13. Ned #2
But he practiced this, and the words come easily.
“I was in his class ages ago, in the initial coursework for my doctorate. Just the one stats class we were required to take, and I’ll be the first to tell you I am far and away a much stronger qualitative researcher.
I’ve been working to prepare a study on incoming first-generation college students that would follow them from orientation through their first semester, with a focus on increasing retention and working with administration, advisors, and RAs on targeting students who find themselves not wanting to return for a second term.
” Yes, there: Ned managed to wedge in a mention of his research.
Next, he’ll work the topic over to how this research dovetails into a seminar he’s excited to teach, and from there—
“Chris has a lot to say about the two of you.”
Ned lets out a laugh. “I’m sure he does.”
She glances between them again. “Charles did too.”
Oh. Great. Ned can only imagine how that went, and carefully keeps the smile on his face.
“So, I’m sorry, I’m just trying to get the timeline straight,” Beverly says. “You two started seeing each other last year?”
“Years after I took that course,” Ned confirms, and it’s glossing over things, but he adds, “I basically had my defense date scheduled. I know it’s unconventional that I was a doctoral candidate and he was—is—a professor, but I can assure you that nothing inappropriate—”
“No, no,” she says quickly. “I just thought you’d been together for a lot longer.”
“We wouldn’t have dated any earlier in my doctorate program,” Ned says quickly. Because they couldn’t even stand to talk to each other, he doesn’t add. “Both of us, and Chris, were comfortable with the timing when we did get together.”
“Yes, and I might have had that question but—I’m sorry, aren’t you two married?”
“Married?” Ned asks.
“Getting married?” Beverly asks.
Ned stares at her. This was not on his list to prepare for.
Have you published anything other than from your dissertation?
he was ready to answer today. Can you talk about your teaching evaluations?
And How have you contributed to the department since you arrived at Adams? That, he practiced how to respond to.
But Beverly apparently isn’t interested in the number of articles Ned has submitted to journals versus those that have been accepted.
Which is good, maybe, because the logjam of academic journals means he’s still waiting on his first paper to finally appear, a fact that Adams was forgiving of but Newbury might not be.
“And your daughter—Penny?”
“Peggy,” Ned says.
“You’re raising her together, no?” Beverly points back and forth between Ned and Abbot. “That’s what I understood.”
“She’s mine,” Ned says slowly. “My ex—I was married, still, actually, when I took that class with Henry.” Henry.
It’s odd any time Ned says it, like he’s talking about someone else entirely, and it feels even more off kilter now, Beverly looking at them with a question on her face Ned can’t quite parse.
This conversation was supposed to be about his work.
How he might fit into the department, if he’s the type of professor they even want.
If they can make space for him, or if the idea of him getting hired will fizzle out before it gets off the ground.
His research, the courses he teaches, how he can contribute.
Not asking if they’re getting married and anything about Peggy.
“I’m so sorry, I thought you two had a child together,” Beverly says. “And I was so sure, Henry, from what Chris said, that you had gotten married since I last saw you. Which—yes, okay, I see now if you’ve only been together for a year, that makes much more sense.”
“A year and a half,” Ned says, because that suddenly feels very important. Almost a year and a half, at least.
Beverly offers a smile. “Well, I’m glad to know I didn’t miss the wedding.”
She’d garner an invite? Ned looks at Abbot for help, but he sits silently, rubbing his fingertips together.
Ned tries to return her smile and hopes his face is working right. “Nope, you didn’t miss anything.”
“But really,” she says, “I understood you two to be more serious.”
“Serious? We’re serious. And I’ll be honest, I didn’t know to assume a spousal hire would be quite so literal.” Ned lets out a bright laugh at the joke.
Beverly doesn’t. “No, it’s not,” she says and grabs a pen to write a quick note on a pad of paper. Ned tries to read it but can’t. “It’s fine if you aren’t legally married, but from what I heard of you two—well, is there a plan?”
Ned raises his eyebrows. “A plan?”
“Do you have a date set?”
Ned opens his mouth. For what? he nearly asks before he catches himself. For a wedding, Beverly clearly means.
“Or is getting married not on the table?” she asks. “I don’t mean to pry. I’m just trying to understand the situation. It’s a bit different than what I’ve heard.”
“We’re…” Ned clears his throat. Help, he thinks at Abbot, still sitting there. “What, um, can we clarify?”
Beverly spreads her hands. “I heard all about you from Charles, Ned, and then from how Chris talked, you two are married, with a kid, minivan, picket fence, the whole thing. And I know Chris. We all know Chris. He can be a bit…well.”
“Enthusiastic?” Ned supplies.
That at least pulls a smile from her. “Yes, enthusiastic. But, listen. I want to help you. Henry, we want you here, and Ned, from what I’ve seen of your work, you could be great.”
“Thanks,” Ned says. I don’t believe you, he could add with honesty, either about his work or her happiness to have him there, from the hesitation plain on her face.
“And it’s not that I don’t trust you both,” she goes on. “But I’ve just stepped into this role, and there will certainly be questions about this hiring.”
“Questions,” Ned repeats.
“It’ll have to go through HR, certainly.”
“HR. Right. Of course.”
“And to take a spousal hire to them, I need something more here, don’t I?”
Does she? Yes, apparently, with how she’s looking at them. Ned reaches for an answer but only comes up with a gaping silence.
Beverly fills it. “You’ve been dating for only a year, and living apart the whole time. What do I say when I’m asked about recommending a spousal hire?”
“That…” Ned starts. “Is there a—we had a form? To fill out for Callahan? Disclosure of our relationship?” It comes out weak, but can’t there be some similar document they can sign?
A testament to how very much together they are?
“Because I can assure you that the two of us, we’re good.
Great. And Abbot—Henry moving here is only going to solidify that. ”
“You’re moving in with Ned?” Beverly asks him.
Oh. Great. Another person making assumptions about where Ned’s living. But she doesn’t backtrack like Dad did, just keeps her attention on Abbot.
Who doesn’t quite look at her.
Please, Ned silently begs him. Say something and fix this.
Abbot doesn’t.
“We, uh…” Ned tries for another smile. “Something to figure out, for sure.”
“So you won’t live together down here?” she asks, looking between them. “Or will you?”
All that sits on Ned’s tongue is I’m not getting a place, Abbot is. What’s he going to do, tell this woman with her career at Newbury University that he’ll keep living with his parents?
She sighs and visibly gentles, a layer of her crisp professionalism easing into the look of affection she gives Abbot.
“Henry,” she says, and Ned wants to nudge him or kick his foot or something to get him to respond.
“I’m on your team here, but I know I’m going to field questions that I’ll have to answer.
And spousal hire is for spouses. Not literally, perhaps, but for committed relationships, at the very least.”
“We’re committed,” Ned says quickly. Of course they are. It’s him and Abbot. And Chris said as much. Charles too. They said too much, maybe, but it all points at the fact that their years together have been better than any Ned has lived before.
Well, year. Singular.
“I’m happy to go out on a limb for you two. But the university won’t create a new position for you, Ned, for a couple who’s only been dating for a little while. They’ll need more.”
“We are more,” Ned says.
“Then what can we show that’s not just my word and not just yours? Do you own anything together? Cars? Not property, I’m guessing?”
“No,” Ned manages. “We don’t.”
“And you are or aren’t looking for a place to live together?”
“We’re, ah, waiting for job offers to be a bit more finalized.”
“Of course. Listen, let me help. Every other spousal hire I’ve seen, it’s been easy enough to produce proof, so we just need to get you two something that will hold up.
I mentioned my wife is in real estate? Here’s her contact information.
She’d love to meet you, Henry. I’ve told her all about you.
And I understand if you don’t want to use her to purchase anything, but at least looking together is something concrete I can use in your defense, right? ”
Is it? She sounds so sure. Numbly, Ned takes the card.
“She’ll manage to get you into her schedule right away, I’m sure,” Beverly says, and then she’s standing and holding out her hand for Ned to shake. “Otherwise, I’m not sure there’s much I can do for you, Ned.”
Ned didn’t even get to talk about the course he wanted to propose at Adams, or the paper he’s working on next. Or casually mention that he’s read four of her most recent papers and work in a compliment on her research. Or—or—or—