Chapter 39
What Are You Looking At?
The reception hall centered around a wedding cake designed to look like the cruise ship the couple would honeymoon on.
Someone had to tell me it was a cake. It was beautiful.
It was one of those receptions where everyone had to find their place cards.
I’d never been to one of those before.
Robert stayed with me until we found our seats.
He put his coat down and said that he was going to speak with someone.
Everyone was speaking with someone
Everyone but me.
I was sitting.
Alone.
At a table for eight.
It did give me time to watch people, since I decided against bringing a book.
There were groups of suits, uniforms and satins.
The uniforms stayed mostly in their corner. The highest rank so far… I wouldn’t know, I never learned the symbols.
They still saluted when necessary… military being military again.
The satins were fairly close to me. They were looking, pointing, commenting. Mrs. O’Riley was with them.
The suits were the group I knew the least about…
Until two of them came in my direction.
“Alec!”
“Mrs. Jackson, let me introduce Oscar Robel. He is my bodyguard.”
“Hello, Mr. Robel. I’m pleased to meet you.”
He shook my hand and nodded. Then he spoke.
“Mr. Rivera would like to come over and have a word with you.
He did not wish to put you in an awkward situation.
Being that this is a mix gathering with varying military.
I was sent to ask permission first.”
“I’ll talk to a parent anywhere.
Tell him I’d be thrilled to meet him.”
Oscar slightly bowed dismissing himself and indicated to Alec that he must now go with him.
I heard Alec say, “I told father she would say that!”
The women were pointing in my direction.
There group was smaller than when I first sat down.
Mr. Rivera entered the room and started walking in my direction.
I got up and met him half-way across the floor.
I held my hand out to him
He treated me like a lady, not a teacher.
He turned my hand over and kissed the back of it, stepping into my space.
Alec was there to introduce his father.
“It’s always a pleasure to meet my student’s parents.
Professor Alec has been a great help to his classmates with his insights.”
“I’m happy you had time to speak with me.”
“Any time, sir. Alec has been an excellent student.”
“Your guidance to my son has been appreciated.”
“Thank you.”
“I must be brief here. I would not want to… “
I can’t really remember exactly how he finished the sentence. I do know it was a surprise to me. Something that meant, he wouldn’t want to give people the chance to question my reputation or misunderstand my association with him.
I gave him a questioning look.
He nodded and said a simple, “goodbye.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” I replied.
Then I noticed.
By the door.
As Mr. Rivera left, a few of the military edged out of our room and into the room he walked toward.
A few of the women were staring at me.
How would any of the military wives even know who he is?
Mrs. O’Riley came back and stood next to my chair.
She couldn’t sit, really, she hadn’t been placed at our table.
“Lee Ann, you’re over here by yourself?”
“Not really, Robert will be back in a minute.”
“The women I was with noticed who you were speaking with?
“Oh, really? Alec’s dad?
How would they possibly know a local student’s father?
That’s strange.”
“Do you not know who he is?”
“Alec’s dad. Is there anything else you feel you need to tell me?”
“No, dear.”
“I see your husband is headed back this way.”
As Robert approached the table Mrs. O’Riley greeted him.
“Don’t run off on your wife again. No one should be alone on a night like this.”
I was the only person not wearing military dress or satin.
I did not fit in at all.
I tried octopus for the first time.
It was peppery.
I loved it.
I didn’t think I would.
Robert and I didn’t dance.
Daniel's Den 