Page 2 of Bad Professor

But then she left for Greece to teach English in a village school where her grandmother still lives. She asked me to go with her, but as well as I get along with female students, parents—or grandparents—don’t really like me when they find out I’m their daughter’s professor.

So Elena left. I’ve had a year of lectures chock full of women—all sizes, shapes and ages of woman who do their very best to tempt me into doing something I shouldn’t.

So far, I’ve managed to resist. I don’t return the suggestive glances. I steer clear of flirtatious conversations outside of class, and so far, I haven’t had a slip-up.

I definitely do not look at the legs of girls wearing skirts in the front row. Or any row. I just don’t let my gaze drop with skirts.

I am strong.

I still have no dating life to talk about, but I’ve kept away from my students.

Until I meet Tilly.

2

Tilly

What colour of underwear should I wear?

Not that he’s going to be seeing it tonight, since this is only a first date. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to use one of the popular online dating apps, regardless of how many times my best friend Juliet has taken pictures and made profiles for me. Online dating doesn’t interest me; maybe I’m too old-fashioned to think meeting face-to-face is still the best way to start a relationship.

Or maybe I’m just too old.

After a year and a half of excuses, I have finally agreed to a blind date with Brian—it’s not exactly a blind date since he’s a friend of a friend of Juliet’s boyfriend Bennett, and I’d met him last year at a party, but I didn’t really talk to him then.

Attractive, with a good smile. I did think he had a nice head of hair—thick, in a laid-back yet polished style, something you’d want to run your fingers through during a moment of passion.

At my age, you have to think about these things. Heads of hair, not passion. That has been off my radar for quite some time.

I’ve managed to exist without passion for a while now, to the horror of BF Juliet. She just started seeing someone and wants me to be as happy as she is.

It’s difficult when she’s with Bennett most of the time and so it’s me alone in the world of dating.

It’s a scary place and I haven’t made much headway since the divorce.

In fact, I’ve made no head, or way, at all.

This will be the first time I’ve been out socially with a man since the divorce. Before the divorce, since Carlos had been too busy taking his latest girlfriend out to bother with his wife stuck at home with his children.

I shouldn’t say stuck—I love being a mother to Jade and Jordan. It’s the only thing worthwhile that came from my marriage. I spent the last sixteen years being a mother and I’m very good at it. I should be—I gave up a career, my independence, and it seems like my identity to give Carlos the children he craved.

And it kills me that I don’t have them full-time.

Weekends. I only get them for weekends, Friday to Sunday night. Or Monday mornings when I’ll make the trip across the city to their school.

Carlos kept the house; I moved out and his mistress moved in. Since we didn’t want the girls to switch schools, I agreed that my girls would live with their father during the week.

It carved out my heart to leave them behind.

The only saving grace is that Carlos is a great father—much better than a husband. After a very awkward transition period, the girls actually seem to get along with Heidi.

There’s no point being bitter or resentful about that. I just want to make it easier for my daughters.

It’s Thursday night; they’ll come to me tomorrow afternoon for the long weekend before school starts. And Carlos is allowing me to take them to school on Tuesday or else this would be the first First Day of School that I’ve missed.

Jordan is joining her big sister in high school, and I want to be there for that. It’s only saying goodbye to them from the car with no hugs or kisses or any shows of affection, but it’s something and these days, I take what I can get.

And after I drop them off of school and say goodbye until Friday night, what then?

---