Thinking with his head and not his heart is an occupational hazard for Professor Leland Hansen. He does fine as a researcher dealing with statistics and experimental designs and guiding doctoral students through the dissertation process. But affairs of the heart are another matter. Leland teaches at a small, religious college in New England, and the anxiety of losing his position over his lifestyle eventually causes a painful breakup with the one true love of his life, Cliff Emerson.<br><br>When Cliff calls a few weeks before Christmas to announce he’s getting married, Leland accuses him of dredging up the past and their conversation ends badly. As time grows short, Leland sets out to win Cliff back, though he fears he may already be too late. Will they reunite at Christmas or will Cliff be lost to him forever?

All I Want for Christmas

“Your question is paramount to your study. It guides everything that follows; it leads into the review of the literature and precedes your methods. Without it you have nothing.”


“Yes,” Finch said. “Understand. I have nothing.” He reached out for the proposal. “May I?”


Finch seemed to study the first few paragraphs carefully, then he flipped quickly through the remaining pages of his proposal and set it down. “You’re right, Professor Hansen. It isn’t there.”


Leland picked up a red pen and wrote across the top of the first page: Your research question goes here!“Come back when you have one. We’re always open.”


Finch quickly stashed the proposal in this briefcase and with his head down, he literally ran from the room.


“Now aren’t you sorry?” Rhoda said. “Making a nice boy like that so nervous. I think I saw a tear or two. You shouldn’t take your personal problems out on your students.”


Chapter 7