looked at him. He seemed to be fidgeting while pretending to watch the Peruvians.
“Is something wrong?” Kim asked. She could sense his unease.
“No,” Edward said a little too forcefully. He pondered for a minute and then said, “I’m sorry, and I know I shouldn’t ask this, and you should just say no if it’s not convenient. I mean, I’d understand.”
“What is it?” Kim asked. She was mildly apprehensive.
“It’s just that I read those books I told you about,” Edward said. “What I mean to say is that I’d really like to see that old house. I know it is presumptuous of me to ask.”
“I’d be happy to show it to you,” Kim said with relief. “I have Saturday off this week. We could drive up there then if it’s convenient for you. I can get the keys from the lawyers.”
“It wouldn’t be too much of a bother?” Edward asked.
“Not at all,” Kim said.
“Saturday would be perfect,” Edward said. “In exchange perhaps you’d like to go to dinner Friday night?”
Kim smiled. “I accept. But now I think I’d better be getting home. The seven-thirty shift at the hospital starts awfully early.”
They slid off the concrete wall and strolled toward the subway entrance.
“Where do you live?” Edward asked.
“Beacon Hill,” Kim said.
“I hear that’s a great neighborhood,” Edward said.
“It’s convenient to the hospital,” Kim said. “And I have a great apartment. Unfortunately I have to move come September because my roommate is getting married and she has the lease.”
“I’ve got a similar problem,” Edward said. “I live in a charming apartment on the third floor of a private house, but the owners have a baby coming and need the space. So I have to be out September first as well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kim said.
“It’s not so bad,” Edward said. “I’ve been meaning to move for years, but I’ve just been putting it off.”
“Where’s the apartment?” Kim asked.
“Close by,” Edward said. “Within walking distance.” Then he added hesitantly: “Would you care to come over for a visit?”
“Maybe another night,” Kim said. “Like I said, morning comes early for me.”
They reached the entrance to the subway. Kim turned and looked up into Edward’s pale blue eyes. She liked what she saw; there was sensitivity.
“I want to congratulate you on asking to see the old house,” Kim said. “I know it wasn’t easy for you, and the reason I know is because it would have been equally difficult for me. In fact I probably couldn’t have done it at all.”
Edward blushed. Then he chuckled. “I’m certainly no Stanton Lewis,” he said. “The truth of the matter is that I can be kind of a klutz.”
“I think we have some similarities in that area,” Kim said. “I also think you are a lot more socially adept than you give yourself credit for.”
“You get the credit,” Edward said. “You make me feel relaxed, and since we’ve only just met, that’s saying something.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Kim said.
They gripped hands for a moment. Then Kim turned and hurried down into the subway.
Saturday,July 16, 1994
Edward double-parked on Beacon Street across from the Boston Common and ran into the foyer of Kim’s building. After ringing her bell, he kept his eye out for a Boston meter maid. He knew of their reputation from sore experience.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” Kim said when she appeared. She was dressed in khaki shorts and a simple white T-shirt. Her dark, voluminous hair was pulled back in a pony tail.
“I’m sorry for being late,” Edward said. By mutual consent Edward was dressed in a similar, casual fashion. “I had to run by the lab.”
They both stared at each other for a beat, then burst out laughing.
“We’re too much,” Kim admitted.
“I can’t help it.” Edward chuckled. “I’m always apologizing. Even when it isn’t warranted. It’s ridiculous, but you know something? I wasn’t
“Is something wrong?” Kim asked. She could sense his unease.
“No,” Edward said a little too forcefully. He pondered for a minute and then said, “I’m sorry, and I know I shouldn’t ask this, and you should just say no if it’s not convenient. I mean, I’d understand.”
“What is it?” Kim asked. She was mildly apprehensive.
“It’s just that I read those books I told you about,” Edward said. “What I mean to say is that I’d really like to see that old house. I know it is presumptuous of me to ask.”
“I’d be happy to show it to you,” Kim said with relief. “I have Saturday off this week. We could drive up there then if it’s convenient for you. I can get the keys from the lawyers.”
“It wouldn’t be too much of a bother?” Edward asked.
“Not at all,” Kim said.
“Saturday would be perfect,” Edward said. “In exchange perhaps you’d like to go to dinner Friday night?”
Kim smiled. “I accept. But now I think I’d better be getting home. The seven-thirty shift at the hospital starts awfully early.”
They slid off the concrete wall and strolled toward the subway entrance.
“Where do you live?” Edward asked.
“Beacon Hill,” Kim said.
“I hear that’s a great neighborhood,” Edward said.
“It’s convenient to the hospital,” Kim said. “And I have a great apartment. Unfortunately I have to move come September because my roommate is getting married and she has the lease.”
“I’ve got a similar problem,” Edward said. “I live in a charming apartment on the third floor of a private house, but the owners have a baby coming and need the space. So I have to be out September first as well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Kim said.
“It’s not so bad,” Edward said. “I’ve been meaning to move for years, but I’ve just been putting it off.”
“Where’s the apartment?” Kim asked.
“Close by,” Edward said. “Within walking distance.” Then he added hesitantly: “Would you care to come over for a visit?”
“Maybe another night,” Kim said. “Like I said, morning comes early for me.”
They reached the entrance to the subway. Kim turned and looked up into Edward’s pale blue eyes. She liked what she saw; there was sensitivity.
“I want to congratulate you on asking to see the old house,” Kim said. “I know it wasn’t easy for you, and the reason I know is because it would have been equally difficult for me. In fact I probably couldn’t have done it at all.”
Edward blushed. Then he chuckled. “I’m certainly no Stanton Lewis,” he said. “The truth of the matter is that I can be kind of a klutz.”
“I think we have some similarities in that area,” Kim said. “I also think you are a lot more socially adept than you give yourself credit for.”
“You get the credit,” Edward said. “You make me feel relaxed, and since we’ve only just met, that’s saying something.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Kim said.
They gripped hands for a moment. Then Kim turned and hurried down into the subway.
Saturday,July 16, 1994
Edward double-parked on Beacon Street across from the Boston Common and ran into the foyer of Kim’s building. After ringing her bell, he kept his eye out for a Boston meter maid. He knew of their reputation from sore experience.
“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” Kim said when she appeared. She was dressed in khaki shorts and a simple white T-shirt. Her dark, voluminous hair was pulled back in a pony tail.
“I’m sorry for being late,” Edward said. By mutual consent Edward was dressed in a similar, casual fashion. “I had to run by the lab.”
They both stared at each other for a beat, then burst out laughing.
“We’re too much,” Kim admitted.
“I can’t help it.” Edward chuckled. “I’m always apologizing. Even when it isn’t warranted. It’s ridiculous, but you know something? I wasn’t
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