When I said slow to update I didn't think it would take this long. My apologies. The spring semester kicked my ass - teaching 4 classes is not a walk in the park. Luckily, I will have more free time going forward - especially since I got into a PhD program! Hope you all are having a good year so far!
"Coffee delivery," Lily said cheerfully as she entered Dr. Crane's office with a fresh cup of Dr. Crane's favorite dark roast from the cafe across the street. The usual distracted greeting of Dr. Crane didn't reach her ears and Lily looked around in curiosity. She had just left him here ten minutes ago when she went to get their coffees, he had been knee deep in work and they were planning on spending several hours going over data for their next paper. The reams of notes were still scattered about the room but Dr. Crane was nowhere to be found.
"Must of run to the bathroom," Lily muttered as she cleared a space on his desk for the coffee. As she went back to her own desk with her coffee she heard Dr. Crane's voice echo down the hall.
"I need to get back to the office, she'll be coming back with coffee…"
"Very well, get back to your lovely assistant for the evening."
There was an audible sigh. "Bill, as I have told you time and time again it is not like that."
"What, are you saying she isn't lovely? You aren't as good a psychologist as you think then Jonathan if you are that unobservant."
"I can admit that she is physically attractive and highly intelligent, as you forced me to confess before, but that does not mean we are engaged in any relationship outside that of mentor and mentee. I know of those rumors you, the other staff, and the graduate students have been passing around amongst yourselves but I am informing you that they are completely false."
In the silence that followed Lily could almost hear Dr. Pigeon's smug smile. "Alright, get back to work then. Just know that she confessed to finding you attractive too."
In the silence that followed Lily could feel the daggers in Dr. Crane's eyes. There was a slam of a door and Lily could hear Dr. Crane's quick strides returning to the corner office. She sat down quickly at her desk and attempted to look busy. "Ah, excellent you are back," Dr. Crane said stepping into the office and shutting the door. "Bill wanted to speak with me briefly about the summer semester."
"Yep, coffee's still hot. Got back only a minute ago."
"Excellent, now let us get to work."
"Of course," Lily smiled but the smile did not quite reach her eyes. She hated what Dr. Pigeon and the others were saying about her and Dr. Crane. A few minutes passed in silence and Lily was able to start working on the paper once more. The conversation she had overheard lingered in the back of her mind, however.
"There is something wrong." Dr. Crane suddenly stated.
Looking over at him, Lily raised an eyebrow. "Are the data not lining up?"
"No, the data are fine. There is something wrong with you...your mind is not focused."
"Oh, no," Lily denied, too quickly to be believable. "The coffee just hasn't kicked in yet."
"I see...how much of my conversation with Dr. Pigeon did you overhear?"
A deep blush appeared on Lily's face at being caught in her lie. "I...I believe from when you opened the door to leave."
Dr. Crane breathed in and closed his eyes. "Is that so? And what part of the conversation are you finding troublesome."
"The continued implied sexualization of myself by a superior and someone who holds my academic future in his hands."
"My comment was not meant-" Dr. Crane hurriedly began in his defense.
"Not you, Dr. Crane, Dr. Pigeon. His continued interest in us having a more than professional relationship is disturbing to me on several levels. Your comment was fine. I barely took note."
"Yes, his insistence on this matter is quite disconcerting. I will say, I do not believe that it truly has anything to do with you but with me. Bill has always been interested in my personal affairs since I was a student, I believe he finds my disinterest in certain socially expected behaviors to be strange. Therefore, wishes to force to participate in and/or test me in those fields - such as the drinking at the conference last month."
"That is so messed up," Lily sighed rubbing her temples.
"Indeed, yet I have learned to manage and sometimes benefit from this. For example…" Dr. Crane withdrew two small papers from his suit coat pocket. "How would you like to see the Gotham Orchestra's final set of the season?"
Lily's eyes went wide as she stared at the tickets. "What?"
"Bill was given these tickets by a donor to the University for him and his wife. However, Bill is attending a conference during the performance date so he gave them to me. It is what he had called me into his office for. He gave them to me for myself and a "lady friend", he implied you and, while I find it distasteful to follow along his expectations, as I have no such partner would you like to attend with me?"
"I-yes, thank you that would be great...I mean you didn't buy them so it's ethical right?"
"Precisely, Bill has given me similar tickets in the past but I did not know anyone that would also enjoy them until now. As I am not buying these tickets for you and I, this is simply me giving you a spare ticket I was given." Dr. Crane removed one ticket from his hand and passed it to her.
Lily grinned excitedly. "Why thank you, I will graciously accept this spare free ticket you have."
"Thank you again," Dr. Crane told Lily as they walked up the front stoop to his small house both carrying a heavy box of books.
"No problem. I needed the break from studying for finals," Lily replied the strain of lifting in her tone. Dr. Crane set the box between the doorframe and his hip as he unlocked the door to let them in. Once he entered he held the door open with his foot for Lily who quickly passed him.
"To your right, set it anywhere," Dr. Crane instructed as he let the door shut behind him. Lily stepped into the living room and set the box down by the couch. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a great many bookshelves but it was not until they were down bringing in the other 4 boxes of book that Lily realized just how many books Dr. Crane had in his possession. Each wall in the living room had a bookshelf placed against it, looking across the hall she saw the same in the dining room and she could only imagine that every room in the small house was like this. Though not every shelf was full to the brim with books Lily had to guess there were at least over a thousand in she could see.
"Wow, Dr. Crane you were not kidding when you said you had a lot of books."
Dr. Crane gave a little shrug. "They are the one thing I enjoy spending money on. Nothing finer than engrossing oneself in a novel or garnering new knowledge from a non-fiction text."
"Hear, hear," Lily said as she perused the shelves. They were organized by topic from what she could tell and alphabetized by author and title, very much like a library. From what she could see there was not a single repeated title. "And you have read all of them?"
"Nearly, there are a few textbooks that were superfluous in content so I did not end up reading them in their entirety. Would you like something to drink? I am going to make myself a cup of coffee before we start unpacking."
Looking to Dr. Crane Lily smiled, "yes, thank you. Coffee for me too please."
With a nod Dr. Crane exited to the kitchen and Lily went back to looking over his numerous volumes. After a few minutes Dr. Crane returned with two cups of coffee, Lily's made with her preferred two sugars and three creamers. Taking the cup with gratitude Lily took a short sip before kneeling on the floor next to the boxes. Dr. Crane sat on the couch and they got to work taking out the books that Dr. Crane had bought in bulk from an estate sale - they were all lovely volumes consisting mostly of first editions and collector's editions, and all meticulously maintained.
An hour passed as they worked separating the books into piles of genre and topic. Once that task was completed they began to put the books away on the shelves. Lily stayed in the living room while Dr. Crane put away the books in the other rooms. About midway through Lily ran into a problem putting the books away. Compared to Dr. Crane Lily was very short. Dr. Crane may have been able to reach the top shelves without aide but Lily most certainly could not.
She was on the tips of her toes stretching to put a book on the second to top shelf when there was a sudden pressure on her upper back and the book was lifted from her hand. Lily nearly dropped the other books she was holding in shock as Dr. Crane slipped the book onto the shelf. "You could have asked me for a step stool," he chided her softly.
Lily could feel his voice rumble in his chest they were that close. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, the searing heat of his hand between her lower ribs. "I thought I could reach," she told him desperately hoping that her voice sounded normal.
"Hand me the next one." He told her removing the hand from her back but not moving away from her. Lily did as he said and he put that one away as well. They were all for the top or second to top shelf and Dr. Crane stayed close to her the whole time as he put each book away.
Lily's body felt hot, she knew her face was dark red. Her heart was beating in her throat and it took all her might to keep her breathing steady. After Dr. Crane put away the last book she could have sworn she felt his hand brush over her hair and back once more. There was a long pause before Dr. Crane stepped back. "I apologize, Lily, I did not realize how close I was. I hope I did not make you uncomfortable."
"No, no," Lily said the stress showing a hint in her voice. "It's fine. Thanks for the help."
"Thank you again for helping me," Dr. Crane replied his voice now several steps away from her. "Would you like some more coffee?"
Lily turned around with a smile, her face still red, and saw that Dr. Crane's cheeks were tinged pink as well. "No problem and yes please, coffee would be nice."
"Excellent, I will make some more." With that, Dr. Crane hurried from the room.
Alone Lily breathed out slowly and calmed herself. "It was an accident," she said under her breath. "He didn't realize what he was doing."
Lily could still feel the spot where Dr. Crane had touched her throbbing with sensation. She needed to calm herself somehow. "Dr. Crane," she called out. "May I use your restroom?"
"Oh, yes, of course," he replied sounding a bit flustered still himself. "Up the stairs first door on the left."
As calmly as she could Lily went upstairs and entered the bathroom. She shut the door with a little more force than necessary before letting out a shaky sigh. "What is wrong with me? He's my mentor!"
Pushing away from the door, Lily leaned over the counter staring at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were a deep pink and she could feel the heat radiating off of them. Running the tap she splashed some cold water her on her face, it felt good, it was calming but she could still feel the embarrassingly warm sensation on her back from Dr. Crane's touch. "Jesus Christ, Lily, get ahold of yourself. It was one stupid touch stray from a man you cannot ethically do anything with. How are you supposed to survive a whole evening with him at the concert next week if you are getting all flustered now."
Breathing in deeply she reached for the hand towel and dried her face. "You're adults, you are both adults. This is fine. Just don't bring it up. It won't happen again."
With a nod of confirmation, Lily relieved herself before heading downstairs to rejoin Dr. Crane. He wasn't in the living room however, so she poked her head into the kitchen. "Need help," she asked entering. Dr. Crane was on his hands and knees cleaning coffee off the floor.
"The coffee is done but I set the mug to close to the edge, caught the mug but not the coffee." Dr. Crane gave a slightly awkward laugh as he made a few more passes with the paper towels drying the last of the coffee. Standing he tossed the wad into the trash can and grabbed a mug of coffee from the counter. "Here you are, conveniently it was mine that spilled."
"Thank you," Lily said with a smile taking the coffee. Dr. Crane was red around the ears and still appeared to be a bit flustered though if it was from the touch or the accident she could not tell. "Do you need any help cleaning up?"
"No, no, I am fine. Enjoy your coffee."
Knowing Dr. Crane would not want her to help when he said not to, Lily smiled and took a sip of a hot coffee. As always it was made just the way she liked it. Dr. Crane knew her preferences well, just as she did his.
"Obligatory I know, but you do have a lovely home, Dr. Crane."
"Is it all of the books making you say that?"
"Perhaps." They both chuckled and Dr. Crane began making some more coffee for himself. "My compliment still stands. I will admit I did not take you for a homebuyer. I pictured you in a three bedroom apartment with two of those bedrooms being converted to libraries."
"Yes, well I am still renting this place. Some rich couple owns several houses around this neighborhood and rents them out as another source of income. The rent is low enough for my income. I might buy a house someday, however, if I find it necessary...though it will be loathsome to move these books. I suppose I should give you a proper tour of the house."
"Oh, if you want. I never really saw the point in that though."
Dr. Crane shrugged and with his coffee in hand gestured around the room. "This is obviously the kitchen. The french doors there lead to the backyard, if you can call that tiny patch of land a yard."
"Nice tree," Lily commented. Looking up at the large oak tree that sat in the middle of the yard, a mere 20 by 20 feet, its branches shading most of the area cause the grass to brown.
"You say that but the roots keep trying to break into the foundation. Luckily, I do not need to pay for those repairs. One of the benefits of renting." Dr. Crane moved out of the kitchen leading Lily down the short hallway. "Here we have the door to the basement. Nothing really down there worthy of note unless you have a keen interest in concrete and water boilers. Of course, you have seen the sitting room, the fireplace is gas and warms the whole room in the winter."
"I would have killed for that this winter. My parents' have one and I missed it quite a bit with my drafty apartment. At least most of my time was spent at the college."
"If you have major issues with your heating this winter, or for a matter of fact the air conditioning this summer let me know. The guest bedroom is open for your use in those cases."
"Oh!" Lily gave Dr. Crane a look of surprise. "Thank you very much, I shall keep that in mind."
"Actually, I will be gone the month of July for personal business. Could I bother you to check in on the house while I am away?"
"Naturally, that is no problem! All I have planned for the summer is working on those couple of papers from our grant."
"Excellent. As I mentioned the guest bedroom is up the stairs next to the restroom, across from the master bedroom. Across the hall here, we have the dining room or in my case additional library with a table. And that is the house, nothing special."
Lily applauded with a grin. "An excellent tour, Dr. Crane. Thank you."
A smirk played along Dr. Crane's lips. "Certainly. Now, let us finish putting away these books and then we can go out to lunch as a payment. There is a good bistro not too far from here."
Shorter than the other chapters but the next one will certainly be out sooner than this update was!
