inside. She glanced around the room and I recognized her face immediately. Mr. Honor kept a tiny picture of her in his dresser drawer.
“Abby” he said, unable to hide the shock in his voice.
“Will” She said in an icy tone. She called him Will? Who was this woman? Why did he have a picture of her hidden away? Mr. Honor stood and quickly led her out of the room into the hallway. I stared down at my test paper, unable to make sense of anything. The bell rang and everyone got up from their seats. I sat still, feeling like I had been hit with a brick. Finally, I pushed myself up, taking a deep breath. As I walked out of the class I came face to face with Mr. Honor and this mystery woman.
“Emma, we can discuss you being late some other time.” His words hung heavy with sadness.
“No. She can stay. I’d like to get to know the woman who is fucking my husband.” She stared at Mr. Honor, never bothering to look at me. Her words ripped though me like a knife. I subconsiously grabbed my stomach as my heart sank. I looked at him, desperatly searching his eyes for answers. His jaw clenched and he looked like he was ready to lose all control.
“Oh, she didn’t know?” Abby said with a laugh.
“Go” He commanded, gesturing for Abby to go inside his classroom. His eyes turned sad as he looked at me. I looked down at the ground and walked back inside.
“I’m not here to ruin your fun, Will. I just came to get what is mine.” She explained, leaning back against his desk.
“I don’t owe you anything.” His voice was low and cold and it sent shivers down my spine.
“I’m sorry. Did you say you are his wife?” I asked, growing increasingly nauseous.
“Ex-wife” Mr. Honor corrected. He was only a few years older than me and I couldn’t wrap my head around any of this. Abby glared back at William and the tention in the air was palpable. I couldn’t picture him with a woman like her. Sure she was beautiful but she was also very strong and demanding, not something I could ever see him putting up with. Everything began to click into place in my head. Abby was the reason Mr. Honor was…the way he was. This woman had done something viscious to this man to make him turn into the controlling man he was with me.
“You really want your little secret getting out?” Her eyes danced between us. “Imagine what the other teachers would say. Imagine…what your father would say.” His body tensed and I knew she had struck a nerve.
“What is it that you want?” I asked bravely when Mr. Honor didn’t respond to her threats. Sme smiled politely at me.
“You know what I want but since that isn’t going to happen, a couple million oughta cover it. Don’t you think, Will?” Her eyes danced back to William, a full on smile spread across her face.
“Where the hell is he going to get money like that?” I asked, my eyes wide.
“Fine” he cut me off, starring at her through narrowed eyes. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. Nothing was making sense anymore. Mr. Honor took a step closer to Abby and she straightened her back. “Then you get the fuck out of my life. I don’t ever want to see you again.” Her lips pressed in a hard line and I could tell he had hurt her, but she was trying desperately not to show it.
“You have my number.” She replied, winking at him as she pushed between us and left the room. It felt like all of the air left with her and I leaned back against a desk trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Mr. Honor looked over at me, taking a step closer, but I held up my hand.
“Don’t” I blurted out and he stopped dead in his tracks.
“It was a long time ago.” He explained.
“How long? You’re just out of college and she.. how old is she?” My stomach twisted in knots.
“She was my math teacher in high school.” He confessed. I felt like somone had just punched me.
“And you…you married her?” I asked, trying to make sense of things. He took a step closer.
“I loved her.” His barely audible. That confession was my undoing. As much as I wanted to know about him, I never anticipated it going like this.