Page 55 of The New Place

“Questions,” Ned repeats.

“It’ll have to go through HR, certainly.”

“HR. Right. Of course.”

“And to take a spousal hire to them, I need something more here, don’t I?”

Does she? Yes, apparently, with how she’s looking at them. Ned reaches for an answer but only comes up with a gaping silence.

Beverly fills it. “You’ve been dating for only a year, and living apart the whole time. What do I say when I’m asked about recommending a spousal hire?”

“That…” Ned starts. “Is there a—we had a form? To fill out for Callahan? Disclosure of our relationship?” It comes out weak, but can’t there be some similar document they can sign? A testament to how very much together they are? “Because I can assure you that the two of us, we’re good. Great. And Abbot—Henry moving here is only going to solidify that.”

“You’re moving in with Ned?” Beverly asks him.

Oh. Great. Another person making assumptions about where Ned’s living. But she doesn’t backtrack like Dad did, just keeps her attention on Abbot.

Who doesn’t quite look at her.

Please, Ned silently begs him. Say something and fix this.

Abbot doesn’t.

“We, uh…” Ned tries for another smile. “Something to figure out, for sure.”

“So you won’t live together down here?” she asks, looking between them. “Or will you?”

All that sits on Ned’s tongue is I’m not getting a place, Abbot is. What’s he going to do, tell this woman with her career at Newbury University that he’ll keep living with his parents?

She sighs and visibly gentles, a layer of her crisp professionalism easing into the look of affection she gives Abbot. “Henry,” she says, and Ned wants to nudge him or kick his foot or something to get him to respond. “I’m on your team here, but I know I’m going to field questions that I’ll have to answer. And spousal hire is for spouses. Not literally, perhaps, but for committed relationships, at the very least.”

“We’re committed,” Ned says quickly. Of course they are. It’s him and Abbot. And Chris said as much. Charles too. They said too much, maybe, but it all points at the fact that their years together have been better than any Ned has lived before.

Well, year. Singular.

“I’m happy to go out on a limb for you two. But the university won’t create a new position for you, Ned, for a couple who’s only been dating for a little while. They’ll need more.”

“We are more,” Ned says.

“Then what can we show that’s not just my word and not just yours? Do you own anything together? Cars? Not property, I’m guessing?”

“No,” Ned manages. “We don’t.”

“And you are or aren’t looking for a place to live together?”

“We’re, ah, waiting for job offers to be a bit more finalized.”

“Of course. Listen, let me help. Every other spousal hire I’ve seen, it’s been easy enough to produce proof, so we just need to get you two something that will hold up. I mentioned my wife is in real estate? Here’s her contact information. She’d love to meet you, Henry. I’ve told her all about you. And I understand if you don’t want to use her to purchase anything, but at least looking together is something concrete I can use in your defense, right?”

Is it? She sounds so sure. Numbly, Ned takes the card.

“She’ll manage to get you into her schedule right away, I’m sure,” Beverly says, and then she’s standing and holding out her hand for Ned to shake. “Otherwise, I’m not sure there’s much I can do for you, Ned.”

Ned didn’t even get to talk about the course he wanted to propose at Adams, or the paper he’s working on next. Or casually mention that he’s read four of her most recent papers and work in a compliment on her research. Or—or—or⁠—

Once they’re out on the sidewalk, a group of students walk past, each on their phones. Ned stares after them, and then up at the building. We are serious, he wants to say. His parents love Abbot. And Liesl—he didn’t even think to tell Beverly about picking out her perfect Christmas present, and how she’s visiting soon, and how Peggy will trail after her the entire time. Or how Abbot brought all those chocolates, and then later produced another secret box just for Mom, because she loves them so much. And how Abbot’s coming over tonight, and⁠—

“What?” Ned asks the brick facade. Is that it? Is it over? “What do we do?”