Chapter Thirty-Nine
Noah
A month later
The University of Utah. I took in the large and welcoming sign posted near the road as I turned into the guest parking lot.
This time, I didn’t have a fan waiting eagerly for me in the parking like before, much to my immense relief. I would never be able to handle another Miles in my life. I still grimaced whenever I deleted his desperate emails about coaching the rugby team.
I used the student map to find my way over to the admissions office. The campus was still as I expected it to be with summer break in session. A few maintenance workers stopped to greet me along the pathway. I relaxed with each step I took until I reached the office. The small brick building felt welcoming, just as the campus did. It felt like a badly needed fresh start.
The secretary, a friendly older woman, told me to take a seat in the waiting area while she went to retrieve the dean from his office. I waited while taking in the various photographs and paintings that hung on the walls before the doors opened.
A tall and lean man with a shadow of a graying beard stepped out to hold out a hand for me to shake. A welcoming smile spread across his face. I could see the striking similarity between him and Jen from their dark hair and warm features.
“Welcome, Mr. Webber. I am pleased that you could come out so soon,” he said. “Bill Myer. I am the dean here at the University of Utah.”
“Pleasure to meet you. Thank you for meeting me,” I said, grasping his hand strongly. “I appreciate the opportunity to come and talk with you about the senior advising position here.”
Bill grinned widely and clapped me on the shoulder. “Of course. You were highly recommended from a few professors over there at PHU and are qualified for this position, in my opinion.”
“This position spoke to me strongly when I sent in my resume,” I replied, grinning.
There were very few things that I believed in life, but I believed in going wherever my gut told me to go.
When the position appeared in my inbox, courtesy of Kale as he had promised, I felt that strong urge to send out my resume. The position asked for a qualified professor to oversee the graduating seniors and advise them on their senior writing projects. It counted as 95% of their grade to graduate.
While I didn’t mind teaching freshmen students, I longed to work with senior students who had a strong desire to continue on with their writing.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Bill said, grinning broadly. “Come along. I’ll show you the campus and we can talk in my office over the finer details of the job.”
I spent the next hour with Bill showing me around to the various departments, and even introducing me to a few professors who were teaching summer courses. Unlike PHU, I felt at home and comfortable surrounded by a staff that clearly cared about one another.
“It’s a mixed bag of professors here,” Bill explained once we returned back to his office. He motioned for me to take a seat across from him. “I think keeping the balance between a hip perception and a traditional one is what makes this school great. You’ll find that I have staff here on campus that are young, and old timers like me.”
He chuckled after taking a seat in his leather stuffed chair. I sat on the edge of the chair across from him, trying to not let my nerves show. I had an idea that he had called over to PHU for a reference. The last email I received from Miles had been less than friendly. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear that “qualified” was the last word my previous dean would use to describe me.
“So,” Bill said, twining his fingers together to rest them on his stomach. “I had a curious phone conversation with Miles over at PHU.”
My heart sank. Here it goes. You slept with a student. You’re crazy to think you’re going to get this job. I tried to keep my features calm as possible, despite the panic running through me. I really needed this job. I had promised Iris that everything would be okay. I didn’t want her to feel compelled to work while trying to wrap up her degree.
“He was quite vehement about how you were the worst professor on campus.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. That didn’t surprise me. “However,” Bill continued, smiling at me, “several other staff members there said that all your students flourished in your classes. They also explained to me that there was a personal vendetta going on between you and Miles.”
I smiled inwardly in relief at that. I tried to read Bill’s expression, but not a hint of emotion played across it despite the warm smile on his face.
“He was upset because I didn’t take on a coaching job for the rugby team there,” I said.
“Rugby?” Bill’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Is that what PHU used to be famous for? Their rugby team.”
“That would be it.”
“Right,” he said, shaking his head. “Never understood it, but we like to focus more on studies here. We have teams, but nothing to the extent of PHU. I hope that is all right with you.”
“That is fine with me,” I said. “My professional athlete days are over with, anyway.”
“Welcome to the University of Utah, then,” he said, grinning. “I’ll make sure to have the secretary have you fill out the appropriate paper work. We need to get you a key for your office, as well. I am glad to have you on board here.”
He rose from his chair to hold out his hand again. I took it without pressing anything further about what was said between him and Miles. I didn’t know what else had been said, but if he had said something further, Bill certainly didn’t appear to take it to heart.
I walked back to my car with a grin permanently etched on my face. I could get used to the idea of staying here for long term. Iris certainly enjoyed the classes on and off campus. I had her to thank in a lot of ways, and I knew she would be ecstatic to hear about this.
The drive to PHU went by quickly. I parked in the library parking lot before I took the back paths to the English Department. If Miles was on campus, I didn’t want to chance a nasty run in with him.
The building was thankfully empty when I slipped in through the back door. Various emotions crashed over me as I stood there in the hallway, taking in the familiar sights and smells. It still didn’t seem real that over a month ago, I had an office upstairs. Now, I was a stranger in this building.
And, I still wouldn’t change a damned thing about what happened.
I made my way up the stairs to the second floor. To my relief, Kale’s office door was open, whilst mine was permanently closed. I didn’t even bother walking over to it to hash out the memories. I was here for one and only purpose: to thank Kale.
A couple of boxes were scattered throughout the office. Kale looked around from emptying out a bookshelf when I knocked gently on the door.
“Son of a bitch,” he said, dropping a few books in a box. A grin tugged at his lips. “I didn’t think you would ever set foot on this campus.”
“I didn’t think so, either,” I admitted, grinning at him. “But I wanted to stop by to say thank you for the references.”
“No problem,” he said, shrugging. “Miles wanted blood after you turned him down again about coming back to coach. I didn’t want that idiot ruining your reputation because of his hurt feelings.”
“I ruined my reputation because of what I did,” I said, gravelly. “I broke some rules here, but it worked out anyway.”
“Yeah. How is Iris handling all of this?”
I shoved my hands into my front pockets. “She’s living with me now. She’s enrolled in some online and campus classes over at the University of Utah.”
“She will be able to graduate after all, then,” Kale said, grinning. “That’s great to hear. I hope she continues on with her writing, too. She has talent.”
“I’ll make that suggestion to her, but she’s adamant on doing something different.”
“Like what?”
“Not sure yet,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “She just wants to finish her degree before moving onto something different. Something about starting over.”
“Women.” Kale laughed. “They can never make up their mind.”
“No kidding,” I said and looked around his office with a frown. “Are you leaving PHU, or packing up for the summer?”
“Packing up permanently,” he said, shortly. “After Miles found out that I had talked to the University of Utah on your behalf, he cut my pay in half.”
I grimaced at that. “You shouldn’t have done that, man. You love your job here.”
“Not really,” he said. “I loved it a while ago, but ever since Miles took position…” He trailed off with a sigh. “I took another job up in New York teaching English to kids coming off the streets. It’s a pretty neat program that the government offers kids who want to get back up on their feet.”
“That’s honorable. Congrats,” I said, grinning. “You’ll do great there. I can see you whipping them into shape real quick with Edgar Allan Poe.”
He laughed loudly at that.
“Maybe,” he said. “We’ll see about that, but I’m into starting a new chapter in my life, too.”
“When do you leave?” I asked. “I have to buy you a beer after everything you’ve done for me.”
“I’ll be moving at the end of summer,” he said. He smiled at me gratefully. “I appreciate the offer, and I’d love to go right now, but I want to get my shit packed up before Miles comes down here. I sent him a rather interesting email, and I know he’ll be up here to investigate why I’m leaving.”
“He’ll have two positions to fill now,” I said, wryly. “I bet he’s in a real chipper mood.”
“Not really, but you better scram too before he gets here.”
I shook Kale’s hand after thanking him again for everything he had done over the past few months. We’d only known each other for a short while, but he proved to be one of those people I wanted in my life at all times. He was loyal, and he never judged anyone.
The corner of my lips curled up in amusement. I was now up to two good friends in my life, and I never felt happier about that.
I drove home with the windows down to let the afternoon air in. I pulled up in the driveway next to Iris’ car and sat there for a while with sweat dripping down the back of my neck. Everything was working out the way I had hoped it would. A few weeks ago, everything had looked grim and bleak besides Iris standing alongside me without missing a stride.
I cut the engine off, but paused in getting out of the car when I noticed my father calling my cellphone. The last time we had spoken was shortly after my father caught wind from my mother that I had resigned from my teaching position. His initial excitement had turned into disapproval quickly when I told him about Iris and that I had another interview at rival University.
“Take the chance to go back to rugby, son,” he had told me, coldly. “Don’t waste all your talent on this fruitless dream of yours – and trying to please the student you seduced.”
“She’s not just a student,” I had shot back at him. “I love her, and I’m not going back to rugby. Maybe you should let go of your dreams of me being a famous athlete.”
It’d been weeks since we talked. I debated on answering before slowly hitting the accept button with a sigh. “If you’re calling to fight, I’m not going to do it. I already told you what my plan was. You can either accept it, or forget my number.”
“I’m calling because your mother insisted that I apologize,” he said. “And, she’s right. I do owe you an apology.”
I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel while I weighed out his words.
“I doubt Mom convinced you to apologize,” I said, warily. “And, I doubt that you mean your apology.”
“You are wrong, then.”
“Of course, I am. I am always wrong according to you.”
“Noah.” I stopped at the sharpness in my father’s voice. “Your mother and I haven’t been the best examples in your life. We get that, but she’s also right. You can’t blame us for everything that has gone wrong in your life on us. You’re thirty, and that makes you a grown man.”
“This sounds like the beginning of a lecture,” I pointed out. My good mood was starting to swelter away in the heat.
“It isn’t a lecture. All I’m trying to say is that no matter what you do in your life, your mother and I will always be supportive of it.”
Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I smoothed my fingers along the leather stitching on the steering wheel.
My father had never once apologized for anything he said or did. I appreciated the forced sentiment, but I had a suspicion that there was a double motive for this apology. He never talked to my mother, either, and when they did, it always ended up in an explosive argument that lasted for months.
“I don’t know what you’re up to,” I said, slowly, “but I appreciate the apology.”
My father sniffed indelicately into the phone. “You assume that I have some sort of double motive for apologizing to you?”
“Sort of. Can you blame me?”
“I guess not,” he said. “Your mother and I had a surprisingly decent conversation the other day about how your life has changed. She got me to see some things that I didn’t want to accept. If you’re truly happy, Noah, doing what you are doing, then I will support you no matter what.”
A smile stretched across my lips.
“Don’t try too hard to sound like you meant it,” I teased, but a part of me let out a breath of relief. The pressure from my father lifted off my shoulders finally, after years of it. “I know you wanted me to keep going with rugby, but I can’t do it again. It’s only fair, considering what happened.”
“I suppose so, but it’s your life, Noah. You do what you need to do to make yourself happy. I’ll try my best not to make any judgments.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I rolled my eyes in exasperation. He would still make comments. “I’m proud of you and Mom both for not biting each other’s heads off during this conversation.”
He chuckled deeply into the phone. “People can change over time. Your mother and I were never right for one another. That’s why it never worked.” Silence stretched on between us while I waited for him to continue on. “Your mother said that she met Iris last week. She said the two of you seem happy with one another.”
“We are,” I said. “Iris and I love each other. It’s a first for me.”
“It is, so don’t try to second guess it for any reason.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“And, I’d like to meet her soon, if possible.”
“We can do that.”
The front door opened as I arranged a day to meet up with my father for the three of us to have lunch. I looked up to find Iris standing there in a pair of tight black shorts and a simple white tank top that showed off her petite form. Her wavy hair was clipped back as she stepped outside to wave at me cheerfully.
I knew then what Hunter had meant when he talked about Livvy. There was nothing better than coming home to the one person that was your greatest love and best friend wrapped up into one. Those wild days of taking anyone to bed with me were long gone. This was my life now, and I didn’t mind it at all.
And I had Iris right next to me. I couldn’t ask for anything else.