CHAPTER 11
Farah settled into her new routine, too busy to think about the past or worry about the future. Every free moment at home was devoted to practicing the piano. Jason's grand piano badly needed tuning, but when this was accomplished she found it had an admirable tone, far removed from the old family upright she had practiced on as a child. She was relieved that Jason spent so much time in his laboratory, away from the monotony of scales and finger exercises.
She loved the dancing classes. They were an outlet for her energy, and the exercises and routines had given her a new grace and lightness.
She went with Greg, Suzi and Barry to the play, glad she didn't have to be alone with Greg, who showed signs of becoming aggressive. She wanted to avoid a confrontation of that kind. In spite of herself, she felt like an older sister to these young people. But was at ease only when the conversation centered around the dance studio. When it became personal or contemporary she felt awkward.
Greg's goodnight kiss had left her with a feeling of anger at having been in a position where she had to deceive him. Perhaps she should avoid all dates until she could accept herself as the young girl she appeared to be and stop feeling that at any moment she might turn into a wrinkled old hag.
Jason asked her incessant questions about her friends until she wondered if he resented them. I suppose it's only natural for him to feel possessive, she thought, for in a way I am his creation. But I can't let him think he owns me. Perhaps if he could meet them and see how young they are he would feel reassured.
When she broached the subject to him, he seemed pleased. Jason loved to barbeque, so he suggested a party. "Why not ask them up for Saturday. It will give me an excuse to wear the new chef's cap and apron you gave me."
"I will if you'll invite one of your lady friends to join us. And while we're on the subject, isn't it about time you stopped babysitting me and start living your own life again?"
He looked as if he were about to protest, but merely said, "I'll ask Monica. I used to take her out now and then, and she's someone you've already met."
"Yes, I remember. I liked her. And maybe Hack would like to come and bring a friend."
"Leave it all to me," he told her. "If your friends can come, I'll arrange everything else."
The party was a great success. The weather was warm for October, and they splashed and froliced in the pool and ate Jason's barbequed steaks, which were served on the patio. Jason allowed only Monica to help him clean up afterwards. The others, including Hack and his date, an attractive young woman who looked to be in her late twenties, sat around the pool and sang and told jokes and indulged in the usual horseplay of the young.
When darkness fell they went inside and played charades, throwing themselves into the game with abandon and much screaming and laughing. After an initial reluctance, even Jason joined in the fun. Watching him, Farah felt that he needed to get out of himself like this more often.
The adoption hearing was held in early November. Monica showed up for the hearing, which was handled by her son Hilary, who was Jason's lawyer. Hack was there to serve as a character witness if needed. It turned out, however, to be a mere formality, and the proceedings took only a few minutes. The papers were signed, Hilary went back to his office, and Jason took the rest of the party to lunch in celebration.
"You really should throw a party to announce this to your friends, Jason," Monica said.
"I've been thinking along the same lines." Jason looked at Farah. "That is, if you find the occasion a cause for celebration."
"How can you say that, Jason?" She squeezed his arm. "Can't you see how pleased and happy I am? Of course we should have a party. I'd like to announce to the whole world that I am now your daughter."
He looked touched by this, but was saved from having to answer by Monica, who said, "Why don't you let me handle it? You know how I love to give parties."
"I'll tell you what, Monica. You can plan it and send out the invitations, but it's at my house and I foot the bills. We'll have it catered and I'll get my housekeeper to come in and clean up afterwards."
The idea of a party appealed to Farah for another reason; she thought it might get Jason back in circulation. His possessiveness toward her had increased, and while it really didn't bother her now, she feared that, unchecked, it might in time become a problem. And not only for her. He needed to get out socially again with friends of his own age who shared his interests.
The number of people who turned out for the party surprised Farah. Jason had a host of friends and colleagues, who asked him where he had been hiding himself. They welcomed Farah warmly and made Jason the butt of much kidding about becoming a father at his age. Farah could see affection and respect in their treatment of him. She hoped this renewed contact with his peers would become a habit.
She had found a friend in Monica, who was warm, intelligent and cheerful. She offered to introduce Farah around, help her in any way she could, and told her she was available if ever Farah needed an older woman to confide in.
One evening in early December, Jason said casually, "Farah, when you have time, why don't we go apartment hunting?"
"I'd better find the time," she said, "since you seem eager to throw me out."
"Do you think I adopted you so you could loaf around here forever?" It's my plan to educate you so you can support me in my old age."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go."
They found a suitable apartment not far from the campus and arranged for Farah to move in after Christmas. This done, they chose furniture, bought dishes, pots and pans, and all the odds and ends necessary for apartment living.
"We should have done this sooner," Jason said after a hard day of shopping. "All this on top of our Christmas shopping is hard on an old man."
Farah thought this amusing, since she had done most of Jason's Christmas shopping for him, had addressed his cards, and was helping him decorate the house inside and out.
And suddenly Christmas was upon them. Jason wanted Christmas dinner at home, now that he was a family man, he said. He suggested inviting Suzi, who felt that a trip home for Christmas was too expensive for her now, so Farah asked her to spend several days with them. Hack was invited to come and bring a date if he wished, but said he preferred to come alone.
On Christmas Eve as they drove around looking at the decorated houses, Jason suggested they go see Farah's new apartment.
"Oh, let's," said Suzi. "I've been wanting to do that."
Jason had taken quite a shine to Suzi, and as they rode along with her in the front seat beside him, he teased her unmercifully. "If you're an orphan," he told her, "I'd be glad to adopt you, too. I've been told it's not good to raise one child alone."
Suzi giggled. She thought everything Jason said was funny. "If I tell my parents how rich you are, they'll probably be willing to give me up."
"Good. Write them tomorrow." She was still giggling.
FArah turned to Hack. "Did you hear that? Jason's tired of me already. You told me he was unreliable."
"If he throws you out in favor of Suzi, I'll be glad to adopt you," Hack said. "Of course I'm not as rich as Jason, but we could live handsomely on our blackmail money."
"Who are you planning to blackmail?" This was Jason.
"You, of course. Isn't that right, Farah?"
"Who else? He'd pay anything to keep the whole affair quiet. It would ruin him professionally."
"Suzi," said Jason, "I'm afraid I'll have to give up my dream of adopting you."
"I knew it was too good to be true."
They were laughing as Farah unlocked the door to her apartment and stood aside for them to enter. Coming in behind them, she stopped short as she caught sight of an apartment-size piano that hadn't been there before. She stood still, her eyes slowly filling with tears.
"Jason, I love it," she said at last. She ran and threw her arms around him. "What a wonderful present. Thank you, thank you."
He patted her awkwardly. "I had to do something. Your constant practicing was driving me nuts. From now on you can practice here."
She raised the piano lid and struck a few chords. "It's first rate, Jason. Just like you."
To cover his emotion, Jason said, "Well, don't just stand there. Start the tour."
Back at the house, Jason invited Hack in for a nightcap, but hack declined, saying he had to get home and hang up his sock before Santa arrived. Farah suspected he had packages to wrap.
"Come for late breakfast and spend the day," she said as he departed.
"I'll do that. And I hope by late you do mean late."
"Whenever you're ready." She watched him drive away, thinking what a nice man he was.
Jason, with a little help from Farah, prepared a Christmas dinner of roast turkey, dressing, giblet gravy, cranberries, and other traditional Christmas trimmings.
It was a rather quiet day, but for Jason in his new role as adoptive father, for Farah who now had a sense of family, for Suzi who couldn't make it home for Christmas, and for Hack who would soon be leaving for foreign shores, it was a perfect day.
The year 1961 arrived, bringing with it a new President, the young, dynamic John F. Kennedy, who, it was hoped, would restore order to the country. This heightened mood was felt everywhere. Farah felt caught up in a new movement, one that made anything possible, and she hoped that in this atmosphere she would be able to make the transition in her mind and personality that still eluded her.
She plunged into her studies, leaving little time for socializing. She was friendly and receptive to overtures from young girls who wanted to be friends and young men who wanted to date her. She attended several parties and went out with a few of the young men, but it was no use. She still felt an awkward age gap. Although she had transferred to a late afternoon dance class, she continued to see Suzi and now and then went out with Greg, who had accepted her limitations on their relationship.
Weekends were usually spent with Jason. He was a lover of music and the theater, and they often attended together. He had started going out again occasionally with his women friends and was playing golf with some of his men friends as well. He no longer showed signs of possessiveness in regard to Farah. She supposed his fear of losing her to younger companions had been laid to rest. She had been a little flattered by it and more than a little amused, but it wouldn't have done for him to continue that way.
Farah knew there was more to life than this and that some day, perhaps soon, she would want more. But for the present she was content. She was aware that her personality was undergoing subtle changes; she had been given a second chance and now had more confidence in the future; she was not alone any more, she had Jason.
Then one day all this was shattered. The little world into which she had crept for sustenance and shelter came to an abrupt end.