“I think so.” I answered. “You don’t think that she could fight this? Do you?”

“She could.” Chris answered directly. “If she has done this before then she probably knows just how to handle it. If she is smart she knows that the University would do anything to avoid a public scandal. They will settle and she will walk away with a big check with no stains on her record. Probably just a few rumors or innuendo.”

It was too incredible to believe but it made sense. Caroline had been bouncing from one college to the next. No doubt adding notches to her bedpost along the way and cashing in on it as well. Chris was probably right. Caroline had pulled this before. I managed to convince Chris into crashing on the sofa for night instead of driving all the way back to town only to drive back in the morning.

The following morning I made coffee while Chris took a shower. Allison called to see how I was doing and I retold her the events of last evening including Chris’ suspicions. Allison agreed with Chris that Caroline was probably using her lesbian affairs with students as a way to cash in. Chris walked out into the living room just as the conversation was beginning to get interesting. She rolled her eyes and trotted off into the kitchen to fetch some coffee while I ducked into the bedroom and finished my conversation with Allison.

After Chris left I took a much-needed cold shower. When I was leaving the apartment I could hear screaming coming from down below. “Who the Hell do you think you are?” Caroline screamed as she stood in the foyer dressed only in a bathrobe.

“As I have already explained I represent your landlord.” Chris said dryly.

“Allison Kendell is not my landlord.” Caroline screeched indignantly.

“Technically she is.” Chris pointed out in a rather bored tone.

“Well you can tell her that I’m not going anywhere.” Caroline snapped back in a cocky manner.

“That is fine.” Chris responded in the same monotone voice she had maintained through out the conversation. “No one is telling you to leave. You can stay as long as you pay your rent. I am only here to inform you that you are free to go. You will not be held to your lease.”

I thought it was strange that Caroline had a lease since I had never signed one. I also thought it was strange that she would want to stay in Haven since she just been fired by the University. This was a small town and everyone who lived here was in one form or another connected to University.

“I’m staying.” Caroline spat back. “I’ll need to stay here since my lawyer is filing a law suit against the University.”

“Really?” Chris smirked in a cocky manner.

“That’s right lawyer girl.” Caroline snarled as she planted her hands firmly on her hips. “I don’t what kind of law they practice in whatever Podunk town you’re from but here in the big city things are different.”

I cringed as I awaited for Chris to rip Caroline a new orifice. Surprisingly enough it never happened. “Do tell?” Chris baited her.

“I’m suing for wrongful termination and sexual harassment.” Caroline stated proudly.

“Are you insane?” I finally said having grown weary from watching this display.

“I have a strong case.” Caroline quipped in my direction. “I’m also planning to sue Allison Kendell as well since she is the catalyst behind all of this.”

“I see.” Chris nodded thoughtfully. “Except you don’t have a leg to stand on.”

“Yeah right.” Caroline sneered in distaste.

“Well for starters Allison Kendell is on the other side of the country.” Chris pointed out. “You were dismissed from your position because you violated your contract.”

“Prove it.” Caroline snarled all full of herself.

“The students came forward.” I pointed out.

“Students?” Chris cooed pleasantly. “As in more than one?”

“Three.” I answered.

“They will never testify.” Caroline gloated. “Those girls would be far too embarrassed if their families found out.”

“I don’t know three of them one of them might be just angry enough with you to do that.” Chris noted. “As for sexual harassment what is your basis for that claim?”

“Dr. Grant was constantly making sexual overtures to me and when I refused her advances she used her influence to have me fired.” Caroline stated in a hurt tone.

My jaw dropped as I realized that this woman was using me to get to Allison’s mythical fortune. Chris simply laughed in her face. “Miss. Jennings you are not filing any lawsuit.” Chris stated very calmly.

“And why not?” Caroline snarled refusing to back down.

“First off that podunk town I’m from is New York City. Perhaps you’ve heard of it?” Chris stressed. “I’m with one of the top firms in the country and I am very good at what I do. For starters all I need is the statements those three statements have already made. Then I’ll look into your past I’m sure out there somewhere is an old colleague who would love to expose you for the lying bitch that you are. After that it shouldn’t be too difficult to prove the only mistake the University made was to hire you in the first place. Now as for Dr. Grant I will personally love to testify about how I found you in her apartment tearing your clothes off in a drunken stupor while she was yelling at you to leave.”

“You won’t do that.” Caroline cooed in a confident manner. “If you do then I’ll be forced to call Professor Kendell and tell her that you spent the night.”

“And?” Chris asked in confusion. “She knows that and she also knows that I slept on the couch.”

“What?” Caroline sputtered in a shaky voice knowing that her bluff had been finally called.

“You know it is women like you that give the rest of us a bad name.” Chris said bitterly. “Now as I was saying you are not being asked to leave this residence but you are free to go.”

Caroline stomped off in a huff and slammed her apartment door. Chris turned to me shaking her head, “That woman makes me look like a virgin.” Chris had made her point and Caroline Jennings was gone for good. By the time I returned home from work that evening she had packed and disappeared. None of us ever heard from her again. I had to ask myself how it was that at one time I had found that woman attractive? Granted it was a long time ago but that kind of warped personality just doesn’t pop up over night. I also had to ask myself if her recent advances had were so she could somehow gain some kind of leverage for herself. Was I a ticket into Haven or to Allison? Perhaps I was just another conquest?

As the weeks passed I forgot about Caroline. It was spring and that mean that Allison would be home soon. It also marked the start of the softball season. I was pitching and doing fairly well so Maureen was thrilled. I didn’t understand why she was so happy since we were ranked number nine out of fifteen teams. Stan (who played left field), explained to me that we had never finished above last place.

On an usually hot day in April I was standing on the mound. We had won our last three games and now it was the top of ninth and we were tied at five all. If we could pull this win off the team would move up in the rankings. Maureen had been ready to explode throughout the entire game. I had struck out the first batter and I had one ball and two strikes against the second batter. I took my stance and was just about to release the ball when I spotted a familiar face peeking out from behind the backstop. I released the ball, which sailed off nowhere near the plate.

I tried to calm myself as I watched her make her way over to the bleachers. I took a deep breath and tried to focus. My next pitch faired better but not good enough. “Ball three the umpire called out.” “Okay this is not the end of the world. So it’s a full count with the score tied in the last inning no problem! Just don’t look at her and you will be fine.” I heard Maureen call for time as she ran over to me from first base. “Stephanie?” Her voice squeaked. “Are you all right?” I simply shook my head in a negative response. “Damn. I knew I shouldn’t have let you pitch all nine innings.” She chastised herself.

“It’s not that.” I laughed slightly as I stared at my feet. “Look over at the bleachers.”

“Why?”

“Look who just showed up.” I smiled as I pointed over to Allison. “My God she looks good.”

“Oh she came home early.” Maureen sighed and then snapped back into her coach mode. “No time for that. Just don’t look over there.”

“I can’t help it.” I pouted. “It has been a long time.”

“Let me put it to you this way.” Maureen spoke carefully. “Two more outs and you are that much closer to taking her home.”

“Get your ass back on first base.” I ordered her firmly. Maureen ran back to first and I threw out my next pitch. A swing and a miss. The next batter went down in flames. Three pitches and three strikes. What can I say? I was suddenly motivated. Maureen ran over and hugged me. I started to head towards the bleachers when Maureen grabbed me.

“Not so fast hot stuff.” She tugged my shirt. “You are up. Remember?” Reluctantly I tossed my glove in our dugout and grabbed my bat. Once the warm up was completed I turned to Maureen. “We are not going into overtime.” I spat out as she laughed. I stomped over to home plate like a woman on a mission. The first pitch was perfect. I knew the moment the bat made contact with the ball that my prediction had been accurate. I flung my bat to the ground and rounded the bases with ease. Once I crossed over home plate my teammates surrounded me. I knew they were happy but I had other things on my mind as I tried to pull myself away from the celebration.

I looked for her in the crowd until I found her carefully putting my gear together in the dugout she stepped out onto the field with my equipment bags tossed over her shoulder. I pushed my way over to her and without saying a word and not caring who was watching, I reached up and pulled her to me. We greeted one another without words as our lips met and we kissed deeply.