Star by Eliza Witte - HTML preview

48

‘No, no, not at all indeed.’

‘Well, that's exactly what I came to hear. Thank you very much,’ said Mr. Reynolds and rose from the chair. Brief as the meeting was, and finally over, the chancellor felt relieved. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds shook hands with the chancellor who accompanied them to the door. Stu didn’t bother to offer his hand but it didn’t matter. The meeting had gone well all in all and now the Head of the institution could remain calm till winter when the annual meeting would take place and he’d see the Reynolds again. Yet, just before their departure the chancellor informed himself, ‘And how is your business going, Mr. Reynolds?’

‘Oh, excellent. We are currently expanding into South-East Europe. The margins double, even triple. And so does the profit.’

‘I’m really glad for you.’ the chancellor smiled. In fact, he didn’t smile only out of politeness. As a former mathematician he had just estimated that Mr. Reynolds spent approximately 2,5% of his net profit on support of the College. If the profit doubled, that would mean that the College money would do likewise. Despite the good news, he felt really at ease only when he finally closed the door behind their back.

XXVIII

Annie had been lingering around the parking lot for awhile getting the clear idea that there was nothing for her there but then Jessie turned up. Annie saw her and her family who were walking a little bit behind her but to her surprise another couple was also accompanying them. Annie froze and felt how all her blood shot up in the head. Then she made a dash.

Before Jessie managed to proclaim victoriously her family had won one of the tournaments, Annie would be… in my arms! She repeated my name constantly and touched my face again and again as if to make sure I was real. I was so moved. However, Alcyone acted rather reserved. I guess he was still a bit angry with me for I practically forced him to come down here. Yet, Annie was so happy to see him too. She didn’t know which of us to hug first and she ran now to me, now to him back and forth, holding us in her arms each time. Alcyone looked really funny - just like, well… a dad – strict and reserved but he promised to put his heart and soul into the role of Annie’s father, which in fact he managed to do really brilliantly a little later. When the initial euphoria had blown over and Annie had regained her ability for civilized speech she gave the Parkers the biggest surprise with the first questions she had for us, ‘Electra, how did you land?’

Alcyone tried to keep things on the right track, ‘Hello, dear! Aren’t you glad to see us?’

‘Of course, I am,’ exclaimed Annie, ‘But… wait a minute. You two, you finally got married, didn’t you?’