Read Online Your Magic or Mine? by Ann Macela - Free Book Online Page A

afraid we’re going to have to cancel or postpone our usual Fourth of July gathering on Cape Cod this summer.”
    “Oh?” he said, while a feeling very close to relief flowed through him.
    “Yes, the conference I usually attend in Helsinki has been moved to the end of June. Stefan wants to visit with some of his German colleagues, and we thought we’d see them during the first week in July.”
    “I’m sorry we can’t make the Cape in July,” Marcus said, infusing his tone with as much sorrow as he could. Which wasn’t much, given the fact that the four or five days they spent together annually had grown more and more difficult for him over the years. They had almost nothing in common. It had reached the point where, outside of academic subjects and current events, they had little to talk about. He’d begged off visiting over the Christmas and New Year holidays for the last three years; they hadn’t pushed him to reconsider.
    “Would you like to meet us in, say, Berlin, instead? I’m sure Stefan’s colleagues could make some appointments with mathematicians for you.”
    He blinked at the tone in her voice. She sounded almost … wistful. He must be hearing things. His mother was never wistful. He pulled his thoughts back to his situation and said, “As it turns out, I’m not certain what my own schedule will be. The editor of
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wants to take the debate across the country, hold meetings in a number of cities so everyone can participate. Dr. Morgan and I would be the main speakers.”
    “Will that keep you from your regular research and writing? It’s important you produce another article or two. Aren’t you working on a book also? A real book, not that science fiction—”
    “We’ll only travel on the weekends, and I’m making good progress on my mathematical theory book and my fiction,” he said quickly. He didn’t want to discuss his other calling—his “hobby,” as his parents called it. “I’ve already polished and submitted the articles I wrote in California.”
    “Good. You may have made full professor at an even earlier age than either myself or Stefan, but you can’t rest on your laurels. You may want to leave the University of Texas someday and come back East. The more established you are in your field, the more attractive you’ll be.”
    “Yes, Judith,” Marcus said, indulging himself by rolling his eyes. Neither she nor Stefan would be thoroughly approving until he was on the faculty of Harvard or MIT. They never understood how he could be happy in Texas, of all places.
    “Let me know your schedule when you have it, and I’ll send you ours. We might go to the Cape after we return. If you have a few days, you could still join us.” He heard some commotion on her end, then her voice continued, “Oh, it looks like my appointment is here.”
    “I’ll see what the calendar permits. Give my best to Stefan.”
    “I will. Good-bye, Marcus.” She hung up before he could even answer.
    He closed the phone and looked at the dog. “No Cape Cod,” he said.
    Samson yawned, walked to the door, and looked pointedly back at him.
    “Okay, let me change and we’ll go for a walk.” He had to laugh as he climbed the stairs to his bedroom. Sometimes he wondered who had trained whom in this household.
    On the walk, Marcus paid no attention to the houses or the view from the hills overlooking the Colorado River while Samson pulled on the leash until an intriguing smell distracted him. Instead Marcus thought about his mother’s phone call.
    What was that old saying about dark clouds and silver linings? At least he didn’t have to spend time on Cape Cod with his parents, hearing their opinions about his career, his place of employment, or his other, non-sanctioned activities. His alter ego Frederik Russell was doing fine, thank you, with six novels published to critical acclaim and good sales.
    He also, however, did not want to spend time running around the country with Ed and his touring