Entangled: A Novel Part 17

Abbey could not answer. She sat motionless with her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

Father Walters breathed an exasperated sigh. "I have no choice but to notify the authorities of this and to suspend you from teaching until this matter can be investigated." He paused for a moment and ran his hand through his thick black hair. "Abbey, you're one of my best teachers. What would possess you to get involved in something like this?"

Abbey looked at her hands. "Father, my personal life has turned into a mess. Over the summer, I ended a relationship with someone I cared dearly about. Hayden and I became friends, and she was there for me during a bad time." Abbey smiled. "She's a mature kid. She helped get me through some of the toughest parts."

"That's the point, Abbey, she's a kid...a student who attended this school." Father Walters closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with his fingertips. "Whatever happened between you and Hayden Crissman happened, but everyone will see that you were still her teacher."

"But, Father, the relationship between Hayden and I occurred after Hayden graduated. I don't see why the school board would have an issue with this."

"Your relationship or friendship with a student outside of the cla.s.sroom isn't the only issue the board is concerned with. It's compounded by the fact that we have the issue of h.o.m.os.e.xuality to deal with, as well. And you know where the diocese stands on that."

"So this wouldn't be an issue if Hayden were a boy?"

Father Walters's eyes flashed with anger. "It's an inappropriate relationship regardless. But it certainly doesn't help that these accusations ring loud and clear of h.o.m.os.e.xuality. The point is, it shouldn't have happened at all." Father Walters exhaled. A thin film of sweat covered his forehead, and a look of fatigue pa.s.sed over his features. "Look, you're a smart girl. This is a Catholic school. We're under the constant scrutiny of the church and the public regarding inappropriate relationships between our students and teachers. Even when something that may have come about innocently looks inappropriate, it still can cause a major upheaval."

"Father, I know my relationship with Hayden may not look appropriate, but technically, she hasn't been a student in my cla.s.s since she was a junior. The only contact I had with her during the school year was working with her and her counselor to get her a scholarship to Mercyhurst."

"I realize that, but it doesn't matter. You will be seen as someone with authority over her. And once this gets out, people, including the diocese, will come to their own conclusions. I have no control over what happens, and I'm afraid of what this will lead to for you and for the school."

Abbey felt like she had been physically beaten. Her head pounded and her throat felt like sandpaper. "Father, I never meant any harm to anyone and am truly sorry if my lapse in judgment caused me to appear to overstep the boundaries of my professional relationship with Hayden, but I still don't believe I did anything criminal."

"I wish I could believe that was true, but the circ.u.mstances and the evidence weigh heavily against you." Father Walters stood. "Is there anything else you would like to say in your defense?"

Abbey gripped the sides of her chair and stood, as well. Her legs felt like they would collapse beneath her at any minute. "I guess I better hire a good lawyer."

Chapter Twenty-six.

Abbey sat at her kitchen table with the telephone in one hand and a gla.s.s of vodka in the other. She hadn't had a drink since she left Erie, but with all that was happening, the only thing that calmed her nerves was a gla.s.s of liquid serenity. She thumbed through the Cleveland Yellow Pages and found the number for an attorney who dealt with statutory rape cases. She felt she would have better luck finding a lawyer with more experience in these types of cases in a bigger city than Youngstown.

Allison Winters's ad said she used to work for the prosecutor's office in Cleveland before going into private practice in Chagrin Falls. Abbey called her office and got an appointment for the next morning.

Abbey got up and filled her gla.s.s again with vodka and ice. She walked onto the porch and sat on the stoop listening to the hypnotic hiss of the cicadas high up in the oak trees. The sound was almost comforting. Abbey needed comfort. Her life seemed to be drowning in overpowering circ.u.mstances.

She had never felt so alone. Even though Abbey had come out to her family when she turned eighteen and moved in with Ann, She didn't feel she could tell them what she was going through because she didn't know how they would react. Actually, she did know how they would react: they would be angry at her for being so foolish and for throwing away all her education and hard work, and for what? And she certainly couldn't talk to Ann. Just the thought of Ann made Abbey angry and bitter. Abbey hated how she felt. Even when they weren't together, she hated that Ann still had a hold on her.

As the afternoon light faded into the pink hues of evening, Abbey remembered the visit from Sara Crissman the other day. She wondered what her reaction would be when she found out about the allegations regarding her daughter. Abbey bet the next time Sara came to visit, she wouldn't be bringing cookies.

Abbey was surprised when she met Allison Winters because she looked more like a college student than a seasoned defense attorney. Abbey figured she wasn't much older than she was but hoped she had much more experience. Allison greeted her with a warm handshake, then she got down to business.

"So Hayden Crissman was your student in Ohio, but this incident happened in Pennsylvania, is that right?" Allison pulled out a yellow legal pad from her desk drawer.

"Yes, that's correct."

"So tell me what happened."

Abbey exhaled slowly. "What happened was a moment of indiscretion that I may regret for the rest of my life." She told Allison what took place in Erie. She told her about meeting up with Hayden, about the evening at the play, and what happened afterward.

"Do you think in any way that Hayden felt forced into doing anything she didn't want to do?"

"No, not at all."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because she initiated it. She kissed me."

"And then what happened?"

Abbey looked up at Allison. By the look on Allison's face, she didn't need to say any more.

"But it was consensual? Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"You are positive she didn't feel obligated or forced into doing something she didn't want to do or felt she couldn't stop from happening?"

"No!" Abbey said a little too loudly. "I would never force anyone to do anything they didn't want to do."

"Okay, good. Abbey, I need to let you know that many lawyers argue that even consensual s.e.xual interactions between students and teachers can still const.i.tute s.e.xual hara.s.sment."

"I see."

"I need to ask, what possessed you to become involved in this type of relationship with Hayden?"

Abbey shook her head. "I don't know. I'm usually so careful about boundaries with my students. That night, I was so distraught about seeing my ex..."

Allison looked up. "Ex-husband? Ex-boyfriend?"

Suddenly, Abbey felt self-conscious. Not only was she telling this attorney her deepest, darkest secrets, she realized that because of this, her entire life would be on display for everyone to see. Now everyone, including her students, their parents, and her colleagues, would know about her lifestyle.

Abbey coughed nervously. "My ex-partner. Ann and I had been together for six years."

Allison continued to write, not skipping a beat.

"Is that a problem?" Abbey asked. "Because if you don't feel comfortable taking my case..."

Allison reached over and picked up a silver-framed picture from her desk and showed it to Abbey. It was a picture of Allison with a beautiful dark-haired woman and an Asian girl who looked to be about four years old. "This is my partner, Diana, and our daughter, Lilly. I don't think there'll be a problem. Can we move on now?"

Abbey smiled for the first time in what seemed like months.

Abbey explained that Ann came to the hotel the day after seeing her and Hayden at the play and asked her to come back so they could start over. "She had previously been involved with Jackson, her boss, but that's another story."

Allison shook her head and continued to write.

"I had just returned from Waldameer where I asked Hayden to come back to the hotel, so we could talk. I needed to explain to her that what happened shouldn't have and that it was my fault. I was the adult in the situation, and I should have known better."

"Was that before or after Ann's visit?"

"Before. I didn't talk to Ann until I returned from Waldameer. She was waiting in the parking lot of my hotel."

"What did she say to you?"

"She apologized for her behavior. Said things got out of hand and that she wanted us to start over again."

Allison looked up from her legal pad. "How do you feel about that?"

Abbey sighed deeply. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't care. She was saying all the right things. We had a history together...and I liked the security I felt being in a relationship."

"So when you ended the relationship with Hayden, did you make your decision that what happened between you was a mistake based on your lingering feelings for Ann or because Hayden was your former student?"

Abbey thought for a moment. Did she still love Ann? She felt something for her, but was it love? And then there was Hayden. Abbey shook her head, trying to erase any thoughts of a romantic relationship with Hayden. It was wrong. Just plain wrong.

"Abbey? Are you okay?"

Abbey looked up and saw Allison looking at her.

"I'm sorry, what did you ask me?"

"What I'm asking is, would you have told Hayden that you needed to end your relationship with her even if Ann hadn't asked you to reconcile?"

"Yes, of course."

"Okay, good." Allison flipped the page of her legal pad.

"So how was Hayden when you told her what had happened was a mistake?"

"She was sad. Crying, I think. But I explained the situation to her, and I was gentle with her. I think she understood."

"How was she when she left?"

"Not angry if that's what you're asking. She was very mature about the whole thing. But that's how Hayden is." Abbey's heart pinged in her chest when she thought about Hayden. She forced herself to ignore the feeling.

"What happened when Ann showed up at the hotel again?"

"When Ann came back, that's when things got nasty. She said some pretty awful things to Hayden and me, then left. At least I thought she left. When Hayden went to leave, Ann was waiting in the hall and snapped the picture of us with her cell phone. It was an innocent goodbye kiss...on the cheek."

"But in a hotel," Allison said.

"Yes, I guess that's the bad part."

Allison nodded. "So this is where Hayden's complaint stems from?"

"I don't believe Hayden's the person filing the complaint."

Allison looked at Abbey. "If Hayden isn't filing the complaint, then who is?"

"Ann is the only person I can think of who had access to that picture. I think she did."

"So she's filing the complaint for Hayden?"

"No, she's filing the complaint for her own amus.e.m.e.nt."

"I don't understand."

Abbey changed positions in her chair. "When all this happened, Ann threatened that if I didn't come back to her, she would send the picture to the school board. I think she made good on her threat."

"And Hayden has nothing to do with this?"

"Not that I'm aware of. I believe this is all Ann's doing."

Allison set her pen down and folded her hands together. "Okay, let me ask you something. When did Hayden graduate from the school where you taught?"

"June 5 of this past year."

"And the incident happened in June?"

"Yes, June 7."

Allison looked up at Abbey. "Your 'moment of indiscretion' took place after Hayden was no longer your student. No teacher-student relationship, no crime."

"That's great news, but isn't her age a factor in this? Hayden was only seventeen, and I'm twenty-four. So that's statutory rape, isn't it?"

Allison shook her head. "The age of consent in Ohio and Pennsylvania is sixteen."

"It is?" Abbey couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Yes, it is." Allison pulled a law book from behind her desk and showed Abbey the law in writing.

Abbey collapsed with relief into her chair.

"There was no crime committed, but that doesn't mean these allegations won't get you in trouble with the school system. Especially at a Catholic school and the nature of the relationship. That can really complicate things."

"So what do we do?"

"In some of the other cases I've seen like yours, the school board privately asked the teacher to resign to avoid them firing the teacher, which would raise questions. Their main goal is to keep this quiet. But in your case, someone else is making the allegations, someone in authority. Although you feel Ann is doing this to get back at you, she's a teacher, which would make her complaint valid. Even though there may not be a legal case, her allegation could still cause you to lose your job."

"If there were no laws broken, how can I still lose my job?"

"Because cases like this are so precarious. Any inappropriate behavior toward a student by teachers can cause serious consequences for the victim. While the legal definition of s.e.xual hara.s.sment is 'unwanted' behavior, most people would agree that even consensual s.e.x between students and teachers would be seen as hara.s.sment."

"But what happened between Hayden and I was consensual. She initiated it, for crying out loud."