"Miss Scott, may I speak to you for a minute?" Professor Smith's raised voice was clearly heard over the noise that the students were making as they packed up their stuff in preparation to depart the classroom.

Professor Mac Smith taught art history. It was one of the courses that Cora needed to obtain her degree. She had thought she would enjoy it more than she did since she was a potential art major, but she found the class to be dull and easy.

"Do you want me to stay?" Cora's new found friend Jessica Manning asked. She was a petite blond with a pixie haircut, soft brown eyes and an upturned nose that gave her the air of being cartoonish, but she was sweet and she and Cora had taken to each other the first day of class.

Cora nodded. "Yes please," she whispered as she walked towards the little man. They had agreed that Professor Smith was kind of creepy, and they had heard a few tales of how he liked to try to take advantage of some of his students. He wasn't much to look at, he was short and balding and he wore round tortoise shell glasses. His shirt was never fully tucked in and he reeked of cigarette smoke.

Jessica moved towards the door where she pulled out her phone in an attempt to look preoccupied. Cora knew she was going to listen to every word that was about to be said and so did Professor Smith as he looked over at Jessica with a frown before he turned his attention towards Cora. "I'll get to the point Miss Scott. There really is no longer a reason for you to continue to attend class, you're only wasting your time."

"I don't understand?" Cora was confused, she was doing well in the class.

"You're aware that we have an attendance policy, correct?"

"Yes." Cora frowned as she thought about the days she had missed to go to the Bahamas with Garrett. They had decided to stay and extra week, just the two of them, and it had been perfect.

"I'm passing the class though, I didn't think it would matter that much."

"Unfortunately, that's not the case." He looked at his watch. "I don't have time to discuss this now. Can you meet me at my office at half past four this afternoon?"

Cora nodded absentmindedly, worried that she was going to fail the class and waste the money that Garrett had paid for it.

"Good," he said as she picked up his briefcase, nodding to Jessica as he passed her.

"What are you going to do?" she asked after he had left.

"I don't know." Cora hadn't even considered that missing class would mean that she might fail. She hadn't considered anything but her and Garrett for the two weeks she had been away. They had returned the day before, and up until this moment her world had been perfect.

She wasn't sure what her options were, but she knew she didn't want to discuss it with Garrett. She had come to the conclusion over the last two weeks that she would take what Garrett wanted to give her for as long as he wanted to give it, knowing that one day he would pull away and want to end their marriage, and when that day came she would be on her own once again. The last thing she needed was to get in the habit of relying on him to solve all of her problems.

"Come on, let's go get some lunch before we hit the studio." Jessica led the way out of the classroom. "I'm not sure that you should meet him on your own though."

"Can you come with me?"

"No," she shook her head, "I have to work this evening and I have to be there at five." Jessica worked for a local caterer and she often had to work nights.

"I'm sure it'll be fine."

Jessica nodded her agreement but she didn't look that sure. "You don't have anyone you can call to go with you, a boyfriend maybe?"

Cora shook her head. She hadn't told anyone she was married and she had kept her maiden name, thinking that it would make things easier when she and Garrett ended it. Only now she never wanted it to end. She felt closer to Garrett than she had to any other person. She was desperately in love with the man.

She forced her mind back to the problem at hand. She would have to go and meet with Dr. Smith. "I doubt I'm the type of student to interest him in that way. I'm too old." She said the words aloud, in hope that they would be true.

"You're kidding, right?" Jessica looked at her amused.

"No, but I am hopeful it's true."

"It's not. Everywhere you go you attract attention, especially the attention of men. There is something delicate and gentle about you that draws them. I doubt if Smith is any different." Jessica pushed through the door to the student center, leading the way to the food line.

She and Cora moved through it choosing what they wanted and then headed to their preferred table in the corner by the door, where they continued to discuss the situation as they ate.

"Maybe all you need is a note from your doctor saying you were ill." Jessica bit into her sandwich as she thought about it.

"But I wasn't ill, I was in the Bahamas." Cora's inherent honesty made her say the words.

"Lucky you, but I wouldn't admit that to Smith." Jessica turned her head and gave a little yelp as she grabbed Cora's hand. "OMG, do you know who that is!"

Cora smiled at the OMG, she sometimes forgot how young Jessica was. Following her gaze Cora choked on her bite of food as she saw Garrett and Teddy sitting at a table with a man and woman she didn't recognize.

"That's Theodora Styles, she is like the most prominent interior designer in the world."

Cora took a sip of her drink to control her coughing, Jessica was oblivious of her distress. "In the world?" she said with disbelief once she had cleared her throat.

"Well maybe not the world but definitely the Boston area. The things she designs are phenomenal." Jessica was watching Teddy closely and Cora let her gaze follow hers. "She's beautiful and sophisticated, isn't she?" She sounded awed.

"I didn't know you were into interior design?" Cora forced her gaze away from them, wondering why they were at the school and what they were doing together. She hated that she was so jealous. Her gaze jumped back to them and she watched as they all stood and the other couple left.

"Who is that gorgeous man with her. He's divine." Jessica's eyes jumped between the two of them.

Cora looked at Garrett, noting that he did look good. He was wearing a navy suit with an eye-catching tie. His hair was on the long side and his dark curls were evident. She would love to call him hers. She watched as he threw back his head and laughed at something Teddy said and Cora noticed a few heads turn in his direction.

"Yum." Jessica said her eyes glued to Garrett. Who was she kidding her own eyes were glued to him as well and he must have felt it because he turned and looked at her, their eyes meeting.

Whatever Teddy was saying she stopped mid-sentence and followed his look, turning bright red when she saw Cora staring at them. Garrett gave her an incredibly sexy smile as he stood up and started to move towards them.

"OMG! He's coming over, what did I tell you, they're drawn to you."

"No, that's not it." Cora shook her head as she rose, noting that Teddy was following behind Garrett.

"It looks that way to me, he can't take his eyes off you," Jessica hissed, standing as well.

"He's my husband." But Cora couldn't say anymore as Garret reached them. He pulled Cora against him wrapping his arm around her waist and dropping a kiss on her lips.

"Won't you introduce me Cora?"

"Garrett, this is Jessica Manning, Jessica this is my husband Garrett Reed, and this is Theodora Styles." She pasted a smile on her face. It was a rude awakening to see him with Teddy so soon after their return.

"Teddy." Cora leaned over and they gave each other a polite social hug. "Jessica is a huge fan of your work, she claims you're the best designer in Boston."

Teddy had looked tense since she noticed Cora, but she recovered quickly as she turned on the charm with Jessica. They stood talking for a few minutes before Teddy insisted they had another meeting to make and Cora was given a quick peck by Garrett before they departed. Cora watched them go and noted that Teddy said something to upset Garrett as they cleared the door to the student center.

"I wonder why they were here?" Jessica looked at her expectantly, and at Cora's half-hearted shrug she frowned. "Your husband is very sexy Cora, you're a lucky woman, but why the different last name?"

"I was used to my own." Cora picked up her trash. "Are you ready to go paint?"

"Sure." Jessica was watching her closely. "He and Theodora seemed to be close."

"They're childhood friends, they grew up together." She explained, it sounded unrealistic to her own ears. Who would believe that the two of them weren't having an affair.

Thankfully the conversation ended there and nothing more was said about the odd meeting but that didn't keep Cora from worrying about it.