Chapter 112

Hayley opened the door to the apartment and went inside. The kitchen and living room were dark. She walked over to the old couch and sank gratefully onto it. The evening at Phil Morse’s had been a trial. She had barely been able to stand the laughter and good feeling. One sip of wine had brought on a headache. She had had no appetite for the plentiful food.

It hadn’t helped that Hayley had recognized several of the guests at the party as staff at Yorktide Community College, most significantly David Wildacre, the head of the English Department. He had greeted her warmly, and while in a way it had been nice to see him, in another way it had been downright painful. Hayley had taken two courses taught by Mr. Wildacre; each had been a fantastic experience, and she had kept all of her notes and papers. Not that she would ever have use for them again.

At about eight o’clock Ethan had sent her a text.

Miss you.

To which Hayley had replied truthfully: I miss you, too.

That message had been followed by a line from Shakespeare. Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known.

Do you have the entire works memorized? Hayley had asked.

Wish I could say yes but I can’t lie to you. Xxx

“I can’t lie to you.” Hayley whispered the words aloud. The next time she saw Ethan Whitby would be the last.

With a sigh, Hayley got up from the couch and tiptoed down the hall to her parents’ bedroom. She carefully opened the door just wide enough to see that her father wasn’t there. Nora Franklin was snoring slightly, her work-worn hands tucked under her cheek. For the moment, she seemed at peace.

Hayley closed the door and went to her own room. She undressed and crawled into her bed. She was asleep almost before her head touched the pillow.

It was some time after midnight that Hayley was awakened by her cell phone. She fumbled for it on the night table, hoping and yet dreading that it would be Ethan. But it was not Ethan. It was Brandon. Hayley stared at the screen and let the call go to voice mail. And then she deleted the message without listening to it.