Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
ROD
“Who’s the handsome man in the lobby?” He heard me enter, but always played coy.
Wyl smiled and stood. “Morning, cowboy.”
“You look great this morning.” I strolled past. We both heeded our self-imposed rule of no touches, kisses, or whispered endearments on campus.
Although nobody else came in this early, one never knew.
And with Alfonso Ortega’s antics, I wouldn’t put it past him to come in early to spy on us.
Besides, no sense in giving Stella more fodder for the gossip circuit.
“I bet you greet all Marines the same,” Wyl teased.
Yeah, we pushed the limits a bit. “No other Marines around here.” I unlocked my office and entered.
“What about Walt?” Wyl followed me in, putting his things in a chair. One chair became his seat. The other became a place for his satchel and jacket.
“Yeah, but he’s not a Marine and isn’t interested in me.”
“Damn good thing,” Wyl said. “Anyone who pursued you would draw back a stub and be missing a few teeth. Coffee?”
“Yes. You start the pot. I need to run down and check the classroom real quick.”
“Me? Start the coffee?” Wyl grinned as if given a key to an executive washroom.
I threw him a get real eye roll. “As if anyone else is here except you and me. Now march, Marine!”
Wyl hustled to the break room. “Yes, sir!”
The coffee brewing finished as I walked in. “I love the aroma.”
“The coffee or me?” Wyl teased, filling two mugs.
Yeah, we pushed the envelope again. But we were in a windowless room in an otherwise unoccupied building. “Both.” I picked up one of the mugs. “Although I need you naked for the perfect nose inspection.”
Wyl reached for his belt buckle. “I’m game if you are.”
I eyed Wyl. “Boy, when you decided to be yourself, I never expected a strip tease in this break room.”
Wyl grinned. “Hey, you worked your magic and forced me to be yours.” He picked up his coffee.
“Uh-huh.” I headed out of the break room for my office. “I charmed you the first morning of class.”
“What?” Wyl hurried after me.
“Okay, maybe it took a while to convince you.” I settled in my office chair for our customary before-class chat.
“You needed convincing. I came to your house to beg.” Wyl took a slurp of coffee, aiming a coy gaze my way.
“I didn’t do a disappearing act for two weeks.” I flashed my own coy expression.
Wyl laughed. “Okay, so we each struggled and liked each other from the first day.”
“You bet. I’m still amazed we latched onto each other.” I sipped.
“Oh, before I forget, I called my Commander and told him about Dusty’s appearance, attitude, and words about Italy.
He said Dusty’s actions fit the conduct unbecoming of a Marine.
He’ll have the Marine Corps Military Police look into it.
” Wyl took a sip. “They retained the case files from the incident. Let’s hope the sudden attention and the local law enforcement looking into the garage door vandalism will make Dusty think twice about messing with us. ”
“Do you think he’ll be pissed enough to lash out again?”
“The next time we’re in Kerrville, I’ll file the restraining order.
If he does try something else, he’ll be in bigger trouble.
” Wyl said. “And the best part…if the Marines discover he forged a connection with the Italians who abducted me, he may lose his Marine benefits and face jail time. I think he’ll lie low. ”
I nodded. “Poor schmuck. He messed with the wrong guys when he and his attitude approached our table. I’m glad we have options to protect ourselves.”
“Me too, babe. Besides, we have a ranch to take care of. Which reminds me, November is coming up, with cooler weather. How about we plan our camping trip and horseback ride on the ranch? Maybe over Thanksgiving?” Wyl’s gaze held the promise of more than a horseback ride.
“Oh yes, our camping night on the ranch. November is so far away.”
Wyl shook his head. “It starts at the end of next week.”
A ringing phone sounded behind closed doors somewhere down the hall. The rapid clack of heels and the hour heralded Stella’s arrival. The pace quickened as the ringing continued.
“Morning, gentlemen.” Stella hurried by, keys rattling in her hand. A door squeaked open.
Stella’s breathless words carried into my office. “Fine Arts. Oh, hi, Rosemary. Yes, I left you a message. Do you need me to come to your office? Okay, I’ll be right over.” Her heels clacked on the terrazzo floor as she hurried out of the Fine Arts building.
“I wonder what that’s all about?” Wyl stood to gather his things.
“I don’t have a clue,” I picked up my materials and led Wyl to the classroom.
* * *
After class, Wyl hiked to the library to study before his next class, and I strolled back to my office.
My office phone rang. The display showed Linda Baker, Dr. Waverly’s secretary. She and I became friends soon after I started at the college. I liked Linda, and before Wyl came into the picture, we sometimes hashed out the world's troubles over an after-work beer at Dub’s Bar on the square.
“Hey, Linda.”
“Hey, Rod. Are you free this afternoon? Dr. Waverly would like to meet with you at 3:00.”
I tensed. Why would the president need me? “Sure. Do I need to bring anything?”
“She didn’t say. She asked me to put you on her calendar.”
“Okay. I’ll come at 3:00.”
My brow furrowed. Dr. Waverly always called me herself.
Arranging the meeting through Linda meant a more formal reason.
Budget planning occurred in the spring, and I asked for an increase for Fine Arts.
Perhaps she wanted to discuss my plans for the increase.
Stella’s hurried conversation with Rosemary flashed into my mind.
Stella. The common denominator. Not only because of her antics with Mitzi, but the situation with Alfonso cropped up about the same time.
A problem that Stella undoubtedly helped advertise.
The fact that this did not go through my dean meant something else.
Was Mitzi part of this? I checked the foundation website and discovered the Sterling name.
Hoping to learn more, I called Frank Jones, the Foundation Director on campus.
Frank sat on Dr. Waverly’s Administrative Staff; his secretary and Linda were personal friends.
“Frank, Rod Bonner here. How are you?”
“I’m fine, Rod. What can I do for you?” Frank’s deep, confident voice reminded me of a preacher. He charmed money out of donors' pockets with a smile and a handshake.
“On the Foundation web page, the Sterlings are listed as college supporters. Can you tell me how much they give each year?” On the off chance Mitzi started something involving Wyl, I needed information about any Sterling financial gifts and how much the loss of Sterling support would impact the college.
“The Sterling Ranch Sterlings?”
“Yes. Wyl Sterling is a student here.”
“Ah. Let me check the donor database.” Frank’s computer keyboard clicked in the background as he typed in the information. “The Sterlings give $50,000 a year. The college can use the funds in any way. It’s a handsome endowment.”
“Wow, Frank. The Sterlings are generous to the college.”
“The ranch includes five producing oil wells, Rod. Money is not an issue with them.”
“Thanks for the information, Frank.”
“Any time, Rod. Bye.”
“Bye.” Wyl never mentioned oil or money, but perhaps he feared the information would influence me.
I didn’t care about Wyl’s money; I cared about him for being Wyl.
I had no idea how much money came from producing oil wells, but it added up.
Wealth never mattered to me. In fact, it frightened me a bit.
In high school, watching the rich kids always made me uneasy.
They thought of themselves as better than everyone else, so I adopted the same attitude. I would ask Wyl about it sometime.
* * *
2:55 - the calendar alert popped up, reminding me of the meeting. I arrived at Dr. Waverly’s office at 3:00 on the dot.
“Come in, Rod,” Dr. Waverly invited me in and closed the door. “Take a seat.”
I waited for her to sit before I took one of the leather chairs in front of her desk. Leaning forward, I laced my fingers together.
Clasping her hands on her blotter, she leaned as well, looking me in the face. “I’ll come straight to the point. You spent your autumn break with a male student.”
My muscles tensed, and a wave of acid poured into my stomach. I swallowed before answering. “Yes, ma’am. Did someone raise an issue?”
“Rosemary received an email over the weekend and a confirmation this morning.” Dr. Waverly shifted back in her chair as she continued, “I thought perhaps Rosemary misunderstood, but she assured me the information came from a valid source. Your preference is not in question, but you are forty-five, and students here are in their late teens, a difference of more than twenty-five years. The situation borders on pedophilia and, combined with the recent rumors from the science department, leaves me concerned. I hope you understand my position and the need to protect this institution.” She made direct eye contact with me to emphasize her point.
As if the rumor Alfonso started didn't stir up enough trouble. Trouble that Janice failed to handle, or Dr. Waverly would be aware. And now it has become clear why Stella hurried to answer her office phone this morning. She somehow learned Wyl went with me to Kerrville over autumn break and reported it to Rosemary. “Dr. Waverly, the student I spent the autumn break with is forty years old. He’s Wyl Sterling, his parents are dead, and the relationship is consensual. I’m surprised Rosemary didn’t check her facts before involving your office. ”
“Wyl Sterling? Is he one of the Sterling Ranch Sterlings?”
“Yes. He and his brother Walt own and manage the Sterling Ranch, west of town.”
Dr. Waverly leaned back in her chair. “Obviously, the information given to me included many assumptions.”
“Dr. Waverly, may I ask where Rosemary got her information?”