Page 74 of Love and History
“Do the reading. The final is next week,” I warned.
“I know. There’s a good chance I’ll have to take the course again, but the board was appeased by my philanthropic efforts. As long as I show up to work this weekend, I’ll have the opportunity to redeem myself at a new university.” She tugged on the strap of her designer bag and smiled. “I look forward to being of assistance to you tomorrow, sir.”
I nodded absently as I opened my laptop. My mind was already on physical mathematical framework of magnetohydrodynamics. I hadn’t quite worked out how to tie in my pirate hat with the subject matter, but—
“Tomorrow? What do you mean by assistance?”
“I volunteered at Renaissance at the Park,” she replied, fiddling with her stylish glasses.
“Thank you for volunteering. I know we can use the help, but as I mentioned the first time you asked, I can’t give extra credit for—”
“Oh, I know. My father found a way around it. As long as I have a record of my participation, we’ll be fine. Excuse me…I’llbe fine,” she corrected, moving to her seat.
I wasn’t sure what she meant, and I didn’t have time to delve with class set to begin in three, two, one…
“Good morning, everyone. Or shall I say…arrrrr?” I doffed my pirate’s hat and waited for the lighthearted moans and twitter of laughter to subside. “We’re going to discuss rrrrrelativistic magnetohydrodynamics and the sophisticated mathematic equations governing astrophysical systems today. Fun stuff!”
Within minutes, I’d filled the whiteboard with complicated equations for these bright young scientists in the making to solve. For a few hours, I tuned out personal doubts and things I didn’t understand, and focused on the mysteries of the universe.
Gosh, I loved my job.
* * *
My alarm buzzedat four a.m. Saturday morning. Much too early. By unspoken agreement, Ezra and I grunted, dressed, and shared a cup of coffee without uttering a single word. Then we climbed into our vehicles and headed to the gymnasium to schlep props, costumes, and equipment to the park to set up for our weekend of revelry.
Various vendors and food trucks filtered in as the sun rose to set up their wares in the designated spots while the HRS team and our band of volunteers erected castle facades, mini stages, craft tables, and hung festive banners to recreate a historical setting for our guests. Val and Presley organized the troops, made sure everyone was in costume, knew their lines, and had a general idea of what they were supposed to do while the line at the entrance grew.
At nine forty-five a.m., it was already warm. By noon, it would be blazing hot. Thankfully, we had plenty of shade, water, and an honest-to-gosh ice cream truck with an attendant dressed in Elizabethan gear. This was going to be epic…as the cool cats say.
“Is that what the cool cats are saying?” Ezra snorted.
“Don’t quote me.” I adjusted the shoulder-length wig in the full-length mirror propped against a tree in the section we’d cordoned off as a dressing area. “What do you think? Do I look like the Bard of Avon?”
He fussed with my white collar, then flicked the male-patterned bald spot on my wig. “Like a hot version.”
I shushed him, casting a quick glance at Jordan, who’d begun the painstaking chore of stepping into queenly attire. I doubted anyone overheard or paid the slightest bit of attention. Most of the crew was in position in the park. Only the featured performers, like Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and Shakespeare held back for now. Our appearances were scheduled at hourly intervals alongside a band of revelers, court jesters, musicians, knights, and townspeople. I hadn’t memorized the itinerary, but I knew Ezra was on early.
“Shouldn’t you be getting dressed?”
“Yeah, in a minute. I’m already sweating.” He plucked his lacrosse T-shirt from his chest and fanned himself.
“Hey…thank you.”
“For what?”
I spread my arms wide. “All of this. I coerced you into making a guest appearance, and you ended up doing so much more.”
“I haven’t done anything yet. And you know, there’s a chance I’ll get stage fright and fuck everything up and—”
“You won’t.” I interrupted. “You showed up, set up, and you’re ready to try something new. That’s more than enough.”
I expected him to roll his eyes and change the subject, but he didn’t.
He smiled sweetly. “I wish I’d done it sooner.”
I wished I’d thought of it sooner. I wished I’d opened my eyes and seen him for who he really was sooner. I wished I hadn’t wasted precious time.
I opened my mouth to say all those things and more, but when nothing came, I linked my pinky with his and held his gaze. “Thank you.”