Chapter 8: Building a Good Relationship

Meredith

“SO? WHAT’S HE LIKE? You’ve been over there for three weeks now. Is it dreamy or is he still a brat?” Karen asked. She and Peggy Anne had seen me come in Friday afternoon. They were sitting in my room as I folded and packed my life into boxes. I was really leaving Green Hill Women’s College. I had thought I would stay through my baccalaureate, but I needed to get established at the University before my charge arrived in January. But that meant moving out of the room I’d lived in the past five of my eight years at Green Hill. Peggy Anne and Karen roomed across the hall.

“He’s different than he was. I mean, I should hope so. He’s eight years older, just like we are. I don’t know. Those extra two years between his age and mine are a huge gap in experience.” I folded another blouse and sat on the edge of the bed. “There are times when he’s still just a little kid—in a good way. He has a sense of wonder about him that shows in everything new he sees or touches.”

“Is he a good kisser?” Peggy Anne asked. She had a devilish look in her eyes.

“Peggy Anne! What a horrid thing to ask. How am I supposed to know if he’s a good kisser? I’m his personal assistant, not his girlfriend.” Everything had been quite proper since our horseback ride.

“You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. Personal assistant? What eighteen-year-old boy needs a personal assistant?” Karen mocked.

“You’d be surprised. He’s not just lying by the pool all day. He actually goes to work in his parents’ company each day. His father gave him a special investigation to conduct and when he returns at noon, we discuss his findings, brainstorm ideas, consolidate his notes ... I even type them and collate them in the mornings while he’s at the factory. And then there are his social engagements.”

“What kind of social calendar does he have?” Peggy Anne asked.

“Well, it hasn’t been much so far. He volunteered at the hospital festival and was a big hit. Especially with my roommate,” I laughed. It had been one of his more lovable days.

“Hana met him?”

“Oh, met him, wooed him, and got him to take her out on an elaborate date for the orchestra and dessert. If you want to know what he kisses like, ask Hana.”

“She didn’t!”

“Didn’t what?” Hana asked as she entered the room. I suppose we’d been a bit loud, but it was almost time for her to go to her shift at the hospital.

“You made out with Liam Cyning?” Peggy Anne asked. We generally considered her the shyest of the three of us girls, but she certainly had a fixation on kissing Liam.

“Maybe not making out. I had just enough presence of mind to break the kiss and dash inside. If I hadn’t assumed Meredith was sitting in the room, I might have dragged him in with me,” Hana said, shocking us all. “I’m afraid, though, that he’s just too young to be serious about. I’m twenty-two and he’s only eighteen. He’s quite intelligent but I’m sure we’d run out of things to talk about quickly.”

“And if you can’t talk, you may as well kiss.”

“You, girl, have a fixation. I need to leave for work. This is a twelve-on, twelve-off weekend. No kisses for me.”

It took me until nearly ten to finish packing and load my car. It would take a second trip as well but looking around my room, I decided I couldn’t really spend the night with all my bedding packed.

I drove ‘home.’ To my parents’ house. I suppose I could have simply moved my room to Buxton House, but that was a move I was not yet ready to make. Although, I discovered I was taking more with me on each trip. Still, I’d need a dormitory room at the University. Once classes started, I was sure Liam and I would both be spending more time in town than at Buxton House. He would still have another term at Elenchus.

I could hear the tones of my mother’s piano as I walked in the door and my nose was welcomed with the sweet smell of fresh cookies.

“Hello, Mama, Papa!” I called. I set a box down and turned to get another from the car.

“You’ve boxes? Are you moving home, sweetie?” Mama said.

“I’m kind of in transition. What I’m definitely doing is moving out of Green Hill,” I said.

“Let me help carry. You must have accumulated a great deal in your years at the college,” Papa said. I loaded his arms and Mama’s before scooping up the next box and locking the car.

“The rest can wait until morning. I’ve just torn apart my room at the college and needed a place to crash. It feels funny to think of going out to Buxton House on the weekend.”

“I’m glad you’ve come home,” Mama said. “We’ve hardly had a chance to talk since you started there.”

“Wait. I have fresh snickerdoodles and cold milk,” Papa said, rushing back to the kitchen.

“Oh, that makes coming home worth it,” I laughed. I hugged Mama and she led me to the sofa.

“Now tell us about your job. You’ve been spending some nights at Buxton House,” Mama said as Papa brought the cookies and milk. “Are they always demanding, like so many wealthy are?”

“Oh, no, Mama. Everyone, including Liam, has been very polite and proper. I have a lovely suite of rooms of my own with an attached office where Liam and I can meet when we need to. We spend most of our professional time in their library, though.” I didn’t mention going horseback riding or walking through the woods.

“We worry, you know,” Papa said. “The Cynings have always been people of fine character—at least Regina Cyning. But sometimes people with money think that exempts them from proper behavior. You should never feel that you are required to do something unprofessional.”

“I know, Papa. In fact, Dr. Parolini and I had a talk about that. But they have also done so much for me that I am grateful.”

“You needn’t be too grateful. Before we accepted your scholarship to Green Hill, it was explained carefully that they were giving six scholarships and that no one should feel obligated in any way by them. We always knew they would choose one of the six as an assistant to Liam if at all possible. But even then, you had the option to turn the opportunity down,” Mama said.

“I wanted this opportunity, Mama. I’ve wanted it since I’ve known about the chance. And even now that I am officially part of their staff, the Cynings are continuing to pay for all six of our tuition and board. Even though I’m moving to the University this fall.” I let that little bomb drop and waited for my parents’ response. It wasn’t long in coming.

“The University? Why aren’t you continuing at Green Hill for your baccalaureate?”

“I will be enrolled at the University so I can be prepared to help Liam when he enrolls mid-term. It will be good for us to be at the same school so I can help with his enrollment, lodging, and incidentals.”

“I worry most about his incidentals. Are you being paid well?” Papa asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “I never asked. It would not take much to consider myself paid well since my meals and lodging, tuition and books, car, and even clothing allowance are covered in my usual scholarship. I suppose I shall need to inquire about that. I’ll do it when it’s convenient.”

“Tell us about your day when you are working.”

“I arrive at Buxton House mid-morning on Monday and check notes and messages. Sometimes there is something from the weekend that needs tending to, but I have a number of menial tasks like filing that have been neglected for a long time. Liam gets home from work shortly after noon and we have lunch together.”

“Work? What kind of work does Liam do?” Papa asked. He seemed impressed that Liam had a job.

“His parents have asked him to investigate their arms company and get a general feel for the process and the employees. Something is bothering them about the company.”

“Probably guilt,” Mama scoffed. “Why would anyone choose to be in arms and munitions as a business?”

“Let’s not be judgmental, dear,” Papa said. “We don’t have a mission to judge others.”

“You may be right, though, Mama. They inherited the business, you know. Most of the family industry is in clothing. But Liam is developing a threat matrix and I’ve been able to do a great deal as an assistant. We spend most afternoons discussing what he has discovered in the morning, jotting down notes, and brainstorming next steps. We do have some leisure time. Earlier this week we went for a lovely ride around the estate. I didn’t realize it was so large!”

“So, you are helping him with a job he is employed at. It seems like Thomas and Lydia are getting two people for the price of one.”

“I suppose so, but it has been rather fun and exciting to work on the project. We often have dinner together, served casually in the kitchen. The staff is very nice. It’s almost like being next to your kitchen.” I knew one of my parents’ concerns about the job was that I would be shunned by the rest of the household staff. We’d heard stories of how difficult it sometimes was to be a newcomer in an established staff.

“Speaking of which, you must bring him by for dinner.”

“Really, Papa? You wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not. If you keep eating what that fancy French chef of his cooks, you’ll both weigh 300 pounds before you are out of college.” Papa knew the Cynings’ cook and felt a touch of rivalry with him. It would be good to show Liam what Papa could cook.

“Yes. We should get an opportunity to meet your boyfriend away from his palace.”

“Boyfriend?! Mama! Liam is not my boyfriend. No no no. Not my boyfriend. We have a professional relationship. We aren’t dating. In fact, he took my roommate out on a date last week. I know I’ve talked a lot about Liam over the past years, but it isn’t as if I’m in love with him. He is too young for me for one thing. Whatever would we have in common? I’m to be an advisor on how to behave in social situations. I even arranged the orchestra tickets for his date last week. And I had a date as well. With Rich. No, Liam is not my boyfriend!”

“Have you run out of protestations now?” Mama asked after a pause. I blushed. My heart was racing and I’d responded like the twelve-year-old I’d been at Liam’s party eight years ago. I’d popped him in the nose and then Mama and Papa had taken me home. The other schoolmates left as well, except Lonnie. Mama had teased me about liking Liam and not knowing how to act with a boy. That was a little girl crush, and I had denied liking him in the least. But over the past eight years, his name was a common element of our conversation.

“Yes, Mama,” I whispered.

“It is okay to like him and enjoy his company. Probably much easier to do your job if you do. I just don’t like the idea of you being subservient.” Mama hugged me.

“When have you ever known me to be subservient?” I snorted. “I was raised with four older brothers. I’ve learned to hold my own. In fact, I believe that was a key element in my being selected for this role. I don’t know about the boys, but Peggy Anne and Karen would be too easily manipulated. I daresay the boys would have dominated him.”

“And you can withstand his charm?”

“He is charming ... most of the time. So far, I’ve been able to subtly guide him. He is a bit ... naïve.”

“And you are still seeing Rich Biggers? I thought you put an end to that relationship,” Mama said.

“No. I’m not seeing Rich. I thought we could go out casually and see a movie. I was wrong. I ended my date early and asked him not to call me again.”

“Well, you know your heart and mind, dear. You know you can always talk to us if you need.”

“Oh good, Meredith. I was just thinking of you,” Mrs. Cyning said. I’d just arrived Monday morning and picked up a cup of coffee from the kitchen to take to my office when Liam’s grandmother stopped me. “I was going to get a cuppa myself. Won’t you join me in the lounge?”

“Certainly, Mrs. Cyning. May I get your coffee for you?”

“You aren’t a servant, Meredith. I don’t even ask Ricardo to run silly errands for me. Just keep me company for a few minutes if you would.”

“While I’m pouring my own, how would you like yours?” I asked. She laughed and I handed her a cup of coffee.

“How are you getting on with Liam?”

“I think we’re learning how to work together and beginning to understand the scope of things we can work on. The project at the arms factory has been enlightening for both of us,” I said. We sat in the lounge to sip our coffee.

“One of the things I’ve been concerned with is Liam’s social life,” Regina said. “I don’t actually want to meddle, but it is easy to see that the time he’s spent at Elenchus has left him comfortable around men and backward around women.”