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“Darcy?” he gasps, his mouth wide open, looking shocked. “Never. I’ve never had second thoughts about being with you. You’re the only thing in my life I’m sure about.”
“Then what is it?” I urge him. “No secrets, remember? I don’t want to start our married life with doubts in my mind.”
He looks down at the sand, and nods. “No secrets,” he mumbles. “Okay… there’s something you should know.”
“Darcy?”
I turn around, my eyes wide. I’d spent a year hearing that voice, day in day out. I’d know it anywhere. I’m in shock, and a quick glance back at Lennon tells me that this is what he was trying to tell me, and why he’d acted so strangely at breakfast. It all made sense, now.
“Mr. Wilson,” I gasp. I let go of Lennon’s hand and clasp my fingers together. “How… what… why are you here?”
“Never mind that. What’s going on? How come the two of you are here togeth…” His voice trails off as it all sinks in when he sees Lennon with his arm around my shoulder. “Right. Now I understand. Out here with a few friends, you said?” His eyes narrow as his cold stare focuses on Lennon. I glance up at him and it looks like he’s about to pass out.
“Mr. Anderson, a word with you,” he orders, his tone stern. “Alone.”
Lennon nods, and walks toward Mr. Wilson, but I’m not about to let him take the fall for this. I’m a grown woman. I’m not a child anymore, and I won’t be treated like one.
“No,” I say, defiantly, joining Lennon again. Mr. Wilson looks shocked, and so does Lennon. “Anything you have to say to Lennon, you can say to me too.”
He nods. “Very well, Miss Stanfield. Shall we sit down so you can both convince me why I shouldn’t be calling the school board to report Mr. Anderson here, for an inappropriate relationship with one of his students? Like, right now?”
“Because I love him,” I say, as if it’s the simplest thing in the world to understand. “Have you ever been in love, Mr. Wilson?” I ask. I see something spark in his eyes that spurs me on. “I don’t care that he’s older than me, and I don’t care that he was my teacher. He’s been nothing but a perfect gentleman, and nothing inappropriate has happened in the time we’ve known each other. I’m an adult, and I was an adult when we met.”
“As your teacher, he had a duty of care to you, Darcy,” Mr. Wilson says quietly, “and he knew that having any kind of relationship with one of his students was wrong, and to do so would likely cost him his registration.”
“I know that.” I pause, and try a more conciliatory approach. “Please, don’t say anything. Don’t ruin Lennon’s life for something he had no control over.” Mr. Wilson frowns at me, as if he’s struggling to comprehend what I’m saying. Finally, he nods.
“I’ll think about it,” he says. “But I’m not making any promises. Lennon, I’m disappointed is all I can say.”
He continues his walk down the beach, leaving us standing there, alone. Lennon wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead.
“It’ll be okay,” he whispers. I nod and give him a smile, wishing I felt as confident as him.
We walk back to the resort, hand-in-hand, not saying anything. I’m trying not to think about all that’s gone wrong since we got here. Maybe it’s a sign? It just shouldn’t be this hard to be together. Everything could come crashing down if Mr. Wilson goes to the school board. A bad reference would be just the beginning. Lennon could lose his career over this.
God, what if they put him in jail for being with me? I blink back tears. This was supposed to be so magical. Now it’s all turned to crap. How can this be happening? I don’t understand. I thought when I graduated school, everything would be okay. It didn’t even occur to me it could come back to hurt us like this. Are we ever going to be able to move on, or are we always going to be looking over our shoulders, wondering who’s watching?
By ten that evening, we still haven’t heard from Mr. Wilson. I’m trying my best to remain positive, but it’s hard, because I don’t even know if there’s going to be a wedding tomorrow.
