IN THE SUN
Chapter 28: Going Together
We exchanged numbers and parted ways shortly thereafter; I dropped Pam and Nick back at the university. As I pulled in, Nick leaned over and kissed me. "I'll meet you at home, love."
Nick walked Pam to her car and then got in his own, and we were back home in less than twenty minutes. I immediately went to the bathroom sink to wash the makeup from my face and brush my teeth, and as I slipped into my pajamas, Nick came in.
"Well," he smiled. "That was fun."
Smiling, I nodded. "I like them. I'm really glad to know others.... what's the phrase? 'The more, the merrier?'" I climbed into bed, wrapping myself in the quilt and blankets draped across our queen-sized bed, and it wasn't until then that I realized just how cold I actually was. "God, I'm freezing!"
Nick was right behind me, smiling. "It isn't that cold in here, darling." He pulled me into his arms anyway.
"I know, but you know how I get....." I yawned and my teeth immediately began to chatter. We were silent then, as I tried to warm up. "Nick?"
"Hmm?"
"What was it you saw tonight? You saw something, I know you did. At the meeting, and then at the pub, too. You read their minds, didn't you?"
Nick was silent for a moment, thoughtfully studying the ceiling. "Professor Miller told Joyce their department revoked her tenure. I saw Joyce and Dr. Miller..... they were fighting. I heard Dr. Miller tell her about the tenure." I curled up closer to him, and he drew in the quilt around me. "I'm not sure what to make of this weekend excursion of Joyce's."
"Liza, you were the one who wanted to go--"
"It's not that, baby, no, it's-- yeah, I wanna go, it's just-- what I mean is that, I... I can't see. I don't know what to expect. We could go in there and have the most boring and uneventful weekend of our lives, and then, on the other hand......"
"On the other hand?"
I nodded quietly. "Yeah. 'On the other hand.' It's what I'm most afraid of."
Nick tilted my chin up to make me look at him. "You remember what I told you in New Orleans, don't you?"
"Yes."
"And what was it I told you?"
"You wouldn't ever let anything happen to me?"
"That's right," he kissed my forehead.
"Oh, Nick....." I sighed. "You don't understand."
"Well, then, explain it to me, sweetheart."
"It's not me I'm worried about."
He got it then, after just a moment. Leaning in, he kissed me gently, then looked me in the eye again. "Nothing is going to happen to me, Liza; you needn't worry. Sleep now. You know I'm not going anywhere."
I nodded, making myself comfortable again as Nick reached up and shut out the lamp, then turned back to put the other arm around me, too.
"I love you, Liza."
"Love you, too."
In no time, Friday was upon us. It was the fastest week ever, it seemed, and on Thursday night, we each packed our own bag for the weekend. I showered after breakfast, and pulled on jeans, my hi-tops and a long-sleeve black shirt. Nick was in jeans, a dark gray jacket and dark blue long sleeve shirt; it was a little cool that day, unusually so for the last weekend in May. Nick and I drove together, in my car, to the university to meet with the others. We ended up arriving nearly ten minutes early, but found Pam, Vic and Cathy waiting for us. Joyce and Steven were loading the van.
"Oh, no, it wasn't nearly as bad as last year, when my sister came to visit, but..... Oh, hey, Nick. Liza." Pam smiled when we joined the group.
"Hi, guys." I set down my little bag and pulled my jacket on, shuddering.
"Yeah," Pam laughed. "I was just telling Cathy about how last Memorial Day weekend had odd weather, too."
I grinned. "I know, right? What is going on, man?"
Pam laughed and was about to say something else when a sound from behind Nick and me caught our attention. Nick and I turned around to find an old tan station wagon come tearing through the school parking lot, narrowly missing my dark green little Civic and coming to a halt in front of the fire hydrant. I winced. "Jesus, lady, what the hell?" It was then I realized that lady was Emery's mother. She was a plump, frog-like woman with chin length black hair that was parted on the side and held away from her face with a little red clip. Ambling out of the car, she pulled her dark blue sweater around her and called out something to Emery as he climbed out of the car and fished his hiking pack out of the back seat.
"Now-- if things get to be too much, call and I'll come get you."
"I will, Mom," Emery said, aghast. "I have to go."
"Call anyway! You know how I worry!"
"They're waiting!"
"Let them wait! They won't do much without you, okay?" As she helped Emery hoist the pack onto his back, she eyed us with suspicion-- me, especially. "And stay away from that dark-haired girl, she looks like a tramp."
"Tramp?!" Nick's jaw dropped.
"Jesus!" I scoffed under my breath. "What, she thinks we can't hear her?!" Nick shook his head, and Pam rubbed my arm sympathetically. Emery came over to us then, looking defeated and mortified that anyone should have to witness anything like what we did.
"And don't forget to wash your hands," Mrs. Waterman shouted across the commons. "Especially after you move your bowels!"
"Oh, God," my head dropped to Pam's shoulder and my hand flew to my mouth as I tried to stifle a laugh. Pam was trying not to laugh, either.
"Gee, Emery, the day before summer camp must've been a busy time at the Waterman residence," Nick smirked.
"Shut up!"
"Oh, Nick...." I chided softly, still trying to keep from losing my poker face. "Tsk tsk tsk. Well..... five bucks says we're going to hell." Nick couldn't keep the sly little smile from his face, either, as he slid an arm around my shoulders and leaned down to kiss my lips.
I was sliding my arms around Nick's waist for a hug when, leaning against him, I noticed Professor Miller coming from the building's doors to where Joyce and Steve were just about done loading the van. "Hey, look, it's Miller." We watched as they exchanged a few words-- Miller, of course, looking accusatory-- and Steven, albeit miffed, kept his cool. "I wonder what they're saying to each other."
"E-excuse me.... are you the group?" A new voice broke through our thoughts as Nick and I turned to find a young woman with hair and eyes the same color as mine. Her hair barely reached her shoulders, and it was pulled back. A young girl stood with her, clutching a Raggedy Ann doll in her arms. She had eyes like the first woman, but her straight, light brown hair was long, well past her shoulder blades.
"The Rose Red group?" Pam asked. "Yes, yes, that's us."
The new woman sighed in relief, smiling.
"I'm Pam Asbury," Pam shook the woman's hand, and indicated each of us as she introduced us. "This is Cathy Kramer, Victor Kandinsky--"
"Vic, just Vic."
"--Emery Waterman, and this is Nick and Liza Hardaway."
"Hi.... I-I'm Sissy Wheaton, and this is my sister, Annie. Traffic was terrible, we were so worried we were going to miss you."
"Well, we're glad you didn't," Nick smiled.
In an instant, Joyce was upon us, beaming. "Sister! Or-- do you prefer Rachel?"
"Oh, either is--" Sissy was cut off suddenly by rapid ticking noises behind her, and we looked to find the wheels to all the bikes locked up spinning furiously. "Oh, Annie, just stop it, okay?"
Annie gave one glance up at her sister before looking back down at her doll, and the tires stopped with a collective screech.
"Whoa," I breathed, grinning.
"Good God," Emery scoffed. "She's retarded."
Nick was on him again, this time, a little more subtly. "If you keep your psychological evaluation of Miss Wheaton to yourself, we won't ask you any embarrassing questions about your relationship with your mother. Chin, chin."
Emery scowled wordlessly at him.
"Alright, folks," Joyce sighed, smiling. "Gather your things. It's time to go."
