Clarity laughed, "Yeah, I hear they have an expert consultant helping them." Her father joined us and she nudged him in the ribs. "Tackling the shadowy world of college administrations, huh? That's how you decide to start retirement?"
Patrick Dunkirk stepped forward and hugged Alice. "Thank you so much for everything." Then he turned to me. "I appreciate that you went the extra mile to atone for past mistakes."
I felt awkward, my arm brushing intimately against Clarity's as her father spoke to me. "I needed a fresh start."
Patrick eyed our arms as Clarity, who was chatting with Alice, slipped her hand into mine. She wasn't watching her father's face as closely as I was. My heart stopped.
The former dean burst out laughing. "Ford, if this whole thing has taught me one thing, it's to trust my daughter. I'm glad she's met her match and that she's already making you a better man."
"I'll shake hands on that," I said.
The interim dean of students moved past us and out into the hallway. Patrick was nice enough to offer him a smile and a nod.
"Was it strange to be at Honor Council and not presiding?" Clarity asked her father.
"Yes, of course, but satisfying. It was really great to see that the system I fought to get put in place actually works. Mighty nice of you to try it out, Ford, though I'm sure we didn't all really need to know your dirty laundry."
"I'm sorry I wasn't able to get your job back," I said. "Our article outlined how Tailor intended to coerce you, and Alice was able to prove to the judge how you were set up, but the president of the college was firm."
Patrick waved a hand at all our concerned expressions. "How am I supposed to stand in the same room as the Honor Council and not own up to my mistakes? I accepted the gifts from Tailor, I decided to make use of his influence, and I paid for it. I'm just glad that I was the only one."
Jackson shook his head. "No, I think the students are paying for it. They miss you. Now that they know how to organize themselves and create a coherent message of change, I'm sure they'd be willing to mount a campaign for your return."
"Don't you like my replacement?" Patrick asked. "Poor man, he certainly got thrown in at the deep end. I thought he did pretty well today, though, didn't you?"
I chuckled. "Landsman College could still use your guidance. The students respect you even more now they know you are human and not infallible. You can't tell me you don't want to be back on campus."
"Just like you?" Patrick asked.
I frowned. "I think it's obvious that from the start I was not cut out for academia. I'll just have to find my way doing something else."
"I like to imagine you're going to become some sort of scandal vigilante. You'll show up and expose the truth and then move on to the next den of iniquity," Jackson said.
"Please excuse him," Alice interrupted, "he's been reading too many short stories from his fantasy fiction class."
"Maybe I could consult with the students too," I said. "I have a few ideas about how to get you back into your old job."
"The only ideas I want from you are recipes for Christmas dinner. I figure our little table had quite a stretch since Thanksgiving. We should all get together and celebrate the rest of the holidays," Patrick said.
"I'm in," Clarity said, "as long as Ford is helping cook and clean."
"Jackson can help too." Alice volunteered. "And I know a recipe for a great wine spritzer."
"You're all invited," Patrick said. "I can't think of a better way to kick off my retirement."
I scratched my head. "So, you're really going to go through with it?"
"I made my mistakes and now I have to pay for them. Though, thanks to Alice, I don't have to have them on my permanent record. I can retire with my dignity intact."
"Thank god, because I used to think you might die in your desk chair," Clarity joked.
"Nope, see? I've even got a whole new wardrobe. No more suit or sweater vests for me. It's exciting, and I'm sorry to say I don't want to turn away from that at this point in my life," Patrick said.
Clarity grinned. "What he means to say is there's no way he's trading his newfound plans for anything."
Jackson eyeballed Patrick's outfit. "You're taking up golf?" he asked.
"I was thinking boating," I joked.
Patrick laughed. "No, but it turns out I might get a chance to be an artist anyway. My daughter's change of direction inspired me and I decided to join one of the Landsman Alumni tours."
"Oh, come on, Dad, you're not fooling anyone," Clarity said. "Alice is a matchmaker; I'm sure she can guess what you're doing and why."
Alice grinned. "Let me guess—is there any chance this tour is led by Polly?"
Patrick narrowed his eyes at Alice but could not hide his smile. "Yes, it just so happens the tour and course is taught by Polly, but I have no idea what you think that means."
Jackson clapped him on the shoulder. "Look out, Alice has spoken. Plus, even I saw you looked at Polly the way Ford was looking at Clarity. That was some Thanksgiving party you threw."
"Alright, fine, I'll admit it," Patrick said. "I'm happy to have a chance to do what I love with someone that helps me love art even more."
Clarity laughed at the ruddy color of her father's cheeks. "I hate to say it, but maybe my mother wasn't so crazy all those years ago."
Patrick nodded. "You have to find what you love and chase it. Or, in your case, study it. Or, in Ford's case, admit it."
"What?" I asked. I snapped back to the conversation to realize that everyone was ringed around and staring at me. "I thought I already did all the admitting I had to do today."
"All I'm saying, Ford, is that maybe you should follow my example. Minus the scandal and the forced retirement. Better yet, why don't you follow Clarity's example. She's found what she loves to do and she's pursuing it."
I looked at Clarity and was arrested by completely different thoughts than her father's meaning. I loved Clarity and when I thought about what I really wanted to do, lately all that appeared in my head was her next to me in my bed. As much as Clarity might appreciate that for an afternoon or evening or two, she was not going to be impressed with me if I didn't find another passion.
"Wait, you said all I had to do was admit what I love to do,” I said. "Why are you all acting as if you know something that I don't know?"
Alice and Jackson led the way out of the assembly room and down the hallway. We all paused before stepping outside the glass doors. A flurry of snow was skating across the windows and leaving a faint, white dusting across the college lawns. The last of the leaves had finally fallen, and despite a week or two of unseasonable warmth, winter was finally on its way.
I gazed at the bare trees and the blowing snow. Maybe I could hibernate all winter, spend my time with Clarity, and figure out what I wanted to do in the spring. Even imagining it had me itching with cabin fever. I needed something to do, a job, a purpose, and it annoyed me that everyone else could see what it was but me.