She was as flustered as a child and stammered, trying to explain, "Howard, Teacher Howard, I had a bit of insomnia last night."

"Did I disturb you?" he asked.

"No, no, Teacher, what’s the matter?" she replied quickly.

Teacher Howard smiled warmly. "I'm sorry, I haven’t seen you in a while. How about coming over to my house for a meal after work?"

Emerald nodded eagerly. "Okay."

Howard had been her kindergarten teacher. At the time, her mother was so consumed with her obsession to marry into the Valentine family that she lost touch with everything else. When her plans failed, she became angry and took it out on Emerald,...