EMIT (THE EMIT SAGA) (33 page)

“That’s crazy and there was a second uniform? That get-up wasn’t enough?” I mocked.

Ignoring my ribbing, he answered, “On Sundays, we wore a black tailcoat.”

I was incredulous.
“You wore a tuxedo?”

Daniel laughed, “Yes, I wore a tuxedo
jacket with pinstriped trousers, a black waistcoat, black tie, braces and a white shirt.”

“A waistcoat and braces? What is that?”

“A vest and suspenders.”

“Everybody wore the exact same thing?” I asked, not understanding this school at all.

“There were some variations if you were a member of certain societies or sports teams.”

“What kind?”

“During the week, different sweaters, scarves, neck and bow ties. On Sundays, it would mean grey or red vests, hat with black speckles, or a top hat and cane. It all depended the group.”

“It sounds like another planet. I have to see photos.”

“It was definitely weird at first, but I got used to it and everyone became family. After my parents died, I was only able to function because of that school. It pulled me through the darkest period in my life,” Daniel answered glumly.

To get Daniel’s mind off his parents, I asked him what I had been dying to know. “Did you have any girlfriends at school?” I knew he had one girlfriend and he must have had others. He was gorgeous after all. What girl wouldn’t like him?

“It was a boys school, so no, I didn’t have a girlfriend there.”

“You never saw girls?” I asked disbelievingly. Then how did he meet Juliette?

“Yes, I saw girls. The school had functions with different girls' boarding schools on Saturdays.” Juliette must have gone to one of those schools.

“Oh. Why an all boys school?” I asked.

“My parents felt strongly about same sex education.”

“W
hy?”

“Virtually all the top schools are single-sex schools. My dad, being a scientist, explained that research into patterns of brain activity confirmed that boys and girls learn in different ways.”

“Is that why you’re so smart? Because there were no girls around?”

“If you were at my school, I would’ve done very little work.”

“Very funny! So what sports did you play? I know you like tennis.”

“I do like tennis
, but I was obsessed with Harrow football at school.”

“You mean soccer?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, soccer. Soccer is a kicking and passing game, but Harrow football is essentially a dribbling game. Do you understand soccer?”

“Sort of…” I grimaced and Daniel smiled.

“Okay then…well Harrow football is only played at Harrow, no other school. It’s been played for two months every spring season since about the 1800’s.”

“Why only two months? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“It’s because the grounds are solid clay and during the summer the clay cracks from the heat, but after the winter, it’s a slimy, slushy, muddy swamp. In the spring for two months, we get quite muddy playing.”

“Sounds great,” I said rolling my eyes. “You like poetry and mud?”

“I do, that’s part of the fun. Speaking of poems, there is one about Harrow football and explains it all. ‘Again we rush across the slush - A pack of breathless faces - And charge and fall, and see the ball. Fly whizzing through the bases.’”

“I’ll pass,” I joked.

“It really was fun. I’m crushed that you’re so skeptical.” He acted hurt by my reaction.

“Sure you are. Wait, did you say bases? That sounds like baseball.”

“We had to score a 'base' by kicking the ball between two vertical posts.”

Puzzled, I asked, “Do you like any sport that I’ll actually understand?”

“Well in school, I also played polo.”

“You ride?” I shrieked.

“Yes, and I know you do as well,” he grinned.

“I can’t believe it. I know so few boys that ride. Most boys I know think it’s a girl’s sport.”

“Not in Europe. Polo is very popular.”

“I can’t believe that you ride,” I said, shaking my head in amazement. We talked about polo for a while and somehow we got back on soccer. I told him that I thought it was rather boring.

“It’s different in England. When we’re in London, I’ll take you to a game and you’ll see.”

I just stared at him wondering if I heard him right.

“Did you just say, ‘when we’re in London’?”

“Do you think you’re going across the pond without all
of your chaperones going?”

Reality set in. “No! I thought I’d have peace there. You’re all coming. Are
you kidding?”

“Yes, we’re all coming; please don’t argue, it
won’t work,” he said adamantly.

“I’m thrilled you’re coming, just not that your posse is,” I said. “I want my privacy back, but I’ll p
ass on that for now, if I can keep you.”

“You definitely can keep me,” he
said.

“When were you going to tell me?”

“Soon, but we started talking about soccer and I slipped.”

“Such a bad spy!” I laughed, “Are you staying at your house?
Is it near my grandparents?”

“Yes. Surprisingly, my house is only a little over a mile away,” he said.

“You’re kidding?”

“No, I’m not. I can’t wait for you to see it.”

“What are we going to say to my parents? Please don’t tell them that you have a home there.”

“I figured as much. Every time you were with me, they’d think you were at my house.”

“Should I pretend you’re not there?” I asked.

“No. If anything happens, I’ll need to be with you. Or if they see me, I don’t want them to hate me.” We decided that a job interview sounded the best.

“I was so upset that Nana broke her leg and my visit was canceled, but if I went, I never would’ve met you.”

“
That’s right! You weren’t supposed to be here this summer!” he exclaimed.

Daniel was deep in thought and I had no idea why.
“I was supposed to be in London. Why does it matter? Nana’s accident had nothing to do with what’s happening here.”

“Probably not. I have to get going. I’ll keep away tomorrow until it’s time for the movie.”

“Please come in the afternoon. Mom won’t be here till early evening.” I smiled and batted my eyes for effect.

He laughed and said “Paige Devon, you’re incorrigible.” I nodded happily. “It’s time I left. It’s past midnight.”

“Time goes too fast when I’m with you.”

“That’s funny because for me time stops.” We hugged and said goodbye. Would he ever kiss me? I couldn’t take
this much longer!




I woke up in the same clothes from th
e day before. “Ugh.” I remembered lying down thinking about Daniel, planning to put on my jammies, but that never happened. Knowing today was going to be different worried me. Mom’s presence would absolutely change things. Amber was barking so I ran downstairs. I found Grammy walking to the kitchen to let her out.

“Morning, Grammy, I’ll take care of Amber.”

As I walked outside, my cell rang and I heard Daniel’s glorious voice. “Good morning. Did you sleep well?” I realized that he was on the boat watching me, so I waved.

“Good morning. I crashed and woke up fully clothed.”

“So, you were that tired?” he asked, sounding amused.

“I guess. One moment, I’m lying down and the next it’s morning.”

He laughed, “It’s called exhaustion. Wait, I’ll meet you at the bend on the beach and I’ll walk Amber with you.” I couldn’t wait. Just seeing him would put a smile on my heart.

He jumped in and swam over. As he hugged me, I got damp
, but it didn’t matter. Everything was perfect except for my one and only problem. Why hadn’t he kissed me yet? We’d only been a couple since Monday, but that’s all I could think about.

As we walked, Daniel had his arm around me. “I have to go to DC for the weekend. I’m catching a flight out of Mattituck tomorrow morning.” In a matter of seconds, my happiness was shattered.

“Mattituck?” I questioned. “There’s no airport there.”

Daniel smiled. “There is. I’ll be back on Sunday.” Seeing my sad face, he added, “You know that I’ll miss you too, but I have to go for work.” I didn’t want to act like I couldn’t live without my boyfriend for a coup
le of days, but since our relationship was filled with spying and goons, there really was no normal way to act.

“Don’t look so sad. You’ll have Lily and Noe
lle this weekend,” Daniel said.

“Whe
re are you staying?” I wondered.

“I have an apartment in McLean, Virginia.”

How many more surprises were there? “What? Where else do you have homes?”

“That’s it. I promise.
After school ended, I lived with James in DC. Once I started working, I got my own place. The EMIT offices are in the CIA building in Mclean, so I moved nearby.”

“
How far is James from you?”

“He’s in Georgetown,
only eight miles away.”

“That’s really close.”

He looked down the beach.“ Paige, I better get out of here before Grammy sees me.”

“I’ll call you later,
” I said.

Daniel jumped in the water and swam to the boat.

When I got back, Grammy said that Mom was on her way. Why was she coming this early? She was supposed to be coming after work. Seething, I called her cell to get to the bottom of the change in plans. She said her meeting was canceled and she left earlier. I really hoped that was the truth.

When Mom walked
in, Amber went ballistic. She really missed her and so did I.

We ran out to do some food shopping and Mom did not bring up Daniel at all. I was grateful for that because in the past we’d just argue about him.

On the drive back home, she finally brought up Daniel.

“He’s good
, but he’s going to visit family in DC tomorrow morning,” I answered stoically. I hated making up stories and being dishonest.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Dad and I wanted to invite him and his friend over Saturday for a barbecue.” At first I got annoyed, but I did tell her we were
dating. What did I expect them to do ignore him?

“That would have been nice
, but he can’t,” I answered and it came out sounding so pathetic that Mom glanced over at me.

“Why don’t you
call him and invite him and his friend for dinner tonight before the movies?”

“I’ll ask him,” I said and reached for my cell.
I told him I was with Mom, invited him to come over for a swim and relayed Mom’s dinner invitation. He said he’d check with Brad and tell us when he came over.

“He’ll let us know later,” I told Mom.

After lunch, Grammy and Mom gardened and I read my poetry book. I read the biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She began writing when she was young and received critical praise. When she was older, Robert Browning, an unknown poet, started writing to her. After five months, they met and fell in love. Against her father’s wishes, she married him and was disinherited. She left England and moved to Italy where she lived a happy life. She died at the age of fifty-five from a life-long illness that doctors were never able to diagnose. In her husband’s arms, she died and her last word to him was “beautiful.” How tragic! I began reading her poem called “Change Upon Change.”

CHANGE UPON CHANGE

Five months ago the stream did flow,
The lilies bloomed within the sedge,
And we were lingering to and fro,
Where none will track thee in this snow,

Along the stream, beside the hedge.
Ah, Sweet, be free to love and go!
For if I do not hear thy foot,
The frozen river is as mute,
The flowers have dried down to the root:
And why, since these be changed since May,
Shouldst thou change less than they.
And slow, slow as the winter snow
The tears have drifted to mine eyes;
And my poor cheeks, five months ago
Set blushing at thy praises so,
Put paleness on for a disguise.
Ah, Sweet, be free to praise and go!
For if my face is turned too pale,
It was thine oath that first did fail, --
It was thy love proved false and frail, --
And why, since these be changed now,
Should I change less than thou.

How I related to those words! It described a carefree love, but things changed. Winter symbolized the end of their love and the poem alluded that it was false. It was similar to what had happened with Daniel and I, but our relationship has been given a second chance.

The next poem
surprised me. I had heard the famous first sentence before but never knew it was a Browning poem. I always thought the line ‘How do I love thee? Let me count the ways’ was from Shakespeare.