“Well I, uh . . .” Lora, not used to lying, was having a difficult time. “I’m looking for a movie for my mother,” she said, which was partially true.
Sheldon’s dark brows knit together menacingly as he scrutinized the only videos she could be looking at down that low. Lora followed his gaze and saw a shelf full of DVDs on breast feeding and caring for infants!
Turning even redder, she looked at him and muttered, “I guess I have the wrong aisle.”
“Miss Lemmon,” he began slowly, ominously, “why . . .are we . . . always bumping into each other?”
“My, my,” came an austere and disapproving voice above them.
They both looked up to see a well-dressed, silver-haired lady glaring down at them. “Why are you two sprawled out on the floor like this? One could stumble over you! And you . . .” she said, glaring and shaking a finger at Sheldon, “you, at your age, should know better.” She clicked her tongue disapprovingly and stalked off, shaking her head.
Flushing furiously, Sheldon shot to his feet. “I’m sorry ma’am,” he called to her retreating back. When he turned to further interrogate Miss Lemmon, she was up and walking rapidly toward the door. His brows hovered over his suspicious, narrowed eyes, “Something is fishy here,” he muttered under his breath as he watched her leave. “Surely this can’t just be coincidence.” He was so rattled, he forgot for a moment the purpose of his errand, but after taking a couple of big breaths, he managed to get hold of himself. Moving further down the aisle, he found what he was looking for. Surprised to see that the movie was not just one DVD but three, he took the set to the counter to pay for it.
-
Lora’s old Volkswagen threatened to leave a layer of rubber on the asphalt as she sped out of the parking lot. “Darn! I’ve done it again,” she berated herself. “What am I going to do? I guess I’m just not PI material.” After driving a while, she calmed down and reasoned with herself rather vociferously, “Well, I have as much right to be in that video store as Dr. Ackerman!
What can he do? How can he even ask questions about it?” Then, remembering that her suspicions had almost been proven today, she decided to stick to her detective work. Just a little more proof and . . . she wasn’t quite sure what was after the ‘and,’ but . . . surely there was something.
Twenty-Three
Tuesday afternoon, Billie, filled with excitement, was helping her mother and Aunt Tilly prepare dinner. Sheldon had called Monday night and asked if he could bring Pride and Prejudice over the following night. Since her family had been wanting him to dine with them again, she invited him to an early dinner. He accepted only if she would allow him to bring the dessert, a specialty dessert from the club.
Her mother was humming softly while Aunt Tilly was chattering about this and that. Billy had noticed how content and happy her family was of late.
Probably because she was. Having Dodds’ concern and support had helped her even more than she would let herself admit—until lately. She dreaded the end of the project.
Uncle Henry walked in and growled, “It’s about time you invited Sheldon to dinner again, Billie.”
“Yes, it is,” her mother agreed. “He’s really gone out of his way to help you.”
“He’s such a pleasant man to be around, isn’t he, Billie?” Aunt Tilly asked, probing.
“I’m glad you all like him,” she said, smiling. “When will Papa be home?”
“At 4:00, I believe. You wanted to eat right at 5:00 so you could watch that long movie.”
“Good. I think I’ll go visit with grandpa now that everything is done.”
She found him in the library, sitting on the couch reading the evening paper. Billie plunked herself down beside him, leaned her head on his shoulder and sighed.
Bill Bliss put his paper down and smiled. “And what was that big sigh for, Snooks?”
“Oh . . . nothing.”
“Come on, ever since you were a little girl, when you wanted to talk, you did just what you’re doing now.”
“What do you think of Dodds?”
“I think he’s a fine young man.”
“But he isn’t so young, Grandpa.”
“By my standards, he is,” he replied, chuckling.
“You know what, Grandpa? I find myself wishing he were at least five years younger and not my professor.”
“I know.”
“You do?” She sat up and looked at him in surprise. “How do you know?
Oh, never mind,” she said, smiling affectionately. “Like you’ve told me before, you listen and watch instead of talking all the time.”
“Exactly.”
“What do you think about that?”
“Hey, there’s my girl,” her father interrupted, poking his head in and smiling.
“Hey, there’s my papa,” Billie announced, running over and hugging him.
“Thanks for coming home early tonight.”
-
“Have a seat, Sheldon,” Neal Atwood said. “Before I get to the reason I called you in, tell me how Project Success is going?”
“Even better than I expected, Neal. The young women are responding in a way that has made me realize even more that this is a worthwhile project. It appears it may have a long-reaching effect on their lives.”
“Excellent, excellent! Now, Sheldon, I would like to ask you a favor. I have a nephew who is a CPA and owns his own accounting firm in Springfield. He wants to put more responsibility for his business in the hands of his associates for a term, so he can commute back and forth and take a few business courses from you here at Fairfield. After the term, he’ll return full-time to his business.
But I’m concerned. He’s thirty-five and not married. He tells me that the reason he isn’t married is because there aren’t any more old-fashioned girls around. Now, that brings me to you. I’m wondering if you know of a girl like this you could introduce him to who could show him around the campus. If you do, I would be most appreciative.”
Sheldon could scarcely believe his ears. Maybe what he was needing had just fallen into his lap. But, of course, he had to meet the young man before he could even consider it.
Neal seemed to read his mind. “Paul, my nephew, should be walking in any moment so you can meet him.”
“What makes you think I would know a girl like this, Neal?” Sheldon asked, curious.
“Well, Sheldon, you seem to be a straight arrow. And since you’re teaching a class full of young women, I just thought you might have come across a young woman like that.”
“I would like to meet him first, then give it some thought and get back to you.” No sooner had he said this than a tall, dark-haired young man opened the door to the Dean’s office.
“Paul, I’m glad you’re here. I would like you to meet the professor I was telling you about, Dr. Sheldon Ackerman.”
The young man’s handsome face broke into a big smile and his hand shot out. “It’s great to meet you, Dr. Ackerman. My uncle has been singing your praises and he’s given me both your books to read.”
Sheldon shook Paul’s hand firmly. “Thank you, Paul, it’s nice to meet you,” he said, smiling, while intently sizing him up.
“Both of you have a seat,” Neal said.
Sheldon was impressed with Paul’s clean-cut appearance so proceeded to question him about his business, his goals, and his ambitions. Twenty minutes later, they parted company and Sheldon headed for the country club to pick up the dessert for dinner.
All the way home and while getting ready, his mind went over the conversation with Paul Atwood, dissecting it, analyzing it. Overall, Sheldon was pleased with what he had learned. However, something bothered him. He couldn’t pin down whether it was something about the young man or whether it was something else.
By the time Sheldon drove into the Bliss driveway, he had reached a tentative decision. He picked up the dessert and movie and got out. After he rang the doorbell, a glowing Billie answered the door. She was dressed in an offwhite a
nd lemon-yellow pinstripe cotton shirt, tucked into plain white pants, complimented by a lemon-colored belt. What Sheldon noticed was that the jacket, which usually hid her figure, was missing, revealing alluring curves and a trimming waistline. Her long, slightly curled, auburn hair hung loose in shiny folds over her shoulders. As he stepped in, a flower-like perfume wafted up to his nose. He stared at her, unable to speak for a moment.
“Dodds, you look handsome in that maroon shirt.”
He flushed. Her frankness still caught him off-guard at times. “Thank you. I guess you noticed me giving you . . . uh . . . as they say, the ‘once over’?” He grinned sheepishly.
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled up at him. “Yes. The inches have been just disappearing. How do I look?” she asked, turning herself around slowly.
His breath caught. She was truly a beautiful girl, and in his mind, it was a sure thing that Paul Atwood would be smitten the minute he laid eyes on her.
“You look very nice,” he replied stiffly. “I’m proud of what you’ve been able to accomplish.”
“I didn’t do it. Oh, I helped, of course, but it was you, Dodds, and your support and understanding.”
He shook his head slightly, trying to dismiss what she had said, but it was the expression in her eyes that unsettled him the most. “Here,” he said, a little too abruptly, handing her the set of DVDs. I bought Pride and Prejudice for you.”
Her eyes lit up. “You bought it for me? Oh, thank you, thank you! I didn’t get to see it when it was first shown on television. And now I can see it over and over.”
Her childlike joy was infectious, making him feel like a schoolboy again.
He carried the dessert to the kitchen.
Dinner with the family was enjoyable. Everyone was relaxed, feeling like old friends. The meal consisted of vegetables out of Bill’s garden: snap beans, sliced tomatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh, homemade bread. Every one agreed that the dessert, the club’s specialty of milk cake covered with fresh, red-ripe strawberries, was the perfect choice for a vegetable meal.
The family declined the invitation to watch the movie with them, so Sheldon and Billie were seated alone on the couch in the television room.
Billie slipped off her sandals and curled up as the movie began.
It turned out to be a long, but unforgettable evening for Sheldon. The story, the acting, and the scenery were superb and he, like Billie, got thoroughly caught up with the emotion and ‘romance’ of the movie. They glanced at each other often in their enjoyment.
It was almost midnight when they walked to the door and out onto the porch together. “I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed an evening so much, Bliss,” Sheldon said, smiling down at her, noticing that the moonlight had turned her beauty into something ethereal.
“I can’t, either,” she responded quietly.
“Let’s sit here on the porch swing a minute, Bliss. I need to ask a favor of you.”
“All right.” The August air was fragrant, still, and humid. Frogs belched out their songs from a neighboring pond, blending harmoniously with the crickets. The pair on the swing was silent for a while, enjoying the sounds of summer.
“Dean Atwood,” Sheldon began, “called me into his office this afternoon and asked me if I could get someone to show his nephew around the university.
I’m wondering if you would have time to do that for me?”
“Why would he ask you, Dodds? Can’t he do it himself?” she asked, puzzled.
Hiding his own motive, he replied, “The young man wants to take a couple of classes from me next term, so I guess the dean thought it a good idea that I introduce him to another student.”
“Oh. That makes sense, I guess. I would be glad to do that for you, Dodds.”
“Thank you, Bliss.” It was so pleasant here in the swing with her, he hesitated getting up and leaving. Finally, he stood up to go. They thanked each other and said goodnight.
Billie sat back down on the swing and watched Sheldon walk to his car and drive away. She couldn’t make herself go inside. The outdoors provided a soothing counter to the unsettling emotions that she had been feeling lately when she was with Dodds.
The screen door squeaked open and she turned, startled. “Grandpa! What are you doing up this late?”
“I couldn’t sleep. We didn’t get to finish our conversation, so I thought maybe we could finish it now. Are you too tired, Snooks?” he asked, sitting beside her.
“Not at all tired, Grandpa. I’m so glad you’re here right now. I don’t know what’s the matter with me, but I kind of feel confused and . . .”
“Confused because you wish Sheldon were five years younger?”
“Yes.”
“He’s a very kind and handsome young man. It’s understandable that you might get a crush on him. That happens now and then with student and teacher, doctor and patient, and so on.”
Billie looked over at him in surprise. “A crush? I don’t have a crush on him, Grandpa, I just wish that there were younger men out there like him.”
“Oh.”
The hinges of the old, porch swing rasped as the two moved back and forth, each deep in thought.
Billie broke the silence, speaking softly into the balmy air. “Ten years older is too much older, Grandpa.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. I want lots of children.”
“Oh. You think you couldn’t have lots with someone ten years older?”
“I don’t know, it depends.”
“I take it Sheldon is a confirmed bachelor.”
Billie sighed. “It seems so, Grandpa. It’s such a waste. I’ve been trying to think of someone I could introduce him to—someone he might want to marry. He’s had such a lonely life, and it’s just going to get lonelier. I mentioned it to him, and he ran out of my apartment so fast that, like Uncle Henry said, he almost left his tall, skinny shadow behind.” She couldn’t help smiling.
Bill Bliss smiled, too, but his smile was mainly caused by visualizing Billie, as she broached the subject to Sheldon. “I suspect, Snooks, that Mr. Sheldon Dodds Ackerman just hasn’t placed himself in situations where he could meet someone. But—I can guarantee—if he ever found anyone he were really interested in, he would be very vulnerable. His bachelorhood would fly right out the window.
Twenty-Four
Wednesday morning at 8:00, the phone rang at the Atwood residence.
Neal Atwood picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, Neal, this is Sheldon. I think I’ve found the kind of girl you were describing to me yesterday. She’s a young woman from my 280 class.”
“Good!”
“If you’ll tell Paul to be outside the door of my classroom this morning at 11:00, I’ll introduce him to her. She has graciously agreed to show him around the campus.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this, Sheldon.”
“Neal, you know it probably won’t work out, don’t you?”
“I know, I know. But at least I will have tried.”
-
Sheldon motioned for Billie to come over to his desk as she walked into class the next morning.
“Miss Bliss,” he whispered, “Dean Atwood’s nephew, the one who needs to be shown around the campus, will be outside the door right after class.
I’ll take you both into my office and introduce you. The two of you can then arrange a convenient time for the tour.”
“All right, Dr. Ackerman,” she said, her voice and manner both subdued.
“Is everything all right, Miss Bliss? You don’t seem yourself this morning.”
“I’m fine, Dr. Ackerman,” she said, giving him a brief smile. Then, turning abruptly, she walked quickly to her seat.
Something is wrong, he thought to himself. The sparkle he had seen in her eyes lately was missing. It was there last night when he left her. What could it be?
Because of his concern, he had a difficult time getting into his lecture.
After class, Billie waited in her seat until everyone left the room. Then she and Sheldon found the young man waiting for them just outside the classroom.
Sheldon noticed Paul’s expression when he saw Billie and knew he was instantly captivated. Ushering them into his office, he invited both to have a seat, then introduced them. After visiting a few minutes, the two decided to tour part of the campus for an hour right then. Paul shook Sheldon’s hand and thanked him, then he and Billie left together.
Sheldon sat at his desk thinking. He had also watched Billie’s reaction to Paul, but her face conveyed nothing. Though still quiet and subdued, she had been very gracious. Feeling restless and vaguely disturbed about the two going off together, Sheldon frowned. Was he feeling guilty for conniving like this? It was for her own good, wasn’t it?
-
Sheldon paced the floor in his condo. He had been trying to reach Billie by phone off and on all evening, and here it was ten o’clock! Where could she be? He stopped by the phone and re-dialed.
This time he heard Billie’s dulcet tones. “Hello?”
“Hello, Bliss, where have you been?”
“You’ve been trying to reach me?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes. I feel responsible for asking you to show Paul Atwood around and I was concerned.”
“There’s no need for concern. Paul and I went touring the campus again after my afternoon class, and then he wanted to take me out to dinner to thank me.”
“Oh. How did it go?”
“It went very well. He likes the campus and all the facilities. He’s particularly interested in taking classes from you. He thinks it will help him in his accounting firm and will help him make better investments.”
“Good. What do you think of him?” he asked, trying to sound offhanded.
“He’s very nice. I can’t imagine why he’s still unmarried.”
“Are you through showing him around?”
“Yes, but . . .” her voice trailed off.
“What is it, Bliss?”
“He’s going to be here until Sunday, and he wants me to go out with him every afternoon and every evening until he leaves.”
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