Falling for Your Madness (15 page)

“I liked you from the beginning. I thought you were eccentric, but polite. I liked your smile and your interest in me. I thought your quest for a bride was intriguing. You’re funny, and I think you’re very handsome. But it was that girl, Melissa, your ex, who persuaded me to move forward.”

He looked surprised. “Really? What does she have to do with it?”

“She spoke to me in the ladies’ room the day I met her. She said that releasing you was the biggest mistake she ever made.”

David gasped.

“Did you really love her?”

He kissed my hand. “I thought I did at the time. But now I don’t think so.”

“Why not? Do I want to know the answer to this?” I was trying to laugh this off, but I was nervous about what he was going to say.

“Yes. You do. Melissa was too practical. She showed little patience for my nonsense. I didn’t see it at the time because I was initially enchanted by her beauty, but I look back now and see that she never did humor me. I don’t think that while I was with her I was free to be myself. When she released me, it did hurt, and it probably took longer for me to get over it than it should have, but then I realized perhaps I’d find a girl who let me finish my poems. That would make me happier. And it has.” He kissed my hand again.

“I can’t imagine someone not wanting to hear the end of the poems.” When I said this, David held my hand against his face. “It never occurred to you to do the breaking up?”

“I wanted to give her every benefit of the doubt. Sometimes I confuse loving someone with not meeting my own needs, but it’s a common mistake among the infatuated.”

“If she had asked to be your fiancée, you would have agreed?”

“Yes.”

“You would have been miserable.”

“Perhaps. But I believe in destiny. Fate intervened.”

I squeezed his hand. “Do you have any hesitation about us? I would really like to know.”

“No hesitations. None at all. But there is still much you don’t know about me.”

Sunday, October 14, 2012

177 Longwood Avenue

Belmont, Massachusetts

3:11 p.m.

David opened the car door for me. We were at the party. “Dr. Benedict will likely insist that you see his collection of first editions. It is an impressive collection, I will admit, but after the fifteenth time of viewing it, it loses its luster. Dr. Avery will want to make sure that you feel empowered in your career. Do you, dear? I have no idea what that means, but she knows how old-fashioned I am, and she thinks I’m oppressing you. I’ll trust you to handle that gracefully. I’m afraid whenever I mention the word chivalry, it makes her twitch all over, and I feel like a clod. Dr. Brewster will want me to admire his newest pair of Italian shoes. Sometimes I feel like he’s competing against me. And none of them know about my desire for Oxford. Please don’t mention it. Are you nervous?”

“I’ve been to parties before where I didn’t know anyone. Everybody has something in common. You just have to work to find it.”

“Well said. You’re right. I do take comfort that your presence will enhance my strengths. Oh, and Dr. Benedict’s wife has been trying to set me up with her daughter for a while now. She may not be glad to see you. But a relationship with that poor girl is an impossible alliance.”

“She’s not a lady?”

“She’s not a reader.”

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?”

“This is an alignment of my two passions—my fair Laura and my university work. There’s no reason for any nervousness; my colleagues will embarrass me far more than you will, I’m sure. I’m afraid, though, you’ll be bored out of your mind. University professors tend to be wordy and self-important.”

“I hadn’t noticed.”

Mrs. Benedict met us at the door. If she was disappointed by me, she didn’t show it. She ushered us into the large, tasteful living room. David was immediately greeted by the other guests. He introduced me as his sweetheart to everyone there and made sure I had a drink.

“I have to go and impress them. You don’t mind socializing on your own, do you? I will make it brief.”

“Go, Dr. Bowles. Be brilliant. I’ll be fine.” He squeezed my hand and winked at me.

Brandon and Julie hadn’t arrived yet. That left me to eat a few appetizers and check out this beautiful home. I also wanted to fill up with what I saw.

I saw that there was a distinct pecking order among the professors. Dr. Benedict was clearly the leader. I didn’t need to be told that he was the host. He was middle-aged, trim, and confident. He didn’t have on a tweed jacket. Instead he wore a mock turtleneck and jeans. I found his outfit amusing.

It was also amusing to watch the other members of David’s department. Dr. Brewster, who had a pair of shoes just like David’s, was the most interesting. He was clearly insecure. He followed Dr. Benedict around the room, got him another drink, steered the conversation, and seemed to follow Dr. Benedict’s eyes and other nonverbal cues as if he could figure out what his boss wanted. It was rather undignified. I might not have noticed it all, but his behavior was in such contrast to the way David was acting.

David handled the party well. He was elegant, maybe even regal, friendly, and professional to everyone. He wasn’t pushy or desperate for attention. He looked people in the eye. He was comfortable in who he was. He sipped his drink and was cheerful. He was taller than everyone else, which, I thought, subtly told everyone around him that he was a leader. He caught me looking at him and blew me a kiss.

Mrs. Benedict and two other women came in the room. It was David who spoke to them first, offered them drinks from the bar, and pulled out a chair for them. David sat down to speak to someone, but when the woman at the end of the couch stood, he did too.

I was proud of him.

The woman from the couch walked to where I stood, next to the food. She was shorter than I was. She had long straight hair and wore no makeup. “Tell your boyfriend to stop standing when I stand up.”

“He’s my sweetheart, not my boyfriend, and I might as well tell the rain to stop falling.”

“It drives me crazy. It’s demeaning.”

“You’ve got that wrong. It’s honoring. He does it out of respect.”

“He has no reason to do it. We’re equal.”

“Have you looked in the mirror? You’re not. Not even close.”

She frowned. “You know he’s just forcing you into an oppressive lifestyle that exploits women. He won’t be satisfied until you’re barefoot and pregnant.”

I felt myself get a little taller. “I’ve never once felt exploited nor oppressed. No postmodern, enlightened man I know has ever made me feel more protected and beautiful. And as for the barefoot and pregnant part, that’s
our
business, not yours.”

“I feel sorry for you.”

“I feel sorry for
you. You
don’t have a sweetheart like Dr. David Bowles.”

She put her glass on the table firmly, like she wanted to prove a point, and walked away.

Julie and Brandon arrived, and I was glad to see them. Brandon, like David, had to schmooze with the rest of the department. Julie, however, was relieved to find me. “The best part about you dating David is that now I have a party buddy. You have to promise me to marry David and stay at BC forever.”

“No pressure.”

“Nope. None at all.” She took a drink. “I heard Ruby’s giving you trouble.”

“Thanks for bringing that up. I was having such a nice time, too.”

Julie touched my arm. “I’m sorry. I only did it because you’re not the first one in our group to get their feelings hurt by all the teasing and misunderstandings.”

“You got it with Brandon?”

“Not Brandon so much. More with Clive. That’s all I heard for the first six months of his life. ‘Julie, you’re no fun anymore. Julie, why can’t you go out with us? Julie, how’s the,’
she spoke in an obnoxious twang, ‘
MOM-MY
?’”

“Were we that bad?”

“Yeah. You were that bad. You had no idea how painful it was to realize my friends weren’t that excited to come to my baby’s birthday party.”

I felt about two inches tall. She was right. We were terribly mean to her.

“You know, I love my friends. But Brandon and Clive are my life. My husband and my son are the most important things in the world to me. If my friends don’t respect them, then they’re not very good friends. Now it’s your turn to find this out. Live your life, Laura. David is the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Don’t worry about us.”

“Thanks. Did I give you trouble? I feel bad now.”

“You did. Why do you think I set you up with Trey?”

“Revenge?”

“You got it.”

“You set me up with David too. Why?”

“I told you. I needed a party buddy.” She gave me a hug. I was forgiven. She was a lady.

More guests had arrived. Clusters of people had moved into other parts of the house. I poured another drink and went to look for David.

He was in the dining room. He was talking with a young woman. He had a drink in one hand and a plate of food in the other. For the first time all afternoon, he looked uneasy.

I could see why. The woman—I would have been hard-pressed to call her a lady—was standing very close to him. As she talked, she touched his arm, and then she touched his wrist. David smiled and nodded, but he took a step back. When he did, she stepped forward. He took two steps back and found himself trapped in a corner. She stepped even closer.
She was flirting with him.

“David? There you are.” I took his plate in one hand and put the other one around his waist. “Let me hold that for you.”

David looked relieved. “Oh look! Daphne, this is my girlfriend, my sweetheart,
my significant other, and the love of my life, Laura.” I extended my hand.

The woman frowned. “I was just telling David how fascinated I was by his dissertation. Have you read it?”

“No. I’d rather have a personal lecture. I’ll get to it someday.”

David stammered. “Laura is an illustrator. She’s going to doodle in the margins to make it more interesting. You’ll do that for me, won’t you, love?” He looked at me. His look was one of embarrassment and relief and a little bit of guilt. I didn’t know how to handle this. He was clearly trying to get away from her, but the fact that he had to was a little concerning.

The woman, Daphne, crossed her arms as if this were a confrontation. “How long have you been together?”

“Long enough.” David said it before I did. “Now, if you’ll excuse us.” He took my hand, and we didn’t exactly plow her down, but we did kind of play chicken to get out of that corner. She moved first.

David led me into hallway. No one was around us. “I want you to know, Laura, exactly what that was all about. Daphne is a former student of mine who is now a TA in the department. She’s had boundary issues in the past and apparently isn’t knowledgeable of what is and what isn’t appropriate. It doesn’t help that my favorite subjects lean toward the romantic. The things I talk about in class, plus my accent, good looks, and charm often make me a target for behavior such as this. Women like this are very powerful. They can destroy families and ruin careers.” He was pale. “You must know I am not tempted. Not in the least. I find these actions unladylike and unattractive and I try, I really do try, to avoid women like this. But she cornered me! Did you see that?”

I had never seen him like this before. I believed him. But at the same time, it was a little amusing. “This happens often? Are you
sure
it’s your looks and accent and charm?”

“Most definitely.” He put his glass and plate on an end table and took my hands. “Tell me, Laura.” I was against the wall. He put his hands around my waist. “Would you find me any less attractive without the English charm?” He kissed me on the cheek. “Would you?”

I giggled. “Probably.”

“I thought so.” He kissed me on a specific point on the lower hemisphere of my lovely face. “You are the only one. Now and forever.”

Sunday, October 14, 2012

177 Longwood Avenue

Belmont, Massachusetts

5:51 p.m.

David climbed into his car and shut the door. I took his arm and wrapped it around me. Merle started the engine. It was time to take me home.

“Thank you for the afternoon, Laura. I’m glad it’s over. Sometimes events like that can be so exhaust …”

I held his face and kissed him slowly. “Do you know what that’s for?”

“No, but please tell me, and I’ll do it again.”

“Because you impress me, Dr. Bowles. I can totally see you as a department head someday. I watched you all afternoon. You were poised and confident, and everyone likes you.”
As long as TAs with boundary issues kept their hands off him.
“You’ll do as good a job as Dr. Benedict. Probably better. I was proud to be there with you.”

He closed his eyes and sighed a deep sigh. “Sometimes, Laura, you take my breath away.”