What Was I Thinking? (6 page)

“It has, I think. You don’t see Mark Twain
mentioned much anymore. But I did read that as a kid. I just forgot it was about
time travel. I remember more about his jokes, like telling a page he was too
small to be more than a paragraph. But I interrupted. Tell me more about your
work.” Now I was the one leaning forward.

“Let us go to my real laboratory. I trust,
being a modern, uh, woman, you have no objection to visiting my basement
unchaperoned?”

“No, of course not.”
I set down my plate and stood.

We left the lunch detritus where it was, and
headed downstairs, pausing so Bert could relock the door behind us.

“We’ll need to avoid Mrs. Peacock,” Bert
whispered. “I told her the basement was unused, and filled with unsavory stuff,
to keep her out of it. I’m sure she’s quite trustworthy, but I had a disturbing
incident early in my research that made me relocate my work and hide even its
existence from others.”

“So the lock upstairs?”

“Is just to preserve the
illusion, yes.”

“It’s good. But it would be much more
convincing with a computer on the desk.”

“Do you think so?”

Did I
think
so? Just when I started to think he was sane, he’d say something so
strange! “Yes, of course. I don’t know any scientist, or historian, for that
matter, who works without a computer. And you obviously email, so the first
thing a visitor notices is that your computer is missing.”

“Really?
No scientist
or
historian?” he looked, as he would
say, gobsmacked.

Curiouser and curiouser.
“Really.
None.
I can’t think of any kind of work that would be
done without at least one computer in the office. And everyone—or nearly
everyone has computers in the household.”

His jaw dropped, and he stopped dead on the
stairs.
“Whatever for?”

I stopped just in time to avoid rear-ending
him. We’d had enough of that for one day.

“You’re kidding, right? Even if you have your
head in your research most of the time, you must know about obvious things like
that.”

“Oh. Oh, yes, of course. I wasn’t thinking.
I’ll put a computer prominently on my upstairs desk directly. I just hadn’t
thought. Thank you for the suggestion.”

I looked at him narrowly. He was behaving
exactly like someone covering something up, but surely—my cell phone rang. It
was the office. Damn.

“Excuse me. I have to take this.”

Bert nodded, still looking gobsmacked. That was
a good word. I was going to keep it.

I answered the call, and was well and truly
back to my normal life. It was Campbell, and he was pissed off. “Where the hell
are you?”

“I’m at
lu
—”

“I don’t care! Don’t waste my time telling me!
Get your fat ass back in here! Who do you think you are, making the whole
project team
wait
while you just disappear?”

I looked at the screen. Damn. It was after
three. I had completely lost track of time.

No wonder he was mad. Not that he had any right
to talk to me that way, but apparently he was convinced that my blow-up at the
party had bought him a lot of range. It hadn’t, but I wasn’t up for a fight,
and I’d just as soon do my job-hunting on my own schedule, not his.

“I’m sorry. I had a wreck and—”

“I said I didn’t give a rat’s ass! Get back
here!” And he slammed down the phone.

I stood on the stairs, blinking back tears. What
was happening to me? I wasn’t working in academia, but had I really turned into
a complete bimbo? I had a strict rule that big girls don’t cry in public and
another rule that said work wasn’t worth expending emotion on.

I closed my eyes firmly, swallowed hard, and
addressed Bert with what little self-possession I could muster. “I’m terribly
sorry. I would love to finish our conversation, but I have to get right back to
work.”

I looked down before my eyes could start to
leak again, and opened Google to find a taxi company. I hadn’t ever used one in
my home town before, so of course I didn’t have a number handy. Come to think
of it, I hadn’t been prepared for anything that happened this week.

“Of course you must go back to your employment.
I will drive you.”

“I couldn’t ask that. You’ve done so much for
me already today.”

“Nonsense.
It has been my pleasure.
Perhaps we can talk more on the ride as well.”

“That would be very nice,” I admitted.

We didn’t talk again as we traversed the rest
of the house, to ensure that Mrs. Peacock didn’t hear any of Bert’s secrets. As
soon as we were in the car, though, I had to ask.

“So, time travel—is that really what you’re
working on?”

He nodded, biting his lower lip as if admitting
it made him nervous.

“And have you gotten to experiments? Does it
actually work? Have you tried it yourself?”

He looked over at me and smiled a little. “Yes,
yes, and yes. Would you like to come back another time and see what you missed
today?”

“Absolutely.
When could I come?”

“This evening, if you wouldn’t think—”

“Bert, don’t drive me crazy with your rules of
etiquette, okay? I want to see your experiments! As soon as I can get away from
work would be perfect for me. As long as it’s convenient for you, I mean,”
suddenly realizing that I was being very demanding of a man I barely knew.

“It would be quite convenient. What time shall
I pick you up at your office?”

“You don’t—”

“Don’t drive
me
crazy with your rules, either, okay?” The perfectly normal
sentence sounded perfectly strange coming out of his mouth. He looked as if it
sounded strange to him, too, but he looked over and grinned at me, as if he
were very proud of the accomplishment. “Your car isn’t available, and it would
be easiest for both of us if I picked you up, so what time?”

I smiled back. I
really
liked this guy, and he went from handsome to gorgeous with
that grin. “Better make it six-thirty. I’ll have to stay late after taking such
a long lunch.”

He let me out at the front door, and I walked
back into hell.

It was pretty obvious from the way no one would
meet my eyes that Campbell had not had his door closed when he screamed at me.
Great.
Back in middle school
again,
and now I was the class pariah. It could make a person nostalgic for just not
making the cut with the popular crowd.

I went to my desk first, figuring to pick up
any messages and appointments before I faced Campbell head on. The first thing
in my email was once again from Bert, but this time it didn’t make me smile.

Dear Addie,

Please accept my abject apology. Having returned to my computer, I have
been reminded of a meeting this evening, concerning my Chair at the University,
which I believe I mentioned to you. I had truly forgotten it when we spoke, and
in no way did I intend to mislead you. Unfortunately, I cannot postpone this,
nor can I ask you to join me.

May I ask you to join me tomorrow evening to continue our talk? Perhaps
we could dine out, and then repair to the second laboratory for discussion.

I will, of course, still meet you at six-thirty outside your place of
business this evening, but must convey you to your home rather than mine.

Humblest apologies,

B.R.

Well, crap! But I couldn’t blame him. I had
schedules too, and these things happen.

Dear Bert,

Of course I accept your apology. And a ride home would be very nice.
I’ll look forward to tomorrow night.

Best, Addie

The afternoon didn’t get any better. Campbell
was really on a tear, work was delayed because of me, and there was a lot to
do. Pete was kind, but subdued. Frank, Janice, and Molly showed varying styles
of pique. I didn’t really blame them. Their careers were on the line here too,
and Campbell wasn’t the type to restrict his sarcasm to the person he was
really mad at. It wasn’t fun for any of us, and we took no breaks.

At six-fifteen I was trying to think of a way
to let Bert know I’d be late, and would get another ride home. It was stupid to
fear the boss so much I couldn’t make a simple phone call, or take a bathroom
break, but there you are. I was all out of brave and strong.

At six-twenty, my problem was solved, because
Campbell slammed his laptop shut, announced that
he
had plans, and stomped out of the project room.

The door shut behind him, and everybody took a
breath. Shoulders slumped all around the table, and then everyone began to pack
up.

I had to say something. “Guys, I’m
really
sorry. I had a car wreck at
lunch, and completely forgot the meeting in dealing with it.”
And because I had a very interesting lunch, but they didn’t need to
know everything.
“I know my mistake made the whole day worse for
everyone, and I wish I could fix it.”

There were tired smiles and nods all around,
and Frank answered. “Don’t worry about it. You know Campbell. If it’s not one
thing, it’s another. It doesn’t matter what the excuse is.”

Janice looked a little nervous at such plain
speaking, but nodded agreement. Molly said, “Forget it,” stuck her laptop under
an arm, and left. Pete followed me to my cube.

Well, he did deserve a bit more. “Pete, I can’t
thank you enough for this morning. I don’t know what I would have done if you
hadn’t jumped it. I just…” Damn, I was tearing up again. It was official. My
life had gone from
sucky
to completely
disintegrated
.

“No
worries,
mate,” he
said, with an atrocious attempt at an Australian accent. “I was glad to help.
Campbell’s a total dick.

“I was wondering though—I don’t know, maybe
this isn’t the best day to ask, but I’ve been trying to get up my nerve for a
while—would you like to go out? To a movie tomorrow
night,
or even just a quick bite tonight?”

When it rains, it pours. When was the last time
I was asked for a date? Now that I was, I had a direct conflict. I hadn’t ever
thought of Pete as a possibility, what with his tiring exuberance, but he was
nice, even nicer than I had realized before today, and I definitely didn’t want
to hurt his feelings. And saying I had prior engagements both days would just
sound like I was blowing him off. What to say?

Well, I’d improvise. I used to be smart, this
week’s evidence notwithstanding. If I led with a yes, instead of a not
tonight…I ran the risk of seeming too eager, but since the goal here was not so
much to get a boyfriend as to avoid hurting the feelings of a nice guy…“Yes,
I’d love to go out, but would Saturday work for you? Unfortunately, I’m busy
both tonight and tomorrow.”

“Saturday?”
He looked at me measuringly.
This first date stuff was tough all around. Had I given him the brush-off, or
did I really mean I would like to go out with him on Saturday? I smiled
encouragingly, forcing myself not to check the time. Bert was waiting, but Pete
was right here, and I owed him big.

“Sure, Saturday would be great. We can pin down
the plans tomorrow, okay?”

“Yeah.
I’m guessing we’ll see each
other a bit tomorrow.” We both smiled. “I’d better get going…” I gestured
vaguely to the doors.

“Me too.
See ya!” and Pete rushed away
with something like his normal animation.

Chapter Three

Kind Hearts and Kisses

Bert was right on
time
,
looking wonderful in a tuxedo and leaning against his car. When he saw me, he
straightened immediately and opened the passenger door. I could get used to his
manners. It was restful to be treated with such care.

“Fancy meeting, huh?” I didn’t really think he
had lied, and it wasn’t any business of mine if he had. If anyone would wear a
tux to a meeting, it was Bert.

“Oh, the dinner jacket?
Yes, it’s actually the annual
dinner. I have to give a speech. I’m sorry not to invite you, but
it’s
such short notice that I couldn’t ask the hostess to
add another place, you understand?”

“Of course,” I reassured him. “The last thing I
need is another meeting anyway. But tell me about your Chair. I don’t think you
said what it was for.”

“Oh, yes.
Quite.
It’s
actually called the E.X. Roland Chair for Historical and Scientific Research.”