Chapter III
The next day Holtzmann was in her classroom at Columbia awaiting her first students of the new semester. She was with her assistants Olivia and Greg. Shortly before class started, the iPhone she kept on her desk rang. Using a long stylus held in her mouth she checked her phone and it was from Jennifer. The text message read, "I hope you have a good first day of the semester. I'll be heading to your office later for lunch." She smiled at the text and had Olivia remove the long stylus from her mouth.
A few minutes later she started her introduction to the class.
"Welcome students to Introduction to Nuclear Engineering. I'm Dr. Jillian Holtzmann and yes I am the former Ghostbuster. Please don't let my severe disability startle any of you. Trust me, you will be glad that I can't raise my hand and point to any of you during class." Holtzmann said in a teasing manner.
There were some laughs from the students. She then proceeded to tell them about what the course would entail and her grading system. She lectured them on some basic introduction topics for the rest of the course. After class she met with the head of the engineering department and then went to her office with Olivia and Greg. She went over additional details for the Intro to Nuclear Engineering course.
Then it was noon when Jennifer arrived with sandwiches and soups from one of Holtzmann's favorite delis. Greg and Olivia left to each lunch on their own leaving the couple by themselves.
"How was the first class?" Jennifer asked as she unwrapped one of the sandwiches.
"It was kind of boring as usual going over the intro material. I didn't have any students afterwards ask me to a share a Ghostbuster story. I kind of liked that." Holtzmann said.
"Did seeing Erin Gilbert yesterday bring up pain for you?" Jennifer asked.
"In a way it did. I miss ghostbusting. Sometimes I like just living in the present with my current teaching job and you. The times when no one mentions Ghosbusting, it keeps I'm feeling positive on the present" Holtzmann said.
"Well, you always be my favorite Ghostbuster. I will never forget when you captured those ghosts that haunted my old apartment." The brunette said as she put her hand under Holtzmann's chin.
"It was my pleasure doing that and I remember how you crushing on me. At the time I thought that you were straight. I was happy when you asked me on a date." The blonde teased.
"I feared that coming out of the closet would ruin my career. But, when I took the bold step, Mayor Bradley and others supported me." Jennifer said.
Holtzmann then said, "I'm glad that you have all that support. I sometimes worry that I might be holding you back in your career."
"Why would you say that?"
Holtzmann looked down at her paralyzed hands and said, "I'm severely disabled and people might think that I'm on a burden on you."
"You're not a burden. We will work things out as they go. It's my job that I fear hurts us. " Jennifer said.
The couple chatted for awhile before Jennifer headed back to work. Holtzmann finished up lesson plans for her other classes and then was driven home by Olivia and when she arrived home one of the caregivers/housekeepers Tina mentioned that Erin had called and left a message. Holtzmann had her play the message in which Erin said that Patty and Abby wanted her join them at a presentation for the kids at the firehouse on Friday. She was a bit annoyed as the day she had told Erin she didn't want to speak much about her past as a Ghostbuster. She thought about the situation for awhile and then decided to go. She used her voice controlled phone system to call the firehouse. Patty answered and called her Holtzy which put a smile on the blonde's face. She said she would go to the presentation on Friday.