“Yes. I miss that with her.” Chris replied.
“So does she.” I said. “Now back to what I was saying. When you are that close to someone, you tell them everything like who you are dating right?” Chris simply nodded again. “Would there be any reason why you wouldn’t tell someone about a person you were dating?”
“Lot’s of reasons.” Chris answered. “You’re are embarrassed for some reason. Or you know that your friend wouldn’t approve. Then of course if you are seeing someone who is involved. Or if you are involved and you are having an affair.”
“Okay I can honestly say that the last one wouldn’t have occurred to me.” I said.
“What can I say?” Chris teased. “So where is all of this leading?”
“Two things I’ve heard tonight don’t fit.” I tried to explain. “Allison told me that when she first met me she was involved. But the two of you didn’t start dating until later. When I asked her about that she lied to me and said she must have made a mistake. The other thing is that you told me she was with Jessica for six months.”
“That’s right.” Chris answered in a bewildered tone.
“But sometime ago Allison said it was eight months.” I explained hoping that she would get the connection without my having to tell her.
“You’ve must have been mistaken.” Chris insisted.
“Chris I have a PH. D in history.” I sighed. “I live for details. I hate to say this but I think Allison knows exactly where she was on those dates in question.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that she was involved with someone that she didn’t want anyone to know about.” I spoke carefully. “Not then and certainly not now.”
I watched her as the information sunk in. “Jessica.” She finally admitted. “Damn it! They got back together.”
“I think so.” I confessed to her finally. “I also think that the husband knows and that is why he is going after Allison.”
“Well this is just peachy.” Chris groaned. “I will have to look into this. Damn it! If what you are saying is true then I spent three years of my life with someone who was on the rebound. This night has just sucked.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” She reassured me. “I’m going to get some sleep. I’ll need to fly home today.”
Without a word I left her with her thoughts and went into the bedroom and crawled into bed with Allison. I felt her shift slightly and wrap her arms around me. I set the alarm so I could call the office in a few hours. Then I turned out the light and curled into Allison’s embrace and began to drift off. “Stephanie?” A very sleepy Allison called out.
“Yes, Allison?”
“Next year can we do something different for my birthday?” She yawned as she pulled me closer.
“Absolutely.” I promised as we both fell asleep
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The morning after Allison’s birthday, I called the office and explained to Grace that we would both be out sick. I could hear her chuckling when I told her this. If she only knew the truth… that we had come very close to finally being together if not for her ex-girlfriend insisting on a late night snack, which resulted in Allison ending up in the emergency room with food poisoning! It would appear that the fates were against us. I vowed then and there that if I ever came across these so-called fates I would kick their collective Asses! Well at least I gave Grace some gossip for the rumor mill. Everyone on campus was already convinced that we were having an affair. Now if someone would just convince Allison everything would be fine.
After Grace convinced me not to worry about our classes since it was a review day anyway, I informed her that Allison was indeed very ill, though I didn’t go into the gory details. Then I asked Grace to contact Allison’s teaching assistant so he could administer her exams next week. Grace agreed. Now, I just had to find her exams so I could fax them over to her. I was quite certain they were stored somewhere in her computer. I just hoped that they were in her home pc. As I went through the living room I noticed that Chris had left already. “Sure spread botulism and run you coward!” I thought to myself. It was safe to say that I have been in better moods, but a lack of sleep after spending the night in the emergency room will do that to a girl.
I trudged up to Allison’s office and found the exams in the computer easily. I successfully resisted the urge to look around her computer files and printed the exams and faxed them off to Grace. I went back down and checked on Allison. I found her fast asleep. I felt her forehead and noticed that she was still running a slight fever. Nicole explained that would be normal. Still, I would need to change her clothing and the bed sheets. I would wait until she was somewhat awake for that. Getting her ready for bed last night had been a struggle. Chris tried to help but Allison seemed to respond only to me.
I heard someone knocking on the front door. I kissed Allison gently on her brow and went to answer the door. I found Mrs. Giavanni standing on the other side holding two large plastic containers. I took them from the elderly woman immediately. “Stephanie you no look so good.” She exclaimed as she bustled into the apartment. “Nicole called. She told me everything.” She explained as she shooed me towards the kitchen. “Now this one is plain broth. Nicole said you should try to get Allison to eat some of this.” She took one of the containers from me and placed into the refrigerator. “Clean!” She said with joy. “I never see it clean before. I knew you would be a good influence on her. Now this one is for you.” She continued taking the other container from me. “This one chicken soup. I make myself.” She shook her head in horror. “Clean but empty.” She pointed to inside of the refrigerator. “You girls no eat right. Why you go out to eat so late? See what happens.” She chastised me.
I chuckled slightly and offered no defense for my actions. I knew that Mrs. Giavanni never understood why anyone would go out to eat in the first place. “Could you keep an eye on Allison?” I asked wearily. “I need to get some stuff from my apartment since I will be staying up here for a few days.”
“Go.” She shooed me away.
“Thank you.” I sighed heavily. “What about you? Do need anything done?”
“No.” Mrs. Giavanni answered. “The food order you did for me last weekend was good. I’m going to my son’s for the holiday. I wanted the family to come up here but his wife insisted. They think I’m to old to cook for everyone.” She snorted angrily.
Before I left to get my belongings from my apartment, I asked Mrs. Giavanni when she thought it might start to snow. Knowing the woman never missed the weather report, she said the guy from channel four said it would begin soon. I learned sometime ago that even though Mrs. Giavanni had cable she only watched channel four. She watched the station from six am until she went to bed the only time she would switch the channel was when Martha Stewart on. She had many unkind words for Martha. She liked to point out that anyone could do the things that old Martha did if they had all of that money and a full staff people. I explained to my landlady that Allison had planned to close up her place on Cape Cod for the winter. She offered to have her son Anthony handle it. It would be the least he could do after all that his cousin had done for him.
I was startled by her admission. She just shrugged it off without a care and shooed me downstairs. She ordered me to hurry up and get what I need so I could get some rest. I knew better than to argue with her. Upon returning to Allison’s apartment I found Mrs. Giavanni dusting. She had called Anthony and he agreed to lock up the summerhouse for Allison. He would pick up the keys from Mrs. Giavanni since she had a spare set. Allison was still sleeping. I thanked her and sent her on her way as quickly as I could. The woman loved to talk, granted normally I found her a little difficult to understand but a wonderful storyteller just the same. Today all I wanted was a hot shower and to climb back into bed.