“Yes. I still have to get the approval of my chair and Katherine has to sign the form. But she can’t do that until she joins the faculty at Harvard, which happens in August. So for the time being, I’m without a supervisor.”
At that moment, Paul’s cell phone rang. The ring tone was “Guantanamera.”
Julia eyed him curiously. “Cuban music?”
Paul’s color deepened. “A friend of mine chose her own ring tone.”
“Huh.” Julia wanted to ask about Paul’s friend but decided the subject might be too delicate.
Paul seemed to read her mind. “Her name is Elizabeth. We work together.” He stopped abruptly and declined the call. “It’s complicated.”
“Sometimes complicated can turn out great.” Julia gave him an encouraging smile.
“Sometimes.” Paul put his phone back into his pocket. “Are you happy? With your life, I mean?”
“You’ve caught me at a bad moment, but in general, yes. I’ve come to the conclusion that falling in love is easy; it’s life that’s complicated. But I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s, even though it hasn’t always turned out the way I hoped.”
“I’m glad you’re happy.” Paul looked down at his shoes. “You deserve to be happy, Rabbit.”
“Thank you. You’ve always been a great friend.” Impulsively, Julia leaned against his shoulder.
In return, he took her hand and squeezed it.
It was an intimate exchange, to be sure, but one born of true affection and friendship. Paul knew in that moment that Julia loved him. And although her love for him was not romantic, it was affectionate and it was deep. And it was the kind of love he hoped would continue through their lives, even as he pursued a different love with someone else.
They moved apart at the same moment, smiling shyly down at their shoes.
Footsteps sounded from nearby, and Julia saw Gabriel striding toward them, pushing Clare in her stroller. She was barefoot and kicking her feet happily, a toy bunny hugged to her chest.
Paul leaned toward Julia and whispered conspiratorially. “I see my rabbit was a hit.”
“Don’t mention it in front of Gabriel, but it’s her favorite toy,” Julia whispered back. “She won’t go anywhere without it.”
“She has great taste.”
When Gabriel reached them he greeted Julianne with a kiss. Then he extended his hand to his former student. “Paul.”
“Professor Emerson.” The two men shook hands.
The Professor hesitated, his blue eyes evaluating the other man. Seemingly satisfied, he said, “You should probably call me Gabriel.”
Julia’s mouth dropped open.
Paul appeared surprised but quickly recovered himself. “Gabriel,” he repeated dutifully.
“When did you get back?” Julia asked, hugging her husband extra tightly.
“A little while ago,” he replied. “I went straight to the rooms to drop my luggage and then brought Clare to find you. Don Wodehouse said he thought he saw you over here.”
“Paul, this is Clare.” Julia leaned over and kissed the baby on her head.
“Hello, Clare.” Paul reached out for the bunny. He wiggled it in her arms.
Clare pulled the bunny away from him. “Bababa,” she replied, as if she were scolding him.
“I won’t take your baba. I promise.” Paul straightened. “How old is she?”
“Just over seven months,” Julia replied. She spoke to the baby, asking how her morning was. The baby chattered in return.
“Katherine has invited us all to dinner at All Souls,” Gabriel announced. “We’re supposed to arrive at six thirty. Appropriate dress is required.”
The Professor resisted the urge to stare at Paul’s casual clothing of a button-down shirt and jeans. However, he adjusted the collar of his own pristine white shirt, possibly subconsciously.
“Great. Thank you.” Paul pointed in the direction of the library. “I need to look up a few things before tomorrow’s seminar. And then I guess I need to change. I’ll meet you at All Souls tonight.”
Gabriel nodded formally.
“Thanks, Paul.” Julia gave him an appreciative smile before he departed in the direction of the Magdalen library.
“And thank you.” She hugged her husband once again. “Thank you for being nice to him. He’s been supportive of me all week. I was so grateful he was here, especially since Cecilia has been giving me the cold shoulder.”
“Something has changed in Paul.” Gabriel gazed into the distance. “He relates to you differently.”
Julia shut her eyes and opened them. “I can’t imagine how you could tell such a thing within a few seconds of seeing him.”
“Call it a husband’s instinct.” Gabriel focused on his wife. “What is happening with Cecilia?”
Julia scratched the back of her neck. “I went to see Cecilia a little while ago. I ran into Paul after I left her office.”
Gabriel pulled Julia’s hand away from her neck and held it. “What did she say?”
“She said what she said before—she won’t approve a semester abroad.”
Gabriel pressed his lips together. “And what did you say?”
“You’d be proud of me. I told her I was switching supervisors.”
“I am always proud of you.” Gabriel’s eyes met hers. “But are you sure you want to do that?”
“Absolutely.” Julia leaned closer. “She was spiteful. Spiteful and vindictive. I wasn’t even going to tell her who I was going to work with. I simply thanked her and tried to leave, but she pressed me for details. When I told her I was going to work with Katherine, she said she wouldn’t serve as a reader on my dissertation committee. And she said she wouldn’t write a letter for me for the job market.”
“That’s absurd!” Gabriel sputtered. “You’ve been working with her for over two years. She should give you a letter on those grounds alone.”
“She won’t.” Julia’s spine straightened and her eyes flashed. “That’s when I knew I was making the right choice, not just for you and me, but for my career. I don’t want to work with someone like that. I don’t want to have to walk on eggshells for fear she’ll drop me at any moment. Katherine would never do that.”
Gabriel tugged Julia into his arms, burying his face in his neck. “So you’re coming with me to Edinburgh?”