Chapter 32:
Charlie awoke to an insistent knocking on his door. He groaned, "Yeah?"
"Charlie!" Amita called as she knocked again. "Come on, get up sleepyhead. It's after ten o'clock."
"Wha?" Charlie sat up, rubbing his face. "Ten o'clock. Oh no, Larry must be having fits. We were supposed to leave for Menlo Park..."
"Larry's off with his new friends, Charlie. We're on our own today." He got out of bed and stumbled to the door. Amita stood, smiling at him. "And I don't especially care if I see Menlo Park or not."
"Give me a few minutes to get decent, and I'll treat you to breakfast."
Amita ruffled his tousled hair and kissed his cheek. "I think it'll take longer than a few minutes, bedhead. Come get me when you're ready."
Half an hour later, Charlie knocked on Amita's door.
She opened the door and looked him over. "Now that's better," she said, giving him a kiss.
"Mmm. Yes, it is," he murmured.
"I'm starving."
"Me too," he said, kissing her again.
"For breakfast," she said breathlessly.
"That too." He took her hand and reluctantly led the way to the dining room.
Amita ordered an omelet, and Charlie ordered French toast. As they drank their coffee, Charlie said, "So what do you want to do today?"
"I thought you could show me the rest of the sights right here in Princeton."
He leaned close and murmured. "I'll show you some sights, all right."
"We could start with where you and your mom lived while you were here as an undergrad."
"Oh, that kind of sight," Charlie said with a grin.
"Yes, that kind of sight. I had a lot of fun yesterday afternoon. This is such a pretty campus."
"It is. I think we could find enough to keep us occupied. Of course, if you find campus too peaceful, we can take a train to New York City."
"After the week we've had, I think peaceful is just what the doctor ordered," Amita said, smiling.
Charlie reached across the table and took her hand. "Yes, Doctor. I suggest we start with the historical society."
Amita gave Charlie and incredulous look. "Why?"
"I think you'll enjoy seeing the Einstein memorabilia they have there. You do know he spent the last years of his life here."
"It had completely slipped my mind. That sounds like an excellent idea."
The waitress arrived with their food, and refreshed their coffee. After breakfast, they walked hand in hand along Nassau Street to the Historical Society of Princeton. They enjoyed the display of Einstein's furniture, read some of his letters, and laughed at some of the humorous photographs of Princeton's own absent minded professor. "You know," Charlie said, "there is a story that the Dean's office received a phone call one day. The caller asked for directions to Einstein's house. Well, the man who took the call was understandably reluctant to give out that information. They didn't want tourists harassing Einstein. Finally, the caller said, 'This is Albert Einstein. I got lost walking home from campus.'"
Amita laughed. "And people think you're absent minded."
"Now, be fair," Charlie said, grinning, "I am not really absent minded. I just get involved in what I'm doing. Now, Larry, on the other hand..."
"Okay, I'll grant you that. I wonder if there's something about brilliant physicists..."
On the way out of the museum, Charlie bought a couple of self-guided tour pamphlets. "In case we can't find anything interesting on our own."
But they didn't have any trouble finding interesting sights. Charlie showed Amita where he had lived with his mother. They had lunch at the Yankee Doodle Tap Room in the Nassau Inn. Amita admired the thirteen foot long mural Norman Rockwell had painted for the Inn in 1939. When they entered the dining room, Charlie showed her the inscription above the hearth, "Rest, Traveller, Rest and Banish Thoughts of Care; Drink to Thy Friends and Recommend Them Here." When they received their beers, they raised them in a toast to their absent friends. Then Charlie showed her gallery of senior photos of famous alumni. It only took Amita a few seconds to find Charlie's photo. "Hey, Charlie! You're in the hall of fame! Right alongside Brooke Shilelds and Donald Rumsfeld."
Amita had grilled salmon and Charlie had a Reuben. When the waiter asked if they wanted dessert, they both vehemently declined. However, after several hours of walking and talking, they found themselves at Thomas Sweet, and couldn't resist the siren call of Princeton's best ice cream. By the time they returned to the Peacock Inn, they were ready to sit and put their feet up.
They were sitting on the couch in Charlie's room, Amita nestled against Charlie's chest, when Larry found them. He knocked on the door, and without waiting for a reply, burst into the room. "Charles, Amita, I am so sorry I left you in the lurch... Oh," he stopped, finally noticing them. "Oh, it appears you found something to occupy your time."
Charlie laughed, "Yes, Lawrence, we were able to entertain ourselves without you."
Amita sat up and ran her fingers through her hair. "Charlie gave me the grand tour of all the important sights in Princeton."
"We saw Einstein's furniture," Charlie said.
"And Charlie's senior photograph on the Yankee Doodle Tap Room wall of fame. What did you do, Larry?"
"Oh, just several hours of adult beverages and stimulating intellectual conversation."
"Have you eaten?" Charlie asked.
"Yes. Of course. But it is coming up on dinner time, and I thought to treat the two of you on our last evening in Princeton. I took the liberty of making reservations at Lahiere's." Larry looked perplexed as Charlie and Amita burst into laughter.
"I'm sorry," Charlie said, "Lahiere's is great. Amita and I ate there last night."
"Oh, Charles, we can eat someplace else..."
"No, no. Lahiere's is a wonderful choice. I guess great minds really do think alike."