It's Bliss (17 page)

She walks in beauty, like the night

of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright

Meet in her aspect and her eyes . . .

Lord Byron

Thursday afternoon, Sheldon greeted the young man who walked into his office, shaking his hand across the desk. “It’s good to see you, Sherman. Have a seat.”

“
It’s good to see you, Dr. Ackerman. I’m glad you called me in to visit, because this is my last term here. I’m going to get my doctorate later since my girlfriend, Gail, and I are going to bum around the beaches in California for a while.”

“
Your girlfriend? I thought you two were married.”

“
Naw, we want to wait a year or two.”

“
But . . . didn’t you live in an apartment together?”

“
Sure did,” he grinned. Noticing the shock on the professor’s face, it was his turn to react. “Don’t tell me you’re prudish about that! This is the new millennium, Doc, remember?”

“
Yes . . . I remember,” he answered slowly.

Arranging for three of his most promising married students from last winter to come in for a visit, he planned to casually ask about their courtships.

This was one of the ideas that had come to him. Now, he cut the visit short, asking only a few questions and wishing Sherman well. He was deeply disappointed over the young man’s lack of ambition and commitment.

Feeling irritated, his mood was a little testy when Evan came in. After the greetings were over, Sheldon asked him in an abrupt manner about his studies and goals. The young man, disconcerted by the professor’s unusual attitude, stumbled all over himself, assuring Dr. Ackerman that he was determined to get his masters in business and that he would be taking classes from him next year.

“
Good. Now, how’s your wife?”

“
My wife?” he asked surprised.

“
Yes.”

“
We’re divorced. It didn’t take us long to learn we weren’t suited for each other.”

Sheldon was surprised.”Uh, did you have a long enough courtship to get well acquainted?”

“
Well, I don’t know if you would call it a courtship or not. One night after we’d gone to a couple of movies together, I found her in my bed, so in a couple of weeks we decided to get married.”

Sheldon bit his tongue. After all, it wasn’t his place to lecture or censure.

Instead, he muttered some words of encouragement and excused him.

He waited for his next and last appointment, tapping his fingers together, frowning, seeing in his mind’s eye the mounting evidence in favor of Bliss’ conclusion about romance. By the time Morris arrived, Sheldon was feeling angry about the whole thing—project and all!

“
I know I’m early, Dr. Ackerman, but . . .”

Sheldon looked up. “No matter,” he snapped. “Sit down Morris.”

“
Is anything wrong, Dr. Ackerman?”

“
Yes, there’s a great deal wrong.”

“
Shall I come back another time?”

Sheldon realized he was taking out his frustration on the young man in front of him. “No, now is fine. I’m sorry for being short, Morris. How are you?” After a few more questions and answers, Sheldon asked him about his wife.

The young man smiled. “She’s fine. We’re going to have a baby.”

Sheldon felt some relief. “Congratulations.” After the discussion about Morris’ coming fatherhood and his career, Sheldon led into questions about his courtship.

Morris related how he and his wife met and how they got to know each other. Sheldon smiled. He felt that it might sound romantic to Bliss. At least, one out of three says something, he thought to himself—then the thunderbolt came.

“
And when she found she was pregnant,” Morris continued, “we decided we ought to get married. I’m glad we did because, after a couple of months of marriage, we both realized we loved each other.”

Sheldon paled.

“
Dr. Ackerman, you don’t look well at all. Maybe I’d better come back another time.”

“
Thank you, Morris, another time might be better.”

Sheldon sat at his desk a long time after Morris had gone, stunned and shaken, the burden of proof lying heavier on his shoulders. Finally, he wondered if he needed to ask ten students, rather than just three. Maybe the odds would be better. But he knew he didn’t have the stomach for it. If these young men were typical of what Bliss could expect as potential husband material, it was no wonder she felt romance was dead! Maybe there wasn’t anyone out there good enough for her.

His gloom deepened when he remembered the project meeting tomorrow night. Bliss could not report any success. He was feeling less hopeful she ever could, with
his
help anyway. He got up from the desk and paced around the small room trying to deal with these unsettling thoughts. Why did Nettie, Hal, and Robert insist that he be the one to support Bliss? But . . . could he do any better with any one of the other three? No. He should have gotten a fourth person to take his place and not be personally involved. How did he ever think he could do it, a bachelor of many years with no real-life experience?

Commitment or no, he needed to get someone else to take his place with Bliss. He decided to go see her immediately and tell her so. Conscious that this impulsive reaction was not like him, he stuck by the decision anyway.

What did it matter? He hadn’t been himself since the day Miss Billie Bliss first stepped into his office.

Grabbing his suit coat and throwing it over his arm, he headed for the door, then stopped. He didn’t know where she lived. Going back to the desk, he looked through his records and found the address of her apartment, assuring himself that it didn’t matter whether it looked proper or not. He was quitting! He locked up the office and strode briskly down the hall. Hearing a quick, shuffling sound behind him, he turned. It was Miss Lemmon.

“
Good evening, Miss Lemmon.” Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was five o’clock. “Do you have a class this late?”

Lora, breathless and flustered, stared at him, trying to think of an explanation as to why she was there at this hour. “Uh, no. I just needed to check on something,” she replied lamely.

“
Oh. Well, goodnight then, Miss Lemmon.”

“
Good night, Dr. Ackerman.”

He resumed his brisk walk toward the exit. When almost to the door, he heard heavy breathing behind him. He turned and once more saw the flushed face of Lora Lemmon. “What is it, Miss Lemmon, are you late for something?”

“
No,” she said, shifting the heavy backpack to the other shoulder, “I just want to, uh, get home.”

“
Oh. Well, goodnight again. See you in class tomorrow.” He stepped quickly to his car which was parked conveniently close in faculty parking.

-

Lora trotted as fast as she could to the other side of the lot where her car was parked, the backpack bouncing uncomfortably against her hip. She felt irritated at herself for not remaining in the car to wait for Dr. Ackerman.

Unlocking the car, she dropped her pack into the seat and heaved her tired body in behind the wheel. Starting the car, she moved the stick shift into reverse, and backed out. Lora then shoved the gear into forward and the car lurched past the parked cars. She was so intent on catching up with Dr. Ackerman she was unaware of another car in the adjoining exit. Making a sharp left turn heading toward the south exit, she suddenly slammed on the brakes. The other car, having made a right turn, loomed directly in front of her. It was too late. Despite the simultaneous screeching of brakes, their front bumpers hit. Both drivers sat there momentarily stunned, then the driver of the five-year-old-Buick got out to inspect the damage. Lora was horrified. It was Dr. Ackerman!

“
Oh no!” she gasped. She got out and looked at the bumpers.

Sheldon looked over at the other driver. “I don’t see,” he began, then stopped. “Miss Lemmon!” They stared at each other. He blinked a couple of times. Didn’t I just see you back at the . . .”

“
Yes,” she mumbled.

“
How did you get here so fast?” .

She shrugged her shoulders miserably.

“
And why were you driving so fast?” he asked irately.

“
I . . . I didn’t realize how fast I was going.”

Sheldon sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm his rising impatience. “You should be more careful, Miss Lemmon. You’re fortunate that my brakes are good, as well as my reflexes, because I can’t see any damage to either of our cars.”

“
Ohh,” she breathed out, relieved. “I’m certainly glad to hear that, Dr. Ackerman.”

“
Well, as I said twice before, I bid you good night.” He got back into the car, backed up, drove around the Volkswagen, and exited the lot.

Lora got into her car as quickly as she could. “Darn! Now he knows my car. How stupid of me,” she chastised herself loudly. “Oh well,” she said with grim determination, “I’ll just have to be more careful.”

-

Sheldon shook his head over the strange coincidence of running into Miss Lemmon three times—literally on the third. Soon, however, his mind became engrossed with the matter at hand until he glanced into the rear view mirror just before turning a corner. Had he seen a blue Volkswagen? No. He mentally shook himself and dismissed the thought.

Finding Bliss’ street just off the campus, he stopped in front of the appropriate house, trying to figure out where the apartment was. He noticed Bliss’ car parked in back in plain view of the street. Parking against the curb, he crossed the street. Quelling a feeling of trepidation, he walked up the driveway to the back of the house. Seeing Bliss’ apartment number above a small porch, he stepped up onto it and knocked. The door opened.

Startled, Billie gaped at him.”Dodds!”

“
I need to talk to you, and it can’t wait.”

“
Oh? Would you like to come in?” she asked hesitantly.

“
Yes, I would,” he stated resolutely, stepping inside.

As Billie closed the door behind him, he looked around. “A charming place. Looks like you,” he muttered glumly.

Billie was puzzled over his demeanor and strange attitude. “ Uh, please have a seat, Dodds.”

“
Thank you.” Even in his dour mood, his nose detected something cooking that smelled very good.

The phone rang. “Will you excuse me, Dodds?”

He nodded, feeling irritated at the interruption.

“
Hello? . . . Oh, hello, Jordan. . . . I have to go, I have a guest . . . no . . . no, it isn’t . . . no, I have plans for this weekend . . . please, Jordan, I do have to go. I’ll talk to you later. Goodbye, Jordan.” She hung up abruptly and smiled at her guest.

“
I’m so glad you dropped by. I want to tell you how well I’m doing with my weight . . . I mean inches. Just having you try to understand my feelings about everything has helped me so much.”

“
It has?” Though surprised and more than pleased at this news, he was acutely aware of the purpose of his visit. Determined not to be deterred, he said, “However, I—”

“
Oh, please excuse me, I have to get the scalloped potatoes out of the oven.”

Sheldon watched her open the oven, pull out the casserole dish, and place it on top of the stove. She was wearing a large, white T-shirt and cutoff jeans. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail, making her look like a little girl.

Sheldon realized, with some disquiet, that no matter what she wore or how she wore her hair, she looked—lovely.

“
Would you do me a favor, Dodds?” she asked, giving him one of those special ‘Bliss smiles’—as he was beginning to think of them.

“
What is it?” he asked, wariness in his voice.

“
Have dinner with me. I’ve made plenty because I like leftovers.”

“
I don’t think that would be wise, Bliss.”

“
Why? The wise thing is not to be here at all, but since you are here, please stay. I owe you so much, and besides, I like your company,” she said, softly, her brown eyes entreating.

All of a sudden, Sheldon felt like his spine was made of putty. He couldn’t think of an appropriate rebuttal to the invitation and what’s more, he realized he didn’t want to. “All right, thank you. It smells so good, I’m afraid I can’t resist.”

Before long, they were seated together at the small table, enjoying a meal of filet of sole, scalloped potatoes, and coleslaw. He helped himself to a slice of whole grain bread and buttered it.

“
This is a delicious meal, Bliss.”

“
Thank you,” she smiled. “It’s so nice to have someone to eat with for a change.”

“
You certainly eat well.”

Billie sighed, a wistful expression replacing the smile. “Oh, but it’s so hard to cook and eat well when it’s only me I’m cooking for. That’s why I make a lot, so I can eat leftovers.”

“
Now you won’t have leftovers. I would like to make it up to you by taking you out to dinner at the Maple Woods Country . . .” He stopped, his fork in mid-air, shocked at what had just come out of his mouth. Noticing Bliss gazing at him wide-eyed, he smiled nervously, feeling foolish. “Sorry. I mean, it would be nice to be able to take you to dinner to make up for my eating up what would be leftovers for you,” he finished lamely.