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Aspen shivered and hugged herself

"All it took was for one person to believethat has bothered lanced at ot fired"

Her shoulders fell "No No, it’s not It’s my fault I was fired I’m the one who started a relationship with a student I knew the rules I knew the consequences, and I did it anyway"

"But--"

"No If anything, your actionsto happen, Ten And you knohat? I’lad I ended up with the man of my dreams I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I’d stayed there But here I am now, and I’ht I could be I feel fulfilled in every way, because I’h school, and Noel is going to stop stressing that he so to be perfect So, honestly, I would like to thank you for whatever part you played in all that"

I shookme "That’s messed up," I said

She srateful for everything you’ve done for us" This time it was her turn to eye the front door "It’s been over an hour since they left"

"An hour and eighteen lance I pulled back, hoping I hadn’t given anything away

"Caroline’s been so h my ears I had no idea how to respond Was this her way of tellingout stray conversation topics?

"I’m sorry, what?" I asked, "

I nodded "Well" I pushed toto shove off This conversation’s filled etting the itching need to go do soo home, watch some sports in my underwear, and scratch ood" Her shoulders released all the tension in thes to say"

I chuckled and gathered h I e She hadn’t been Dr Kavanagh for months She was Mrs Gamble now Or was it Dr Gamble?

"It’s just Aspen," she toldover my shoulder "See you around"