Hot For Teacher(54)

Over the next few days, we learn that Daniel has a case pending and the prosecutor tells me I might need to make another statement. The university hasn’t expelled Daniel and, right now, I don’t think I even care. I’m just overwhelmed and shaky. I can’t even think about my last semester and if he’ll still be on campus. Jack promises me I’ll be safe because he will make it happen and I believe him. Justice is not always what we envision it to be, so I’m prepared to let karma have her way with him instead. Whatever steely resolve I had is now floundering, and Jack is really the only thing keeping me grounded. I’m excused from taking my final exam, but I opt to go through with it. Daniel was a shitty tutor, but I still work hard to get through this class. Dean Andrews actually grades my exam and I pass it with an 81%. I’ll take it. I do my best to forget the worst parts of this semester, highlighted by probably the best thing in my life. Jack.



Jack

Edith has been pretty listless since Daniel attacked her. I feel like it is partly my fault for making him tutor her in the first place. The university is still investigating the matter but, technically, it happened off campus. I’m in contact with the prosecutor’s office daily, making a nuisance of myself until they ask me why I am so involved in the matter. Edie asked me to leave things alone, but I can’t. I will never forget the look on her face or the helplessness I felt. When the police took preliminary photos of her bruises, it lanced my eyes with a vision I never want to see again and they didn’t even see her the day after. Shelby came over and took photos with her digital camera the next day. The blank look in her eyes is one of the memories that pains me the most. I retained a lawyer, just in case things go further. I decide I’ll let her know if and when it’s necessary, but I don’t want her unprotected again. She has days when she smiles and I think things are okay; other days, she mopes around the house. It’s hard to express how proud I am of her and how much I admire her strength without getting choked up. Even on her worst days, she is a fighter. She passed all her exams and she has one semester left. I’m not sure what will happen after the Christmas holidays and she goes back to class. Her determination is a bit intimidating at times and I’m afraid to ask her.

We move to the new house, just to get away from campus and give her some distance from things. The house feels new and safe, and I’ve installed a top notch security system, which I don’t even know how to really work. Edith read the manual and knows it better than I do. The first time I accidentally set it off, I thought she might have a panic attack, but she just smiled and calmly told me the disarm code. We laughed about it, and I joked about tattooing it on my body backwards so if I forget it, I can rip my shirt off and check in the hallway mirror to read it. Needless to say, Edith was against the idea.

Shelby and Aiden stop by daily so she’s never alone. She sleeps in my bed, but I haven’t tried to be intimate with her because I’m afraid it will make things worse. Our days are spent with me working from home when I can, and holding her at night when she lets me. I’m still waiting for my brave girl to shatter and let me in.

***

“Jack! Jack!” I hear Edith calling me.

“Baby, what’s up?” I run from my office to the kitchen. She’s standing in front of the sink, looking out the window. “What is it?”

“Snow, Jack,” she whispers.

“Edie, it’s New Jersey. We get snow every winter,” I say gently. I’m confused, but I want to know where this is all leading in her sweet, complicated mind.

“No, Jack. Really look at it. It’s making everything new.” Edith puts down the towel and pulls me to the back door, opening it and stepping outside, holding her hand into the icy flakes. Snowflakes are just covering the ground and I know that, by tomorrow, I’ll be shoveling our new driveway so we can get the cars out.

“Edith, its freezing cold out here. Have you lost your mind?” She doesn’t have a jacket on and she’s still wearing those damn flip flops. The cold air is crisp and biting, and she wants to stand on the porch, looking out into the backyard.

“No, Jack. I think it’s just waking up.” She turns in my arms and hugs me tightly. I don’t have a clue what she’s talking about, but feeling her skinny arms wrap around my chest makes my heart swell. It must be the fucking cold that’s stinging my eyes as I breathe her in and squeeze her back.

“God, I’ve missed you, Edith. I love you so much.” I kiss the top of her head, hoping and praying this is real.