“Lichen is a composite organism,” Brian interjected. “Algae and fungus exist in what is called a mutualistic relationship, meaning they both benefit from one other.”
“Nice,” Abby said, still looking at me, “but I’m stuck on why did they get married?”
“Because,” I said, pulling her closer, not aware of anything or anyone else except the two of us, “they couldn’t stand to be apart.”
Abby’s blue eyes swam with emotion, and the outer rims seemed to darken. “You really feel that way?”
“You lovebirds are over the top,” Brian said, chuckling. “You’re making me want to gag right now.” He pointed a finger in his mouth and made a gargling noise.
I shook my head because I couldn’t believe I’d agreed to let him be my TA.
Wilhelmina caught my eye, and instead of snickering like I thought she would, she nodded with a pleased, approving expression on her face. She put an arm around Brian’s shoulders and moved several steps ahead. “Come on, Brian. Let’s give them some space.”
“Yes, I do feel that way,” I said, answering Abby’s earlier question.
“You don’t want to be apart from me?”
“No, I don’t.” The words just came out as if I’d already considered this before. The truth was, I hadn’t considered marriage. Our relationship was still new, so I hadn’t thought that far, but it seemed my subconscious was one step ahead since that was the joke I’d chosen. I’d always believed I wasn’t fit for marriage because my experience was sure to end the way my father’s marriages had, but I was starting to see things in a different light. Wilhelmina was right. I was not my father, and even if we were cut from the same cloth so to speak, the Lord had changed me, and I didn’t have to make the same mistakes my dad made.
Abby didn’t press for more. She laid her head on the spot underneath my shoulder, and I tightened my arm around her waist. Neither of us said anything as we strolled behind everyone, in no particular hurry to join the group.
“Hold on,” I said, pulling her over to a tree on the side of the path. “Do you see this?” I pointed to an orange mushroom. “The others must have missed this one.”
“It’s gorgeous.” She took out her phone and snapped a picture. “I’ve never seen an orange mushroom before. Should we take a sample?”
“Let’s leave it alone. This is a Jack-o’-lantern mushroom, and it’s poisonous. It can easily be mistaken for Chanterelles because they both have an orangish-yellow color. You can tell the difference because Jack-o’-lanterns have gills underneath the head, while Chanterelles have ridges or folds.”
“Would someone die if they ate one of these?”
“No, not unless they had a severe allergy, but they’d get stomach cramps and diarrhea, and it can last for several days.”
“That does not sound fun.”
“No, not at all.”
“But what if one of the students takes a sample on the way back?”
“We have a strict rule that everyone who comes to an event has to agree not to eat any of the mushrooms until myself or another instructor checks them out first.”
“Well, that’s good.”
We caught up to the rest of the group, and I saw several of the students putting mushroom samples in wax and paper bags to keep them from rotting. “You’d better get some pictures before they’re all gone.”
Abby took out her phone and jogged ahead. She stooped down and took a few shots and then returned to me. “Don’t you want to get a sample?”
“Maybe on the way back. I do this all the time so…”
“You have enough mushrooms to fill up a whole salad?” The strands of hair around her face were purple again, and she brushed them behind her ears as she glanced up at me.
I cracked a smile. “Something like that.”
“Hey, Abby!” Brian ran over and then dropped his hands to his knees, huffing out a breath. “There are some colorful mushrooms over there.” He pointed ahead and glanced back at her. “Want me to bring you over so you can take some pictures?”
“Yes, please, I’d love that.”
I was about to follow them when one of my students, a short brunette, walked over and placed her hand on my elbow. “Dr. Fitzgerald, can I have a moment of your time?”
“Oh, um…” My gaze was on Abby and Brian as they trailed off. “I have to get to—”
“Please. I won’t take up too much of your time.”
“Yes, what can I help you with?” I kept my eyes on Abby. Brian was knowledgeable to some extent, but he didn’t have enough experience for me to feel confident leaving Abby in his hands. He was cocky at times and mistakes were made that way. Working with mushrooms could be deadly if someone didn’t know what they were doing.
“I work with the school newspaper, and I was hoping to write an article about these mushroom forays. Can I ask you a few questions?”
“How long will it take?” My eyes wandered back to Brian and Abby. He stooped down and pointed to something. Abby took out her camera and snapped several pictures. They were completely fine. I just needed to relax and not get so uptight.
“Only a few minutes,” she said. “I promise.”
“Okay,” I said, distractedly, “if it’s only a few minutes.”
“How often do you organize these events?”
Abby and Brian were standing now, and they were both holding something in their hands. Abby smiled and Brian spoke loud enough that I could hear his voice even if I couldn’t make out what he was saying.
“About once a month, sometimes more. It depends on who is available to help out.”
She scribbled her notes on a pad of paper while I stretched my neck to get a better look at Brian and Abby. I wanted to be with them, not here, answering questions, but I didn’t want to be rude and brush my student off, especially if it would only take a few minutes. Abby glanced at me and waved, and I waved back.
The student cleared her throat. “How many of these events have you been on?”
“Too many to count.”
“What’s your best guess?”
I shrugged. “I really don’t know. Considering I used to go all the time as a grad student, it’s hard to guess.”
A group of students joined Brian and Abby, and they were looking at whatever it was the two of them were holding. Brian continued to talk, his free hand gesturing as he spoke.
My student glanced at her notepad. “What would you say is the most interesting part of an event like this?”
“Collecting the samples and…” I trailed off. Abby lifted something to her mouth and ate it. I felt the blood drain from my face, and a sick feeling pummeled through the bottom of my stomach.
“Abby, no!” I took off running until I reached them. I seized Abby by the shoulders. “Spit it out. Now!”
Her eyes widened. “I already swallowed—”
“You need to throw it up.”
“Relax, Dr. Fitzgerald,” Brian said. “You’re freaking out for nothing. It’s not poisonous.”
“Which one? Let me see it.” The blood whooshed through my veins like it was about to crash out of its protective lining.
Brian put a mushroom in my hand. “See? It’s one of the edible Amanitas. I gave her a piece of this one.”
The mushroom had an orange cap with yellow gills and stalk. Amanita caesarea, also known as Caesar’s mushroom. The Roman emperors prized it, at least that was what history told us. I released the breath I’d been holding. “You’re right. This one is edible.” But then I glared at him. “Don’t feed her any more mushrooms. I want to personally inspect everything.”
He put his hands in the air and took a step back. “All right, fine.”
I turned to Abby. “Some Amanitas are also referred to as death caps. They can kill you if you eat the wrong ones.”
Her eyes widened again. “I’m sorry, but he seemed to know a lot about this one—said it was really delicious—and he told me it was perfectly fine.”
“He was
right…this time.” I glared at Brian again. I raised my voice so the entire group could hear me. “No one should eat anything until I have personally given you the okay. We’ve gone over this before, and you all signed an agreement at the beginning of the year. I don’t care how knowledgeable you think you are, don’t tell anyone something is edible unless you’ve checked with me first.”
The students nodded their heads and went back to what they were doing. A few glanced at me like they thought I had come unglued and maybe I had. I thought I’d lost her there for a second, and the sensation that had swept through me at that moment was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. It was like being caught in a nightmare without a way to get out.
Abby took my arm and pulled me off to the side. “Are you okay?” There was concern in her eyes, and she studied me intently.
“No, I’m not.” I ran a hand through my hair and let out a breath. “I can’t believe…”
“Please don’t be hard on Brian. He was just trying to be helpful.”
I clenched my jaw and glanced away. “He could have killed you.”
“He was confident, and he knew—”
“He’s still a grad student, and I don’t trust him with you.” I cupped her face and leaned in closer. “You mean too much to me.” My voice shook, but I didn’t care. “I could have lost you.”
Wilhelmina walked over and placed a hand on my arm. “Relax, bud. She’s okay. Everyone here is okay.” She and Abby exchanged a glance.
“Yeah, all right.” I swiped my fingers through my hair and stared at the ground. What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I settle down?
The answer pulled at my gut as I turned my attention back to Abby and Wilhelmina. They were talking quietly, whispering about something.
I loved her.
I loved Abby Summerhill. It was as clear as day and there was no denying the truth of it. This thing I was feeling was beyond concern for her well-being. It was beyond the adrenaline that was still pumping through my body. I truly, completely, unabashedly loved her.
The realization brought a smile to my face.
I needed to tell her. I wanted to tell everyone. “Abby, can I talk to you for a minute.”
She and Wilhelmina stopped talking, and she glanced at me. “Sure.”
I pulled her to the side and put my hands on her shoulders. “I need to talk to you.”
She smiled uncertainly. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
“I…” The words got stuck in my throat, so I took a moment to pull myself together and then tried again. “I…”
“You were worried about me, I get it. It’s sweet, but you don’t need to be anxious any longer. Everything is fine.”
“I know.” I nodded and stared at the ground. If I said I loved her…if I did this right now, it might upset the balance of things. What if I went too deep with my feelings and scared her away? What if she couldn’t say it back? A part of me told myself to man-up, to tell her no matter the consequences, but the other part, the part that didn’t want to lose her, couldn’t do it. I’d been down this road before, and it hadn’t ended well. Abby was no Genevieve, but that didn’t mean she actually loved me. For all I knew, she still had feelings for Nick. “You’re right. I need to just relax.” I tried to laugh it off. “You know me. Sometimes I get a little uptight.”
She linked her arm through mine. “Let’s enjoy the rest of the day.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Okay.” But a feeling of impending doom swept through me because now that I had an inkling of what it would feel like to lose her, I wasn’t sure how to protect myself…or if I even could.
Chapter 19
Abby
Several days had passed since I’d gone on the mushroom foray with Colin. My heart yearned to see him again, but I told myself to be patient, even though it was unlike him to wait this long to call me. It was weird that I hadn’t heard from him, and it wasn’t as if I couldn’t pick up the phone myself, but I had a feeling he wanted to deal with something on his own. He’d call when he was ready.
I’d just gotten home from a temp job and was preparing to go to Northlake Senior Center for a volunteer session. My canvas and supplies were still out from the last time I’d worked on my new painting. I was incorporating Aspergillus flavus, the pathogenic germ Colin had told me about. The day I’d first seen it, it had looked like a blue torch to me, so that was how I used it in the painting. I was aware that the blue had been a stain, but I would always see it as blue now. I’d created a forest scene with a few of the mushrooms I came across on the foray, and the bright torches lighting the way were patterned after the Aspergillus flavus. It was a little odd—maybe unique was a better word. Definitely edgy. But that was what Greg Gordan was looking for, so that was what I was going to give him.
I tucked my purse underneath one arm and walked out the door. Once I arrived at Northlake, Mrs. Pickerell was seated next to an elderly man, and they were whispering. Others were waiting at the table as well, and when Jenny saw me, she smiled. “Hey, stranger.”
“Hey. Sorry I haven’t been here in a while. I’ve been a little busy.”
She winked. “So I hear.”
I’d already filled her in on my relationship with Colin, but she liked to tease. “I’ve scheduled to be here every Wednesday for the next three weeks so nothing else gets in the way,” I said.
Mrs. Pickerell lifted a brow. “What’s been keeping you so busy, Abby?”
I sat next to her and grinned. “Got me a beau, Mrs. Pickerell.”
She turned to me with a pleased smile. “Well, I’ll be! That is good news.”
“Yes, it is.”
Jenny distributed half the Bingo cards on one side of the table while I assisted by handing out the other half.
“When do we get to meet this man of yours?” Mrs. Pickerell asked.
“I’m not sure, but maybe I’ll bring him along next time. I’ll find out what his schedule is.”
“That would be lovely.”
Everyone enjoyed several games of Bingo, and Jenny gave out prizes to the winners. When game hour was over, Mrs. Pickerell lingered at the table after the others left. “You seem so much happier today.”
I nodded. “When I last saw you, I was caught between different emotions. God moved in my heart, showing me that I needed to draw closer to Him, and I was feeling conflicted about the state of things.”
“I’m pleased to hear you’re turning to the Lord. There’s nothing more important.” She smiled, and we talked about what God was doing in our lives for quite a while.
Her eyes appeared weary, so I got up to leave. “I’d better get going and let you rest. It was a pleasure talking to you as always.”
“Wait a second,” she said laughing lightly. “Before you go, tell me a little about this new beau of yours.”
“His name is Colin, and he’s a professor at UC Redwoods. He’s tall, handsome, with a very kind heart, and…” I paused, smiling. “I think he’s the one.”
“You do?” Her smile widened. “That’s so exciting.”
“Yes, it is. I don’t want to do anything to jinx it.” I hesitated, realizing what I’d just said. “Actually, I shouldn’t even say that. I don’t believe in bad luck—not in the real sense, anyway. Everything is in God’s hands, right? He has ultimate control.”
She nodded. “Absolutely.” She smiled as she turned to leave. “You bring this Colin around. I can’t wait to make his acquaintance.”
“I will.”
I returned home after my time at Northlake and stayed up late into the night working on my painting. For some reason, its progress was much smoother than some of my other work. It was as if I could see that forest so clearly in my mind, and I was able to translate the image to my canvas. Once I finished, I went to bed with a smile on my face.
***
The next day, I woke to the sound of my cell dinging. I got up and lifted my phone from its place on my chest of drawers. It was a text from Nick. Zoe and I broke up.<
br />
I typed out a quick response. I’m so sorry Nick!
Him: She was everything I thought I wanted, but I couldn’t stop thinking about someone else.
In the past, I would’ve wondered if the person he couldn’t stop thinking about was me, but I’d grown, and his baiting didn’t work on me any longer. Nick had never loved me, and I understood that now. But even crazier was the realization that I didn’t love him either. I thought I had at one time, but it wasn’t love. When I was with him, I was that little girl from long ago who craved her father’s attention. I still craved my father’s attention—that hadn’t changed—but the more I drew closer to the Lord, the more He opened my eyes to see things more clearly.
Me: Maybe she wasn’t the right one. I’ll pray God brings the perfect woman for you.
Him: I think He already has.
Me: You met someone new?
Him: No.
Me: Okay…
Him: We need to talk.
My eyes widened. NO. I was not going to let him do this. He was used to having me around like his little fan-club groupie, and now that I wasn’t there, he missed the attention. That was all it was.
Me: Why?
Him: There are some things I need to tell you, but I want to do it in person. I’ve taken you for granted, and that’s going to change. There is so much I want to say, but I’d like to look into your eyes when I say it. When can we meet?
No, no, no. This was not what I wanted. I was with Colin now…and I loved him. We hadn’t said the words to each other, but I knew we would eventually. I felt his love, there was no insecurity there. The way he’d acted at the mushroom foray demonstrated how much I meant to him. I shook my head. Nick was not going to mess that up. I wouldn’t let him.
Me: I’m not sure what you’re planning to say, but if it’s what you’re insinuating, I should tell you that Colin and I are doing really well. We’re moving forward, and that’s not going to change.
I started to say I loved Colin, but I didn’t want to rub it in his face. When he didn’t respond, I worried that I’d hurt him. Nick was one of my closest friends, so that was the last thing I wanted to do, but I also had to be honest.
Blind Date with a Billionaire Professor (Blind Date Disasters) Page 18
