XIV



Ethan stared sadly down at his sleeping daughter. He brushed away tears that escaped his eyes. "I'm sorry," Ethan said softly to baby Sarah. "I'm sorry for messing everything up." Ethan stroked his daughter's fine blond hair. "Your mommy suggested I say goodbye to you." Ethan whispered huskily as he tried his best to control his emotions. "I'm sorry I won't get to be there for you when you take your first step, or when you'll say your first word. I'll get to see you, but it won't be the same." Ethan said sadly. "You probably won't recognize me. I'll simply be a stranger to you." Ethan felt a lump in his throat. He tried to swallow, but it was no use. Sinking to the floor, Ethan buried his head in his hands and muffled his cries so that he would not awake his daughter. Gwen watched silently from the doorway. "That's what you get Ethan Winthrop. Now you know how I feel." She thought resentfully.

~*~



Theresa rolled her eyes. "That professor." She thought to herself. For some odd reason she felt compelled to catch up to Professor Hammond. She ran quickly through the doors and breathlessly searched the parking lot. "Where did he~"

"Looking for me?" Professor Hammond said stepping around the corner.

Theresa was surprised. "No," She said indignantly with a quick toss of her head. "I was not."

"Yeah, sure." Professor Hammond said sarcastically.

"Here we go again," Theresa mumbled.

"You know," Justin said quietly. "You're nothing like my wife. She is nothing like you actually."

Theresa was taken aback. "Your- wife?" She sputtered. "What woman in her right mind would choose to marry you?" She retorted.

Justin's expression changed. "Lindsay did. You know Theresa, I wasn't always like this." Justin said quietly while averting his brown eyed gaze.

"Oh." Theresa said. "What happened?"

"My wife disappeared." Justin said hoarsely as he fixed his gaze upon the ground.

"Disappeared?" Theresa repeated with a shocked look in her eyes. "Disappeared how?"

"Inquisitive, aren't we?" Justin said beginning to get defensive. He was not exactly ready to start discussing his wife. Every time he did, Justin found himself breaking down in tears. It was as if his heart broke all over again. Justin was not sure if his broken heart could be mended. After all, he often wondered, how can a heart be mended if the other half- your true love- is missing? Justin regained his composure and faced Theresa. He hadn't talked to anyone about his wife, and he didn't intend to start now. Even if Justin wanted to be Theresa's friend, he wasn't going to tell her anything more about his wife. Justin had often proved to be stubborn. He had that quality since birth, and there was probably no way that that trait would ever disappear.

"That's really none of your business." Justin retorted.

Theresa was slightly offended. "You started it."

"I started it? How so Mrs. Crane?" Justin asked.

Theresa noticed that Justin called her Mrs. Crane again. Before, when he had called Theresa, she felt as though there was another part of him that he hardly let become visible. When he became defensive and even more sarcastic, he tended to call Theresa Mrs. Crane. "He's hiding something." Theresa thought to herself. "He acts the way he does because he's masking feelings he's probably afraid to face." Theresa frowned. "Well you did bring up your wife."

"And you asked about her." Justin retorted.

"So?" Theresa replied. "You answered."

Justin folded her arms against his broad chest. Theresa's small frame highly contrasted with Justin's tall stature. A couple of Hammond's other students glanced in Theresa and Justin's direction curiously.

"Isn't that the girl in our class?" One girl who's name was Emma asked her friend Mandy.

"Yeah, Theresa Crane." Mandy replied.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Emma asked.

"I don't know, but I wish I did. Oh my God, you know what? I just got a thought! What if they're together!" Mandy exclaimed.

"Uh- Theresa is married." Emma pointed out.

"I know that." Mandy replied. "Theresa's husband Fox is so incredibly handsome."

"Mm-hm. Who do you think looks better? That woman's husband or Professor Hammond?" Emma asked.

Mandy thought carefully. She couldn't seem to make up her mind. "I can't choose." She said.

"I wonder Theresa can." Emma said. "You know, I can see it now. A scandalous affair between a Professor and his wealthy student who happens to be married to a Crane."

"Hm," Mandy replied.

"You have a point." Justin replied. "I did answer your question." He admitted.

"Oh my, is the all mighty Professor Hammond admitting he was wrong?" Theresa said. "I'm surprised."

"I didn't admit to being wrong Mrs. Crane. I admitted that I answered your question. Don't try putting words in my mouth."

"There's no need, anyway." Theresa retorted. "You already have a big mouth that has too much to say. You know, you never really answered my question back in class."

"About what Mrs. Crane?" Justin asked.

"About why you stopped at my house. You have a lot of nerve Professor." Theresa said eyeing him warily.

"Let's see, why did I stop by?" Justin questioned aloud. "Perhaps it was because I felt like seeing you. Perhaps it was because I was in the mood to argue. Or perhaps" Justin said as his voice got softer. "It was because I wanted to be your friend."

Theresa could not believe her ears. "What?" She said in disbelief. "You're kidding right?"

"Do I look like I'm kidding Theresa?" Justin asked.

"There he goes again," Theresa said. "He called me Theresa. His voice changed. His defenses are coming down." "No, you look very serious, but then again, I can't really tell if you're being serious or sarcastic."

"If you hang around me long enough, you'll be able to tell the difference." Justin replied.

"What are you trying to imply?" Theresa asked warily.

"Nothing." Justin replied.

"I don't believe you." Theresa said looking at him suspiciously.

"Fine." Justin said putting his hands up. "Don't believe me then."

Theresa sighed. "You're very complex Professor."

"True." Justin answered.

Before Theresa could respond, her cell rang. "Excuse me," She mumbled. "Hello?"

"Hi beautiful" Fox said softly.

"Hey, handsome." Theresa replied smiling.

"Hey, handsome?" Justin mumbled while he rolled her eyes. Theresa glared at him.

"I was just wondering. I think I may be stuck at the office longer than I anticipated. I was thinking that I would drop Little Ethan off at home and leave him with you. Did you get back from your class yet?"

"Class just ended and I'm going to get home soon." Theresa replied.

"Okay," Fox said. "I'm on the way home now, so I'll meet you there."

"Okay," Theresa replied. "See you in a bit honey. Love you." Theresa hung up. Justin seemed to have a sad look in his eyes. Theresa was about to question it, but Justin's expression changed back to what was considered normal. "Hey handsome?" Justin asked with raised eyebrows.

Theresa rolled her eyes. "Yes, my husband happens to be a very handsome man."

"Do you think I'm handsome?" Justin asked.

"Excuse me?" Theresa asked with a baffled look on her face.

Justin smiled. "Never mind. Would you allow me to walk you to your car?"

"Why are you being so nice?" Theresa asked warily.

"You don't trust me, do you?" Justin asked.

"You're acting weird again." Theresa said.

"I'm just trying to be a gentleman." Justin responded.

"That must be a first." Theresa mumbled.

"Fine, I won't walk you to your car. Forget I even suggested." Justin retorted. Theresa walked off in the direction of her car. "Bye Professor," She mumbled. Theresa walked quickly and heard footsteps behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Justin following her path. "Why are you following me?" She said as she stopped to look at him.

"I'm not following you." Justin replied.

"Yes you are." Theresa said irritated. She continued walking while Justin still followed. "Ugh!" Theresa said as she spun around. "What are you a stalker?"

"I'm just a man who just happened to park in the same area as a paranoid woman." He replied as he walked to his car which was parked two spaces away from Theresa's.

Theresa felt embarrassed. "Oh." She said in a small voice. Hurrying to get into her car Theresa turned the ignition. Her engine gave a pathetic groan. Theresa frowned. "Oh no," She said. "Please start." She begged. She tried turning the ignition, but her car refused to start. Theresa bent her head against her steering wheel. "No!" She thought in disbelief. "Damn!"

Justin knocked on her window. Theresa looked at him distressed.

"Need a lift?" He asked.

"You wouldn't happen to be carrying one of those- thingies to start the car?" Theresa asked sheepishly.

"Nope, but I can give you a ride home." Justin offered.

Theresa frowned. Never in a million years did she expect to ever have accept an offer from Professor Hammond. Theresa then thought of Fox who would be taking Little Ethan home soon. Theresa sighed. "Please?" She asked.

Justin nodded and Theresa slowly got into his car.

"Oh my God, would you look at that?" Emma said in shock.

"You may be right," Mandy replied. "Theresa Crane and Justin Hammond are having an affair!"

"What's that?" Damion, Mandy's friend asked as he walked up to them.

"Didn't you hear?" Mandy asked. "Theresa Crane is having an affair with Professor Hammond."

~*~