“What about that bird guy? At the Audubon Center?” Penelope grins at me.
“Barry the Bird Man?” Jessica turns to me with excitement. “I love Barry. He comes to all our fundraisers.”
“That man really knows his warblers,” Dory says behind a mouth full of clams, and I can tell she is doing her best not to laugh.
“So…it’s not Dawn,” Kate says, as she walk back into the dining area.
“Oh, who is it?” I ask, my back towards her as I reach for the bowl of seafood next to me. “Did they drop something off?”
“Hello, Jane,” David’s voice, deep, male, and full of sex.
I freeze. Everyone at the table freezes. Only Dory and Penelope seem slightly less than shocked. Penelope slides her eyes to mine and I see a grin threatening to split her face.
“Well, hello again, David,” Penelope stands and walks towards him, wrapping her arms around him in an embrace that lasts a few seconds longer than polite society dictates. “It is so nice to see you!”
“Again?” Kate asks, her mouth tight.
“We stopped by his house yesterday morning,” Penelope smiles, pulling him by the arm towards the table, where he sits in the one empty chair. Directly across from me. “We?” Jessica asks.
“Jane and I,” Penelope winks in my direction.
“Oh,” Christine smiles. “Are you two…seeing each other?”
“No,” Penelope shakes her head and pats him on the arm with the affection of an older sister, “tragically not.”
“Hello again, Dory,” David smiles at her.
“Hello, David,” she says, all politeness and warmth.
“Excuse me,” Jessica leans forward, “you’re the actor, right?”
He nods, “I am an actor, yes.”
“In those films with the superheroes?”
He nods.
“Where only one was a woman, right? And the rest were dudes in spandex.”
He smiles towards her, “You must be Jessica.”
She leans back quickly, a brief glance in my direction, “How did you know that?”
“I was intrigued by your suggested reading material.”
“What-”
“On Jane’s porch,” he nods at me as all eyes swing in my direction. Kate’s left eyebrow lifts so high I’m surprised it doesn’t touch her hairline. “In fact,” he reaches into the small, paper bag he brought with him, “I was wondering if you would be willing to look over this book? There’s talk of turning it into a film, but I’d like a feminist perspective on it.”
Jessica reaches cautiously across the table for the book, “Why do you want a feminist perspective?”
“To see if it’s worth making into a film.”
She glances at the title. “Why would a feminist perspective affect your film-making decisions?”
David shrugged. “I would like to make better use of my platform, and I know the mainstream film industry has a long way to go in terms of addressing gender and racial equality.”
Jessica smiles, another glance towards me. Approval is written all over her face.
“You hang out on Jane’s porch?” Kate asks, back straighter than an outraged belle in a Southern drama.
“Sure. She is my teacher after all.”
“What does she teach you?” She asks, words dripping with suspicion.
“Literary theory, mostly, and a deeper understanding of gender conventions across different narrative structures.”
Kate raises her eyebrows.
“It’s really great to study with her,” he continues, friendly and unassuming, without a hint of the ego I suspect everyone expects him to have. “I didn’t spend much time in college, so I’ve missed out on a lot of traditional education. And having access to a brain like Jane’s is such a privilege.”
Kate nods slowly, her head tilted slightly to one side, then turns to me and smiles.
And just like that, they all love him.
I realize I have no allies here.
Christine, who had stood, fetched a plate and silverware from the kitchen, and returned without any of us noticing, places them before him. “What can I get you to eat David?”
“Oh, I don’t think-” I begin.
“This all looks fantastic, what do you recommend?”
“I brought plenty,” Dory stands, scooping food onto his plate, “just in case.”
There they all are, hospitality central, bringing him food and drinks. Discussing his latest film. Offering opinions on the superhero franchise and asking questions about his move to Midnight.
“What are you doing here?” I finally ask, hoping for a calm, measured tone but knowing my voice comes out slightly strangled.
“I came to see you,”
“Aw,” a collective sigh around the table.
“You just saw me,” I say, this time with teeth slightly more gritted.
“Yes, but you left so quickly.”
“Why did you leave him, Jane?” Christine asks, an expression of genuine concern on her face.
“I…you were all coming over,” I stutter.
“You could have canceled.”
“We wouldn’t have minded.”
A chorus of mild reprimands and displays of feminine disapproval at my departure from David’s presence yesterday.
“She fled the room,” David continues, cracking a lobster claw over his plate.
“Which room?” Kate asks.
“The bedroom,” he smiles and pops the meat into his mouth.
Dory’s and Christine’s eyes widen simultaneously.
Jessica’s mouth drops open.
Kate stares.
Penelope leans into me, an enormous grin on her face. “You didn’t.”
“Oh, she did,” David turns to her. “Honestly, I can barely walk.”
“Well,” Christine smooths her napkin over her lap, “that’s…exciting.”
“I think it’s great!” Penelope smiles again, grinning at me. I want to hit her.
“Unexpected,” Jessica says.
“Not that unexpected,” Dory says lightly, just loud enough for Kate to turn to her with a questioning look. “You should have seen them at dinner,” she fake whispers.
Kate turns to David, opens her mouth.
“She fled the room,” David says before Kate can say anything. “Bullets have left guns slower.”
Kate closes her mouth.
“I figured I’d only get an honest answer if I cornered you amongst your friends.”
“An honest answer to what?” I can barely get the words out.
“To seeing me again,” he smiles, eyes dancing above the rim of his glass.
The table is silent.
All eyes turn towards me.
Penelope is holding her breath so long I worry she will turn blue. Dory and Christine look at me with the hopeful enthusiasm
