Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
ROD
What I did to Wyl clawed at my gut. Yeah, he was the one who kissed me, but then I deserted him.
I’m sure he thought he did something wrong.
After the heated conversation with Stella, I realized more was at stake than bruised feelings.
The guy I had fallen for needed my help, and yes, I fell for him.
It was breaking all my rules, but I didn’t care.
I must take care of a false campus rumor about Wyl and me.
Picking up my office phone, I called Alfonso Ortega’s boss, Janice Cartwright, Division Chair over Science.
“Cartwright.”
Her curt greeting angered me further. In my state of mind, it didn’t take much for me to lash out. In my head, I heard the trumpet fanfare that always came before the crowd shouted CHARGE! “Cartwright, Bonner here. We need to talk. Are you free?”
“Rod.” Her voice softened. “You sound upset. Anything wrong?”
“A disturbing rumor about one of my students is circulating on campus. The reported source of that rumor is one of your faculty.”
“May I ask who?”
“Not over the phone.” I was pissed.
“Calm down, Rod. My office or yours?”
“Telling me to calm down is not helping.”
“I’m free all afternoon,” Janice said.
“This won’t take long. I’m on my way.”
I slammed the receiver down without a closing courtesy.
Janice’s attitude set me off, and her sudden fake concern worsened the seething anger over the false rumor from Alfonso.
I wanted to punch someone. Wearing a scowl lest anyone attempt to speak to me or stop me, I went to Janice’s office in the faculty building. I knocked on her open doorway.
“Hi, Rod. Come in,” Janice motioned me inside. An imposing woman with a commanding presence, many found her intimidating, but her management skills kept her division running smoothly, or so I thought.
“May I close the door?”
“Sure,” Janice indicated a chair. “Please.”
The noise of the hallway diminished to nothing as the door clicked shut. I took a chair, sat forward, and kept my back straight. I wasn’t a wimp coming to beg her help. I was one very pissed-off administrator about to demand she do something.
“You said something about a rumor?” Her suspicious gaze told me everything.
“Stella mentioned a rumor going around campus. When I pressed for detail, she told me Alfonso Ortega said he saw me in the courtyard kissing one of my students.” I cleared my throat. My already tense muscles were edgy from the potential of putting Wyl in the spotlight.
“Who is the student?”
“The student is not the problem. The problem is an administrator who was falsely accused.”
“I understand, Rod. But I need a clear picture of the incident.”
I hesitated. “The student is Wyl Sterling.”
Janice huffed. “Did the kiss happen?”
That question and her attitude inflamed me. Her earlier curtness and this unfair accusation almost pushed me over the edge. “Really, Janice?” I shot out of my seat. “Your question tells me this situation is best discussed with Dr. Waverly.” I started for the door. This shit didn’t fly.
“Rod,” Janice stood. “To deal with the situation, I must understand what happened.”
I turned to face her and leaned forward, emboldened by my need to defend Wyl. “Your approach tells me you already think the kiss happened. You’re not willing to help uncover the truth. I see no point in this discussion.” I turned again, hand on the doorknob.
“Wait.”
I turned to find Janice still standing, an arm outstretched toward the chair I had occupied before.
“Why should I?”
“I know you're gay,” Janice said
“What does my being gay have to do with this situation? It sounds like you are lumping all gay men into a category where such action is commonplace. Shall I place you on the list of people sexually harassing me? I find this line of questioning inexcusable.”
“My question was more about Wyl Sterling than you,” Janice said. “What can you tell me about him?”
“So, you’re making the same broad generality about Wyl? What makes you think he is gay?” My anger seethed, and I was about ready to punch something.
“Please, Rod. Sit. I’m obviously handling this the wrong way.”
I hesitated, still ready to march out the door. But I needed Janice’s help in uncovering the lie Alfonso Ortega spread. I huffed and sat.
“Now, tell me about Wyl Sterling and how he became involved in this rumor.”
“Wyl is enrolled in my music course. He is also enrolled in Ortega’s biology course and Bowden’s economics class.
He is a non-traditional student, close to my age, so his student experience is made easier through our casual conversations over morning coffee on class days.
We discuss the class readings and the musical examples.
I never accompany him around the campus. He isn't here except on class days.”
“Is he one of the Sterling Ranch Sterlings?”
“Yes, but his community position has no bearing on Alfonso’s false accusation. Wyl has not been on campus for two weeks.” I kept eye contact with Janice, watching for any sign of mistrust.
“And you indicated Alfonso started this rumor. Do you have any idea why? Could he have seen Wyl kissing someone else in the courtyard?”
I bristled at the ridiculousness of Wyl kissing anyone in the courtyard. “Janice, the students make Wyl uneasy. One, he’s uneasy about the age difference. Two, he is military and knows better than to put himself in a compromising situation. Three, you assume he would want to kiss a man.”
Elbows on her desk, Janice tented her fingers, pondering my response. “Valid points, Rod. But the unanswered question is why Alfonso would start such a rumor. What is his motive?”
“Why are you asking me? You need answers from Alfonso. You won’t find answers by hesitating to deal with the situation and grilling me for information.”
“I understand your point, but why would Alfonso target you? You hold your orientation quite close to your vest.”
I leaped from my seat. I had had enough.
“Janice, how should I know his motives?” I jabbed the point of my index finger on her desk.
“Let me tell you something… I’m tired of always having to be on the defensive.
I am not the perpetrator here; I am the victim.
I’m prepared to file harassment charges against Alfonso, which will no doubt drag you into the spotlight as well.
Spreading false rumors of a sexual nature is inexcusable.
The rumor compromises a student, and my position on campus is also weakened.
The school is the ultimate victim. The Sterlings have the wherewithal to bring a hefty lawsuit against this college for slander.
Alfonso’s actions are unacceptable and a fireable offense.
If this rumor isn’t stopped today, I will take whatever steps are necessary to protect Mr. Sterling, myself, and this college.
” I glared at Janice to reinforce my seriousness.
“When did this alleged offense occur?”
“As I said, my information came from Stella.” I pointed a trembling finger in the general direction of my office across campus. “According to what Stella shared, Alfonso claims the kiss occurred within the past two weeks. Wyl hasn’t been on campus for two weeks.”
Janice nodded. “I’ll check with my other faculty members about the rumor. And I’ll deal with Alfonso.”
“I’m more concerned about the impact on one of our students than on me, but I won’t stand for lies being spread about Wyl Sterling or myself. I’ll say again, this must be handled today. If it isn’t, I’ll have no choice but to involve Human Resources and Dr. Waverly.”
“I understand the urgency, Rod. I’ll do what I can.”
“Doing what you can is not good enough, Janice.” I pulled open the door. “If this isn’t handled today, I’ll share the story with Dr. Waverly and include your hesitation to cooperate.”
I slammed the door closed behind me. Nobody raised an issue with my preference in ten years with the college.
Now more than ever, I needed someone to tell me things would be okay.
I thought that person might be Wyl, but his absence said everything about his feelings.
I realized Wyl would likely never be back in school.