Finishing my glass, I marched back to the computer and clicked on “Add Friend.”
Chapter 6
Professor Lehmen
Of course, immediately afterwards I panicked. What would he think of my photos? My shared posts? I had to do some quick maintenance on my social media profile before Frank (and wow, would it ever be strange to call him by his first name!) noticed my friend request.
First, I took down every photo in which I looked stupid or underdressed. The last thing I wanted was to look like a silly kid. Frank Lehmen was an academic, and what’s more, he had a taste for fellow scholars. Though he had divorced his first wife while I was in school, I could see from his profile that there was no special lady in his life at the moment.
What excellent timing.
Unsure what to write under my “About me” section, I deleted most of the existing information and left it all up to the viewer’s imagination. Now, all you could see were photos of me traveling through Europe and attending formal events (with he-who-shall-remain-nameless cropped out.) I thought I came off as an educated, high-brow member of society. With great fashion sense, to boot.
After an anxious hour of fiddling around on a few career sites and ordering some extra décor pieces, the moment I’d been waiting for came.
I had a new friend.
Wow, Melissa from my class back in the 90s? Look at you all grown up!
I bit my lip and told myself that was meant as a compliment, or at the very least, a neutral comment.
My fingers flew on the keys of my laptop; my eyes were glued to the screen from the second our names were attached as “friends.”
LOL, you too Frank ;) Still in the teaching game?
I had no idea what to say, but I was determined to get him talking. Who knew that aging had its perks? Now I seemed confident enough to approach absolutely anyone I wanted!
Yes, always and forever, I am sure! How about you? I don’t recall that you had many plans for post-graduation except marrying your high school sweetheart? Allen, right?
At the mention of my ex-husband, I reminded myself that this was normal catching-up talk, and I was allowed to take it lightly. Breathing in and out sharply, I wiggled my fingers over the keys while figuring out how to respond.
Ah, yes. Well that’s about the gist of it! We recently divorced, actually. But all is well, I’m in my own condo now and thinking about where to go from here. Something well-paid and low-energy, I’m thinking :D
My blood turned cold as I pressed “enter” and shared so much personal information with a man I barely knew 20 years ago. If only there was a simpler, less socially-awkward way to see if he was single and interested!
Well as an educator I have two conflicting pieces of advice: Go back to school, and don’t become a teacher ;) Sorry about the divorce. I know how that goes. Are you still in the city? You know there’s an alumni get-together this weekend.
“Yes!” That was exactly what I needed. Sure, I might be reading way more into the passive invitation than Frank meant, but why not? A party was a party was a party.
Oh yeah? What happens at one of those? I am in the city and as it happens, fairly bored most of the time.
Well I can’t say they are the events of the year. But it’s a chance for everyone to meet up with old friends (and teachers) and just catch up. This time we’re going to the Town Pub for a meal and drinks. Here, let me send you the info…
His message was followed immediately by a digital copy of the invitation. Honestly, if I weren’t itching to spend time with Frank without seeming like a needy ex-student-stalker, I wouldn’t even have considered attending such a thing. It was like the lamest version of a high school reunion ever – with the focus on regrouping with alumni and staff to start new academic or business projects. Just so…very, very boring.
Oh cool! Definitely sounds better than staying in and moving furniture around. Count me in :)
I smiled and shook my head. “Well, I guess that’s what I get for pursuing a man like Frank Lehmen. Unexciting ‘parties’ based around continued education. Awesome.” I giggled. Hey, maybe it could give me some ideas about a career or some kind of occupation. You never knew. And anyway, there would be booze, if I couldn’t bear it. Might as well give it a try!
Excellent! I look forward to seeing you, Melissa! You’ll have to catch me up on everything you’ve been up to this last...two decades. Wow :S Feeling old!
Oh don’t feel that way, you’re still in your prime as far as I can tell :) Anyway, aging is probably a good thing for an academic, right? The more you grow the more you know?
Dear god, what the hell was I doing? I put my face in my hands and groaned. Trying to subtly flirt with an older, educated man was just not my forte. At this rate, I’d be too humiliated to actually show my face and try it in person. I hoped the somewhat lame sense of humor Frank was known for in school was still at play.
Hahaha that’s a good way to put it, thanks. From now on, I’ll consider myself ‘distinguished and intellectual.’
Perfect! That’s what I’m saying. See you this weekend :)
I shut the laptop quickly. Best to quit while I was ahead. Or at least not perceivably behind.
“Okay! We have a date! Sort of. Now what the hell do I wear to a casual alumni/teaching staff meeting?”
Chapter 7
The Get-Together
Apparently, no one else knew the answer to that question either. When I walked into the Town Pub I was greeted by the smell of fried food and spilled beer, plus a long wooden table full of plaid, denim and polyester. I had to ask myself whether or not this was really how I wanted to spend my afternoon. Then, I noticed one of the denim-clad figures, dressed up slightly in a suede suit jacket and a worn felt fedora, was very familiar.
“Hi Frank!” He stood up from his seat as soon as he saw me, which was a good sign. I saw him take in my form through the too-expensive black cocktail dress I’d previously thought would be perfect for the occasion.
“Hi there Melissa! Look at you! How nice to see you again!”
He gave me a somewhat awkward hug and pat on the back, then ushered me to the table. “You just might know some of these faces from way-back, but there are a few new members of the group as well. I’m pretty sure you had a class with Ollie, right?”
A round, red-faced man smiled greasily at me, sticking out his hand. I shook it politely and smiled, a hint of recognition fleeting through my brain. “Ollie,” I repeated, squinting at him. “You do look familiar. How are you?”
He nodded his head enthusiastically. “Oh good, good, can’t complain really! Yes we went to the same English class in sophomore year, with Frank here leading the pack.” The stout man winked at Professor Lehmen, and I suddenly got the impression that these kinds of “meetings” were quite a regular thing.
“Ah, so we did! Cool!” I still didn’t quite remember him, but figured there was no point to saying so. Frank introduced everyone at the table, about a dozen people whose names and faces I would have trouble placing afterwards, except for one.
“Oh, Amber! Oh my god, how are you? I had no idea I’d run into you here!”
A red-haired girl with wide green eyes stood up to greet me, smiling with genuine affection. “Mel! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Ten years, at least!”
We embraced happily and I took a seat next to my old friend, across from Frank.
“Yeah, how crazy is that? How are you? Still at the non-profit?”
“You know what? I went on my own and started a new one. I’ve got ads all over right now, maybe you’ve seen one. Rescue Pets for Veterans?”
I felt my jaw extend slightly. “Seriously? That’s you?”
Amber nodded proudly. “It is! I’m really happy with it. Lots of work, of course, but so worth it. What are you up to these days, anything exciting?”
Ha!
Frank leaned forward to hear my answer, and I struggled to string some words together.
“Well, n
othing so amazing as my own non-profit company, I’m afraid.” I smiled, trying to distract my audience from my lack of career success. “Actually I’ve just got my own place and am looking for…well, an occupation of some sort, I guess.” I laughed lightly.
Amber and Frank smiled kindly.
“Well, you’re in the right place for some inspiration, I dare say,” Frank noted.
Amber nodded at me. “He’s right! I’ve been talking over all kinds of ideas and business possibilities with Frank and the rest of the group here. We actually meet every few weeks just to chat and bounce ideas off each other.”
Yep, that’s what I figured.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I could have hugged the waiter for interrupting. I took the menu he handed me and asked for a glass of white wine.
Several conversations formed around the table, most pinging off Frank who was clearly the leader of the group.
I dipped in and out of the chatter, always careful to put my best foot forward in terms of entrepreneurial savvy and academic prowess. It was something I could have tried with Allen and his work crew, but I’d never had the desire to spend an excessive amount of time with them – nor to impress them with my intellectual abilities. I was more than happy to dress up, look pretty and enjoy my life of leisure. Now, I was seeing my life from a different perspective, and wondering why I hadn’t developed a real passion for something…bigger.
We ordered lunch and ate amid a backdrop of indie rock and animated table talk. I listened carefully to Frank discuss his outreach programs that helped underprivileged students receive funding and other support they needed to attend university at his alma mater. Amber had a few questions for those seated around us regarding bank law. The sheer magnitude of information possessed by the entire group astounded and awed me, but none outshone Frank Lehmen.
Just as it was during his lectures on Shakespeare, I saw my old teacher’s eyes light up when he talked with these people about their projects. I could see that his passion ran deep, and it made my old crush blossom into something more substantial. This man could not just be a fun person to reconnect with, or a flirty encounter. He could once more be a mentor.
I ate my walnut, blue cheese and cranberry salad slowly, savoring Frank’s words and body language just as much as the flavors of the ingredients.
“We just can’t keep trying to push a separate agenda from the parents – it’s causing more problems than it’s solving. But getting families to attend events with students is just about impossible! So where’s the middle ground? What can teachers do to enhance learning when families at home aren’t supportive?”
“What are you trying to teach them that families don’t support?” I interjected, both curious and anxious to be a part of his conversation.
Frank turned his glittering brown eyes on me, and I automatically smiled. He did the same, reaching across the table and patting my hand enthusiastically.
“All kinds of things! You’d be shocked. There are, of course, families that want nothing to do with what they call the “Atheist Agenda,” which is nonsense meant to discredit advanced sciences. But then there are parents that are just plain lazy when it comes to helping their kids pick up sensible skills like cooking, disinfecting surfaces, oral hygiene and recycling. I can yammer on all I want during school hours, and even inspire kids to go home and save their plastic containers or keep their kitchen sponges in a diluted bath of chlorine, but what does it matter when mom or dad tell them to ditch the innovations?”
“Oh wow, I never really thought about that. This is a big problem?”
He nodded, pulling his chair in more closely to the table, crossing his arms on the surface and bumping the tips of my wedges with his leather lace-ups. “It definitely is. And lots of parents get it, I have to admit. They take an interest in their kids’ studies and sometimes learn right along with them. They attend educational events and talk with me and other teachers about ways in which all of us can benefit from new methods of thinking and doing things. And then…well, there are the rest.” He shrugged, sighing, and removed his hat for a moment to scratch underneath his dark waves.
Think, woman, and say something useful! Umm…
“It surprises me that people have kids when they aren’t interested in helping them become as bright as possible,” I ventured, and to my alarm Frank rolled his eyes. Fortunately, it was not aimed at me.
“Oh Melissa.” He laughed. “If people actually put thought into having children, the world would be a very, very different place.” He seemed to have a separate thought suddenly, and straightened up in his seat. “For example, you don’t have any little ones running around?” I shook my head. “And why is that, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Oh! Well, no, I don’t mind. But there isn’t much to tell. My ex and I just never really felt like ‘settling’ that way. We were into parties, fun, and eventually, making and spending money.” I shrugged, slightly embarrassed at my obvious lack of direction in life. “Obviously, kids don’t fit into those types of scenario.”
Frank nodded thoughtfully. “Still, though you might not realize it, it sounds like you did put concerted effort into not having kinds in an inappropriate environment. And that’s hugely to your credit. Half the students that come through my classroom were unplanned and thoroughly ruined long before they stepped into a school. Though,” he paused and looked around the pub, feigning anxiety, “I suppose I should watch what I say!”
I laughed and offered up my glass to cheers with his pint of dark ale.
“Ah, hear hear. Let’s move along, shall we? So, you say you’re looking for a career of sorts? Or more of a hobby?” He winked at me and I blushed at the realization that he knew exactly how lost I had been feeling lately. I decided to open up a little and show my vulnerability.
Tilting my head to one side, I shrugged my shoulders. “Honestly, I’m not even sure. Something to pass the time and make me feel like more of a grownup, I guess.”
Frank gave me a sympathetic pout. “I’ve been there, you know. Divorced, I mean. You’ll feel better soon.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. And thanks for inviting me out today; I needed some air.”
Amber cupped my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You should give me a call sometime, Mel. We could do dinner or drinks, or whatever you’re up for.”
Before leaving the pub, I was sure to exchange numbers with Amber. Hovering at the exit, I was sure to warmly address everyone who had been at the table with me, whether or not I recognized them from my school days. I was pleased to notice Frank hovering as well. When Amber left, he shuffled towards me, hands in jacket pockets.
“You know, Melissa, I would be glad to help you find your direction in the working world. If you’d like, I could take you to a couple of organizations that are always looking for good staff. And if you had any questions afterwards, I’d be able to relay the info.”
He smiled politely and rocked almost imperceptibly back and forth on his heels. I was sure now that he was hoping to spend more time with me. Or, my intuition was way off, and all he was doing was trying to help a former student.
Either way, I could only benefit.
“That sounds really perfect, Mr. Lehmen.” It was my turn to wink at him.
He scratched his chin and looked at the floor for a second. “Well. Surely just ´Frank’ now?”
I grinned. “I’m just teasing, Frank.”
“Ah, right. Well, I suppose I’d best have your number then, hey?”
Chapter 8
A Job Interview
Everything with Frank was so odd and complicated - so fundamentally different from the world I was used to and prepared for. First the pub, and now a careers tour? It was impossible to know how to dress, what to bring and just what to expect generally. In the end, I settled on a pair of slim black slacks, comfortable nude wedges in which I could walk a reasonable distance, and a baby blue sweater-vest. In my oversized purse, I packed a folder with copies of my
resume, which consisted mostly of my education and contact details.
Ready.
I agreed to let him pick me up and do the driving, though I was always loath to leave my beautiful pink Corvette behind. Anyway, I was excited to see just what my old professor drove. I had a silent bet with myself that it would be a Range Rover, though I had to admit there was a chance it could be more along the lines of a Ford Something-or-Other…and not a Mustang.
The truth was in the middle.
I met him outside the building after he rang my security intercom, and found him standing proudly next to a brown, early model Lada. Hmm. Dressed in the same jacket and hat as before, this time Frank had donned a pair of casual grey slacks and a cardigan. I smiled when he caught my eye. At least this time we looked like we actually belonged next to one another.
Frank kissed my cheek with just a hint of hesitation when I walked up to him.
“Hi again! Thanks for coming to get me. So, what’s on the agenda?”
I was going to play it as cool as possible, and introduce a little flirtation if the atmosphere called for it later. I didn’t want to scare him right out of the gate, after all.
My pseudo-date opened the car door for me and made sure I was comfortable before gently shutting it again. When he was situated in the driver’s seat and buckling his seatbelt, he answered my question.
“Well I know it’s been awhile, but I remember you as the sort of student who needed to feel a personal connection to a project in order to really apply yourself.”
My Sinful Seductions Page 3