Read Online Second Chance by Linda Kepner - Free Book Online Page B

learn about graduate student apartments by themselves.”
    “I suppose you’re right.”
    He put his arm around her shoulder. “Things like this, I am always right.”
    “I am very sorry to shock you,” she said.
    “We will talk later, when everyone has gone.”
    “Hey! Chardonnay!”
    “Go easy on that stuff,” she called. “That’s what I feed my boss.”
    “Did I hear my name?” Dr. Roth stood at the door.
    “Aiiee,” said Bishou, very quietly, and stood up.
    Sukey, however, beat her to the punch. “We’re gonna owe you a whole case of Chardonnay for lending us Bishou Howard,” she said with a smile, taking Roth’s hand and pulling him into the tiny living room.
    “I came over to see if Bishou’s day was as rough as I’d heard it was.”
    “Uh-oh,” said Bishou. “Marie Norton, or the dean?”
    “Both, actually.” Roth held out a hand to Louis. “Monsieur Dessant, so nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Raymond Roth, of the literature department.”
    “Ah. Mademoiselle’s advisor?”
    They shook hands, and Roth slid into his favorite chair. Bishou sat down again on her wooden desk chair.
    “Yes, that’s correct. The university wanted me to check up on you, too, and make sure you were all right, because — after a fashion — you are one of Miss Howard’s students.”
    “Indeed, I am.” That businesslike French accent never sounded nicer. “I am grateful for all her help, and I am most apologetic for being such a burden to the school.”
    Roth made himself comfortable in the chair. “Well, it’s taught us one thing, at least, that we shouldn’t hit the ground running with overseas students. We need to give them a day or two to adjust to the strain of airline travel.”
    “I think that might be necessary,” Louis admitted. “I am sure that is what happened to me, exhaustion and décalage — jet lag.”
    “I can’t help feeling we’ve met before,” said Roth.
    Louis chuckled. “We have. You were in the back of the lecture hall the day I stopped in to see the college class. I have never attended university. I was curious. We spoke a few words.”
    “Not enough for me to realize your native language was French,” said Roth, grimacing. “My apologies.”
    “ De rien .” Louis smiled, and got more comfortable on the couch. “I am glad to know for certain who you are, because I knew Mademoiselle Howard respected Dr. Roth greatly. Please do not — what is the word? — penalize her for my foolishness.”
    “No, no, of course not. What happened here was so obviously an accident — and it is well documented by the head resident and by medical reports.” Roth stood. “Well, I just came by to see how everything was. Now I’ll move on. I promised my wife I’d be home by dinnertime. Goodbye, Bishou. I’ll see you on Friday.”
    Bishou sighed. “I am in so much trouble.”
    “How so?” asked Louis in surprise.
    “They told me not to get personal about this job, and here I’ve got a whole bunch of you partying in my apartment,” she said unhappily.
    “Maybe you’re being a bit straitlaced Yankee about this,” Sukey suggested.
    “Yeah, well, maybe you don’t know academia. It’s worse than a small town. Gossip travels at the speed of sound, and they’re quite willing to believe the worst on no evidence at all.”
    Louis, his hand resting against his cheek, smiled and said, “Maybe you should just have some chicken and deal with one problem at a time.” Then he struggled to raise himself from the couch — and slid to a pile on the floor. He growled something ugly and explosive.
    “Okay if I don’t translate that one?” Bishou asked him, as the men helped lift him.
    He growled again. Gray helped him navigate to the bathroom, and he came back to the couch by himself.
    The chicken, mashed potatoes, baked beans, and coleslaw may not have been great art, but they filled the gap, washed down by iced tea and the last of the Chardonnay.
    “I dunno, Louis,” Gray teased with a