Mavis Applewater - Finding My Way

The following morning I found myself pacing outside of Maureen’s office. Finally I summoned up the courage and knocked on the door. “Come in!” Maureen bellowed from inside. “Great she is already in a bad mood and I’m about to make it worse.” As I entered her office was on the telephone. She waved to me and I entered completely and closed the door behind me. “So there is no way you can return?” She pleaded in a frazzled tone. “I understand… . talk to you soon.” She hung up the telephone and slumped in her chair as she groaned in disgust. “I was in such a good mood this morning.” Maureen grimaced. “My kids actually made it out the door on time. That should have been my first clue that this day would wind up being a complete disaster.”

“I’m afraid that I am about to make it worse.” I said carefully.

“You’re not running off to California as well?” She joked.

“No.” I swallowed hard not certain how to tell her about Caroline. “It is about Caroline Jennings.”

“I already know.” Maureen said in a serious tone. “This morning three of her students came forward and admitted to having an affair with her.”

“Oh?”

“What an idiot.” Maureen groaned as she looked up at me. “I was just on the telephone with your girlfriend. I was begging with her to come back. Seeing you here I now know why she wasn’t surprised to hear from me.”

“What happens now?” I asked.

“The students are on probation.” Maureen explained grimly. “It could have been worse for them. They could have been dismissed.”

“And Caroline?” I question her with trepidation.

“I have to fire her.” Maureen stated adamantly. “I cannot believe she did this Stephanie. We almost hired her for the position we gave to you. One of the things that prevented that was that I had heard rumors that she had a history of seducing her students. When she came in to fill in for Allison I explained to her that there was no gray area in this matter.” Maureen’s telephone rang and she answered it promptly. “Thank you Grace … send her to my office.” Maureen concluded the brief conversation with a hint of remorse. “I hate doing this.” She said after she hung up the telephone and began to massage her temple.

I left without saying a word. I wanted to make my exit before Caroline arrived. I was not fast enough. “Good Morning Stephanie.” Caroline beamed.

“Hello.” I muttered unable to look her in the eye as I brushed past her making a hasty retreat to my office. I began to gather up my belongings having no desire to be present when Caroline returned. Grace entered and handed me a new assignment sheet. Maureen had already divided up Caroline’s classes amongst the faculty. This was not going to sit well with the rest of the faculty. I thanked Grace as she left.

“You couldn’t resist could you?” Caroline snarled bitterly from the doorway. I looked up at her and felt nothing but pity for her. “You just could not keep your mouth shut!” This time Caroline was actually shouting at me.

“I didn’t turn you in.” I responded calmly. “Granted I was going to but someone else beat me to it. Three students Caroline. I’m willing to wager that they only came forward because they failed to make the short list this weekend. A woman scorned times three. What in the Hell were you thinking?”

“Kids.” She snarled.

“That’s right they are kids Caroline.” I shot back. “And you used them.”

“Bitch!” She screamed in response. “It’s so easy for you isn’t it? I guess when your girlfriend’s last name is Kendell …”

“Don’t.” I warned her furiously.

“Whatever.” She grunted and brushed past me. I took my opportunity and vacated the office quickly.

When I returned home late that evening after a very heated staff meeting I was exhausted. Many of Caroline’s classes were dumped on me. It made sense I was most definitely low man on the totem pole when it came to seniority. I spent the remainder of the day teaching my classes and trying to sort out Caroline’s. After reviewing her lesson plans, grades and syllabus I came to the conclusion that I would need to start from scratch. Her lesson plans made no sense and the grades contained far too many discrepancies. The students would freak but it was the only fair way to do this.

My body was aching and all I wanted was to soak in a very warm bath. I noticed the light flashing on the answering machine and a smile captured my lips. “Please be Allison and not some jerk trying to sell aluminum siding, I just need to hear her voice.” I thought as I dropped my briefcase on the floor and raced over to the machine. I didn’t even bother to close the door on the apartment I just needed to hear her voice. I pressed the button anxiously. “Hi Honey.” Allison’s sultry voice called out to me. “You’re probably still working. I talked to Maureen this morning. It must have been Hell for you. Do yourself a favor … drop everything and take a long hot bath and remember that I love you. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” The machine beeped noting it was the end of the message. I sighed happily.

“How sweet.” A voice slurred from behind me and my body tensed. I turned to discover Caroline standing or at least trying to stand in the doorway. The woman was a more than a little drunk. “Great this day just keeps getting better and better!”

“Tell me something Steffi pooh.” Caroline slurred. “What is it about Allison that is so damn fascinating?”

“Get out!” I demanded firmly.

“No.” She scoffed. “Not until you tell me about your girlie.” She weaved as she stepped into the apartment.

“Get out.” I repeated.

“What is it hmm?” She made her way over to me and attempted to stare me down. “She’s not that good looking. Is it the money?”

“I said get out.” I repeated loudly as I stood up to her.

“Tell me Steffi pooh.” Caroline continued ignoring my request. “What’s the great Allison have that I don’t?” Then she reached up and tore open her blouse and began to cup her own breast.

“It is probably because she is so amazing in bed.” A firm voice said from the still open doorway. I looked past Caroline to find Chris standing very confidently in the doorway.

“What the …” Caroline sputtered as she turned towards Chris. “Who da hell are you … say you’re kinda cute.” She stumbled towards Chris and reached over to touch her. Chris just pushed her hands away as she rolled her eyes in disgust. The entire display was simply pathetic. “I think you should leave.” Chris added firmly.

“Why?” Caroline slurred in a cockily manner.

“Because the Lady asked you to.” Chris asserted as she straighten out her body to its full intimidating height and stared down at Caroline. Chris’ imposing stature eclipsed Caroline. She looked up at Chris and muttered something incoherent and stumbled out of the apartment.

“Charming.” Chris sneered as she carefully watched Caroline make her departure.

“Thank you.” I sighed with relief as I rushed over and slammed the door close and locked it. “She was beginning to make me nervous.”

“What’s her problem anyway?” Chris asked. “I mean other than the gin.”

“She got fired today.” I explained.

“I know.” Chris responded. “That’s why I’m here. Allison rang me up and asked me to let her know that there would no problem in releasing her from her sublet agreement. I didn’t know Ally owned this house.”

“Family secret.” I answered. “Wait you flew in from New York just for that?”

“No.” Chris responded with a slight uneasiness. “As of this weekend I’m living in Boston.”

“Oh?”

“Well it’s not official yet.” Chris hedged. “I gave my notice at the firm. I was going to tell you on Friday but since you had a better offer…”

“That I did.”

“Anyways.” Chris smiled knowingly. “After all of these years at Wainwright and Griggs and all of the hard work I put in not to mention saving their butts from Simon Brenner I was certain that I was well on my way to becoming a partner. It was made painfully clear to me that I was not. So I walked.”

“Chris I’m sorry.” I offered.

“I’m not.” She stated with conviction. “Unlike my ex-girlfriend I like the law and I love being a lawyer. It’s time for me to become the type of lawyer I always wanted to be. I still need to pass the bar here but I like Boston and I think that I might try my hand at private practice. For now I’m staying with Rita. Is any of this going to be a problem for you. I like you Stephanie and I wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“I’m fine with it.” I said warmly. “I like you too. Granted at times things can be a little awkward.”

“I know.” Chris smiled in return. “For me as well … sometimes seeing the two of you together hurts. Say tell me about little Miss Muffet from downstairs. Why is she mad at you?”

“She blames me for her losing her job.” I tried to explain knowing that no of it made any sense. “She also hates me because I won’t sleep with her.”

“I don’t understand.” Chris said as she shook her head in confusion. “I have a long list of women who have shot me down not once did I ever show up at their apartment drunk of my ass.”

“I find it hard to believe that someone has turned you down.” I said honestly.

“It happens I’m not Madonna.” Chris chuckled. “Why was she fired?”

“Sleeping with her students.”

“They cannot fire her for that.” Chris responded simply as I watch her legal mind going to work.

“It was in her contract.” I argued. “And she had been warned when they hired her that it was against University policy.”

“The contract means nothing.” Chris shrugged. “But if they went out of their way to give her a special warning I am going to assume that she has a history with this sort of thing.” Chris went on lost in thought.