Chapter Five—Love Like Mathematics

"What?" asked Una, in shock.  What was Shirley talking about?  Was he saying this merely because he felt sorry for her, or did he have deeper feelings?  Some of her emotions must have showed on her face, because Shirley took her hand and tried to explain.

"I have most definitely blundered this, haven't I?"  He grinned ruefully.  "I know it seems unexpected, but I've been considering it for quite some time, ever since last summer.  You were always there in the background, and I didn't realize how much you were a part of my life until I went back to Redmond.  I thought about writing to you, but I wanted to make up my mind that this was a good idea before I jumped in headfirst.  I'm used to being a bachelor…bit of a switch, you might say."

"Yes, that would be quite a switch," Una said dully.  It was a completely inane thing to say, she knew, but she couldn't come up with anything better.  Shirley Blythe had always been at the fringes of her life…a comforting presence, to be sure, but never one that had had any effect on her—unlike Walter.

"Don't worry; I know you aren't in love with me.   I don't really expect you to be," Shirley said gently.  Una went tense…how could he know of her feelings for Walter?  But that wasn't what he meant. "I guess I can't even say for sure that I'm in love with you.  I care about you, and I love you, but I have a feeling that that's different than being in love with you.  But I'm willing to give it a chance, if you are."  He kept going, but Una shut her eyes and tried to process what was going on.  Shirley was a dear, but did he really have to go at this like it was a mathematical problem?  He was right, though:  loving someone was different than being in love, but one often grew out of another.  He probably just felt sorry for her—on her own, no resources, an old maid.

"I hope I'm not giving you the wrong impression, Una," Shirley told her.  "I do care about you a lot…but I want you to know that it's not a grande passion.  However, it's not because I feel sorry for you either, as I can see in your face that that's what you're thinking.  I think we suit each other; we're both quiet-natured, seem to have some of the same interests, belong to the same clan."

Una gave a faint smile.  "If this keeps up, we'll be like the Dark and Penhallow clans over at Bay Silver and Rose River.  You know how it is:  there's no one for a Dark to marry but a Penhallow…"

"…and no one for a Penhallow to marry but a Dark!" Shirley finished the saying, smiling.  "I don't know if the Blythes, Merediths, and Fords are quite that bad, but we're getting there.  I suppose we could help things along, if we wanted."  The last part was said questioningly, as if waiting for an answer.

"Oh, Shirley, I don't know.  So much has changed so fast, and anyway with my father just dying, it wouldn't be seemly.  I don't want you to think that I'm rejecting you, because I'm not.  But give me time."

"As much of it as you want, dear.  I'm a patient man," Shirley said softly.  He leaned over, and suddenly Una knew that she was going to be kissed.  Her thoughts flew back to a far-off day, the only other time that she had been kissed.  Walter Blythe had been going off to war, and had given her a brotherly kiss before he left.  Just a brotherly kiss, nothing more, Una knew.  But she still moved her head slightly, causing Shirley's kiss to land on her nose.  They both laughed somewhat nervously.

"I'm sorry…I don't know what came over me," Una said.

"It's all right; I understand."  Shirley got up from their log, stretched, and headed back up the hill to Ingleside.  He turned and added, "I'm heading back to Kingsport on Tuesday, but I don't expect you to give me an answer by then.  Just whenever you decide, I'm ready."