Part 53 (1/2)
”The office. That sounds so official.”
”It should. You know. Office. Official. Anyway, we wound up playing chess and...you know how time gets away when you're drawing. That's how it is.”
”I see.”
”Yes.” Matthew nodded, not knowing quite where to let his eyes rest.
Berry nodded also. Then she said, ”A very lovely night.” A slight frown pa.s.sed over her face. ”Are you all right?”
”Yes, I'm-”
”I just thought you looked-”
”-all right, perfectly-”
”-a little troubled about-”
”-all right.”
”-something,” she said. ”Are you?”
”Me? Troubled about something? No. Absolutely not. As you say, it's a very lovely night.”
”Well,” she said.
”That's where this came from,” he said, holding up the pitcher and giving a grin that he knew must be the stupidest expression to ever slide across the face of a human being.
”Matthew!” She cuffed him on the shoulder. Not the wounded one, because she remembered.
”Listen,” they both said together.
”Go ahead,” Matthew offered.
”No, you.”
”The lady should go first.”
”All right, then.” Berry set her chin; something was coming. ”As you have agreed to be my...shall I say...guardian and have so far done a...fair job of it, I'd like to ask you a question.” She paused and Matthew waited. She chewed on her lower lip and then she looked him square in the eyes and said, ”There's going to be a social a week from Friday. I was wondering, just thinking really, if you might like to go. As my guardian, I mean.”
”A social? Uh...a week from Friday, did you say?”
”Grandda's printing the posters. It's going to be at Sally Almond's.”
”Ah. Sally Almond's. A week from Friday.” He also chewed on his lower lip, aware that Berry was watching him carefully. ”I...I really don't dance, you know.”
”I didn't say it was a dance. I said it was a social. Just meeting some people. I think there's going to be music. But dancing? I don't know.” She c.o.c.ked her head slightly. ”Why don't you dance?”
”I've never learned.”
”It's not all that difficult. You just do what everyone else is doing.”
”Yes, but tell that to my feet.” He sighed. ”I really can't go, Berry. Not a week from Friday. In fact, I think I...may have to take a trip on Friday morning and I won't be back until Sat.u.r.day.”
”A trip? To where?”
”I think it's probably time I went to see Mrs. Swanscott again.”
”I understand, but on that particular Friday?”
”It might be the only time I can get there for a while.” He cast his eyes down, realized she might see the untruth in that gesture, and quickly looked up at her again. ”Really.”
”Really?”
”A lot of work coming in,” Matthew said.
”I'm disappointed,” Berry admitted, ”but I know you have your work. Listen, then. Do you think it proper that I go alone? I really would like to meet some people my own age.”
”Oh...yes. Then again...there's...Effrem.”
”Effrem?”
”Yes, Effrem. As a matter of fact, if you like to dance”-here something caught at his throat and he had no idea what it was but he had to keep speaking lest he choke-”I happen to know that Effrem is a member of the Young Lions club and they are having a dance that particular night at the Dock House Inn. So. If you and Effrem were to”-again that choking sensation-”go to the social first, you might attend the dance afterward. Does that make sense?”
Berry stared at him. Then her eyes lit up and she smiled, in all innocence. ”It does make sense! But how in the world am I going to get Effrem to escort me?”
”You forget,” said Matthew, ”that my business is solving problems.”
”All right, then. You may guard me at the next social, and please please please say that someday you'll let me teach you how to dance.”