“Just trying to figure out how you handled all of this,” Tawson said with a joking tone. “The teaching I get and the queer student group, yes, but, sir, you’ve done so much more for this campus and community than I think anyone will everknow.”
“Stop calling me sir,” Daniel said. “Seriously, I’m trying to forget that someone of your age is young enough to call me that.”
Tawson leaned back in his seat and tilted his head. “I really can’t tell if that was a compliment or insult on my age.”
“You have many years of life to live,” Daniel said. He was close to fifty and it was starting to show. His beard was whiter each time they met up and it contrasted starkly against his dark skin. Tawson was almost thirty. He was young for a professor, but he’d had his entire life ahead of him just last year. The perfect life he’d dreamed of.
It’d been snatched away in less than twenty-four hours.
He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind and motioned for Daniel to sit down and join him for a bit. He offered him a chip from the bag he’d been munching on throughout the day. It was move in day for all the students and that meant official move in day for himself as well. Daniel had been showing him around, giving him all the information and showing him the way they do reports and how everything is sorted. For the most part, it was all standard but there were a few things that he would have to make sure he understood before Daniel and his wife left. He had two weeks.
“So, how are you settling in at the ranch?” Daniel asked it conversationally but Tawson could see that he was genuinely curious. He’d told Tawson all about the ranch and his students that started it. He’d ended up having each of them in a class before they graduated but they met through the Queer club. Tawson, of course, had met William and Brett. William was the one that designed and decorated each of the homes. Brett was the right-hand manager that helped run the place. They knewsome of his background from his application and in turn, they shared their stories. William came from a supportive family, coming out in high school. He talked about how he was with a guy for much longer than he should have been and discovering that he was demi. Brett shared the struggles with his dad being abusive and pushing him to get a business degree so he could take over the family business.
Tawson revealed to them that he identified as bisexual, but he’d previously been married to a woman. They had a thorough screening process and it was all handled carefully and discreetly. He’d moved in just a couple weeks ago, but it’d been nice. He kept mostly to himself, aside from a few morning coffees with Tracy and Patrick.
“I’ve met most everyone, I think. The whole family is nice.”
“Oh, trust me, you haven’t met half the family yet. They have aunts and uncles, cousins, family that isn’t technically related but they say they are.”
“I’ve met Wright and Xander,” Tawson said. “Paxton, too. And their youngest son, Victor.”
Admittedly, when Tawson first laid eyes on Victor, really laid eyes on him, he’d taken a moment to look him up and down. Tracy had already mentioned that he graduated late because they kept him back a year in Kindergarten. He was a little behind in his talking for first grade, according to his teacher, but once he met his best friend, he started talking more and learning. Tracy was proud of both of her kids, that was for sure. She gushed about them all the time. They were also very supportive, which was something that Tawson loved most about their family.
“Victor is living in the apartments on campus this year,” Daniel said. “I’m sure you’ll see him around. And Paxtonis working with the women’s soccer team so you might see her. William and the others are in and out of the campus depending on the work they’re doing. Brett likes to join the weekly meetings sometimes, especially if he knows that anyone staying at the houses are there too.”
“I’ll have to remember their faces, then.” Tawson shuffled a couple papers around and moved a folder back to a drawer. His first class started on Monday and he was nearly ready for it.
“Are you hungry? I was thinking about going to the restaurant and grabbing some food before heading home.”
“Sounds good with me,” Tawson said. “I think I’ve done just about all I can before Monday. You might have to go over the protocol for putting in the grades and stuff one more time.”
“You’ll be great,” Daniel said. Tawson laughed under his breath as Daniel grunted standing up. “Shut up.”
“I didn’t say anything,” Tawson said with a grin. They locked up and headed out to the elevator. His new office was on the second floor of the English department’s building. The English building was to the right of the main entrance onto campus, where the restaurant was to the left so it was a little walk and the sun was quite hot. Since school hadn’t officially started, he was only in his jeans and a t-shirt. Daniel was in a pair of slacks and a button up, looking every bit the established teacher.
“How is everything else going for you?” Daniel asked as they started down one of the paths. He liked the way the campus was laid out with the concrete paths forking in different directions to get around easily. Each branch of a new path had a little sign, no more than waist level, letting you know what building was ahead. “Have you heard anything from her?”
“Not a word,” Tawson said. He knew Daniel was talking about his ex-wife. They’d divorced after a month-long court case. Only because she fought to take all she could. He tried not to think about her, but also understood that Daniel was just being the good friend he is and checking on him. “She got what she wanted.”
“I’m sorry you went through it to begin with,” Daniel said. “I really thought you two were going to last forever. I never thought she would do something like that.”
“That makes two of us,” Tawson said. He’d spent some time in therapy right after the incident and again after the divorce trying to make sense of it. He never expected his wife, the love of his life, would turn on him like she did. No one had expected it. And because it happened in northern Texas, of course the courts ruled in her favor without much of a trial. The guy they caught got a fine and a slap on the wrist. After moving into the foundation house, he restarted his therapy with Megan, aka Sunshine. She really lived up to her name and he felt good talking to her, even if the subject was hard.
“Hopefully this will be the thing you need to start over,” Daniel said. His voice was more somber and he laid a hand on Tawson’s shoulder. “But please know that I am always a phone call away, okay? If you need anything.”
“I appreciate it,” Tawson said. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done so far. You are the first person I felt that really believed me when I told you what happened.”
“I hate that that’s the case, but I know you and I know you value the truth. You’re starting your new life now and everything will work out in your favor.”
They passed a group of guys walking from the Welcome Center toward the main gate. There wasn’t asmuch car traffic over this way since the dorms were more on the backside of the campus, but there were several group booths sat up around the building and along the paths. It was the typical college opening day.
“Hey, Professor Daniel! I thought you were gone this year?” A student, presumably not a Freshman, stopped in front of the two of them.
“I am, technically. This is my replacement so you better keep those grades up if you’re in his class again. This is Professor Lancaster.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” the student said. “I had Professor D in class last year and I attended a lot of the Thursday meetings. He’s great. I don’t think I’m taking an English class this semester but I’ll definitely see you at the meetings.” His eyes went wide and he held out a hand. “If you’re going to be there, that is. Sorry, I didn’t mean to assume anything.”
Tawson smiled kindly at the kid. “I’ll be there. But thank you for backtracking and checking. It’s appreciated. I’m taking over most everything that Professor Cadman was doing for this school.”
