It's Bliss (10 page)

“
That makes sense,” he conceded.

“
So, Dr. Ackerman is supposed to support and counsel me as I need.

But,” she stopped, hesitating, knowing how her family would react, “I need to show him first, why I have, you know, that
PROBLEM
.”

Mother and Aunt Tilly gasped. “Oh. Billie,” her mother began, “is that wise? Besides, dear, you really don’t have a weight problem.”

“
If you do show him, Miss Billie,” snorted Uncle Henry, “he’ll be out the door so fast, he’ll leave his long, skinny shadow behind.”

Will Bliss and his father, Bill, exchanged glances and chuckled, knowing that the respectable and stately Dr. Ackerman was in for the ride of his life.

After showering and changing into his robe, Sheldon felt better. Relaxing in his favorite chair, he sipped a cup of cold, herb tea and wondered how soon he would be calling on Nettie’s knowledge of femininity, Robert’s knowledge of psychology, and Hal’s fatherly wisdom. He wanted to call each of them right now but felt they had already committed all the time they could.

Besides, what could he ask? As yet, he didn’t know enough to even ask an intelligent question.

Not knowing how much time it would take to solve the mystery of Miss Bliss’ problem, he was glad that it was summer. His class load was not as heavy. In addition to his 280 class, he only had one other class this term.

Sheldon loved a challenge—but the kind of challenge Miss Bliss presented was more than he had bargained for. Nevertheless, it was a challenge. He sat there mentally preparing himself for what he knew was coming: more confusion, more frustration but hopefully in the end, a successful conclusion.

He found himself actually looking forward to their next meeting tomorrow night. Not only was he feeling challenged, but his curiosity had been aroused to a fever pitch. The next get-together was to be held again at the Bliss home, where he felt comfortable. The family was warm and gracious in their hospitality and he also found them to be interesting people.

-

Tuesday, after her last class, Billie rented a couple of DVD’s in preparation for tonight’s meeting with Dr. Ackerman.

Today was her birthday and her family was having the usual birthday dinner. It was not a happy occasion. She was twenty-eight years old, and what did she have to show for it? Most of her friends were married and had children, and the rest had careers. She had neither.

Dr. Ackerman would be at the house at 7:00, and she felt far from sanguine about trying to help him understand her problem. What she was going to do tonight would only bring the
PROBLEM
to her mind again, and then it would happen—as it usually did. She sighed, deciding that she must find something positive about this evening other than being with her family.

-

At 7:00 p.m., Sheldon rang the doorbell of the Bliss home. This time it was Billie who opened the door. Her brown eyes twinkled as she looked at his casual shirt and pants.

“
Why, I was expecting Dr. Ackerman. Your name, sir?”

He tipped his head to one side, studying her as a smile played around his lips. “And who might this audacious young woman be? Miss Bliss knows her professor well.”

“
Why, Dr. Ackerman, where have you been hiding this sense of humor?”

“
Are you going to invite me in, Miss Bliss?” he asked in mock seriousness, “or must I stand on the porch all evening?”

She grinned. “Do come in.”

Aunt Tilly came trotting over to them. “Good evening, Dr. Ackerman.”

“
Good evening, Matilda,” he returned, smiling.

“
We are about to cut Billie’s birthday cake. Would you like to join us for a piece?”

A look of consternation came across his face. “Am I intruding upon your birthday, Miss Bliss?”

“
No. We’ve already had my birthday dinner with all its trimmings. Would you like a piece of cake?”

“
It’s very good— made from scratch, Dr. Ackerman,” coaxed Matilda.

Sheldon was tempted. “I think I would, thank you, but later after we are through with our meeting.”

Billie led him down the hall, and past the library to a room whose generous windows faced the large back porch. Under the windows stood two white, three-legged wicker planters and a rectangular one. All three were overflowing with green plants, giving the room the feel of a solarium. On one wall was an entertainment center holding a large television. Facing the television was an old and slightly worn, oversized sectional couch and one large, upholstered chair. The other two walls were covered with maps and family photos.

Sheldon found the room comfortable and inviting.

“
I like this room,” he said.

“
We’re meeting here for a reason, Dr. Ackerman.”

“
Oh. Fine.”

“
I’m glad that you dressed comfortably tonight.”

“
Thank you.” He noticed she, too, was dressed casually. She had on a gold, cotton shirt over gold pants. He noted that the color looked very nice with her long, auburn hair, which hung loose and was slightly curled. “You also look, uh, comfortable,” he said.

“
I am. Thank you.”

She sat down on one side of the curved couch leaving him the center section facing the television.

He smiled. “So it’s your birthday. And how old are you today, Miss Bliss?”

An expression of sadness came across her face so suddenly, he was alarmed. “Oh! I’m sorry. You don’t have to tell me.”

“
I don’t mind telling you, Dr. Ackerman. It’s just that I mind the age that I am. I’ve just turned twenty-eight.”

He stared at her, openmouthed. “Twenty-eight, did you say?”

“
Yes,” she said in a small, plaintive voice.

“
Why, I thought you were only in your early twenties.” Now it was Sheldon who looked concerned. He had just turned thirty-eight. She was only ten years younger! This was quite a few years, he realized; still, it made him feel slightly uncomfortable.

“
What is it, Dr. Ackerman? Is something wrong?”

“
Uh no, no. It’s that I . . . now can’t feel quite so fatherly toward you, knowing your age.”

“
Why? How old are you, Dr. Ackerman? Almost everyone in the class is making bet on it.”

Sheldon was astonished. It never occurred to him that his students would be interested in his age. “I’m rather surprised at this, but you can relieve their minds. I just turned thirty-eight.”

She grinned. “Grandpa Bliss was right.”

Sheldon’s brows rose. “Your grandfather?”

“
Oh, yes. My family was arguing over your age last night.”

“
And you, Miss Bliss, did you bet with the rest of your classmates?” he asked, suddenly interested.

She smiled, “No, I just found it amusing, but I was curious about something.”

“
Oh? What, may I ask?”

“
No, you may not,” she stated, chuckling to herself.

“
Well, I too, am curious about something, Miss Bliss. May I ask why you are still in school at your age?”

A pained expression crept over her face. “Because I need to get on with a business of my own.” The appearance of concern, then confusion on Dr. Ackerman’s face propelled her to explain further. “I graduated from college in accounting when I was twenty-two and went to work with an accounting firm here in Claytonville. The situation there began to create the weight problem I have now, so I quit my job, and immediately lost weight. I then took some classes in computer science and eventually went to work for some attorneys.

The situation was much worse there, exacerbating my weight problem even more. I quit that job, also, and immediately returned to my usual weight. I went to work for a another group of lawyers. Several weren’t married and my problem got worse. Once again, I quit, but this time I didn’t lose as quickly.”

Seeing more confusion on his face, she asked, “Shall I go on?”

“
No! I’m thoroughly lost, Miss Bliss. Please explain what the common denominator is in all these jobs that caused you to gain weight?”

“
Men.”

“
Men? Why, Miss Bliss?”

“
They asked me out.”

“
Were they married?” he asked with concern.

“
Oh, some married ones asked me out, too. Of course I didn’t go out with them. I don’t count them—they don’t figure in all this—just the single ones.”

Sheldon was grappling with this totally unexpected revelation and was asking himself why and how he’d gotten into it. “Miss Bliss, did you go out with the single ones?”

“
After I got to know them, yes.”

“
Did this problem only begin when you dated men at work?”

“
No, it began in college.”

Suddenly, Sheldon Ackerman paled. Did he dare ask her what happened on these dates to cause her such distress?

Billie noticed his expression. “Dr. Ackerman what’s wrong?”

“
I’m afraid I don’t dare ask you what happened on those dates. I . . .” he couldn’t go on. He knew his face must be red as a beet.

“
Oh no, Dr. Ackerman, nothing like that. I’m sorry, I do need to be more plain.”

Sheldon couldn’t have agreed more.

The moment she had been putting off was here, leaving her feeling nervous and anxious. After a long pause, she said, in resignation, “I’m . . . I’m a hapless, hopeless romantic!”

Sheldon didn’t know what he had expected, but it certainly wasn’t this.

His breath came out in a rush—breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding.

Relief replaced anxiety. “A romantic?” Not quite believing the problem could be so innocuous, he blurted out, “Is that all?”

“
Is that all? All!” she exclaimed, totally distraught.

“
I mean, is that, uh, all your problem?” he hedged, realizing all of a sudden he was on slippery ground.

“
Yes, because, because . . .” pausing, her face a picture of anguish, she hesitated.

Sheldon had never seen a face like hers, one that could go from a pleasant expression to a pained one so quickly. He helplessly watched as she became more and more distraught. She stood up and walked a few feet away, standing with her back to him.

Though he wondered what could be so serious about being a romantic, her excessive emotion caused him to again hold his breath in anticipation of something worse. “Go on, Miss Bliss,” he hesitantly encouraged, “because of what?”

She whirled around. “Because—ROMANCE IS DEAD!”

Sheldon thought he could almost hear a funeral dirge as he gazed upon her grief- stricken face. His first impulse was to say, “I’m sorry,” but he didn’t know what he was sorry for—only that she was upset. Questions were swirling around in his head, but he knew instinctively that he had better not repeat his previous question, “is that all?” So he asked, “Are you sure?”

“
Positive! And I can prove it to you.”

“
Please sit down, Miss Bliss,” he coaxed, his voice gentle. “Help me to understand, will you?”

She nodded and sat down looking very close to tears.

“
Please be patient with my obtuse, male understanding, but what do dates with the young men at college and work have to do with romance being dead?”

“
Men are most of the problem! That’s why,” she explained with finality, “I can never marry.”

Nettie Newman, where are you when I need you? he thought. I don’t understand feminine thinking! He was too far from shore; he felt the water closing over his head. A little desperately, he asked, “Why are men most of the problem?”

“
Because they don’t understand what romance is, or don’t care. They’re mainly responsible for society’s destruction of romance and,” making a blanket indictment, she added, “they think nothing of it.”

“
What about other women? Do all of them think romance is dead?”

She blinked back tears. “That’s the saddest part of all. Most of them just stand by and let it happen. Some even become pawns to it, until they don’t know what
real
romance is. They just hurt and don’t know why.”

“
Forgive my lack of understanding, Miss Bliss, but what is romance, exactly?”

“
It’s, uh, it’s . . . oh! I can’t put it into words. That’s why no one understands.

That’s why I have to show you what it is, and show you what it isn’t.”

His mind felt muddled and his patience was running out. His impulse was to reprimand her. Instead, he calmly and gently asked, “Can you show me, now?”

“
May I ask you some questions?”

“
Miss Bliss, I’m not a patient man.”

“
I know, but I need to ask you some questions first.”

“
All right! But get on with them.”

Billie curled up on the couch. Hesitantly, she asked, “Have you read the book ‘Jane Eyre?’”

He was so surprised by the question, he couldn’t think for a moment. “Let me think. I believe I have, yes.”

“
Did you like it?”