Page 43 of Rhymes with Metaphor
“Oh,” said Joel.
The pensive look returned, making Reg uneasy.Joel was young and naive, but he wasn’t stupid.Martin and Juliet joined them a few minutes later, and they all set off for the pub, Juliet and Joel lagging behind Martin and Reg.
“So?”said Martin quietly.
“The deed is done,” said Reg.
“Now I’ve got to convince Juliet,” said Martin.
“No, you don’t.If Joel wants to stay, he can stay.He’s an adult.Juliet can’t stop him.”
“Still, better if she’s on board,” said Martin.“I don’t want her getting ideas about staying as well.”
When they got to the pub, and Joel went off to the washroom, Juliet said to Reg, “I hear you’ve asked Joel to stay with you this summer.”
“He’s happy here,” said Reg.“You said yourself it was the first time you’d heard him laugh in years.Shame if he went home to an empty house in Canada.”
“It’s kind of you to offer, Reg,” said Juliet, “but I don’t want to presume, and I’m sure Joel doesn’t either.”
“No presumption at all,” said Reg.
“Let me at least pay you,” said Juliet.“To cover Joel’s expenses while he’s here.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s not necessary.The truth is, I can’t affordnotto have him here.He’s been such a fantastic muse to me these past two months.He’s the reason I’ll be finishing my thesis on time—if he stays.If anything, I should be paying him.”
Unlike Joel, Juliet took this at face value.
When Reg and Martin went to the bar to get their drinks, Martin said, “That was a bit much.Not that I’m not grateful to have Juliet all to myself for the rest of the summer, but really...describing New Bug as some kind of wellspring of creative genius stretches credulity.”
“He’s my writer’sunblocker,” said Reg.“Just the creative fibre I need.”
“I can’t imagine wanting to spend an entire summer with him.”
“And yet, you asked me to.I’m sure I can find ways to amuse him.”
“You won’t do anything stupid, will you?”
“Don’t I usually do stupid things when I’m in England?”said Reg.
“Don’t do anything unusually stupid.Please return him to Juliet in the same condition he’s being loaned to you.”
“You’re genuinely worried about him, are you?”said Reg.
“I’m genuinely worried what Juliet would do to me if something happens to him while he’s in your care.”
“Ah, selfishness.”
“I knew you’d understand.”
Martin and Juliet spent their last few days in England trying to get as much sightseeing in as possible.Martin managed to have two actual “dates” with her by leaving Joel behind at the house with Reg, but Juliet wouldn’t agree to more than that, because she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him before she left for Canada.
On the day of their departure, Martin carried his and Juliet’s bags to the rental car.
“Where’s Joel?”said Juliet.
“Getting lunch for you,” said Reg.
Juliet reached for and squeezed Reg’s arm.“Look after him.”
