She strode quickly down one of the aisles, straight to where Julia was still seated, while Gabriel stood next to her, chatting amiably with Julia’s supervisor, Professor Marinelli.
“Katherine.” Gabriel greeted her smoothly, kissing her cheek.
“Gabriel and Julianne. Good to see you both.”
She turned to Professor Marinelli. “Cecilia, delightful to see you, as always.”
“And you.” The two women embraced.
“Now then, have you spoken with Jeremy?” Katherine turned her blue-gray eyes on Gabriel.
“No.” Gabriel was terse.
“I think it’s high time you two buried the hatchet. Don’t you?”
Cecilia gazed between the two other Dante specialists and politely made her excuses, choosing to flee to another part of the room where an argument was not about to break forth.
“I don’t have a problem with Jeremy.” Gabriel sounded offended. “Jeremy has a problem with me.”
Katherine’s eyes snapped.
“Then you won’t mind if I bring him over here.”
She marched her small figure up to Jeremy Martin and spoke to him rather directly.
Julia stood uneasily, wondering what was about to happen.
It was obvious that Professor Martin did not wish to speak with Gabriel. Julia watched as he looked in their direction, then looked back at Katherine, shaking his head.
Katherine appeared to scold him, but only for a moment, before the two professors walked in the direction of the Emersons.
“Here we go,” Julia whispered, taking Gabriel’s hand.
“Emerson.” Jeremy’s voice was stiff, as he approached.
“Jeremy.”
Katherine looked between the two men and frowned. “Well, get on with it. Shake hands.”
Gabriel released Julia’s hand in order to shake the hand of his former friend.
“For what it’s worth, Jeremy, I’m sorry.”
Julia looked up at her husband in surprise.
Professor Martin appeared taken aback as well. He shifted his weight, his eyes traveling from Gabriel’s to Julia’s and back again.
“I understand that congratulations are in order. You’ve been married about a year, I think. Is that right?”
“That’s right,” Julia interjected. “Thank you, Professor Martin.”
“It’s Jeremy, now.”
“I know we owe you a debt. I won’t forget it.” Gabriel lowered his voice.
Jeremy stepped back.
“This isn’t the time or the place.”
“Then perhaps we could talk in the hall? Come on, Jeremy, we were friends for years. I’m trying to apologize.”
Jeremy grimaced. “All right. Ladies, excuse me.” He nodded at Katherine and Julia before following Gabriel into the hallway.
“That went well.” Julia turned to Katherine.
“We’ll see. If they return without having spilt any blood, I’ll agree with you.” Katherine’s eyes sparkled impishly. “Shall we watch through the door?”
Over dinner at their home that evening, Gabriel and Julia were determined not to announce her pregnancy to Katherine. They’d resolved not to tell anyone until she was in her second trimester.
(However, they did nothing to hide the telltale sign of the Volvo SUV that Gabriel had recently purchased, which was parked in the driveway.)
While Gabriel was in the kitchen making coffee, Katherine turned her all-seeing eyes on Julia and tapped a single finger on top of the linen tablecloth.
“You’re expecting.”
“What?” Julia faltered, putting her water glass down so she wouldn’t spill.
“It’s obvious. You aren’t drinking. You declined coffee. Your husband, who by all accounts is very solicitous, is hovering over you as if you were made of china, while simultaneously trying to hide his extreme, testosterone-laden pride. You can’t fool me.”
“Professor Picton, I—”
“I thought we’d agreed you’d call me Katherine.”
“Katherine, I’m not very far along. We aren’t telling anyone, including family, until I’m in my second trimester.”
“That’s wise. It might be good for you to put off telling your department until the last possible moment.” Katherine sipped her wine thoughtfully.
“I’m afraid to tell them.”
Katherine put her glass down. “Can you tell me why?”
Julia’s hand went to her abdomen. “There are several reasons. I’m worried they’ll think I’m not serious enough and that Cecilia will drop me as a student.”
“Nonsense. Cecilia has three children, two of which she had while she was a graduate student in Pisa. Next problem.”
Julia paused, her mouth open.
“Um, I didn’t know that.”
“I’ve known her for years. She’s a working mother who is determined to carve out time for her family. That’s why they spend their summers in Italy, so the children can be with their grandparents. Next problem.”
“Um, I’m worried they’ll take away my funding and I’ll lose my fellowship.”
“Universities are very different from when I was a student. There are legal issues that would prevent your department from doing that. You’re entitled to a maternity leave just like everyone else. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, Harvard has a committee on the status of women that would ensure you are treated fairly. Even if your department were chaired by a fool, and it isn’t, he’d have to follow the guidelines. Next problem.”
“I’m not asking for a maternity leave. But I was told by my doctor I’d need to take at least six weeks off after the baby is born. I’m worried my chair will force me to deregister for the semester.”
Katherine frowned. “Not take a maternity leave? Are you mad?”
Julia started to protest, but Katherine lifted an aged, wrinkled hand.
“I might be an old maid, but I know you won’t be able to do justice to your program, or your newborn, if you don’t take a maternity leave. You are allowed one. You should take it.”
“Won’t the department frown on it?”
“Some of the old fossils might, but if you have the support of your supervisor, what does it matter? My advice is to speak to Cecilia and ask for her advice. She’ll know best how to guide you. Don’t let the misogynists drive you into an impossible situation.”
Katherine tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I’m always eager to fight injustice. Let them try to injure you. In fact, I have half a mind to accept Greg Matthews’s offer to join his department just to ensure that they don’t.”
Julia’s jaw dropped. “You’d consider that?”
“I’ve decided to sell my house and leave Toronto. All Souls is eager to have me join them in Oxford on a more permanent basis, but the truth is there are only a few fellows in that college that I can tolerate. It’s making my meals in college most unpleasant.”
“It would be wonderful to have you at Harvard.”
“I’m beginning to think so, too.” Katherine’s eyes shone. “This is where all the action is. Greg promised me he’d move my library personally. I want to accept his offer simply to see him hand-packing my books.”
Julia laughed at the thought of Professor Matthews, who was very distinguished, moving Professor Picton’s extensive private library by hand.
“I’m happy you and Gabriel are having a baby. Whether I move to Harvard or not, I’m hoping you’ll let me be the aged, eccentric godmother who purchases outrageous gifts and feeds the child things that aren’t good for him.”
“I’d like nothing more.” Julia squeezed Katherine’s hand just as Gabriel returned with coffee.
He glanced between the two women. “What’s going on?”
Katherine lifted her wine glass, saluting him. “I was just telling Julianne t
hat I accept the distinguished appointment as your baby’s godmother.”
Just before bed, Julia asked Gabriel about his conversation with Professor Martin.
Gabriel stared up at the ceiling.
“It went better than expected, but I doubt he’ll ever forgive me.”
Julia rested her head on his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“He thinks I stabbed him and the entire department in the back. Although the fact that I married you seems to have ameliorated his low opinion of me. Perhaps once he learns we’re pregnant, his anger will cool a little more.”
“How do you feel about him?”
Gabriel shrugged. “He was a friend. I’m sorry we had a falling out, but I’m not sorry for what I did. I’d do it again.”
Julia sighed. “Well, the day wasn’t a total loss. I enjoyed watching my fellow graduate students react to your arrival.”
Gabriel’s lips twitched. “Oh, really? And how did they react?”
Julia rolled onto her stomach. “Like they’d never seen a hot professor before. You made quite an impression in your turtleneck.”
“Ah, yes, the turtleneck. Turtles have that effect on people.”
“It’s the man they were admiring. And I was proud to be with you.” She laced the edges of the sheet between her fingers. “But there are still rumors going around.”
“Oh, really?” Gabriel lifted her chin so he could make eye contact.
“Zsuzsa told me that some of the grad students have been saying that you got me into the program.”
“Bastards,” Gabriel spat. “This is Christa’s fault.”
“Not entirely. We made our choices and we have to live with them.”
“The reality of what happened and what they’re saying is poles apart.”
“That’s true. But you’ll be interested to know that now they’re gossiping about Christa.”
Gabriel gazed at her with cautious interest. “Christa? Why?”
“Sean, one of the PhD students in my department, has a friend at Columbia. He said that the department forced Christa out. None of the faculty would agree to supervise her.”
Gabriel’s eyebrows lifted. “Really? When I was in New York, Lucia mentioned that Katherine complained about Christa’s behavior in Oxford. But I doubt her dismissal had anything to do with us. Lucia also said that her work wasn’t very good.”
“It’s possible she didn’t get along with the Dante specialists in that department. They can be mercurial.” Julia winked at her husband slyly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Gabriel sniffed.
“Sean said that Christa is on her way to do her PhD in Geneva.”
“Geneva doesn’t have its own doctoral program in Italian. They’re part of a consortium.”
“That’s where she’s headed, if the rumors are to be believed.”
Gabriel shook his head. “If she’d just focused on her work at Toronto and not become fixated on me, she’d probably still be there. Her original application and writing sample were very good. It was her machinations that were her downfall. Then she made the colossal error of going up against Katherine. That made Lucia nervous.”
“Why?”
“Katherine is one of the best in her field. If anyone wants to publish in Dante studies, or write a grant for support, or try to get a job, people look to her for her opinion. If she approves of you, she’ll say so. If she doesn’t, she’ll say that, too. No one wants to alienate her in case they need her support some day. That includes Lucia and her department.”
Julia pursed her lips.
“I didn’t want Christa’s life to be ruined. I just wanted her to leave us alone.”
“She did this to herself. She had several opportunities to rethink her choices, and she didn’t. No one made her go to Oxford and try to sabotage you, or to do mediocre work at Columbia.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Julia rested her head on the pillow. “Academia is the strangest place.”
“Bit like Mars, really. Except with more sex.”
Julia laughed. “I’m glad Katherine approves of me. I shudder to think what would happen if she didn’t.”
“Me, too. But in any case, I’ll speak to Greg Matthews and make sure the rumors about us are quashed.”
“Don’t call in a favor for that. I might need his help with something else.”
“Like what?”
“Katherine thinks I need to take a maternity leave. She wants me to speak to Cecilia about it.”
Gabriel stroked the arches of her eyebrows with his fingers.
“And what do you want?”
“I have to talk to Cecilia. But I was hoping to wait until I’m in my second trimester. Most mis—” She caught Gabriel’s eye and stumbled over the word. “—problems occur in the first trimester.”
“If you want to take a maternity leave, you should. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. I’m going on leave regardless. After the paternity leave, they owe me a sabbatical. I could be home with the baby for two years.”
“Isn’t there some rule about not taking a leave and a sabbatical back to back?”
“Probably.” Gabriel began caressing her lower back. “But I have it written into my contract that they give me a sabbatical the year after next. It was part of their job offer.”
“I’d hate to see you waste your sabbatical,” she said quietly.
His hand rested in the hollow of her lower back.
“What part of spending time with the baby would be wasted?”
“You won’t be able to finish your book.”
“I’m sure I’ll have time to write. Even if I didn’t, it would be worth it. Talk to Cecilia and see what she says. But whatever you do, don’t worry. I made promises to you, and I intend to keep them.”
Julia smiled. “That’s the only reason why I’m not freaking out.”
He gazed at her intensely. “Good.”
Chapter Seventy-four
April 2012
So, Julianne, what can I do for you?” Cecilia Marinelli ushered her graduate student into her office, gesturing to a comfortable chair near the large desk.
Cecilia was just under five feet tall, with bobbed dark hair and blue eyes. She was from Pisa, originally, and spoke English with an accent.
“I came to ask your advice.” Julia began wringing her hands.
“Ask.” Cecilia gave Julia an encouraging look.
“Um, I’m going to have a baby.”
“Congratulations! This is good news, yes?” Cecilia switched to Italian, smiling widely.
Julia answered her in Italian. “Yes. Very good news. Uh, but I’m due in September, right at the beginning of the semester.”
Cecilia shrugged. “Then you take maternity leave and return the next year.”
“I don’t want to fall behind in my program, so I’m not going to take a maternity leave.”
Professor Marinelli shook her head. “This is not the best idea. Normally, in your third year, you would teach in the fall and take your linguistics course plus another class. Then you would write your general exams in the winter. Since your baby comes in September, I think your teaching and coursework would have to be delayed until January. Then you will be studying for your exams at the same time. This is too much.” Cecilia’s tone was not unkind.
“I didn’t realize that.” Julia’s voice sounded shaky and small.
“You do what you like, but certainly, I would take maternity leave.”
“Really?”
Cecilia sat back in her chair for a moment. “It will be too much for you to put all these things in one semester. Your colleagues will have the advantage of you in their general exams. And you cannot fail. So, to make things fair, you take maternity leave for one year. Then, you teach and take your classes the following Septe
mber, and take your exams in the winter. Yes, you will be behind a year. But you are a good student. I think you will catch up when you are writing your dissertation. It will be better to be behind a year than to realize midsemester you cannot do everything.”
Julia’s heart sank as all her plans fell to pieces. Frantically, she searched for another solution.
“Aren’t some of the courses offered in the summer?”
Cecilia noted her student’s reaction and switched to English. “No, I’m sorry.”
Julia’s hands twisted in her lap.
“It’s just that Gabriel was going to take a leave from BU so that I wouldn’t have to.”
“Gabriel? With a baby?” Cecilia laughed, chattering to herself in Italian.
(Apparently, she found the thought of the Professor looking after a baby highly amusing. In this, she was not alone.)
“This, I did not expect. But it shows he will be a good father, yes? If he is willing to help. But Gabriel’s leave doesn’t solve the problem of the schedule. It isn’t realistic to think you can have a baby, then return to class the next day. God forbid you have complications and need to take time off before the baby is born.”
Julia winced. “I hadn’t thought of that, either.”
Cecilia smiled patiently. “This is why we have advisors, to offer advice and maybe a little caution. My advice is to take maternity leave. You won’t lose your place in the program or your funding. If you want, I can give you a reading list for your dissertation prospectus and you can work on that while you’re on leave. You could also work on your other languages. But let’s not be too ambitious. And there’s one more thing, but you must promise to keep it secret. Professor Matthews is waiting to make the formal announcement.” She switched back into Italian, as if that language afforded them more privacy.
“Of course.” Julia responded in Italian, looking at her supervisor with interest.
“Professor Picton has decided to come to Harvard.”
“Really? That’s wonderful.” Julia’s heart leapt with joy.
“Yes, it is. She’s committed to stay in Oxford one more year, then she will arrive next September, when you return from maternity leave. I cannot speak for her, but I believe she would be a reader on your dissertation. This is very good news for your project.”
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