“Thank you.” Richard didn’t sound convinced.
“Rachel, play some music,” Katherine commanded. “Something peppy.”
“Um . . .” Rachel pulled out her cell phone and scrolled through the songs. She swiped across the screen and music began to play: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” performed by Brenda Lee.
The music distracted the baby, who paused crying long enough to see Katherine put her hand on Father Christmas’s shoulder and draw him into a dance.
After Richard overcame his initial shock, he tossed his sleigh bells aside and placed his hand at Katherine’s waist, and the two seniors began to swing dance.
Gabriel stood by the fireplace, staring.
Rachel increased the volume of her cell phone and grinned at Julia, putting her fingers together to form the letter W.
Wonder Woman, she mouthed, before whistling at the dancers.
Clare forgot her crying and watched as Santa Claus and a prominent Dante specialist from All Souls College, Oxford, rocked around the Christmas tree.
It was, as Julia would tell Gabriel later, the best Christmas present ever.
* * *
“Ah, here you are.” Katherine breezed into the kitchen later that afternoon, after Gabriel had put Clare down for a nap.
Rachel had gone with Aaron to his parents’ house for lunch and to open Christmas presents. Julia was starting on the turkey.
“Can I help?” Katherine peered around the kitchen.
“I was just going to peel the potatoes.” Julia pointed to a large bowl in the sink. “They’re washed and scrubbed. I’m making mashed potatoes.”
Katherine pulled up a stool to the large island in the center of the kitchen and held out her hand. “Give me a peeler.”
Julia obliged and the two women sat side-by-side, peeling potatoes and transferring them from one large stainless steel bowl to another.
Katherine held her potato peeler aloft. “Richard is very nice. He’s handsome and a true gentleman, and certainly the man can dance. But as much as I appreciate younger men, I’m not getting involved with him.”
Julia’s mouth dropped open.
“So please tell Rachel.” Katherine circled her potato peeler in the air. “She’s a good girl, but remarkably persistent.”
Julia almost choked. “Uh, I’ll mention it to her.”
“Now, I want to talk to you about Cecilia Marinelli.”
Scheisse, Julia thought but did not say.
Katherine continued peeling her potato and lowered her voice. “Tell me what happened.”
Julia stared into the bowl of potatoes and gathered her thoughts. When she was ready, she recounted the conversation that had occurred in Cecilia’s office.
“Codswallop,” said Katherine. “So how were things left?”
“I didn’t want to argue with her. I told Gabriel I’d like to speak to her again when I have the list of courses from Edinburgh. Maybe Cecilia will be more receptive then.”
Katherine efficiently finished her potato and began working on the next one. “You have to decide what you’re going to do, of course. I will take you on as a doctoral student, if you wish.”
“Thank you,” Julia said quickly. “I’d hoped to have you and Cecilia on my dissertation committee.”
“That may not be possible, if Cecilia is stubborn. But, Julia, Gabriel can’t turn down the Sage Lectures.” Katherine fixed her gaze on Julia.