She smoothed her finger against her lips, silent. Trying to find a way to quieter ground, he supposed. Her computer, tired of waiting, beeped at her. She smiled wryly. "I have to finish my grades," she said.
"If you want, I can wait," he said. He spoke deliberately so she would understand the full weight of his words.
"I wouldn't ask you to do that," she said, just as deliberately.
"You wouldn't have to," he replied.
She turned her face to his. "It might take a while."
"That's okay," he said. "I have time."
He felt the brief pull and release of her eyes. Then she turned back to the computer and began punching in letters. Conservative radicals. Radical conservatives. She'd had enough of them.
She punched in the letter A next to each student's name. Even Katia and Steve. When she was finished, she looked up at Alex.
"When can we go back home?" she asked.
He allowed himself a smile.
"Whenever you're ready, Dr. Addams."
LEARNING FEAR Page 24