by Mary Angela
After André left, I remained camped out in one of the plush hotel lobby chairs so as not to disturb Amanda. She was probably fast asleep by now. After the fiasco with breakfast, André and I had reserved a table at a nice French bistro that served authentic food at a reasonable price. It was about two miles from our hotel, but I assured him college students were used to walking. Besides, I could ask Lenny if he wanted to drive the faculty members since he was in town. André thought that was an excellent idea, but I wasn’t so sure Lenny would agree.
I mentally prepared myself for Lenny’s objections before calling him: one, he was on spring break, as in a break from the faculty; two, he was honing his guitar skills, which didn’t jive with taking time out to go to a French restaurant; three, he was spending quality time with his family—the girls were growing up so fast.
I heard a scuffle as he answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Ask her if she’s in jail!” one of his nieces whispered.
“Are you in jail, Em?” Lenny asked.
I looked out the window at the buildings across the street. “No, I’m still at the hotel.”
The girls sighed in unison.
“But it’s kind of like I’m in jail. I can’t leave until tomorrow,” I added.
“They’re already bored. A hotel to them means vacation. So what’s up?”
I uncrossed my legs and leaned forward. This was going to take finesse. “Oh, nothing. I was just relaxing a bit before we go out to dinner.”
“Who’s we? The dirty dozen?”
“You can joke all you want, Lenny, but I’m stuck here without so much as correct change for the vending machine.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know how much you like vending machines.”
“Anyway, the point is that we are going out for a nice dinner tonight, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
“I’m happy for you?” he said, not sure where the conversation was headed. “Where are you going?”
“A French restaurant. I went there once when I presented a paper at the University of Minnesota. André thought it was a great idea. At least the students can practice ordering in French. We’re leaving tomorrow. André booked the bus ride home.”
He moved to a quieter location. I could tell because the girls’ chatter turned into a dull buzz. “So they’re letting you leave? I guess that means nobody’s been arrested.”
“No, not yet, but poor André…. It sounds like Dean Richardson is coming down on him pretty hard. He wants André to get the students back as soon as possible. So, why don’t you come along tonight? It’ll be your last chance to see me before I leave.”
“With the whole gang? I dunno. It might turn into a night of badly pronounced entrees. ‘Gimme an order of escargot,’ ” he said, voicing the silent “t.”
“It won’t. I promise. The group is too disjointed to speak much French.”
“Well, I told my nieces I’d take them to school tomorrow….”
“It won’t go on too long, I swear.”
“Come on, Uncle Lenny… go! What are you, chicken?” said one of the girls. The other girl started making clucking noises.
I laughed. “Your nieces are right, you know. These people are completely harmless.”
“Except for the murderer, right?” he said under his breath.
I twirled a curl around my finger. “Well, there is that one exception.”
“You know what this means, Em? If I come, there will be thirteen for dinner.”
I was silent; it hadn’t occurred to me.
His laugh busted up the silence. “Are you sure you want to court death again on this already ill-fated trip?”
I let out a huff of air. “I know you’re mocking me, Lenny, but this is no laughing matter. One faculty member is dead.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It wasn’t about her. So what time is this French meeting of the minds?”
I hesitated. Superstitions aside, I had reservations about his coming. I had been brought up in too Catholic of a house not to be. Blessed salts, holy water, rosary beads—they were my ammunition against all things unholy. But against a curse? What power did I have? Yet he had told me before: he could take care of himself. And I would be there, watching carefully. “Seven o’clock. Oh, and Lenny? You might want to make room in your backseat. A few of the others will be riding with us.”
With this, I pushed the End button as fast as I could. I waited a couple seconds. When there was no return call, I happily tucked my phone into my purse and pulled out A Movable Feast. My feast had certainly moved. Perhaps it had disappeared altogether. But the truth was I wasn’t as upset as I thought I would be. For years, Paris had been a dream of mine, yet here I was, stuck in the Midwest over spring break, looking forward to an evening with Lenny. Minneapolis might not offer a genuine Parisian café or an ancient cobblestone boulevard, but its spring streets were pleasant enough.
The sleepless night began to catch up with me, and I felt myself nodding off over my unturned pages. Once in a while, a cry from a baby or a honk from a car horn would propel me to the next page, but mostly I dozed for the next two hours. When I awoke, my eyelids were stuck together, and I had to blink several times to get my contacts in working order. Putting my book back into my tote, I stretched my arms above my head, stood, and walked to the elevator. I’d make use of the coffeemaker in the room before getting ready for dinner.
When I came into the room, Kat was nowhere in sight. She must have still been shopping. Amanda, though, was sleeping, curled up in a tight ball atop the covers. She looked very much like a child, and I felt profound sympathy for her. Although she had concerns, her studious façade concealed her anxieties so well they were almost imperceptible. Only now, when she was asleep, did her face relax.
I was filling the coffeepot when I heard a phone vibrate. I turned back and peeked around the corner. Amanda didn’t move. The phone buzzed a second time. I walked toward the bed. She was still taking the regular breaths of a sleeper. Quietly, I leaned over the bed, trying to read the message on her iPhone. The sender was NAD. Nick, middle initial A, Dramsdor? And there was only one line of text: meet tonight after dinner? I stepped back—right onto a pile of magazines next to my bed. They were slippery, and I lost my footing. Amanda stirred, and I quickly jumped onto the other bed. I put my arm above my head, trying to appear nonchalant.
“Hey,” I said.
She looked around for her phone. It was more addiction than device for a lot of students. “I must have fallen asleep.”
“Right,” I said, stretching. “I’m going to make some coffee. Do you want some?”
“No.” She was texting back. “Thanks, though.”
I walked toward the sink and filled the four-cup coffeepot. I placed two pre-made coffee bags in the top of the machine. Hotel coffee was nearly like drinking hot water; I had to make my cup as strong as possible. “Where’s Kat?” I called out.
She chuckled. “Still shopping. She should be here any minute.”
“Does she know we’re going out for dinner tonight?”
“Yeah, I told her.” she said. “She just stayed away so I could get some sleep.”
When I came back to the bedroom, she was brushing her blonde hair vigorously.
“She’s worried about me,” she continued.
“Kat is a good friend. Are you feeling any better after your nap?”
Amanda stopped brushing her hair. “I am. But I’m still bummed about the trip.”
“There’s always next year,” I said, trying to sound upbeat. “I believe Professor Duman will do some great things for the Languages Department in the future.”
“Next year won’t be the same,” she said. Her voice had a note of finality in it.
“Because of Professor Jaspers?”
She nodded. “It won’t be the same group.”
Fresh tears in her eyes, she stood and walked into the bathroom, leaving me feeling as if I should do something, but I didn’t know what. Maybe
she just needed a few minutes to herself. We could all use that right now. I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down on the sleeper sofa, giving her as much privacy as the room afforded. She had been on expeditions with Molly and Nick before, and she was one of Molly’s pet students, if the other girls’ jealousy was any indication. It would take more than a day to grieve.
Amanda was in the bathroom for a while before I heard her flush the toilet and wash her hands. I busied myself with my suitcase, searching for an outfit for dinner. I had bought a red dress for such an occasion, and after attending fifty spin classes, I was going to wear it. Gathering my clothes in my arms, I smiled at Amanda as I walked past the vanity, where she was putting toothpaste on her toothbrush. Just then, Kat burst into the room with two large bags, one nearly nicking me.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Professor Prather! I didn’t know you were there,” said Kat.
“Don’t worry. You missed me. It looks like your shopping trip was successful?”
“Totally. Most of the records are used but in good condition. Hey,” she said to Amanda, “did you take a nap?”
Amanda nodded, her mouth still full of toothpaste.
“I’m starving,” Kat said, plopping the square bags on the bed. “I can’t wait to eat. Amanda says we’re going to some French place. I hope we don’t have to pay. I think I spent all my money.”
I laughed. “No, two of your dinners were included in the price of the trip, most of which will now be refunded.”
She was wrapping her hair into a bun. “You know that story I started?” she said, taking a hair tie from her mouth. “I think I have a plot.”
I moved closer. “Oh? What is it?”
Her hazel eyes glinted green. “Nope, can’t tell.” She reached over to her bag and pulled out a notebook. “It’s bad luck to talk about a work before it’s finished.”
I think I was starting to rub off on the girl.
Chapter Fourteen
A half hour later, we met up with the rest of the group downstairs in the lobby. André looked good in his leather jacket and tight black jeans, and he wasn’t the only one. The entire group was dressed up; we finally had somewhere to go that didn’t include a police station. We smiled at one another as if the last twenty-four hours were just a bad dream. Except for Bennett. While he was clad in khakis and a polo, his face was unshaven and fatigued. He was talking quietly on his cellphone, presumably about Molly. The next few days would be trying for him, making arrangements from afar. He hung up as Amanda, Kat, and I approached the group.
“I’m glad you decided to come,” I said to him.
He motioned toward Nick. “Nick talked me into it. I’m not even hungry.”
“You’ll need to keep up your strength the next couple of days. For Molly,” said Nick.
Bennett nodded. “For Molly.”
“Good evening, Em,” said André, approaching us. “You look magnifique!”
“And you, too,” I said, smiling around at the group. “Everyone looks great.”
“It is good to have a distraction,” André said.
“Agreed,” said Arnold. But I had a feeling he was distracted enough without dinner.
“Em’s good friend Lenny Jenkins has offered us a ride, but I do not see him yet?” André looked at me for confirmation.
“He’ll be here. It’s early.”
“Now, students,” André said, “I have printed out directions on the MapQuest. All you do is walk one mile and take a right. Then keep walking.” He handed the printout to Amanda.
“Oh, I’ve got it on my GPS, Professor,” Amanda said, flashing André her phone.
“Take it just in case. One never knows when the technology will fail.” André looked at the rest of the students. “All stay together please, and follow Amanda.”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Follow Amanda,” she mimicked him under her breath. Her friend Meg smiled.
“Ah! There is the man of the minute,” exclaimed André.
I turned toward the door and saw Lenny visibly pause. I think he was deciding whether to continue walking.
“Lenny!” I hollered. His jaw relaxed, and he walked toward the group.
He gave me a wink. “Wow. You look good.”
“This is Lenny Jenkins,” I said. “Most of you know him from English. He happens to be in Minneapolis visiting his family. He agreed to give us a lift tonight.”
“The guitarist,” said Arnold, sticking out his hand. “I’ve heard you play at O’Malley’s. I’m Arnold Frasier.”
“Yeah,” said Lenny, shaking his hand, “the buffalo guy. If we could combine your art with my guitar, I’m pretty sure we could become South Dakota’s most famous duo.”
Arnold laughed. “Nah. You and Emmeline are the only famous duo around there. I wouldn’t want to step on her toes.”
I rolled my eyes. The Christmas party duet was more unforgettable than I remembered.
“Hello, Lenny,” said Judith.
“Nice to see you again,” said Lenny.
“This is Nick Dramsdor, from State, and Bennett Jaspers, Molly’s husband.”
After shaking hands with Nick, Lenny reached out to Bennett. “I’m sorry for your loss. Molly was someone special on campus; she will be missed.”
Lenny impressed me with his sincerity and must have impressed Bennett as well, for Bennett returned his handshake heartily.
“I will see to it that her good work continues. I promise you that,” Bennett replied.
Lenny counted the faculty members. “I don’t know if Em told you, but I drive a Taurus. There’s no way all six of you are going to fit in my car. Five, tops.”
“Em is small,” said André. “She can sit on my lap.”
Lenny frowned.
“Hey, I can walk with the students,” offered Nick. “André said someone should, and he and Emmeline have done so much already. Besides, it’s a nice night. I could use a little fresh air.” He smiled at Amanda, and her face flushed.
“Good idea,” I said, pretending I hadn’t seen Amanda’s reaction. “Let’s get started.”
Fitting four of us in the backseat of Lenny’s car took some finagling. I ended up sitting half on the seat and half on André’s lap. Bennett, the largest in the group, sat in the front seat with Lenny, who glanced at me from the rearview mirror.
Arnold and Judith were discussing student retention rates, but Bennett had lapsed into silence. He looked miserable as he stared out his window into the dark, empty streets. Maybe insisting that he come along wasn’t such a good idea after all.
Lenny noticed his preoccupation, too. “So, Bennett, I’m guessing you’re not a teacher. What do you do for work?”
“Work. Oh. Well, I got my degree in electrical engineering. That’s how Molly and I met. But that’s about the extent of my college experience. Now I own a company that contracts out for various engineering projects. We have some very smart people working for us. A lot of new things happening in the world of electronics.”
“Technology is always changing, and we depend on it more than ever. I guess that’s job security for you,” said Lenny.
“You couldn’t be in a better field. If you can make it, someone is willing to buy it. Drones, cameras. They’re huge right now. We want to monitor things from far and wide.”
Lenny turned on his blinker. “I suppose yours is a pretty lucrative business.” Then he muttered, more to himself than Bennett, “I could use something lucrative in my life. Teaching in the Midwest hardly pays the bills.”
Bennett agreed. “Don’t I know it. Molly cursed technology, but we never could have lived off her salary. She was applying for the associate dean position in Arts and Sciences, though. She said that paid more.”
I glanced at Arnold and Judith. Arnold was as surprised as I was that Molly would have considered a largely administrative position such as dean.
“Molly, the associate dean?” questioned Arnold. “I can’t imagine her settling down to the life of a paper pusher.”
“You can hardly equate the job of a dean with that of a paper pusher,” said Judith. “It’s a prestigious position that requires relentless devotion to academic rigor. I’m considering the position myself.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Judith. I didn’t mean to insinuate—”
“You’re right, though, Arnold,” Bennett broke in. “Molly wouldn’t stand for the status quo. She talked about ‘revolutionizing’ the office.”
Judith huffed a breath. “There is something to be said for history and tradition. Molly, as a trained classicist, would have realized this. Changing the environment is one thing; changing the office of the dean is quite another. Everything has its boundaries.”
“She no longer saw boundaries, only obstacles.” Bennett chuckled.
Arnold grinned in agreement. “She had many admirable qualities; her stubbornness wasn’t necessarily one of them.”
I smiled politely, but my mind was replaying Judith Spade’s offhand comment. She was interested in the open associate dean position, as was Molly. I couldn’t conceive of two more different candidates. One would have changed everything; one would have changed nothing. The School of Arts and Sciences would have taken on an entirely new direction with Molly in the office. I couldn’t imagine Judith agreeing with that direction, even though I tended to believe that the School of Medicine was more inclined to look toward the future than, say, the Humanities Department. But from Judith’s reaction, I had to wonder if my assumption was wrong.
We arrived at the restaurant, and Lenny got out and opened the rear door.
“Thank you, Lenny,” I said, taking his hand. We were in front of the cream-colored brick building with the name written in large red script above the door.
André stepped out and patted Lenny on the back. “Yes, thank you, old friend. The ride was much appreciated.”
“I bet,” Lenny said.
André looked up and down the street. “Let’s have a cocktail before the students arrive, eh?”