by Hart, Renee
He followed me as I stepped behind the front desk to retrieve my purse. I stopped by the phone, resting my hand near it. I could call campus security and have him removed. If he tried to put his hands on me again, all I had to do was scream. One of the other librarians would call for help. Though I worried about how long it could take for help to get here.
“Why are you giving me so much trouble?” he asked. He moved in close, practically pinning me against the desk. His blue eyes watched me with an intensity I'd never seen when we were married. “That's my land. It belongs to my family. You know it, and I know it.”
“It's in my name.” I gripped the edge of the desk behind me, trying not to let myself cringe in his presence. I kept my chin raised, staring him down.
“That was just for convenience. You have no right to that land!”
“And you have no right to come down here harassing me!” I clenched my fists. “Get out of here, now!”
He raised a hand. I batted it away on reflex. His face darkened and he grabbed me by my blouse. One hand went into his jacket.
“What's going on here?”
Sunil turned his glare on Steve, one of the night librarians. He stood just out of Sunil's reach, a heavy math textbook in his hands. From the way he was holding it, it looked like he was ready to hit Sunil with it if he had to.
“Sharada?” Steve asked. “Do I need to call security?”
“No need,” Sunil said. He let go of me and straightened his jacket. He turned to go, glaring at me the whole time. As he circled around the desk he pointed at me and said, “You turn over my land before the end of the week, or we're going to have a problem, Sharada.”
I watched him go, then collapsed against the desk, breaking down in tears. Steve came over and held me by the shoulders to support me. “Are you all right, Sharada? Did he hurt you?”
I just shook my head, unable to find my voice. I went to the ladies' room and splashed some cold water on my face. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I saw lines in my face that hadn't been there when Sunil and I were young and in love. I felt tired, so tired that I leaned against the sink, unable to find the energy to move. I stayed there until a couple of students came in, talking and laughing. I grabbed some paper towels and dried my face, forcing a smile so the girls wouldn't realize anything was wrong. Then I left, stopping at the front desk only long enough to reassure Steve that everything was okay and that there was nothing he could do.
On my way back to the parking lot, I kept my eyes out for each of the emergency call stations that lined the walkways through campus. I didn't see any sign of Sunil again, but the distance between one call station and another seemed much too far. I kept my pepper spray in my hand as I made my way to my car.
As soon as I got home I called my lawyer and told him I wanted to be rid of the land. I still didn't want Sunil to have it. I didn't want him to be able to sell the land so he could invest in some cheap new scheme to cheat innocent people out of their money. But I couldn't deal with him forcing himself into my life anymore. I needed to move on, and the only way I could do that would be to put an end to this situation, one way or the other.
Chapter 8
A few days after my encounter with Sunil, Harold and I had a dinner date. He took me to a little Italian restaurant and we sat at a private table near the back. Soft music played in the background and we spoke to each other in intimate whispers while sharing a bottle of wine. I told him about my childhood in India, and how it was such an adjustment when I moved here to America for the first time.
“What would you say was the biggest difference?” he asked.
I had to think about that. I took a sip of wine, mulling the question over. “The way people talk,” I said.
“What, our American accents?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No. Simpler things that you would never guess were a problem.”
“Like what?”
“Well,” I said, “like the first time I went to McDonald's. After I placed my order, the girl behind the counter asked, 'For here or to go?' I didn't understand what she meant. I spoke English perfectly before I even moved here, but that simple phrase wasn't something I was familiar with. I remember staring at her like I was some kind of idiot, and she just repeated louder and slower, 'For. Here. Or. To go?' As if that would help!”
“I never would have thought about that,” he said, chuckling. “It's such a common phrase.”
“Yes,” I said, nodding along with him. “But different places use different phrases to mean the same thing. Depending on whether you're in America, Britain, or anyplace else, 'to go' food might be called 'take out' or 'carry out' or 'take away.' Heck, even here in America, you see people in different parts of the country using 'soda' or 'pop' to mean the same thing. And...and I'm sorry, I must be boring you with my linguistic rants. My bachelor's degree was in Communication Studies.”
“Actually, I find it fascinating,” he said. “Language has always fascinated me. That's one of the reasons I teach English.”
I smiled and reached across the table, taking his hand in mine. It was so nice to have someone I could talk about anything with, even the silly, nerdy things that most people were never interested in. I could have been talking about furniture upholstery patterns or 1800s patent laws, and Harold would have hung on my every word.
We finished dinner but skipped dessert—silly as it might seem, now that I'd started dating again I was trying to watch my weight. We went out to Babe the Blue Pickup Truck and Harold drove me home. Classical music played on the radio, another contradiction about Harold's life. I would have expected a man wearing flannels and driving a pickup truck to listen to country.
When we got to my house, Harold walked me to the door, just as he did after each of our dates. I held his hands in mine and leaned up on my tiptoes to kiss his grizzled face. Then I looked up at him, bathed in the dim light of my porch light, and asked, “Do you want to come inside?”
Harold cleared his throat and his face started to turn pink. I tried not to giggle. A man his age, getting as shy and awkward as any teenager. “Are you sure you want me to?” he asked.
“I'm sure,” I said.
I held his hand as I opened the door, then I led him inside. The house was dark, and I left it that way, only flipping on the light at the top of the stairs. I kicked off my shoes and set my purse on the table by the door. Harold looked around, taking the house in with the same slow deliberation that he did everything. He stood there quietly, seeming unsure whether it was okay to take off his shoes and make himself at home.
I led him down the hall and into the living room. Moonlight drifted in through the sliding glass door, bathing the room in soft radiance. We sat on the couch, side by side, holding hands. I rested my head against Harold's shoulder. We were silent for a long time, but it was comfortable silence. The silence of intimate companionship.
We eased closer to each other. I slipped my hand up to his neck and leaned up to kiss him.
Harold held me like I was a fragile dove. The way he moved with such care, I could tell he was worried about hurting me, or about crossing a line I wasn't ready for.
I nestled into his embrace, finding a comfort in his arms that I hadn't known in a long time. A peace that I sorely needed, more than I'd even realized. Being held by him made me feel safe, and warm.
I laid my head against his chest. He stroked my hair, and I could hear the sound of his heartbeat. A warm smile spread across my lips as his fingers ran through my hair. It was a simple touch, but it spoke volumes about this man that he could be so content, and bring forth such feelings of warmth within me, with such a simple touch. The silence of a calm evening, a gentle embrace, and the man who was becoming a part of my world.
After a while he left for home, but not before we planned our next meeting.
Chapter 9
I woke up the next morning, got out of bed and headed downstairs.
I hummed to myself as I made a quick breakfast o
f toast, scrambled eggs, and half a grapefruit. I balanced my plate on my lap as I ate, looking out the kitchen window, then did the dishes.
When I heard the alarm go off in the other room, I realized I had to get ready for work. As I showered, dressed, and got ready to leave, I thought about Harold and the evening we shared together.
It was when we pulled up to my house after dinner, that he quietly took my hand and raised it to his lips. “You're a wonderful woman, Sharada.”
“Silly man,” I whispered and then kissed his forehead. I knew at that moment, that I wanted to have a future together.
***
I headed downstairs and out to my car. I smiled and drove off, humming softly to myself on the way to work.
I strolled into the library with a huge grin on my face. “Good mooorning, Jessica,” I sang as I walked past the front desk and tossed my purse into the main office.
She spun around in her chair, smiling up at me. “You're in a good mood.”
“Mmm-hmm.” I poured myself a cup of coffee from the cheap little coffee pot in the office, inhaling the aroma.
“I'm guessing Harold's in a pretty good mood, too.”
I glanced at her sidelong and said, “He was when he left last night.”
She laughed and I laughed as well, feeling light and alive. I had a huge smile on my face the entire morning, even when I had to deal with a few annoying students who came up asking for books when they didn't even know the titles. It seemed like nothing could spoil my mood.
Around mid-morning, I realized I'd left some paperwork in my car. I headed out and walked to the employee parking lot, savoring the feel of the warm spring sun on my face. I greeted a few students as I walked by, and I stopped to smell the flowers blooming by the art building. I was so lightheaded, in fact, that I got all the way to my car before I realized I'd left my purse, with my keys inside, back in the library.
I turned to head back when I saw a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. Then a hand shot out and grabbed me by the arm.
“What is this supposed to mean?” Sunil shouted, waving a handful of papers in my face. He threw me back against my car and stood there towering over me. “You think this is funny, Sharada? You think you can play games with me?”
“I'm done dealing with you, Sunil!” I shouted, my voice trembling. I cringed back against the car, wishing I had my purse, either for my pepper spray or for my phone to call the police.
“You can't keep coming down here and messing with my life. I'm calling the police and you're going to jail for violating the restraining order.” I should have called the cops on him weeks ago. It had just been too hard for me to call the police on the man I had once loved.
“I wouldn't waste my time looking at your worthless face if you would cooperate with me,” he shouted, waving the papers at me. “Instead, your lawyer sends me this garbage? What is this?”
“A settlement,” I said. “Fifty/fifty. My lawyer said—”
“Screw your damn lawyer!” he shouted. “That land is mine and I will have all of it. Not half. What kind of garbage is this? Half!”
I looked around, but there was no one in the parking lot. No one close enough to help, at least. I saw a few students off in the distance looking at us, but they were too far away to be able to tell how heated the argument was. Maybe they would call for help, I thought, but not in time.
“Half is all I'm giving you,” I said, clenching my fists. “I shouldn't even give you that much, you lying cheat.”
I felt the burning slap across my face before I even saw Sunil move. I raised my hand to my cheek, quivering like a leaf. Tears streamed down my face. If I'd still held any kind of latent feelings for this man, the man I'd once vowed to be with for the rest of my life, it all vanished in that moment.
I saw violence in his eyes. He heaved deep breaths, clenching and unclenching his fists. I caught a glimpse into his jacket and saw his gun holstered there. I didn't know if he was angry enough to draw it on me, but I knew that if he did, I'd never be able to stop him.
“Now you listen to me, Sharada—”
He was cut off by the revving of an engine as Babe the Blue Pickup Truck whipped around the corner and stopped right in front of us. Harold stepped out and reached into the back of his truck, drawing a four-foot-long two-by-four and clenching it in his fists like an axe. He advanced on Sunil. “You keep your hands off the lady, Mister.”
Sunil reached into his jacket. I stepped forward and grabbed him by his lapels. “No! No, Sunil. I'll give you the land. All of it. Just...just go away. Go away and leave us alone.”
Harold watched me carefully. “Sharada...”
Sunil snapped his hand up and pointed a finger at Harold. “You stay out of this. This is between me and my wife.”
Harold stepped forward, but I held up a hand to stop him. I knew he was chivalrous enough to fight to protect me, but I didn't want that. I didn't want to risk seeing him get hurt, and I didn't want to be protected. This was between me and Sunil, and I had to settle it myself, or else I'd spend the rest of my life in fear of him. Even if the only way to settle it was to give him what he wanted.
“Sunil, go,” I said. “I'll call my lawyer right now. You can have the stupid land. I don't care. I don't want it.”
“Fine,” he said. He pushed me away from him and straightened his jacket. I saw him pat his side to make sure his gun was handy. He glared at Harold as he walked away.
I stepped over to Harold and reached up to grab the two-by-four and pushed it down.
“Sharada...” He watched me with those deep-set eyes, frowning.
“It's all right, Harold,” I said. I ran my hands up and down his muscular arms, not sure if I was trying to soothe him, or myself. “He's gone now.”
“Are you sure? I should call the police.”
“No.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew calling the police was the right thing to do, but I worried what Sunil would do if he got out on bail. I didn't want this situation turning into something worse than it already was.
“It's fine,” I said, looking into Harold's eyes. “It's going to be fine.”
“Is there anything I can do?” He leaned the two-by-four against his truck, then put his arms around me.
I thought about it for a long moment. I hadn't really told Harold anything about the situation between Sunil and I. It would have spoiled the mood to bring up such things when we were on a date. I was sure Harold would support me, but I wasn't sure what he could do to help.
Then an idea occurred to me. A stupid, foolish idea, and one that would no doubt anger Sunil quite a bit. It was also reckless and a bit dangerous. But it was a way for me to give him what he wanted without letting him win.
“It might not be one hundred percent...legal,” I said. I shrugged and gave Harold a lopsided grin.
“If it'll help you,” Harold said, “I'm all for it.”
I told him my idea, and God bless this sweet man, he laughed out loud so hard that I couldn't help but kiss him and hold him against my chest until his chuckles subsided.
Chapter 10
I spent a lot of my free time over the next few days in meetings with my lawyer and on the phone with the insurance company. I stood in my kitchen Saturday morning wrapping up one of the last phone calls, glad that everything was going so smoothly so far.
“Mmm-hmm,” I said into the phone, twirling a strand of hair between my fingers. “That's right. No, cancel the entire policy. Yes. Yes. No, I won't be needing to set up a new one. Well, that's just the way it is. Okay. Thank you. Goodbye.”
I hung up the phone and leaned against the kitchen counter with a sigh. I thought I might be crazy for doing this, but after the past few months, I felt like I really needed to do something crazy.
Harold pulled Babe the Blue Pickup Truck into my driveway a few minutes later. I greeted him at the door with a hug and a big kiss. His stubble scratched at my chin and made me giggle. “You letting this grow out agai
n?” I asked, tugging at a few of the short whiskers.
“Just for the vacation,” he said. “I never shave when I'm on vacation.”
“Well, I still shaved,” I said, turning away and watching him over my shoulder as I sashayed down the hall. His eyes took me in and made me feel ten years younger.
“This everything?” he asked as he followed me in. He picked up two of the suitcases that were sitting in the hall.
“Enough to cover us for Spring Break,” I said. I grabbed my little duffel bag and slung it over my shoulder. “I just brought what we'd need.”
We headed out to the truck and stuck my bags in the back, alongside Harold's. Spring break would run until a week from tomorrow, giving us nine days to ourselves. I'd arranged the final meeting with Sunil and our lawyers for the day after we got back. My lawyer was already drawing up all of the documents needed to turn over the cranberry bogs to Sunil, and all we'd have to do was sign them.
But between now and then, the land still belonged to me.
I put on some upbeat music as we drove out, singing along and enjoying the breeze coming through the truck's windows. Harold was mostly quiet, keeping his attention on the road. He didn't start talking until about half an hour into the trip.
“So, you're sure about this?”
“I'm quite sure,” I said. I kept my eyes straight ahead.
“You're not worried about getting into any trouble?”
I shrugged. “The land still belongs to me. And as long as it does, I can do as I please. Besides, if Sunil tries to bring me any legal trouble, his record isn't going to help him any. And since I'm pretty sure he's planning something illegal with the money from the land sale, I doubt he'll be the one calling the authorities. It would just draw attention to whatever scam or con job he's got going on with his other investors.”
“All right,” Harold said. He rubbed a knuckle across the scruff on his chin. “I've never done anything like this before. Though I agree with you that Sunil shouldn't get to profit from this. After you told me about that real estate thing he pulled, I looked up the news. A lot of poor, decent folks got screwed out of their life savings because of him. I don't much care for that.”
