Page 9 of The New Place

Abbot stares at Steve, ignoring their chatter. He’s leaving Adams, which means his position is opening up, and⁠—

Blindingly, Abbot lets the idea of their ski weekend fade away, replaced by Abbot in Steve’s office, teaching Steve’s courses, bumping into Ned in the hallways like they used to here. Sharing students and colleagues, sitting together at faculty meetings, meeting for lunch every day. He squeezes Ned’s hand. Is he thinking the same thing? Imagining that same perfect picture?

“I won’t spread the news, as long as you know you’re still pitching every game this spring,” Ned says.

“I promise,” Steve says. “And yes, that’s the long and short of it. My wife was offered a job up here—she’s at Adams too, actually—and she’s in the middle of negotiations. So here I am, and really, thank you. I know a spousal hire isn’t what you all were expecting, but I’m excited about the idea of joining all of you.”

“Our dean, my lovely wife, as you all know, wants to move this forward quickly,” Chris says. “So I invited Steve up. Instead of trying to schedule a traditional job talk, we’re doing this meet and greet right now. Oh, and Steve, before I forget, take a copy of this book too!”

“Run,” Lee whispers.

“What was that?” Steve asks.

“Nothing,” she says quickly.

Abbot grips Ned’s hand. He and Ned could work together. Soon, too. This could be Abbot’s last semester here at Callahan. He could sell his house and move and be in Boston by the end of this spring. No more two-hour drives between them, no mess of traffic and weather keeping them apart. Abbot can be closer to him and to Peggy, and to family dinners and the warmth of the time he gets to spend with them.

Perfect, he thinks, and the word echoes through him over and over. Perfect, perfect.

“You all get to know Steve a bit.” Chris taps his phone, then catches Abbot’s eye. “Henry? Can I borrow you a minute? Ned, you come too, of course. I’ll be right back, folks.”

“They get to leave?” Aliyah asks.

Abbot stands, but casts a look at Steve. He wants to pepper him with questions. When will Adams be hiring? Is the job already listed? Should Abbot have been looking before now, and has he missed an opportunity he didn’t even know to hope for?

No, if Steve is still negotiating a new position at Callahan, Abbot has time. He likely hasn’t even informed Adams yet, hence not wanting Ned to know he’s here. So there’s a chance. A real, actual possibility of working once more in the same department as Ned.

“Just a quick minute,” Chris says in the hallway, leading them toward his office. “Ned, I have to say, what a surprise to see you up here!”

“Jen last-minute wanted Peggy tonight,” Ned says. He rubs his thumb over the back of Abbot’s hand. “So hi.”

Chris is smiling back and forth between them, clearly pleased.

It’s been an entire month. Abbot ignores Chris, leans in, and meets Ned in a quick kiss.

“Hello,” Abbot says softly when he draws back. It’s so much less than what he wants. But Ned is here, and he’s clearly come up to spend the night together, and a happy shiver runs through him.

He really loves me, he thinks now like he has again and again since last fall, caught surprised once more. Ned loves him, and he drove up here to see Abbot two days early, and Abbot can’t help his smile.

Cold air whips down the hall. Abbot reluctantly moves back from Ned as the building’s main door opens and someone comes in.

Chris waves to them. “Here we are. You found us alright? Into my office. It’s warmer in there.”

But Abbot stands still in the hallway.

Shoulder-length gray hair, falling in stylish waves above the collar of a double-breasted coat belted at the waist. A smile aimed at him, and the enveloping scent of too-familiar perfume as he’s pulled into a hug he doesn’t want.

“I swear, every time I see you, I expect you to be ten years old all over again,” Beverly says when she finally lets him go.

Abbot wants to wipe his nose free of the scent. To pull away, to find the stairs and put a floor between them, plus the closed door of his office.

No, she’d follow him there. Smile as she looked around, comment on the picture of Liesl—So grown up! she’d say—and exclaim over the books on his shelves, reading the titles with friendly curiosity.

Ned squeezes his hand. Abbot pretends to not see the question on his face as Ned draws him into Chris’s office.

“That’s better,” Chris says, rubbing his hands together like he’s the one fighting a chill. “I have one thing to wrap up, Bev, and then we can go.”

“No rush,” she says. “I’m happy to get to see you for a minute, Henry. How are you?”