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“I know. Wherever they are, they’re together, and that’s what’s kept me going.” Megan sniffed and turned away. She didn’t know whether to smile or cry but Kath grabbed her hand again.
“I want you to know how much I’ve appreciated you being there for me over the past few months. I’ve been hard to deal with, I know, but it’s been just as hard for you, but I’ve leaned on you—and Tony so much.”
“It’s been tough for all of us. But let’s see this as a turning point. For all of us.”
“It is. And you’ve got it. It’s for all of us.” Kathy reached into the deep pocket of her cardigan and pulled out a blue plastic wallet. “But this is for you by yourself. To say thank you. From both of us, Tony and me.”
Megan frowned as Kathy put the plastic wallet into her hand. “What is it?”
“A business class return ticket to the UK. We’ve booked it for you. I know you were talking about cancelling your trip and your leave but there’s no need to. Tony said your temp contract is up the week before we booked your flight, and Beth has organised for you to stay in her family’s cottage in Glastonbury. You’ll be there just in time for the festival.”
“Oh no. I can’t go. I can’t accept this. “ Megan shook her head.
“Yes, you can. Not only are you going to be an aunty, you’re going to Glastonbury.”
Kathy’s happy smile was worth it as Megan gave in.
She grabbed her sister and danced her around the room. “Oh my God. I am. I’m going to Glastonbury!”
Megan looked at the ticket in her hand, and her smile grew as wide as Kathy’s.
Chapter Three
Tony preceded Megan into the board room. The only sound was the hum of the air conditioning and she wished she’d left her cardigan on. The room was freezing and the faces of the five men sitting around the large table were as icy as the air in the large room.
“Come in.” The vice chancellor stood and gestured for them to take the two remaining vacant seats at the table. “Professor Gaines, I am assuming you are Miss Miller’s support person?”
“That is correct.” Tony squeezed Megan’s hand before taking the seat next to her. The unfamiliar man on her left poured two glasses of water from the jug in the middle of the table and placed one in front of each of them.
Megan looked up but neither of her sociology colleagues would meet her gaze. The professor in charge of her department sat to the right of the vice-chancellor and her unit co-ordinator sat on his left. They both looked down at the papers in front of them and shuffled through the pages as though their lives depended on it.
The financial bursar of the university met her gaze and he didn’t hold her eye for long either.
Tony leaned forward and directed a question to the vice-chancellor. “What the hell is this all about, Roger?”
The vice-chancellor pushed a single piece of paper across to Tony. “You are familiar with the role of the support person, of course, Professor?”
“Yes, of course I am.” Tony’s voice was irritable as he turned to Megan. “The role of a support person is to ensure you are treated fairly, and I’m not allowed to speak unless you become distressed and I request a break for you.”
Megan shook her head and tried to keep her voice confident. “Why would I get upset? I have no idea why I am here.” She looked down at her watch. “If you are unaware of my plans, I’m on leave from lunchtime and I have an international flight to catch in less than three hours.” Her voice shook and her chest ached with the effort of holding her anger and frustration in check. If there was one thing she hatedit was being out of control. Her emotions were in a fragile enough state from the events of the past few months. “So can we get started please?” She swallowed and took a deep breath waiting to hear what the problem was. Whatever it was she’d been accused of. On the way over to the building Megan had racked her brains but still had no idea what this meeting was about.
“Miss Miller, three weeks ago, a letter of allegation was sent to you with some serious concerns about your behavior in your role as acting senior lecturer in the sociology department. You were given fourteen days to respond in writing. As you have not responded, that has been taken as an admission that the allegations are correct and you are not interested in disputing them. Today, the disciplinary board will hand down their decision and the consequence.”
Tony looked at Megan before turning back to the vice chancellor. “I request a break for Miss Miller.”
“Now?” The vice chancellor frowned
“No.” Megan stood and placed her hands firmly on the edge of the table before glancing across at her brother-in-law. “I don’t want a bloody break. I want to know what this is all about and to get to the bottom of it now. I’ve received no such letter. This is the first I’ve heard of this garbage.”
“Please watch your language and sit down, Miss Miller. If you don’t require a break, we will continue.”
Megan sat back down and folded her arms across her chest. The hard chair pressed through her thin T-shirt and she concentrated on keeping her back straight as she held the gaze of the vice-chancellor.
He nodded to one of the men she didn’t recognise. “You may begin.”
The man opened a folder and began to read. Disbelief vied with anger as Megan listened to the words.
“Allegation number one: it is alleged Miss Miller has falsified marks in the university grade centre system in exchange for financial recompense. Allegation number two: it is alleged that her upcoming overseas trip has been funded in exchange for the granting of a High Distinction to a student in the sociology department. Allegation number three: it is alleged—”
