Felicity quickly clamped her hand over Dames’s mouth.
“What’s the point of running to your mom? You think she can magically get you first place?”
Dames choked back a sob, his vision swimming with tears as he looked toward where Daph was standing.
Daph’s craft was one of the best–she stood in line at the edge of the stage, waiting for her turn to give a speech.
“Mom could totally help Daph get first place!” Dames sniffled.
Felicity scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Please. Daph’s not getting first.”
Dames gazed at Felicity through blurry eyes. “You don’t believe me?”
Felicity gave his shoulder a little squeeze, a sly smile curving her lips. “Just watch.”
Next to Daph sat a huge plastic bag, inside which was her carefully made craft project.
With mischief glinting in her eyes, Felicity strolled over, and, as if by accident, pressed her foot down hard on the bag.
Out of the corner of her eye, Daph caught Felicity’s movement. Though much shorter, Daph was quick–she grabbed Felicity’s ankle in a flash.
With a swift tug, she yanked and sent Felicity sprawling.
“Aaah!” Felicity crashed to the ground with a shriek, clutching her elbow. “Daphne! Did you just push me?”
“You almost stepped on my project!” Daph shot back.
Still sitting on the floor, Felicity glared and rubbed her sore elbow. “With which eye did you see me stepping on it? You pushed me on purpose!”
Felicity knew Daph was naturally strong, but she hadn’t expected Daph to topple her–especially since Felicity weighed well over two hundred pounds.
“Daph!” Selene hurried over, seeing Felicity and Daph arguing.
When Felicity noticed Harrison approaching too, she immediately launched into her complaint. “I lost my balance for just a second and your daughter grabbed my
ankle and flipped me! If I hadn’t caught myself, I could’ve hit my head!”
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Chapter Ty
With Felicity making it sound so dramatic, and knowing his daughter’s strength, Harrison frowned.
“Daph, apologize to Felicity,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Daph’s cheeks flushed with indignation. “But Aunt Felicity almost stepped on my project!”
Felicity fixed her with a cold stare. “Did I actually step on it? No–I think you just
have it out for me!”
Selene pulled Daph close, and Daph clung to her leg like a fledgling chick, her glare fierce and stubborn, puffed up with righteous anger.
Selene looked up at the ceiling, then said to Harrison, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Why don’t we check the security footage before deciding who’s at fault?”
She instructed a teacher to pull up the cameras.
Ms. Hughes quickly brought over an iPad. “I’ve reviewed the footage. Miss Thompson did almost step on Daphne’s project.”
She played the video for Selene and Harrison.
Selene lifted her chin and nodded toward Felicity. “Apologize to my daughter.”
Felicity bristled. “Selene, is this really necessary? I didn’t even damage Daph’s project.”
Her face twisted in pain as she rubbed her back. “Daph, you hurt me. But I’m not blaming you.”
Daph’s little face was set in a frosty scowl. “There was plenty of space. Aunt Felicity headed straight for my project–if that’s not on purpose, I don’t know what
is!”
“How can you think of me like that, Daph?”
“I want Aunt Felicity to apologize!” Daph demanded.
Felicity gave a dismissive laugh. “I’m not going to stoop to your level.”
“Apologize to Daph,” Harrison’s voice cut in, cold and unexpected. Felicity stared at him in surprise.
“Harrison, you really think I did it on purpose?”
Felicity felt wronged. “Even if I did, did Daph actually lose anything?”
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Daph’s voice was sharp with anger. “Are you going to apologize or not?!”
“Daph, you need to get ready,” Ms. Hughes reminded her gently.
Felicity smirked. “Tell you what–if you win first place, I’ll apologize. Deal?”
Daph agreed instantly. “No take backs, Aunt Felicity! If I win, you have to apologize to me and to my project!”
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