Heart of the Matter by KI Thompson Page B

This time Kate really did smile. She found Ellen very attractive when she was embarrassed. Especially when her face flushed and she stumbled around her words. “Fine, I’ll see you then.” Kate returned to her condo and closed the door. Either Ellen didn’t have a good time last night or she was very good at hiding her feelings.
    ❖
    As the last student left the classroom, Ellen collected all the term papers and headed for her office. She glanced at her watch and knew Jenny would be dropping by in about an hour. It was Ellen’s last class before finals week and the weight was beginning to lift from her shoulders at the thought of getting on the road soon. She was looking forward to walking the battlefields of Virginia again, hearing the cannon, smelling the gunpowder, if only in her mind.
    Often she felt she had been born in the wrong time period.
    The present always left her feeling a little out of place and unsure of herself. The past felt more like home, like where she belonged.
    She was completely at ease among those relics, which was why she probably excelled at research.
    She fumbled for her keys to her office just as Linda Cohen came out of hers and asked, “Last class over?”
    “Yes, thank God. I’m waiting for Jenny now.”
    “Well, my last class isn’t until one. Do you have time for a quick bite?”
    “I brought lunch, but there’s plenty. Come on in.” They sat at Ellen’s desk and munched carrot and celery sticks, Melba toast, tuna fish, and fruit.
    “If I’d known you’d brought rabbit food, I would’ve suggested going out.” Linda examined a celery stick suspiciously.
    “And therein lies my problem,” Ellen complained, patting her stomach. “We go out to eat and I always wind up getting something bad for me.”
    “You don’t call this stuff bad?” Linda asked incredulously.
    “Unless, of course…you’re getting in shape for Ms. Powell.” Ellen waved the comment away without answering. She was hoping Linda wouldn’t pursue the subject, but she knew better.
    “Come on, dish. You had dinner with her last night…and then?”
    Try as she might, Ellen couldn’t help but expose all she felt on her face. She had never been a good liar, which got her into more trouble than she cared to remember.
    “You slept with her. You dog.”
    “Shh.” Ellen always tried to be cautious when students were around. “Not so loud.”
    “How was it?” Linda lowered her voice and grabbed a bunch of grapes.
    “It was…nice.” Ellen winced, knowing that wasn’t exactly the word she was searching for.
    “Nice? Nice?” Linda sat back in her chair, a disappointed frown on her face.
    “Well, it was,” Ellen insisted. “But…oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s been so long I was scared more than anything else.”
    “Scared? Scared of what? Look, Ellen, you’re out of practice, that’s all. But honey, it’s like riding a bike. You just get back on and start pedaling, and before you know it, you’re coasting.” Ellen stared at her blankly. “I don’t quite get the analogy.”
    “Whatever.” Linda shrugged. “You know what I mean.” Fortunately Ellen was saved by a knock on the door. At Ellen’s invitation Jenny stepped in and Linda jumped up.
    “Hi, Jenny. Gotta run to my class, we’ll talk later,” she said pointedly to Ellen.
    “Have a seat, Jenny. You all ready for finals?” Jenny slumped in the chair across from Ellen’s desk, her gaze focused on the floor. When she looked up, Ellen noticed she could barely keep her composure.
    “Jenny? What is it?”
    Jenny’s face crumpled and she buried her face in her hands.
    Ellen got up and closed the door, then knelt beside Jenny’s chair.
    She smoothed her hair down her back and coaxed her into talking.
    Between sobs, Jenny managed to divulge that her father’s health, which had always been precarious, had worsened. She had a younger brother in high school, and her mother had asked her to come home to Connecticut to help out.