“Right … the student.” She sighed impatiently. “So?”
I was so appalled by her lack of manners that I simply stood there slack jawed. “I do not have time for this kid.” She chastised me. I blocked her path as she tried to push past me. “Your sister said that you have the diaries.” I pushed.
“And …?” She asked dryly as she tried once again to enter the taxi.
“Come on ladies I don’t have all day!” The cab driver bellowed.
“Just a second!” I shouted back raising my voice for perhaps the first time in my life. “Look Miss. Kendell.” I hissed. “I came a long way to see you because your sister led me to believe that you would be willing to show me the diaries.”
“After how many martinis?” She asked snidely.
“What?” I answered in confusion feeling that I was about to loose my advantage.
“You don’t remember do you?” She sighed. “Bombay Sapphire martinis extra dry with three olives and she rarely drinks less than a dozen. As you can see, I am very well acquainted with my sister’s fondness for gin. I bet she stuck you with the bill.”
There was nothing I could say in rebuttal. What could I say it was true? Nicole had invited me to lunch so we could discuss her famous ancestor. I soon discovered that Nicole’s version of lunch came in liquid form and she did in fact stick me with the tab. Suddenly I felt very stupid and much smaller than my five foot four frame. It wasn’t bad enough that this woman who already towered over but now I felt like a dwarf standing next to a very pissed off Snow White. And if that was the case I was most certainly Dopey.
“My sister is an alcoholic Miss..? ” She said quietly.
“Grant! Stephanie Grant!” I snapped feeling my anger returning in full force.
“Miss. Grant.” She repeated in quiet firm tone. “As I was saying my sister is an alcoholic and she will say anything you want to hear as long as you are buying the drinks. I’m sorry that you wasted your time. Good luck with your paper. Now I must be going so if you don’t mind?”
“It is a book.” I hissed at her. “And this is my cab.” I remember hearing her laughing as I jumped into the taxi. I had never felt so foolish in my entire life and with my childhood there had been plenty to feel foolish about.
But that was so long ago, the woman that I was watching now bore no resemblance to the one who had been so cruel to me then. All I can possibly hope for now is that she did not remember our first encounter. But a part of me could not help but remain suspicious. Could this charming persona be an act for her students? After all I am certain that many juries found her charming as well. Perhaps I should reserve my full assessment on Miss. Kendell until I have the opportunity to view her without an audience.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Dr. Camden motioning for me to follow her. As the chairperson of Haven’s history department Dr. Maureen Camden had pursued me relentlessly to come here. In the end I discovered that it was my only real option. At a small University like Haven I would advance more quickly and then after my resume was better padded I could make the jump over to Harvard or my alma mater Yale. Dr. Camden was thrilled when I finally accepted her offer. I did not have the heart to tell her that I was simply using Haven as a short cut to a higher position at a more prestigious University. But no one had to know about that, it was simply part of my life plan.
“Tell me Dr. Camden …” I started to say.
“Maureen.” She interrupted.
“Maureen.” I responded with a smile. “What is your opinion of Professor Kendell’s classes?”
“What do you mean?” She questioned.
“Pop Culture, The History of Television, courses of the evolution of TV commercials?” I asked in confusion. “I heard that she even teaches a course on soap operas? How does any of this relate to American History?”
The older blonde who stood slightly taller than myself chuckled. “To fully understand you would need to see her in action.” Maureen explained. “Allison is unconventional to say the least. But she really gets through to these kids. And she does not teach a course in soap operas. She does show examples of them and their effects on society in one of her more advanced Popular Culture courses.”
“I guess it just seems like fluff and not real hard core academics.” I questioned.
“On the surface maybe … but she brings it alive and shows how this country tries to redefine it’s history through media interpretation.” Maureen asserted with a friendly smile.
I knew that I would have to tread carefully, it was obvious that these two women were friends. Maureen showed me around the campus. It was small yet beautiful. Old ivy covered buildings nestled in a small town near the ocean. It was something out of Currier and Ives. This was going to be a very nice place to live and work. Well, until a better offer rolled along. But this was a comfortable place to spend the next two or three years and maybe once Peter could relocate, we could start thinking about moving our relationship along further. Everything was falling into place. Just as I had planned.
After we completed the grand tour, Maureen showed me my new office. It was small but it had a grand old window that spanned from floor to near ceiling, with a view of the campus below. One side was bare with the exception of a desk, chair and a barren mahogany bookcase. The other half was filled completely with clutter. Books and magazines covered the desk and computer and I could detect the outline of a what I could only assume was a sofa. But it was buried so deeply beneath clutter that I could not say for certain that there was an actual piece of furniture laying beneath.
Suddenly the massive pile near a file cabinet began to move. My heart leapt as Allison Kendell emerged from behind it. She was grinning strangely. “Allison!” Maureen scolded the woman who displayed a look similar to a deer caught in someone’s headlights. “Are you smoking again?”
“No.” Allison answered innocently as a puff of smoke escaped from her lips.
“Allison you know the rules. No smoking on campus.” Maureen chastised her.
“Okay. I’m sorry.” Allison pouted as she extinguished her cigarette into an ashtray she had apparently hidden behind the file cabinet.
“I cannot believe that you started again. You of all people should know better.” Maureen chastised her as the tall brunette rolled her eyes. “And when are you going to clean up this mess? I swear you are worse than my kids.”
“I try.” Allison teased with a devilish smile.
“Behave.” Maureen cautioned her.
“Or?” Allison teased.
“Stop it.” Maureen groaned in exasperation. “Allison Kendell this is Dr. Stephanie Grant your new cell mate.”
“Stan is gone?” Allison beamed.
“Yes you finally drove him out.” Maureen responded in a defeated tone. “The moment Carl announced his retirement Stan approached me about his office.”
“You know what this means Maureen? You owe me dinner at the Top of the Hub.” Allison smirked.
“Yes, but you started smoking again.” Maureen countered.
“So … Dutch treat at Church Street?” Allison conceded. Maureen nodded in agreement. Allison finally turned and noticed me standing there. I was more than a little stunned at the exchange. My previous appointments were all business it was professor this or doctor that. No one ever addressed a colleague let alone the department head by their first name.
“So roomie tell me about yourself?” Allison asked her in a friendly manner.
“I gave you her resume.” Maureen said dryly.
“You did?” Allison responded in a puzzled tone as she looked around the mess that constituted her half of the office.
“I need to get back to work.” Maureen excused herself. “Play nice.” She pointed to Allison as she made her departure.