Page 40 of Irish Betrayal

“Anyway,” Jonathan continued, “Mags thinks he, Dr. Samson, might know if there was a problem that we’re unaware of. Mags said Blair met with the professor the day after our Christmas thing at Gray Eyes.”

Which was the day after they’d spent the night together. Daniel’s gut still clenched in fear that he’d done something wrong that night—hurt her or scared her. Something that caused her to run.

“Maybe you should call this Dr. Samson and feel him out,” his dad suggested. He clapped Daniel on the shoulder, his earlier irritation forgotten. “These things tend to work out. Don’t give up on the girl.”

Daniel glanced at his family one by one, silently recognizing their support. “No worries. I’m not foolish enough to do something that stupid. I’ve only been biding my time. She’ll have to tell me eventually what all the bullshit is about. Until then, I’ll see if her professor might have an idea.”

Daniel had already let the situation ride too long, but each time he thought of flying to Oklahoma, he had to remind himself that she had rejected him time and again, demanded he not follow her, but truly, it would kill him to find out that she regretted what they’d done.

Regretted him.

Daniel leaned back in his office chair the following day. Unease hung over his head like a smothering blanket.

He just got off the phone with a man who worked in the Plant Biology department at Trinity College. Rick was kind enough to inform Daniel that Dr. Peter Samson had taken a couple of months’ sabbatical.

To Oklahoma.

Oklahoma State University, as it happens.

He hesitated before texting the one person who might know, but he needed answers more than trying to save face.

Daniel: Hey Mags, Jon mentioned that Blair went to see Dr. Samson the day she left. Do you know why?

Mags didn’t respond immediately. Daniel groaned, remembering too late that she was being interviewed and having her photo taken and her work photographed for a write-up in an art magazine.

“Damn it.” He rubbed his face and was about to message her an apology and tell her not to worry about it when bubbles appeared.

Mags: Something to do with her thesis. She said it was Peter being Peter and that she’d already done everything needed. Do you think he said something that made her think she needed to leave immediately because it wasn’t only you. She didn’t say goodbye to any of us. She left a bag with some of her belongings she wasn’t taking and left a note asking that I store them until she got back.

Daniel: Did you or the other girls ever meet him?

Mags: Not me or Bébhinn. Gray did once at school. She didn’t have anything nice to say about him, though. I do remember that.

Daniel: Do you remember why?

Bubbles appeared and disappeared. Either she was thinking or she attempting to appease Daniel and pose for pictures. He was being a selfish bastard.

Mags: Gray said she would have sworn that the professor had his hand gripping Blair’s arm and that they were arguing, but when Gray approached, he let Blair go and stormed off. Gray questioned Blair, but she blew the whole thing off. Said it was a disagreement about how some plant or other should be transplanted. I don’t think Gray bought the story because I remember Gray bringing it up again while we were cooking dinner, and Blair got pissed.

Daniel: Blair doesn’t get pissed at you guys.

Mags: Exactly. What are you thinking? Do you think she’s been avoiding us over something to do with that guy?

Daniel: I don’t know what I’m saying or thinking. Ulf mentioned that he felt someone or something was pressuring Blair to take the Oklahoma position. It just got me to thinking when Jon mentioned you said she met with Samson the day she left.

His phone started buzzing. Mags. “Hey.”

“Do you think this guy might be…I don’t know, making her feel like she can’t have relationships if she wants to fulfill her dreams?”

“Fuck, Mags. I don’t know. I don’t know a fucking thing. I do know that Blair has never stopped speaking to me, but now I can barely get a one-word response out of her for weeks.”

“It isn’t just you. The girls and I have been giving her slack because we assumed she was under a lot more pressure to perform in the States than she’s used to. Like, maybe Americans are more competitive or something, and you know Blair hates to not be the best.”

Daniel sighed before dropping the bomb. “Dr. Samson has taken a sabbatical from Trinity for a couple of months. He’s teaching at Oklahoma State University.”

“The fuck is that about? She never told me that. I just spoke with her last week and she didn’t mention it then either. That’s it. If Blair won’t tell me what’s going on, what’s really going on, then I’m going to Oklahoma and finding out for myself.”

It wasn’t a bad plan. He wanted to do the same thing, but he still had reservations about why she cut him off.