Bad Teacher

“Oh, god …” I mutter.

Finally, it’s really happening.

“So I just came here to make sure that my info was correct.”

“So you have him in custody?” my mom asks.

“Yes, ma’am.” The officer nods and gives her a warm smile. “If you’re telling the truth, it means he can be charged in court.”

My mom grabs her chest. “Oh, god …”

“You okay, Mom?” I place a hand on her shoulder.

Tears well up in her eyes. “Yes, I just … I don’t know. It just feels so strange. Like it’s going so fast.”

“But it’s good,” I say, reassuring her. “He’s supposed to be locked up after what he’s done to you all these years.”

“I have one final question,” the officer asks. “And that’s if you’d please come with me to the station.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Well, since he’s not officially registered as your mother’s partner, we need to make sure we have the right guy. And you can make a statement while you’re there so we can start the investigation.”

“Mom? What do you think?” I ask.

She grabs my hand and squeezes tight. “You’re right. It’s time to come face to face with my demons.” She turns her head toward detective Fargo. “Yes.”

“All right.” He tucks his note and pencil back into his pocket. “Then let’s go.”

* * *

Thirty minutes later

I thank Lesley for coming to help and hug her good-bye as we enter the building. She’s going back to campus while I’ll stay here to support my mom. She really needs me right now so she won’t relapse into her old behavior. I don’t want him ever to get a grasp on her again.

The officer brings us to his office, at which point he stops us. “I’m sorry, but I need to talk to your mother alone.”

I frown and glance at my mother who shrugs. “Everything will be fine, honey.”

I sigh and nod. “Okay.”

“There’s a waiting room right up ahead. You can take a seat in there,” the police officer tells me, and I smile and then hug my mother.

With sweaty palms, I make my way to the waiting area and sit down. I stare anxiously at the watercooler and the bubbles that rise up to the surface every other second. After a while, a man comes out of another room, rubbing his wrists while he’s escorted down the hall by a police officer. When he turns his head to me, I gasp.

“Thomas?”

A half-smile appears on his face as he looks at me over his shoulder. “Uh … hi?”

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“This way please,” the officer interjects, and Thomas follows him. “Be right with you. Don’t leave,” he says.

I roll my eyes and tap my feet on the floor as I wait. It’s not like I can go anywhere without my mom. So I watch Thomas as he fills out a form and gives it back to the police officer. Then he smiles reluctantly and asks him, “Can I just go talk to her for a second? I promise it won’t take long.”

“Go ahead,” the man says, and Thomas nods, then turns to me.

Instinctively, I cross my legs as he comes toward me. His eyes running all over me still make me feel like my clothes are being torn off. But then I see the bruises and cuts on his face and worry seeps back in.

“What happened to you?” I ask.

“What? Oh, this?” He points at his face, and I nod. “Got into a fight.”

“Really …” I muse, narrowing my eyes. “With who?”

He smiles. “Mind if I sit down next to you?”

I take a deep breath and cock my head. “Go ahead.”

“Thanks.” He sits down beside me, placing his elbows on his knees as he leans on them. “Couldn’t help myself. When I saw him, I just had to punch him.”

“Who?” I ask, my lip tipping up into a smile.

“Your mom’s boyfriend.”

My lips part, but I have no idea what to say.

“I found his license plate through your Facebook photos. Figured I could probably still find it at the hospital. I was right.”

“You went through my photos to find her boyfriend?” I snort. “Are you insane?”

“Maybe.” A cheeky smile forms on his face. “Who wouldn’t go mad for a girl like you?”

I shake my head and laugh. “Oh, my god … you did not just say that. Can you be any more corny?”

“Well, it made you laugh, didn’t it?” He shrugs. “My job is done.”

“Is that why you’re here? To make me laugh?”

“Nah, they actually arrested me. Lucky me, I wasn’t the one to dish out the first punch, and there were witnesses.”

“So you made him hit you?” I ask.

He grins. “Pretty much. Glad I got off with just a fine. It was worth it, though.” He rubs his sore chin.

“Why?”

“I just wanted the bastard to pay for what he did to you and your mom,” he says. “Simple as that.”