You called me this morning with concerns of Hailee being bullied by this girl, Diane – correct?" She asked calmly, looking at both girls. Lucy nodded. "Yes, that is correct. We found out about this yesterday afternoon at pick-up time where Hailee's father witnessed how this girl and her friends were picking on our daughter." She paused, resting a hand on Hailee's shoulder. "After some questioning, Hailee told us that this had been going on since the beginning of the school year." She explained further, earning another scoff of Diane's father.

"Alright. Hailee," the young girl looked up at her principal, then glanced at Diane for a split second before giving her attention back to Mrs. Parker. "Can you please tell me in detail what they did to you?" Hailee nodded, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

"It didn't start that bad," Hailee began, looking at Diane. "But then there was the father-daughter-dance and they would ask me if I would come too. Even after explaining that I didn't have someone who could take me, they would constantly ask about my father. What daddy-daughter costume I would do for Halloween, what card I made for my father, what I got for Christmas for my father." She stopped, her gaze falling to her feet while Tim rested his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it softly.

If he'd just known earlier. He would've loved to take her to a father-daughter dance, would've loved to wear a matching costume with her – even though he wasn't much of a Halloween enthusiast. He would've been able to spare her this much pain.

"All this time, it was usually just small events like that. I tried to ignore them the best I could – I even made a father's day card for the first time this year, despite not even knowing who my father was." She looked back up, Lucy could see that she was trying to hold back her tears. "But it got so much worse on Monday. I was so excited to finally know who my father was – I thought if I told them the comments would stop. Instead, they were doubting it, telling me I was making it up for attention, once even saying that there was no way he would be there now if he didn't want me in the first place."

Tim tensed at the last sentence. He glared at Diane's father who was just standing there – arms crossed. It didn't seem like he was even caring about any of this, but rather to finally have this over with.

He gripped the back of the chair, knuckles turning white – that's how hard he was gripping the wood.

The room was quiet, tension thick and Lucy and Tim even angrier at this girl and her little minions as Hailee finished her version of the story.

"Diane, what do have to say about this?"

Before Diane could answer, her father cut into the conversation. "My daughter would never do any of the things she's accusing her of!" Tim scoffed. "I literally saw it just yesterday." He glared at the other man, now crossing his own arms.

The principal stopped the men before they could start another argument and turned her attention back to Diane. "So? Your version please." The small girl raised her head and sighed. "How could I have known that she would take it so badly. It's not my fault it's so unbelievable." She scoffed and her mother whispered her name, but it didn't seem like a disciplinary move. It made Tim's blood boil, but he kept his mouth shut this time. Lucy frowned, squeezing Hailee's shoulders in comfort as she was on the verge of crying again.

"So, you're saying you did say these awful things." The principal reassured and Diane nodded. "This is not okay at all Diane. We do not say those things, even if you do not believe them." She looked up at her parents. "Diane will be suspended for a week starting tomorrow. The schoolwork will be sent to you per e-Mail. Then you and your friends will all attend detention for a week as well." She then looked back at Diane. "Before that, you and your friends will apologize to Hailee."

The dad tried to protest but was stopped by his wife. "It's not worth the trouble. Come on, we're going." She turned to the door and started going, but Lucy cleared her throat. "The apology." Diane got up, looking Hailee in the eye. "I'm sorry Hailee. It won't happen again, really." She had a monotone expression, but Hailee nodded, accepting the apology.

Lucy stared at the family as they left, squeezing Hailee's shoulders. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Parker." She smiled at the woman. "Thank you for telling me. I'm sorry that we haven't noticed this issue earlier." She turned her gaze to Hailee, smiling, "If something like this happens again or they still won't stop, don't be afraid to reach out to your teachers or come directly to me." Hailee nodded again and got up from the chair.

A few minutes later, the three of them were back in the shop, silence filling it as Tim started the car and headed back to the station.

"Dad." Hailee's voice was quiet, but less sad than before. "Thank you for making it stop." She smiled. Tim felt his heart quicken – pride taking over as he smiled back through the rearview mirror. "Of course. Anything for you."