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Why was she? It was the first time another faculty member had really irked her so much. Sure there were the ones whoannoyed her, who couldn’t mind their own business no matter what Elia said or did, and the ones who just had odd quirks that she refused to play into, but Kamryn was different.

She was consuming most of Elia’s time and thoughts outside of the classroom lately. Elia kept telling herself it was because they were working together on the Speech team, but it was more than that. It really was.

“Elia?”

“It’s just an adjustment period,” Elia responded, taking the easiest way out possible. “I’ll talk to her and apologize.”

“Actually apologize?”

“Yes.” Elia’s lips quirked up slightly at the reminder. She hadn’t always been the best about doing that, but she’d tried to learn over the years to be better than who she used to be. Or perhaps it was getting back to who she used to be, before she’d run face first into the realities the world had. “Since I know my mother will ask, are you coming for Thanksgiving this year?”

“I’ll look at my calendar and let you know.”

That was Abagail’s response for everything. But she hadn’t missed a Thanksgiving in twenty years, so Elia knew it was unlikely that she wouldn’t find the time. She just wanted space to think about it. “All right.”

“Are you going now?”

“Yes. Well, I’ll text her and see if she has time now.”

“Good. Then text me to fill me in on all the groveling you’re going to be doing.”

Elia rolled her eyes and shook her head, even though Abagail couldn’t see it. “I’ll call you when you get back from your trip.”

“Better yet, I’ll pop down to the school for an actual visit.”

Elia sighed into the hope of that moment. It would be amazing to have that time with Abagail, to be able to visit with her in person. “Just tell me when.”

“Oh, I will. I need to meet this Kamryn who keeps irking you.”

Fear ran through her then. She hadn’t anticipated that being the reason why Abagail wanted to visit. And she couldn’t let the two of them meet. That would spell disaster. “I’ll see you soon.”

“See you!” Abagail hung up quickly, recognizing Elia’s need to end the conversation.

Staying on her couch, Elia stared at her cellphone and debated. It would be so easy to avoid for longer, and Kamryn probably wouldn’t think twice about it. But she’d promised Abagail and herself that she would at least begin to make this right.

Elia hit Kamryn’s name on her phone and pressed it to her ear. It was now or never, and she needed to get this done and over with.

“Dr. Ogden.”

Elia paused. She’d called Kamryn’s cell phone, not the office, right? Moving the phone from her ear briefly, she checked, and sure enough she had called the cell.

“Kamryn,” Elia said. “Are you busy?”

“Uh…”

Elia clearly heard rustling of papers and clicks on a keyboard.

“I have a few minutes. What do you need?”

“Do you have a few minutes to talk in person?” Elia clenched her fist and then unclenched it. She really needed to teach her muscles to relax better. “This will be easier in person than over the phone.”

“Oh.” Kamryn sighed lightly. “Yeah, I can meet. When?”

“Now?” Elia was hopeful. If she put this off much longer, then she’d probably avoid it altogether. The sooner the better for sure.

“I’m on house duty, so you’ll have to come here.”

Elia tightened. It had been a very long time since she’d been to the dormitories. Most of the time she met up with teachers elsewhere, not that she did a whole lot of that in general. And she’d moved into a house on campus as soon as one had become available because of the accusations that had flown her way. She’d thought everyone would feel more comfortable with that than if she’d remained a house parent.