by Claire Adams
Ford leaned back in his desk chair and sighed contentedly. "Now that sounds good. The whole 'professor' title never really sat well on me."
I left him carrying on his relaxed, one-way conversation with the security guards while I slipped into the bathroom. Despite Ford's reassurances, I couldn't follow his easy-going lead. My whole chest was so contracted, I felt like I couldn't get a full breath. It seemed like months since I had had a normal day.
Everything was tangled together. Meeting Ford, feeling that first electric spark, and then having to extinguish it because he turned out to be a professor had tied me in knots. Then the discovery of the falsified application forms in my father's office. And, now even when the truth was supposedly out in the world, my father was still suspended, and Ford was heading to jail.
I leaned over the sink and gaped at the cold porcelain. Tears wouldn't come, but the grip of frustration and fear wouldn't let go. I fought my emotions for a moment, then gave up. I locked the bathroom door and yanked my phone from my pocket.
"Clarity! I've been worried sick!" my father cried as soon as he answered.
"Didn't you get my text message? Never mind, you didn't think to look. I'm so sorry, Dad, I should have called. I'm fine."
My father took a deep breath. "Where are you? I just called Lexi and told her to keep you off campus. Please tell me you are holed up somewhere safe."
"I guess that depends on what you mean by safe," I muttered.
"What?" my father yelped.
My breath hitched. "I thought we'd all be safe once the truth was out. We published the exposé article last night, but the blow-back is insane. I didn't think it all the way through; I didn't know this would happen. I'm so sorry."
"Stop apologizing, Clarity," my father said. "You did the right thing, and I'm proud of you. Of course it caused an uproar. You have no idea. They called me in the middle of the night to find out what students have access to the student newspaper website. I told them I couldn't help them."
I smiled. "That must have caused a whole other uproar."
My father chuckled. "It’s not my fault they don't keep track of student activities without me. They ended up having to call and wake up the entire IT staff. Those poor Landsman employees had to jump online last night and figure out how to take it all down."
"Have you been up to campus?" I asked. "From the looks of social media, the students are in an uproar."
"I'm so glad," my father said. "The student newspaper is built on the right to free speech, and any tampering with it should cause an outrage."
"I'm just worried not enough people saw the article," I sighed.
"Clarity, please, whatever you do, don't go to campus."
The tone in his voice sent me into a panic. "What? Why? Is everything all right? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. It's just a strange car parked outside our house really early this morning. Two men are just sitting in it, waiting. Lexi told me she heard that strange men have been asking around campus after you." My father's voice was strained and tight. "I think they somehow work for Michael Tailor and are trying to deliver some sort of message or threat."
I steadied my voice. "Maybe lurking around is the threat. There's no way Tailor would do anything. He's probably just trying to intimidate us."
"Well, it's working on me at least," my father snapped. "Please don't go on baiting these people. Can you promise you'll stay put? Where are you?"
"I'm at Ford's apartment. I've been here all night." I pushed on, hoping my father wouldn't pause to think of what that admission suggested. "And I'd love to promise that we're staying put, but campus security is here. The president of Landsman just called to tell Ford the guards are going to escort him to the police station. He's being charged with libel."
"Campus security?" my father asked. "The president can't do that. This is not a college matter. I mean, it's tangled up with people that work at the college, but he cannot be compromising the safety of the students by sending the security guards to babysit an unruly faculty member."
"Oh, don't worry," I joked. "I'm pretty sure if he hasn't been fired, then Ford has quit."
"Even better," my father returned. "They're harassing an ex-employee. Listen, I've got an idea. Jackson Rumsfeld's wife is a defense attorney."
"Alice?" I asked, remembering her from Thanksgiving.
"Yes, and she's got quite an unshakeable reputation. I'll give her a call and see if she can advise Ford at all."
It was relief to hear my father's confidence return. "What can I do?" I asked him.
"Wait there. Stall the security guards and don't let Ford leave. I'm on my way, darling. We're all on the way to help."
The knock on the bathroom door made me jump a foot in the air. My phone clattered into the sink, and I fished it out.
"Clarity? I don't think we can stall much longer. I thought you were ready?" Ford asked.
"Nope, not quite. In fact, I might take a shower," I said.
Ford rattled the door knob. "Unlock the door, Clarity. This isn't necessary. I'm ready to take my lumps. It'll be fine; you'll see. Journalists shouldn't have anything to fear from the authorities. I know my rights."
I unlocked the door and yanked it open. "Well, I'm sorry, we didn't quite get to that lesson in class before all this happened."
Ford smiled and leaned on the door frame. "I think it's already been established that I'm not the best professor."
I crossed my arms tight. "What am I supposed to do while you're being dragged off by security?"
He stood up and took my hand. "First, I think you should come out here and tell them about your fears. If you are afraid to set foot on campus, that is more their business than escorting me to the police station."
I pulled my hand back and refused to leave the bathroom. "I can't believe it. You're having fun with all of this! Maybe the president was right; maybe you somehow brainwashed me."
Ford arched a dark eyebrow. Deep in his stormy-gray eyes was a blue sparkle. "You're mad because I'm happy?"
"Yes! How can you be happy with this insane mess? I don't want you to be sued for libel. It's not funny," I snapped.
Ford cornered me against the bathroom sink and smoothed his hands over my hair. I put my hands on his chest to push him away but found comfort in the solid warmth of him. He sighed happily as I rubbed my hands over his chest and brought them up to circle around his neck.
"You want to know why I'm acting this way?" Ford asked.
"Yes, I think you're entirely too happy for a man about to be dragged out of his apartment by security," I said.
He leaned down and brushed his lips across mine. His mouth returned to deepen the kiss, and suddenly the whole world was far away. "This," he whispered. "This is why I'm happy. The rest is just incidental. This is the only thing that really matters to me."
Ford punctuated his words with a deeper, hungry kiss that left me loose and blissful.
A rough, impatient throat-clearing interrupted us from just outside the bedroom door. Ford chuckled and sighed, but I felt a flare of bright anger.
I shoved past Ford and marched to the door. The head of campus security stepped back as I stepped up to him and poked him in the chest. "You know this is wrong, and you should be disgusted. Since when is it your job to go off campus to deal with faculty issues?"
"Ms. Dunkirk—"
"No, you listen to me," I snapped. "It goes completely against your job description to leave the campus at such a volatile time."
"Volatile?" his voice was gruff.
I brushed past him and went to the computer. Social media was plastered with photographs and videos of students organizing to protest. It looked like very few Landsman students were actually in class. My heart leapt with pride, but I kept my face stony as I showed the head of security.
"Doesn't it fall to you to make sure situations like this do not get out of control? Don't you think that's more important than this little errand for the president?" I asked.
&nb
sp; Ford sauntered out of the bedroom and joined us at the computer desk. "How about we go now and let these nice gentlemen get back to campus? Maybe you can go with them and help them find out who is threatening you."
"Someone threatened you?" the head of security asked.
"Yes," I snapped. "You really haven't been listening to us at all, have you?"
The poor man rubbed the back of his neck and considered his options. He was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. The computer loaded new images of a restless student population, and a bead of sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Now this looks like a party," Jackson called from the doorway.
Ford laughed and went over to shake hands with his friend. "Please tell me you aren't skipping class. I wouldn't want your truancy added to my long list of infractions," Ford said.
"Class? It's kind of hard to have class when all the students are on the lawns getting ready to protest. Seems like security is... oh, wait, looks like security is right here," Jackson eyed the guards.
"Actually, they're just leaving." Alice marched into the middle of the room and, despite her small stature, captured everyone's attention.
Jackson wiped the smile from his face, and the security guards followed suit. They stepped back and gave her the floor… All but the beleaguered head of security, who rubbed his neck again and scowled at Alice. "And who's this now?"
Alice had to crane her neck to meet the tall security guard's gaze, but it didn't diminish her command of the situation one bit. "I am Ford Bauer's defense attorney. And here is a written agreement from the judge that will be reviewing this case outside of court. The judge also kindly reminded the police that they do not have enough to charge Ford, so they cannot hold him. I am currently working with them to schedule a deposition. Until then, your presence is not required. In fact, your presence has very strange implications, don't you agree?"
Ford laughed. "Clarity pointed that out to them early."
"She's right," Alice snapped. She marched to the door and held it open. The security guards filed out, and she slammed it behind them.
Ford slipped an arm around my waist. "Clarity's more than that," he admitted.
Chapter Nineteen
Ford
I listened carefully the stranger presiding over the court. He was younger, affecting a sterner face than was necessary, and he was acutely aware that everyone was watching how he worked. My attention, however, was caught by Clarity.
She sat in the first row and tapped her foot impatiently. No signs of any other stress besides boredom showed in her face. I knew the signs, I'd seen them sometimes in class. Clarity was done with this and ready to move on.
Nothing, not even what the judge was about to say, could make me any happier than that.
"Mr. Bauer, are you listening?"
"Yes, your honor. I am guilty as charged," I said.
The makeshift court snickered, but the interim dean of students silenced them with a glance. "We don't normally associate guilt with good aspects, though I was explaining to the students your reputation for pursuing the truth no matter the professional or personal consequences," he said.
Clarity smiled, and I knew the small curve of her lips was just for me. At that moment, I would have walked through fire for her, but all I needed to do was face the Honor Council and hear the verdict.
"You say it like he's being all noble, but he's a few years too late, don't you think?" Libby interrupted the interim dean of students.
I watched as Clarity's father, the former dean, whispered in his daughter's ear, and she smiled wider. Everything was going to be all right. If Clarity could put my mistake in the past, then so could Landsman College.
"Ms. Blackwell, we've heard quite enough from you. More than necessary, in fact. I believe I can speak for the entire Honor Council when I say that your testimony sounded more like bragging to an audience."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Libby demanded. "Professor Bauer's the one that overstepped the rules and had relations with me. Was that stated prudishly enough for you, judge?"
The interim dean of students looked at Libby over the top of his glasses and tried to ignore how everyone in the room looked to Patrick Dunkirk. "Your obvious enjoyment at relating the details of your 'relations' was more than enough to convince the court that you enjoyed the situation. Now, your interruptions are not in the spirit of the Honor Council, and I have to ask you to stop speaking."
Clarity's father leaned back and glanced around the room. He was in a Polo shirt and khakis on campus for the first time. The early-retirement look was good on him, especially coupled with a navy-blue sport coat that still lent him an air of professional wisdom. His replacement looked at him briefly before addressing the assembled students.
"I would ask that the Honor Council please remember that it was Ford Bauer himself that brought this infraction to light. Despite the lapse in time, it was Mr. Bauer that decided to confess to breaking the rules of propriety and not Ms. Blackwell," the interim dean said. He wiped his brow with a white handkerchief and shuffled his notes. "To own up to a past indiscretion is the mark of maturity as is the willingness to face the consequences."
Clarity gave an audible sigh. Her father nudged her in the ribs, but had to smother his own smile behind a fake yawn.
Libby fluctuated between flipping her hair, giving flirty looks to the male members of the Honor Council, and glaring at me. She had not managed to mount any kind of case, especially not when she ranted at the council about how she had pursued me and been rebuffed. She even quoted my use of the rules as protection against her solicitations.
The Honor Council stood up and adjourned into the back room. Landsman College allowed up to an hour for deliberation, but no less than fifteen minutes. In the meantime, everyone shifted, half the students left, and Clarity looked ready to tear her hair out. It cheered me that Clarity was so sure of the outcome.
I still feared the council would assume the worst and decide I had coerced a student into an unwanted relationship.
…Until I overheard Libby. "He's just bringing all of this up now because I may have actually found a serious boyfriend. I mean, I get it. Jealousy makes people do funny things. I guess Professor Bauer saw me with my new man and decided to go ahead with all of this as a way to remind me of what we had. He totally wants me back."
I got up to stretch but could not bring myself to walk over to Clarity and her father. There was a wall between Clarity and I. Things had settled down since we broke the Landsman donors’ corruption scandal. I hadn't seen much of her, and it worried me that Libby's self-serving lie was close to the truth for someone else.
I did it for Clarity. I wanted her to know that the truth mattered to me. I wanted to face her free and clear of all my past mistakes. It felt like we would never be on solid ground if I didn't face this last indiscretion.
How could I tell her how special she was until she knew for certain she was the only one for me?
The thought threw me back into my chair. I was ready to stew for an hour when the back door opened and the Honor Council returned. The foreman handed a slip of paper to the interim dean of students. He reviewed it and then cleared his throat.
"The Honor Council has reviewed the evidence, heard testimony, and decided on how to move forward. In the matter of Professor Bauer and Libby Blackwell, the Honor Council finds the relationship was consensual."
A ripple sigh and smattering of applause went around the room.
The interim dean frowned and continued. "The relationship should have been declared to administration, but, seeing as Mr. Bauer has left Landsman College, the Honor Council finds no further action is necessary."
I stood up lighter than I had felt in years. Former students waved, and it was easier to look everyone in the eye. Especially Clarity.
I turned to meet her gaze and felt a bolt of lightning run through my body. She waited until most of the students had filed out of the assembly room, but she never onc
e took her eyes off me. Thomas, her former classmate, tried to get her attention, but she waved him away. Her father went to talk to his replacement, and the room emptied out.
As soon as the crowd was gone, she moved. I stood rooted to the ground as she wound her way through the empty folding chairs. A few feet from me, Clarity broke into a run, and she was flying by the time she leapt into my arms.
I caught the enthusiastic hug with a wave of surprise. "I understand if you're still disgusted by my past with Libby," I said.
Clarity tossed back her hair and hooked her hands behind my head. "The past is the past. Who wants to think about something that won't change? Besides, our future is much more exciting."
I pulled her into the doorway of the back room. "Our future?" I asked.
Her green eyes darkened as she grinned. "You know, you didn't need to do any of this. You've already proved yourself to me in many different ways."
I shrugged, "I just wanted to make sure I had my bases covered."
"Grand slam," she said and leaned closer to me.
I set her back, still keenly aware we were on her college campus. "Clarity, I'm serious. I want to start whatever this is on the basis of total and complete honesty."
She widened her eyes. "Whatever this is? You mean this?" She brushed her breasts against my chest. For a moment our hearts pounded against each other. "Or did you mean this?" Her lips hovered near mine.
"More," I whispered. "I want more."
Her cheeks blushed, and she seemed to remember that people could still see us. "What kind of more?"
I chuckled. "Everything. A whole relationship. You'll be stuck with me if you let me."
"Oh, then, yes," Clarity said.
I tugged her closer, our bodies flush, and her lips were inches away.
Then, Jackson and his wife popped up in the doorway. "Oh, no, don't do that," Jackson groaned. "Now my wife will think she really is a matchmaker. None of my friends will come over for beer anymore because she'll be so busy setting them up on dates."
"Matchmaker?" Clarity asked.
"Sorry," Alice smiled, "but I couldn't help notice at Thanksgiving. We've known Ford these past few years, and when I saw him chatting to you, I knew we'd only known a part of him."