Page 10 of Professor Next Door

I saw the light go off in Tara’s room and went to my own bed, enjoying the feel of cool, clean cotton sheets against my skin as I slid in. No, I couldn’t marry Tara. She’d probably turn me down anyway, why would she want to marry me, even if I did make it worth her while? Crazy idea, not worth thinking about, I thought, and closed my eyes to let sleep take me.

* * *

Maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea, after all.

I stared across the expensive oak desk at my lawyer, Bill Woods, the next evening, wanting to strangle him.

“What do you mean they have a good chance at winning?” I glared at him, certain my stare would turn him into little more than ash but he persisted in sitting there unharmed.

“They have a judge that’s sympathetic to grandparents and hates men. He, yes he often finds in favor of women over men. Plus, I think there’s more here than we’re being told. Something’s got my nerves strung tight but I can’t quite figure it out.”

I sat back in my chair, watching him. Something has his nerves strung tight? Mine were about to snap!

“Aren’t they supposed to hand over their evidence and all of that, Bill?”

“Yes, but there’s something missing. Something that gave them this idea and they haven’t listed it yet. They’re far too confident about this. They allege you’re unfit but give few reasons why. I don’t think working long hours is a good reason, do you? Your book on historical French art certainly isn’t enough, even if there are a few nude examples in the contents. What have you done that you haven’t told me about?”

The rather talented Amy crossed my mind but I dismissed it. She’d moved on to the next professor on her list. Rebecca had graduated and gone to grad school in another state. Sarah was in med school now, too engrossed in her studies to even think about me. I hadn’t kept up with the girls personally, I never really cared much once we were done with each other, but I’d heard snippets through conversations. It wasn’t any of them.

“Nothing that I can think of. I don’t know. What can I do?” I looked to him for advice, advice I paid dearly for but he shook his head in momentary defeat.

“Right now, nothing. I mean nothing, Galen! Don’t do anything to make this worse. I mean it.” He glared across the desk at me, his aged skin and rheumy gray eyes drilling into me. “Keep your dick in your pants, your hands off your wallet, and your voice off the phone.”

“Sure, Bill. Whatever you say.” I held my hands up in surrender, giving him a look that said much the same.

“I mean it. People do stupid shit sometimes and I don’t need you fucking this case up before I can even get it started. Don’t be like one of my other clients and hire a hitman. And don’t try to solve this on your own like another did. He tried to talk his wife into taking him back and ended up with a restraining order. That shit doesn’t look good to judges, Galen. Don’t do it.” He glared over at me again, his white hair a brilliant halo in the afternoon sunshine.

“I hear you. Call me when you know something. Are we done now?” I stared at him, hoping he wasn’t going to grill me anymore.

“Yes, I’ll call you as soon as I know something. Give me some time. And remember what I said!” He looked up before turning back to an ancient laptop on his desk, dismissing me already.

“I could have sworn I was the one paying him,” I muttered to myself as I left his office. Exiting the building I went to my car, ran my usual check for Rikki, and pulled out the parking lot.

The meeting hadn’t been very productive, and I was disappointed. I’d wanted to hear that the judge had thrown it out already, that I could pay Bill a little more money and he’d make it all disappear. Instead, he’d told me that a pair of baby-snatchers might succeed in taking my daughter away from me.

They’d barely had anything to do with Kayla after we were married, which had confused me. My parents were both gone, my dad disappeared when I was young; never to be heard from again, while my mom had died from breast cancer. My mom would have been right by our sides if she’d been around, helping us with the baby, and she’d have loved Kayla.

My heart sank as I thought about the woman I’d rarely allowed myself to think about in the last year. After she’d died I’d gone a little crazy, totally lost without her. She’d grounded me; she’d been a strength I hadn’t realized I’d needed. I’d met her at a conference we’d both attended in Atlanta and we’d hit it off.

She’d been a little different from my usual choice in women, but she’d been beautiful. Just the memory of her smile made me smile. I went through a green light, careful to be sure the way was clear before I went through. Kayla had caught my attention and changed my life. She’d become my wife a year after we met, and she’d given me our daughter ten months later. Within weeks she’d died, and my world had started to crumble.

I pushed the memories down, the heartache that made it hard to breathe too much to deal with while driving. I’d become adept at pushing them down, the skill necessary to stay alive. For Rikki.

I pulled into my driveway a few minutes later, but instead of walking to my house I headed for Tara’s to pick up my little girl. This time Tara stood in the doorway with her hair down around her shoulders. As the sunlight caught it, it turned into a red halo. For a moment, she was breathtaking. Then she turned as Rikki waddled up to her and clutched her leg. The moment passed as Rikki beamed up at Tara.

She’d bonded with her already, I could see it in her eyes. Eyes that were the mirror image of my own. On her, they were beautiful, feminine, and her little pink rosebud mouth was just precious. Chubby cheeks, dabbled with red from her rush across the floor, were full and perfect as she grinned up at Tara.

“Tar-wah, Daddy home!” She grinned a toothy grin at me as Tara picked her up, holding my little girl on her hip like she’d done it from day one. I blinked at them both, seeing something I wasn’t sure I should. I remembered what Bill said, but this was just perfect. Tara was perfect.

“Hi, baby, you ready to go home? Your boyfriends are coming over in a little while.”

I took her from Tara who smiled at me as I held Rikki close.

“Noncle Zohn!” Rikki threw her arms in the air and cackled a laugh of joy. She loved John.

“He’s not playing tonight?” Tara asked, her eyes twinkling as she watched Rikki.

“No, he’s got the night off. We’re playing poker. I’d ask you over but it’s just us guys. Except for Rikki. She’s special, you know?” I gave her a bit of my dazzling smile, the one that had just as much twinkle as hers now did.