Page 54 of The New Place

“No, no,” she says quickly. “I just thought you’d been together for a lot longer.”

“We wouldn’t have dated any earlier in my doctorate program,” Ned says quickly. Because they couldn’t even stand to talk to each other, he doesn’t add. “Both of us, and Chris, were comfortable with the timing when we did get together.”

“Yes, and I might have had that question but—I’m sorry, aren’t you two married?”

“Married?” Ned asks.

“Getting married?” Beverly asks.

Ned stares at her. This was not on his list to prepare for. Have you published anything other than from your dissertation? he was ready to answer today. Can you talk about your teaching evaluations? And How have you contributed to the department since you arrived at Adams? That, he practiced how to respond to.

But Beverly apparently isn’t interested in the number of articles Ned has submitted to journals versus those that have been accepted. Which is good, maybe, because the logjam of academic journals means he’s still waiting on his first paper to finally appear, a fact that Adams was forgiving of but Newbury might not be.

“And your daughter—Penny?”

“Peggy,” Ned says.

“You’re raising her together, no?” Beverly points back and forth between Ned and Abbot. “That’s what I understood.”

“She’s mine,” Ned says slowly. “My ex—I was married, still, actually, when I took that class with Henry.” Henry. It’s odd any time Ned says it, like he’s talking about someone else entirely, and it feels even more off kilter now, Beverly looking at them with a question on her face Ned can’t quite parse.

This conversation was supposed to be about his work. How he might fit into the department, if he’s the type of professor they even want. If they can make space for him, or if the idea of him getting hired will fizzle out before it gets off the ground. His research, the courses he teaches, how he can contribute. Not asking if they’re getting married and anything about Peggy.

“I’m so sorry, I thought you two had a child together,” Beverly says. “And I was so sure, Henry, from what Chris said, that you had gotten married since I last saw you. Which—yes, okay, I see now if you’ve only been together for a year, that makes much more sense.”

“A year and a half,” Ned says, because that suddenly feels very important. Almost a year and a half, at least.

Beverly offers a smile. “Well, I’m glad to know I didn’t miss the wedding.”

She’d garner an invite? Ned looks at Abbot for help, but he sits silently, rubbing his fingertips together.

Ned tries to return her smile and hopes his face is working right. “Nope, you didn’t miss anything.”

“But really,” she says, “I understood you two to be more serious.”

“Serious? We’re serious. And I’ll be honest, I didn’t know to assume a spousal hire would be quite so literal.” Ned lets out a bright laugh at the joke.

Beverly doesn’t. “No, it’s not,” she says and grabs a pen to write a quick note on a pad of paper. Ned tries to read it but can’t. “It’s fine if you aren’t legally married, but from what I heard of you two—well, is there a plan?”

Ned raises his eyebrows. “A plan?”

“Do you have a date set?”

Ned opens his mouth. For what? he nearly asks before he catches himself. For a wedding, Beverly clearly means.

“Or is getting married not on the table?” she asks. “I don’t mean to pry. I’m just trying to understand the situation. It’s a bit different than what I’ve heard.”

“We’re…” Ned clears his throat. Help, he thinks at Abbot, still sitting there. “What, um, can we clarify?”

Beverly spreads her hands. “I heard all about you from Charles, Ned, and then from how Chris talked, you two are married, with a kid, minivan, picket fence, the whole thing. And I know Chris. We all know Chris. He can be a bit…well.”

“Enthusiastic?” Ned supplies.

That at least pulls a smile from her. “Yes, enthusiastic. But, listen. I want to help you. Henry, we want you here, and Ned, from what I’ve seen of your work, you could be great.”

“Thanks,” Ned says. I don’t believe you, he could add with honesty, either about his work or her happiness to have him there, from the hesitation plain on her face.

“And it’s not that I don’t trust you both,” she goes on. “But I’ve just stepped into this role, and there will certainly be questions about this hiring.”