Page 56 of Considering Us

I burst out laughing.

She nodded. “Right? You couldn’t make any of this up. I should just leave Rockwood and write a damn book.”

“So, it’s sort of a love triangle, but not really? And why did Julianna call you? What on earth would you do about it?”

“She wanted me to fire Marnie. I’m not sure what impact that would really have. Ward has plenty of money. Marnie would be fine, provided they stayed together. I think Julianna was desperate because she was losing her sugar daddy.”

I tried to process all of this. “She wanted you to fire Marnie for sleeping with her longtime lover, who is the actual father of her child, while she stays married to Bentley.” I realized what I had said while thinking out loud. “Oh my God! I didn’t mean to say that.”

Andrea patted my knee. “You don’t think I figured out the paternity of Adrienne a long time ago? Ward basically told me without telling me when he called to beg me to admit her after she got kicked out of her most recent school.”

“The Walden Pond horse incident.”

“Exactly. But I think she’s a good kid.”

“So do I,” I said, smiling, thinking of my kitchen apprentice. “But that still doesn’t answer the original question. WhyThe Underground Stallion? How do Marnie and Ryland benefit from any of this? And who’s doing the grunt work? It’s definitely not them running around snapping pictures.”

Andrea groaned. “That’s how I found out that they were behind it. A small group of students came to see me at my house yesterday afternoon. No one has ever shown up at my house, so I knew something strange was going on. Two of the kids were crying. Ryland has been putting pressure on these students of his to do all the investigative work. It’s wrong on so many levels.They’re worried they’re going to get bad grades in his class if they don’t comply.”

“That’s atrocious. Sounds like you have a human resources nightmare on your hands. I’m sorry, Andrea.” I did feel bad. She had dealt with one mess after another since she became Head of School.

“It’s okay,” she said. “Definitely a little housekeeping in order, but we’ll get through it. It’s a good school. I can still say that.”

“What about Marnie?”

“There will be an investigation. Obviously, Ryland’s involvement is worse since these were his students. And he’s just a big asshole who wanted to spy on people and make their lives miserable when it comes right down to it. Just to fuck with them, I think. But I do want to better understand Marnie’s motives more than anything else. I’m not sure, however, if she is to be trusted anymore. I mean, she worked for you, but the newspaper still spent much of the fall trying to slut shame you. Sorry for the brash terminology, Devon.”

“No, I agree, it was a rough way to start a new job, that’s for sure.” I was so tired I had no idea what to make of it. “Whatever you decide, Andrea. You’re the boss.”

“Yes, yes, I am,” she said, pulling into Portsmouth. “Look at this, all decorated for the holidays. I’ve been so distracted I’ve barely paid any attention. It’s December, for God’s sake.”

“Indeed, it is.” I looked at the pretty shops on Market Street, all decked out in lights and bows and sparkles. “I’m so glad to be back here. Thanks for coming to get me.”

“Anytime, Devon. I am very grateful to have you at Rockwood,” she said, turning onto the road that would lead us to St. George’s Island and Rockwood. We were quiet for that stretch of the drive, and I pressed my forehead against the window to take it all in. I noticed every tree, bush, curve ofthe road, and glimpse of the ocean as if I was seeing it for the first time. We passed by The Horse and onto the island, hanging a right into the campus. There, waiting for us, was Ward Connelly’s infamous sculpture,The Stallion, now adorned with huge cutouts of Celtics shamrocks and basketballs, plus a gigantic poster with my face on it and the words, “It must have been the cookies.”

“What?” I asked as Andrea slowed the car so I could see all of it. “How did this happen? There are security cameras. I’m so confused.”

Andrea smiled. “I can turn off the cameras whenever I want. There was a student watch party for the game last night, and Adrienne Preston suggested we do something for your arrival home. Glad they got it done then because you’re back a little earlier than we expected.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Kinda feels like home now, huh?”

I nodded, taking it all in, still floored by what I was seeing. “I think so.”

26

I climbed the four flights up to the top of Wentworth and tried to figure out my plan. I would quickly shower, make myself look presentable, and then track down Kyle. It was a Sunday, so unless he was in Boston visiting Annie, he would probably be in his apartment or in the library grading papers or reading. Once I found him, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to say, but maybe I wouldn’t have to say much. I might just be able to get away with kissing him, at least as a conversation starter. The very thought of Kyle’s lips against mine made me happy and anxious at the same time. What if that wasn’t what he wanted anymore? I hoped I wasn’t too late.

I turned the key and opened my door, hearing a clang as the door hit something inside my foyer. I walked in and bent down, finding a clear square case on the floor. I picked it up and discovered it was a CD.What is this? Could it be … the CD?I glanced around, not knowing what to do.

I heard knocking on the window above the fire escape. I ran into the kitchen, CD in hand, and saw Kyle perched on the landing, bundled in his down jacket and wool hat. I unlatched the window and threw it open, grabbing his hand to pull him into the kitchen. We stood in my kitchen, staring at each other, cold air billowing into the room from the outside, until I finally held up the CD and searched Kyle’s face for the answer I hoped I would get.

“You know,” he said. “In case you’re still considering us.”

“Considering us—you say that a lot,” I said, swallowing hard, trying to keep my composure despite my shaking voice. “You say a lot of things a lot.”

Kyle reached behind him and shut my window. Then he put both of his hands on the sides of my face and looked into my eyes while gently stroking my cheekbones with his thumbs, almost like he was checking to make sure all of this was okay. We had been through so much, and maybe now the time was right. I placed the CD case on the kitchen counter and wrapped my arms around his waist. “It’s not too late for us, right?” I asked.

“It’s not too late,” he said, and finally, after all our mishaps and mixed connections, we kissed. It wasn’t the kiss of two young adults who barely knew each other from almost sixteen years earlier or the confused kiss by the pond that had been interrupted by Ryland’s students earlier in the fall. It was soft and deep and slow. It was everything I had been hoping for once I realized this was exactly what I wanted. Kyle was the one.

“I have a question,” I whispered, pulling back slowly. “How did you get the CD? I thought it was in Connecticut at your parents’ house.”

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