Page 24 of Caught in a Storm
Ms. Modell smiles. “Certainly is. Caleb said you helped film his video essay, Mr. Perkins.”
Seven minutes of Cay at the Steinway wearing a dress shirt and tie they tied with the help of a YouTube video. He played a medley of his favorite songs. “Nailed it in three takes,” says Billy.
“So, for the sake of discussion,” Ms. Modell says, “if Hopkins and Stanford were to both come through, we’d want to—”
“Clearly Stanford,” says Robyn.
The HVAC ticks on, and Ms. Modell is briefly flustered by being interrupted.
“Sorry,” says Robyn. “Hopkins is fabulous, obviously. But the chance to go out west—a new experience—it seems like an easy decision. No?”
“A reasonable point of view, Mrs. Frazier. Four years at Stanford would be an incredible opportunity. I should tell you, though, after speaking with Caleb, he’s not ruling out staying in town. In fact, as of yesterday morning, I’d say he’s leaning toward it.”
“Wait, what?” says Robyn.
“He wants to go to Hopkins?” says Aaron.
“Not necessarily,” says Ms. Modell. “There’s a pull to stay local. It’s perfectly natural. We see it all the time.”
Billy leans forward in his chair just as Robyn and Aaron lean back in theirs. Sneakily, he feels a hit of joy shot directly into his veins. Hopkins. In Baltimore.
“In other words, folks,” says Ms. Modell, “Caleb’s got some thinking to do.”
Robyn crosses her arms and then her legs. “I guess he does.” She’s speaking to Ms. Modell, of course, but she’s looking right at Billy.
* * *
—
“Will someone please tell me why this is such a bad thing?” he asks.
They’re walking through the parking lot—three of them among a gentle stream of couples. He knows why Robyn and Aaron are pissed, but there’s power in good-natured obliviousness. “Is this really the worst problem we could have? He’s just keeping his options open.”
Billy and Aaron walk side by side. Robyn is a step ahead, her shoes tapping out an agitated beat. Sometimes in moments of tri-parental tension, Billy and Aaron form careful alliances. Not tonight, though.
“It’s more complicated than that, Billy,” says Aaron. “And, all due respect, I think you understand that.”
“You went to Stanford, Aaron,” says Billy, “and you loved it. I get it. But Hopkins is one of the best schools in the country. And it’s right here.” Billy points. “It’s literally down that street.”
Aaron shakes his head as the three of them stop at a red Audi. He looks at his wife and then at Billy. “This is me,” he says.
Billy eyes the roadster—two-door, sleek, and fast looking. “Damn. Is this new?”
“Couple of months,” says Aaron. He unlocks the car with a key fob and the headlights flash.
Billy touches a smooth fender. “It’s nice.”
They easily could’ve been adversaries, Billy and Aaron—toxic masculinity and such. Ten years ago, though, when Aaron and Robyn got engaged, Billy invited Aaron out for crabs, and they decided that it’d be easier for everyone involved if they simply liked each other. Now they’re friends, in the broadest sense of the term.
“I’m parked up that way,” says Robyn. “I’ll see you at home.”
Aaron tells Robyn that he’ll start heating up the lasagna, and then he gives Billy a look that says, Glad I’m not you, you dumb bastard.
* * *
—
Alone now for the first time in a few months, Billy and Robyn walk up a slight incline. She asks where he’s parked and he waves up ahead, trying not to be specific. There aren’t as many streetlights in this section of the parking lot, so it’s darker the farther they get from the school. “I’ll walk you to your car,” Billy says. “You never know who’s lurking in these private-school parking lots.”
