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Jeremy stepped back

“This isn’t the time or the place”

“Then perhaps we could talk in the hall? Coize”

Jereht Ladies, excuseGabriel into the hallway

“That ell” Julia turned to Katherine

“We’ll see If they return without having spilt any blood, I’ll agree with you” Katherine’s eyes sparkled ih the door?”

Over dinner at their ho, Gabriel and Julia were deternancy to Katherine They’d resolved not to tell anyone until she was in her second trin of the Volvo SUV that Gabriel had recently purchased, which was parked in the driveway)

While Gabriel was in the kitcheneyes on Julia and tapped a single finger on top of the linen tablecloth

“You’re expecting”

“What?” Julia faltered, putting her water glass down so she wouldn’t spill

“It’s obvious You aren’t drinking You declined coffee Your husband, who by all accounts is very solicitous, is hovering over you as if you wereto hide his extreme, testosterone-laden pride You can’t fool reed you’d callWe aren’t telling anyone, including family, until I’ood for you to put off telling your department until the last possible htfully

“I’lass down “Can you tell me why?”

Julia’s hand went to her abdomen “There are several reasons I’h and that Cecilia will drop me as a student”

“Nonsense Cecilia has three children, two of which she had while she was a graduate student in Pisa Next problem”

Julia paused, her mouth open

“Um, I didn’t know that”

“I’ve known her for years She’s a working mother who is determined to carve out time for her family That’s why they spend their surandparents Next proble and I’ll lose my fellowship”

“Universities are very different froal issues that would prevent your depart that You’re entitled to a maternity leave just like everyone else In fact, if I’m not mistaken, Harvard has a committee on the status of women that would ensure you are treated fairly Even if your department were chaired by a fool, and it isn’t, he’d have to follow the guidelines Next proble for a maternity leave But I was told by my doctor I’d need to take at least six weeks off after the baby is born I’ister for the semester”

Katherine frowned “Not take a maternity leave? Are you ed, wrinkled hand

“I ht be an old ram, or your newborn, if you don’t take a maternity leave You are allowed one You should take it”

“Won’t the departht, but if you have the support of your supervisor, what does it matter? My advice is to speak to Cecilia and ask for her advice She’ll know best how to guide you Don’t let the ynists drive you into an ihtfully “I’ht injustice Let them try to injure you In fact, I have half aMatthews’s offer to join his department just to ensure that they don’t”