Chapter 4
Chapter Four
WYL
After Rod left, I remembered I almost did a U-turn on the way to town, hoping to avoid the whole college thing Walt talked me into this morning.
My mental image of college included stuffy, robe-clad college professors with superiority complexes who snubbed their noses at their unworthy students.
And young students who rolled their eyes at everything and showed no respect.
Something about Rod’s class and Rod himself made me glad I came.
I learned to deal with uncomfortable situations in the Marines.
Still, I knew my priorities and what to expect from my superiors.
WBCC wasn’t the Marines, and the instructors weren’t Drill Sergeants.
A short gal sauntered into the break room like she owned the place.
“You’re Wyl Sterling, aren’t you? Dr. Bonner said you’re in his class. I’m Stella Smith, Dr. Bonner’s secretary and fine arts event coordinator.” Stella filled her coffee mug as she talked.
Stella came across as a bit too enthusiastic, which put me on high alert. Women came on to me a lot, but I avoided any connection. I stood in the presence of a lady, although lady seemed a bit of a stretch in this case.
“Is this your first semester?” She leaned against the counter, her left arm across her stomach to push up her ample bosom.
“Guilty,” I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Does it show?”
Stella shook her head. “Except for the deer-in-headlights thing, no.”
I let out a weak chuckle, although I didn’t find her amusing. “Deer in headlights? I need to work on my act.”
“Relax, Wyl.” Stella threw a dismissive wave. “Students of all ages attend here, including older students. I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”
I sat. “For the second time this morning, age has crept into the conversation.” I motioned to the empty chair.
The one where Rod sat as we chatted earlier.
He was just my type. A handsome professor…
an out-of-bounds professor who must have a wife and kids.
Professors on television and in the movies were all married with children, or at least dating.
Stella plopped into the chair. “Community colleges like WBCC have a higher percentage of non-traditional students.” Her mug thunked on the table.
She counted with her fingers as she spoke.
“Working people who need extra training, divorcees entering the workforce for the first time, people wanting to change careers, empty nesters who decide to finish a degree, or retired service people looking to beef up their skills for a post-military job.”
“I’m ex-military, so you’re describing me.” I sat and crossed my arms. “But if all instructors are as friendly as Dr. Bonner, being a student will be easier than I expect.”
“He’s a favorite of the students.” Stella took another swallow of coffee. “Are you taking other courses this semester?”
Stella’s intense gaze made me uncomfortable. Did she have the impression I might be interested? “I’m taking an economics class and a biology class. I decided not to overload my first semester.”
“Great decision, Wyl,” Stella paused, draining the last drop of coffee from her mug. She sure did gulp coffee, which helped explain her hyperactive style. “Who are your teachers?”
I pulled the paper schedule from my satchel. “Mr. Bowden for economics, and Mr. Ortega for biology.”
“Both capable instructors. I’m sure you’ll enjoy those classes.” Stella stood. “Are you and your wife living on the ranch with your brother?”
Shit. How did she connect to Walt? “I retired from the Marines in April, and no wife.” I shook my head.
“Oh? You served in the Marines?” Stella’s gaze went from interested to rowrrr.
I nodded. “Twenty years. And how are you connected to my brother?”
“His ex-wife, Mitzi, is a close friend of mine.”
The name punched me in the chest. I coughed into my fist. The Mitzi nightmare wouldn’t go away.
I scowled. “You need to choose better friends. It turns out her interest was focused on his money, not him. Thank goodness they divorced.” I remembered Walt’s unhappy letters from home.
“Walt remained miserable the entire brief marriage.”
Stella raised her palms. “Miserable? Mitzi told me she was quite happy.”
“Yeah…happy with a fat bank account. Mitzi is a black mark in Sterling history. A history we want to forget.”
Stella shrugged. “Mitzi is of a different opinion,” she huffed, turned, and rushed for the door like the break room was on fire, leaving her empty mug on the table.
Rod skittered to the side to avoid a collision with Stella as she barreled into the hallway. “Are you okay?” From the doorway, he nodded to the hallway. “I couldn’t help overhearing. I didn’t warn you about the campus version of the Spanish Inquisition.”
At Rod’s friendly face, my frown disappeared. Stella’s comments bothered me, but…dammit…Rod made everything all better. “Spanish Inquisition, eh? My duties took me to Spain, but the Inquisition happened before my time.”
Rod glanced down the hall, then came into the break room. “Stella made you uncomfortable, didn’t she?”
“I’m fine. Stella brought up Walt’s ex-wife, Mitzi. Walt is my brother and my only family, so I’m protective.” Talking about Mitzi made me want to escape. She’s one thing Rod couldn’t fix. “What’s done is done.” I stood and picked up my satchel. “Time to move on.”
“Wyl.”
Rod’s soft voice crushed my escape plans.
Why did this guy intrigue me? He drew me in, but a male/male relationship here in Blackfield would raise eyebrows.
And he was so far out of my league that our time zones differed.
I glanced up and met his eyes. My brain screamed at me to turn away, but an unseen force riveted me.
“It’s obvious Stella bothered you.”
I nodded. “I didn’t expect my brother’s past to come up.”
Rod poured a mug of coffee, then sat. “I’m not trying to nose into your business, but I can have a talk with her if you like. Stella grabs onto a thread and weaves an unbelievable story.”
I glanced at Rod and joined him at the table. “Why are you being so nice? When people are nice to me, they always want something.”
Rod shook his head. “I want nothing but your success. Over the years, I’ve taught several non-traditional students. Like you, those students came in uneasy about being on campus. But they also became my best students. You'll ace all your courses if you are comfortable here.”
“I hope so. And thanks for the offer, but I’ve always taken care of myself. Letting anyone help me is foreign. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate what you’re doing, but it’s hard.”
“I understand,” Rod said. “I never served in the military, so I don’t have your background. My goal is for you to graduate with a degree.”
I studied the man sitting across from me.
His attractive, sincere face made me hope Rod liked men.
Not that I would do anything about it. If I told my brother about my gay side, he'd go ballistic. Nobody knew about me except one other Marine and, of course, the squad of Marines I worked with at the time, thanks to Dusty’s blab.
What a disaster my friendship with him turned out to be.
Friendship? I considered it more, but he didn’t.
He left my heart wounded. What had I been thinking?
After a heavy sigh, I let the story flow out.
“Mitzi pursued Walt like a fox pursues a jackrabbit. Her attention flattered him, so he fell for her and proposed. Making her sign a prenup was his smartest move. During their first year, he discovered that Sterling money and power meant more to her than to he did. With her husband’s money, she wanted to travel the world.
He wanted to stay on the ranch. The rift grew, and he filed for divorce.
She fought the divorce, but an indiscretion surfaced, and the divorce court sided with Walt.
She walked away with a handsome settlement, but upon discovering his true net worth, she felt cheated.
Not only did she hurt him with her indiscretion and finding out she loved his money more than him, her constant badgering stressed him.
Since the divorce, she continues to threaten Walt.
She tries every trick in the book to wrangle money from him.
We hoped she had finally given up. That’s why Stella’s mention of her shocked me. ”
Rod stayed quiet. I hoped my words didn’t make matters worse.
“Wyl, it took a lot of courage for you to open up.”
I shook my head. “I don’t normally open up, especially since I met you only two hours ago. But watching you handle the class, and later sharing coffee, helped me relax.”
“I like having a student who doesn’t try to fit everything into the teenage world. Your experience is unusual since it involves both your family and a staff member here at the college. I’ll do my best to keep Stella from bringing up Mitzi.”
I stood to leave, gathered my things, and headed for the door. “Thanks, Rod.”
“If you’re not up to talking with your other friends, I can be an independent, unrelated, third-party sounding board.”
I paused in the doorway. “I don’t have any other friends, Rod.” I turned to leave, but Rod stood beside me in a flash, hand on my arm.
“What do you mean?” He let go.
I put on my hat. “You have a class to prepare for.”
“Wyl?” His voice pleaded with me to share.
I sighed. “I’ve been back four months and spent all my time at the ranch. I moved around with the Marines, so I never developed lasting friendships. My best friend from high school disappeared, and I have no idea what happened to him. So, no other friends.”
Rod squeezed my shoulder. “We’re not friends. But like I said earlier, I’m a good listener.”
“Thanks.” I turned and left. Deep down, I appreciated Rod’s concern. But I didn’t want to burden a potential friend with my problems. Potential friend? My gut screamed I was too quick to dismiss him. Could I fix this?