Startled, she dropped the pen.
“Professor Jarvis,” she said. “Yes, sorry. I’m here.” She cleared her throat and quickly unscrambled her brain. “I wanted to thank you for letting me know about Dr. Elliott. That’s exciting for him.”
“And it should be for you, too, as it narrows the field.” An older man, even older than her dad, he guffawed. Maddie wondered if all old men guffawed. Perhaps it was part of aging.
“Yes, well, I’m sorry it’s taken so long to get back to you, but I had a minor incident . . . I broke my foot and it’s topsy-turvied my schedule.” She had no idea what a broken foot would have to do with her not calling him sooner. She also had no idea why she’d said “topsy-turvied.” Maybe it made her feel more like a creative academic. The same way she felt more professional after trading her grandmother’s seersucker bathrobe for her tan skirt and one of her new tops.
“Also, I’m not in Green Hills,” she said. “I’m on Martha’s Vineyard visiting family.” She loved that she’d thought to add the part about the island and family. As if it took her credibility up a notch.
Then she hated that she was trying to impress him.
“Will you return in time for the fall semester?” he asked.
“Yes, of course. I should be out of the cast and off crutches by then. Or, soon after.”
“Good,” he said. “Good.”
She thanked him again and said she’d let him get back to work. Then she mentioned she was working on a new article that she hoped would be published inJournalism Review.
“Good,” he repeated. “Good.”
He did not need to know that she’d barely finished the outline.
“Thank you for calling,” he said. “We’ll see you soon.” The “we,” of course, meant the English department.
It wasn’t until the call ended that Maddie realized he hadn’t asked how she’d broken her foot or how she was feeling. Professor Don Jarvis was all business. He was a gifted instructor and a decent department chair; what he lacked in warm fuzzies, he made up for in the classroom with his vivid lectures and keen way of listening to his students’ ideas. His classes filled quickly.
Being around him made Maddie feel successful, too. She’d always liked that. Now, she was no longer sure.
* * *
For the rest of the day, she couldn’t get motivated.
Owen called, but she didn’t answer. She was not in the mood for him.
Lisa phoned and said not to worry, she’d pick up dinner for her.
Maddie thought about calling her father and telling him about her conversation with Don Jarvis. But she wasn’t ready to talk to him yet. And he might not be ready to talk to her.
She thought about calling the Vineyard Inn and telling Francine she was going to have lunch with Rex tomorrow. But she didn’t do that, either.
She wondered if she was depressed, if her worlds were on a fast-moving collision course and she wasn’t sure which way to turn.
After wallowing for another hour, she changed back into her nightgown and went back to bed. If she couldn’t run, she might as well take another nap.
With the noon sun warming the cottage, she fell asleep quickly. And dreamed of her grandmother again. But this time, Grandma Nancy was lying on the ground, the wampum necklace dangling from her throat, her head split open on the corner of the granite slab.
* * *
Lisa woke Maddie up by shouting through the window that dinner was there. She brought the vanilla frappe, but instead of the fish sandwich, she offered a lobster roll.
“Mickey brought home half a dozen. He got them at a fundraiser for one of the old salt guys who died last week. We had extra, so it’s our treat. And it comes with Cape Cod chips, which are the best.”
Maddie smiled through her cobwebs as she eased back into life. She asked Lisa if she could sit for a minute and chat.
After arranging the roll and chips on a plate for Maddie, Lisa sat across from her. “So, how’re you doing?” She didn’t mention the shabby seersucker robe Maddie had donned again.
“I’m fine. I think the foot’s getting better every day.” There was no point in sharing needless information. “And thanks so much for this,” she said, biting into her dinner.
