Eddy and Robert planned to sit in the rear garden’s gazebo for the final tutoring lesson. It was a perfect spot to take in the idyllic weather while studying. Almost too perfect. Eddy opened a book on Latin poetry to begin, but he couldn’t concentrate. Every sound- the tinkling of a wind chime, the sound of a door- everything caught his attention as the potential entrance of Jane who had yet to make an appearance. 
Feelings of guilt washed over him each time Robert asked a question. 
“I’m sorry, Robert, what was that?” 
Eddy knew he wasn’t paying attention to the boy at all. Finally he managed to shake it off, and focused on the task at hand. After weeks of tutoring, Robert seemed to find some confidence in his work, and was genuinely eager to impress his teenage mentor. The lesson was wrapping up when the Stanard’s servant, Samuel, returned. 
 “Pardon me, Sir, but Judge Stanard would like to have a word with you.” 
Eddy’s heart sank. Judge Stanard wanted to see him? It must be a trap, he thought.  He knows I’m infatuated with his wife. Given Eddy’s newfound beliefs in magic, it only seemed plausible. 
But Eddy had never uttered a word to anyone about his true feelings for Jane. Not to his friends; certainly not to Juliet given his conflicted feelings for her too—he hadn’t told a soul about this fantasies of a married woman. Even the poems he wrote about Jane used pseudonyms like Helen, or no name at all. And although Eddy had often wanted to act on his true feelings, by grabbing Jane or kissing her in the parlor, he never actually did. Still, the judge wanted to see him. Eddy swallowed hard, and followed the servant into the house. 
He was escorted into the judge’s private office. Like Pa’s office back home, this one had a wall of books, and a grand desk of mahogany, with piles of documents scattered about. But that was the end of the comparison. Judge Stanard’s office was adorned with warm wainscoting panels along each wall. Chinese red drapes framed tall glistening windows that spilled the sunlight in. Eddy felt out of his league. He steadied himself to meet Judge Stanard, but inside he was a pile of nerves. It was not the welcoming flutter he felt each time he waited for Jane. It didn’t help that the man who entered was an imposing figure. It took all of his courage to sum up the strength to shake Judge Stanard’s hand, which was now extended in a gesture of goodwill. Eddy reached out to reciprocate, but failed miserably grasping with a fish-like grip. 
 “My wife speaks very highly of you, and I’m sure you know our son thinks you can do no wrong. I’m sorry I’ve been unable to meet you until now. It is my wife’s turn to be absent today, off to the dress maker, or some nonsense.” 
Eddy was disappointed to learn he wouldn’t be seeing her that day. 
 “We were very grateful to you for your heroism at the canal last month. If not for your swimming ability and good timing, I fear our family may have suffered a great loss. I owe you payment as Bobby’s tutor, but I also believe a reward for your heroism is due.”
A reward? Eddy thought. The thought had never crossed his mind. 
“Oh, no Sir. I couldn’t. It was fate that I was there. I couldn’t possibly accept a reward.”
Eddy’s response was received as humility, but in reality it was driven by fear. If Pa got word of the incident, he would declare it as yet another tall tale. Plus, there would be a beating. There was always a beating. 
 “Oh Sir- uh, Your Honor. I couldn’t possibly-”
“You did a noble thing,” the judge cut him off. “You must be rewarded. But what is an adequate sum for saving my son’s life? Perhaps we pay you for tutoring, but off a gift as a reward? Tell me, Eddy, is there anything you truly desire?”
Ideas flooded his head. What do I want? A publishing contract. To leave Richmond. To be respected. To have Pa’s affection again. To be legally adopted. I want Jane. To belong. Somewhere. Anywhere that wasn’t here. 
There were many, many things that Eddy wanted, but the judge could not give him a single one. Then he had an idea. 
 “You wouldn’t by chance have a spare bible?” Eddy asked. 
 “A bible?!” Judge Stanard laughed. “Well, I didn’t see that one coming. Samuel, could you please come here? Will you fetch that spare bible from the library for us?” 
The old servant appeared only a moment later holding a beautiful leather bible with gilded edges. 
 “Shall I wrap it Sir?” 
“If you would be so kind.”
Thinking quickly, Eddy said, “There is one other thing I hoped to speak to you and Ja- uh, Mrs. Stanard about. Bobby told me he can’t swim. Maybe I could teach him a few strokes over the summer?”
Judge Stanard agreed, and the lessons were set to begin in a few weeks. It would be just enough time for Eddy to get into physical shape himself. 
With a guaranteed excuse to see Jane over the summer, Eddy was on cloud nine. With  money from the tutoring job in his pocket, and a plan for the summer, Eddy outstretched his hand for one last handshake. This time he got in a good, firm grip.