"Oh, it's really nothing that couldn't wait, Olivia. I'm not here on business. I'm here for personal reasons; I'm here as a friend. Remember, we pledged
to always be friends?" he asked.
"Yes, I remember, Nelson," I said closing my eyes and then folding my lips into a small smile. "Go on, be my friend," I challenged.
"I swear . . . I'm here because I've become concerned about Samuel, Olivia," he blurted after a slight pause. "Samuel? Why?"
"He . . . he's not his old self these days and I think it's because you have him on such a short leash."
"What?" I didn't know whether to laugh or scream. "Who came up with that? Short leash?"
"I did, myself. He needs to be given more authority, more responsibility. Some of our mutual friends call him your errand boy and it's bruising him. There's just so much a man's ego can suffer before his whole personality suffers."
I stared for a moment in silence.
"I hope you're not offended by my concern, but . . ." "Did Samuel ask you to come here and plead for him this morning?" I demanded.
"Absolutely not," Nelson said with his hand raised as if he were being sworn in as a court witness. "I decided completely on my own to do this. I wanted to express to you how much confidence I have in Samuel and I thought it would be much better for your marriage if . . ."
"Nelson," I said slowly, "how would you like it if I went to see Louise and gave her some advice about how she treats you? How would Louise like it?" I asked.
"You and Louise don't have the relationship we have, Olivia," he said.
"What relationship?"
"Our friendship," he said. "The last thing I want to do here is upset you," he added quickly. He reached out to take my hand. "Please believe that."
I looked at my hand in his and felt my heart flutter.
"I'm not upset, Nelson. I'm . . . just surprised." I looked up at him. He looked so sincere, so concerned. Was he coming here pleading for Samuel only as a way to get closer to me?
"Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised. Maybe there is something more between you and me. Maybe we've always known that," I said very softly.
"Yes, there is. You're very bright and you've always been honest with me, even to the point of telling me off when you had to," he said smiling. "I thought it would be all right for me to tell you what I thought. I am very fond of Samuel and of you," he added. "I am, Olivia. You're probably the one woman, aside from my wife of course, whom I respect the most in this town. I've always been impressed with you."
My heart fluttered like a small bird gaining the courage to fly. Dared I say what was buried so long in the secret places in my soul?
"Too bad we didn't meet sooner somehow, someway, Nelson. We might have built a family like no other on the Cape. Just think what power we would have had together, what great things we could have done here. We'd have an empire by now," I said, my voice full of emotion.
"People shouldn't marry just to build a good business, Olivia. They have to have something more going on between them," he said in a condescending tone.
I pulled my hand out of his.
"Yes, you're right, of course," I said turning away from him. I felt so exposed, so naked for showing my emotions so clearly. "Well, I do thank you for bringing Samuel's problem to my attention. I'll do what I can, but I won't do anything that's not sensible just to please some of your mutual friends, as you call them. I'm sure most of this is just men's club talk anyway," I concluded.
"I'm afraid I've upset you."
"No," I said and then turned to him, my eyes full of fire. "No, you haven't. You've simply reminded me what it's like for a woman to be in charge of a supposed man's role. Yes, I admit I run my company with an iron hand, Nelson, but I do that because I'm good at it and because I built it up to what it is today. There is no reason why I shouldn't continue to do so or not do so just because I happen to be a woman," I said. "Perhaps you should revisit your view of women, Nelson. You may not be as liberal and fairminded as you believe you are."
He laughed.
"I only hope I'm never put in the position of having to negotiate with you, Olivia. Well, okay," he said, "I see you're fine. You're strong. I won't take up any more of your time. Please don't mention this to Samuel. He really doesn't know I'm here," he said standing.
"All right, I won't," I said holding my eyes on him. He stared at me a moment.
"I understand that Belinda is doing well in Boston," he said.
"Who told you that?"