By Erich Segal

Erich Wolf Segal (June 16, 1937 – January 17, 2010) was an American author, screenwriter, and educator. He was best-known for writing the novel Love Story (1970), a best-seller, and writing the motion picture of the same name, which was a major hit. Segal attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn and traveled to Switzerland to take summer courses. He attended Harvard College, graduating as both the class poet and Latin salutatorian in 1958, after which he obtained his master's degree (in 1959) and a doctorate (in 1965) in comparative literature, from Harvard University. Segal was a professor of Greek and Latin literature at Harvard University, Yale University and Princeton University. He had been a Supernumerary Fellow and subsequently an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford.

It was nearly the end of July when Jean-Claude had arrived home from the hospital. Sheila was due to return to work on the first Monday in August. And Bob grew increasingly uncomfortable at the prospect of having the whole brood on his hands alone. He said nothing to Sheila, but as usual she did not need words to know what he was thinking.

'Why don't I ask Evelyn for another month's holiday? Even if she says no, she might at least let me drive to Cambridge once or twice a week and bring work back here.' He was touched by her offer. For he knew this might raise hackles at the office.

'But Evelyn's such a martinet. Do you think she'd put up with that kind of arrangement?'

'She'll just have to, Bob. I'll give her an ultimatum.'

'Sheila, you're a tiger.'

'No I'm not. I'll be quaking when I actually get in the room."

Then I'll drive you up and be your second.'

'What about the kids?'

'We can get someone. Susie Ryder, maybe. I'll take care of it. What do you say we go tomorrow?

'So soon?" she asked, affecting panic.

'I don't want you to get cold feet. Anyway, even if you do, I'll be there to warm them at the last minute.'

She smiled at him. He had been living for that look.

'Well?'

He had stood guard on the stone steps outside The Harvard Press waiting for her to emerge. When she did she was beaming.

'Well? he teased, 'in what elevated language did she tell you to go to hell?'

'I'm an idiot, do you know that?' she stated cheerfully. 'She said I should have asked her years ago.'

'Haven't I always told you you were the best editor they had?'

'Yes, but I didn't believe you.'

'Well this ought to teach you to trust my judgment a little more. Now let's celebrate,' he said, taking her hand. 'What would you say to a candlelight dinner?'

'It's barely lunchtime.'

'We can wait. And meanwhile we'll buy sandwiches and picnic with the college kids along the Charles.'

'And what about our kids? We've got to get home by a reasonable hour.'

'Tomorrow morning's soon enough/ he said, 'Susie can stay overnight.’

She looked at him with a mischievous smile.

'How come you didn't tell me about this arrangement? Are there any other surprises in store?'

'You'll see,’ he answered. And he felt a surge of joy. Joy born of hope. She hadn't objected to any of his 'arrangements'. So far, anyway.

Almost by definition, Harvard Summer School consists of people not otherwise associated with Harvard. Hence as they walked along the river bank, no one in Cambridge recognized them. They were alone in the summer crowd. They sat down on the grass, ate lunch and watched the many pleasure boats go by.

'If I see Noah's ark,’ said Bob, I’ll flag it over and we'll volunteer as passengers.’

'I somehow think they'd want two younger specmens.’

'Like hell. We're young. At least you are. Every undergraduate we've passed today has given you the eye.’

'But still, we're not as young as Jessica and Davey.’

'What? Come on. Sheila. She's an infant! This Davey nonsense is sheer anti-me rebellion.’

'Bob, you'd better face up to the fact that your daughter is a blush away from womanhood.’

'Years, Sheila.Years.’

She lay back, plucked a blade of grass and began chewing it.

'Not even MIT professors can make time stop,’ she said.

He looked down at her freckled face.

'I don't want to stop time,’ he said with emphatic seriousness, 'I just want to turn it back.’

The candlelight dinner was not at any restaurant. While she was inside confronting Evelyn Unger, he had dashed to Mass Avenue and bought canned Vichyssoise, frozen Chicken Divan, salad in a bag and two bottles of very good champagne. As for the candles, there would be plenty in the house in Lexington.

They sat cross-legged in front of the fire and talked for a long time.

At one point he asked, 'Do you remember when we first made love?'

'I try not to. I was so scared."

'And I was so gauche. Do you think your parents ever guessed what we were doing while we house-sat for them?'

'Probably. We both looked so utterly miserable.'

They laughed together.

'I don't know why it went so badly, Sheil. I memorized every manual - even the Kama Sutra.'

'In English?'

'I know it didn't seem-that way,' he grinned. 'But we improved, didn't we?'

'Yes,’ she said, 'practice makes perfect.' She took another sip of champagne.

He moved close to her.

'I've missed our practice sessions,' he said quietly.

She did not reply. He moved even closer.

'You know,' he whispered, 'you're the only woman in the world whose soul is as beautiful as her body.'

He realized as he said it that it might sound like a phoney line to her. In the past he'd said such things and had been certain that she knew he meant them. Which he had. With all his heart. But now, after everything that had happened, it was possible she'd never trust a word he said.

'I mean it, Sheila,’ he whispered, brushing back her hair and kissing her forehead.

She did not move away. He took that as a hopeful sign.

'Do you believe I'll always love you?' he asked softly.

She bent her head down. And then answered, 'I think so.’

He put his arm around her and said firmly, 'You believe it. Take it as an article of faith. I love you more than life.’

Tears began to trickle slowly down her cheeks.

He looked at her and murmured, 'I know, I know. I've hurt you so much’.

Then both of them were silent. His heart ached for her. He was desperate to make it right again.

'Sheila, could you ever—' He stopped. It was so difficult. 'Do you think you might in time be able to forget the way I've hurt you?'

Silence once again. Then she looked up.

‘I’ll try,’ she whispered, 'I can't promise more, Bob. But I'll try.’

He took her in his arms. As she leaned back she spilled her champagne glass.

‘That's good luck,’ he said, kissing her eyes. Her cheeks. Her lips.

At last she responded, embracing him.

'I've missed you terribly,’ she said, 'I couldn't bear the.thought of losing you. Oh Robert…’

He kissed her everywhere, releasing all the tenderness pent up so long. And prayed that someday all the pain he knew that she still felt would disappear.

Please God, I love her so.

COMMENTARY

1. Harvard University - is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation (officially The President and Fellows of Harvard College) chartered in the country. Harvard's history, influence, and wealth have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Harvard was named after its first benefactor, John Harvard.

2. Noah’s ark – built by Noah, who being a good man in a bad world was bidden do it to rescue the best of man and beast from waters of destruction.

3. MIT - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research. Founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, the institute adopted the European polytechnic university model and emphasized laboratory instruction from an early date.

4. Vichyssoise - (pronounced vɪʃiswɑːz/ US dict: vi·shē·swäz′) is a thick soup made of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock. It is traditionally served cold, but can also be eaten hot. The origins of vichyssoise are a subject of debate among culinary historians; some call it an American invention, whereas others observe that the origin of the soup is questionable in whether it's genuinely French or an American creation.

5. Kama Sutra – a Hindu book that gives information about different ways to have sex.

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