Part Thirty-Seven

Peggy felt more apprehensive with each step.

They were walking down Spruce Street in downtown Philadelphia, approaching Deidre's apartment. The street was shaded with tall leafy trees, and the coolness was a welcome break from the numbing heat and humidity of Washington, D.C.

"Don't you love these old row houses?" Raoul was saying.

Peggy noted the high windows and tall, narrow doorways and granite steps, but all she could think of was, 'which one contains Deidre?' Deidre, Raoul's daughter, had not wanted them to come. Raoul talked her into it, over Peggy's objections. 'Why make her even more angry and resentful?' Peggy had said. But Raoul assured her it would be okay.

"These were all family homes at one time," said Raoul as they climbed the steps to a large house. "But they've been subdivided into student apartments."

"It's a shame that only millionaires can afford to live in cities," said Peggy.

At the door, Peggy saw a panel of buzzers and mail slots with names next to each buzzer. She saw 'Stein' and was certain that a video camera was pointed at the doorstep and Deidre was observing them and would probably put on headphones to ignore them. Just as Raoul was about to press the buzzer the door opened and a young woman with green and purple hair pushed a bicycle through the doorway.

"Can I help you?" she asked. Her face was highlighted with bits of silver ornaments stuck into her lips, nose and ears. She wore a man's white U-style undershirt with no bra. Peggy suddenly felt very old.

"We were just about to ring Deidre Stein," said Raoul.

"You must be her father," said the young woman. Then she looked briefly at Peggy with a glance that Peggy interpreted as, 'and you must be the other woman.'

"Yes, I'm Raoul Stein. This is Peggy."

Peggy smiled.

"I'm Deidre's roommate, Dirksy."

"Dirksy?" said Raoul.

"It's an old family nickname. Sorry, I'm late for my yoga appointment. I'll catch up with you guys later." She carried her bike down the stairs and rode off.

Raoul pressed the buzzer and a moment later Deidre opened the door. Peggy recognized her as the same young woman she had met on the ferry a couple of months ago; she had a bright smile then, and was friendly toward Peggy, encouraging, it had seemed. Now Peggy could see that she still had the same beautiful face, her father's looks, but her expression was gloomy.

"Hi Dad." She gave Raoul a hug. She looked at Peggy indifferently.

"Good to see you again, Deidre," said Peggy, extending her hand.

They shook hands. "Let's get out of this heat," said Deidre.

"Actually, to us it feels like a break," said Peggy.

Deidre didn't answer as they climbed an elegant curved staircase with dark mahogany rails worn smooth from use.

"This is beautiful," said Peggy. She guessed the ceiling was twelve feet above the floor.

"It's cheap," said Deidre, opening the door to her second floor apartment.

They entered a large room that in a previous era might have been an upstairs sitting room or parlor. Now it was a studio apartment with a stove and refrigerator at one end, two futons that were positioned as sofas instead of beds, a large dresser, a small table by the window and a tall bookcase. An open door revealed a bathroom with a claw foot bathtub. Every square inch of space was crammed with some accessory of student living: books, papers, clothes, shoes, dishes, groceries. However, Peggy noted that it was tidy. Deidre and Dirksy had obviously prepared for their arrival.

"This is it, home sweet home," said Deidre.

"One more year of grad school, Dee," said Raoul. "And I think you will find it was worth it." Deidre was working on an M.B.A. at the Wharton School.

"Would you like some lemonade?"

They sat on the futons and chatted while they drank from tall cool glasses. Deidre talked about her summer job at a travel agency while Raoul showed pictures from their week in D.C.

"Do you remember the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception?" said Raoul.



"How could I forget? Whenever we traveled, Mother had to visit the Catholic sites and you had to visit the Jewish ones." She paused and looked at Peggy. "I lived a very confused childhood."

"You were exposed to lots of influences," said Raoul.

"But that's not what got me into grad school. Somewhere along the way I picked up some serious math genes," said Deidre.

"My father," said Raoul, then to Peggy he said, "Deidre has always been an ace at math. Now she's studying economics."

"That's impressive," said Peggy. "Are there many women in your program?"

"Most women here are in marketing. I'm doing an operations management track with an emphasis in economics. We have two other women, one from Turkey and one from India. They're brilliant."

"We met your roommate," said Raoul.

"Dirksy's a music major. She's the perfect roommate because she spends all of her time at the music building."

They talked for a moment longer and then Deidre suggested walking around the neighborhood.

They strolled through Rittenhouse Square and watched an amusing mixture of humanity: office workers, students, parents with strollers, homeless people, elderly residents. Then Deidre led them through various residential streets with rough brick sidewalks. Raoul enjoyed the signs he spotted along the way.



"Get it? Park-u-arse?" said Raoul.

"We get it," said Peggy. A block later she pointed a sign out to him. "Get a picture of that one."



Deidre said, "That's Philly for ya."

Finally they rounded the corner onto Pine Street and Deidre showed them to the bed-and-breakfast that she had recommended to Raoul. They entered a cool, charming space that made Peggy feel relaxed. A girl played music on the piano; it felt like someone's home. (La Reserve, Center City Bed and Breakfast).

  

Raoul made arrangements while Peggy sat with Deidre in the spacious parlor. It was their first moment alone since Peggy had arrived.

There was an awkward silence at first while they listened to the piano, then Deidre burst out suddenly with, "I mainly want to know one thing. What exactly is it you like about my father?"

After Peggy got over the shock of the question, she wondered what her answer should be.

TO BE CONTINUED