The Big Decision

Bettina slowed down her research work and writing to include more socializing with the diplomatic set and developing a structured exercise routine to begin the day and it had an immediate effect on her mental outlook. She felt her mental acuteness improve and she was able to accomplish just as much with her routine as she’d done in her months of depression. A month later Dr. Beaufort messaged Bettina to ask if she’d be interested in accompanying him to the US where he was to present a series of lectures at Harvard University at the invitation of their economics faculty. He’d responded to their invitation on condition they also pay for his research assistant Bettina Reddy which they immediately agreed to wondering who this assistant was to receive such a demand from this internationally acclaimed professor whose textbooks were on the required reading list there. There was much interest within the Harvard faculty and background checks on this young woman who was so sponsored by this important academic figure.

Eventually they inquired if this woman would be interested in offering some workshops while accompanying the professor for his lectures at the undergraduate level. The professor thought about it as he studied the topics they suggested and decided to ask Bettina if she’d like to accept this opportunity. She immediately said no as this was not something she felt skilled enough to attempt yet. The professor then presented her with his suggested outlines for the workshops they inquired about and offered to help her put the material together if she said yes.

So, with fear and trepidation Bettina put her research on hold and put all her energies into the suggested topics relying heavily on the professor’s expertise and he nodded in approval giving further suggestions as she shared her work with him. Bettina put all her energies into the workshop preparation in the brief time before they’d fly out to the US and exhausted presented her notes and illustrating power point presentations to the professor for his approval. He smiled with appreciation. He could see this would not only be her introduction to the academic community internationally, but she’d make him proud with her presentations. Every encouragement from her new father figure gave Bettina courage and confidence she could do this well and she did. After that success she threw her energies back into her thesis preparation and Dr. Beaufort watched with pride as she finessed the final chapters. Soon it would be time for her defence of the thesis before a committee assigned to examine her work and determine whether she qualified for advancement into the PhD world.

Bettina felt in awe as she entered the room to face a group of renowned professors tasked with judging the value of her work. In front of them on the committee table were copies of her thesis which they’d gone through carefully and made notes in each section. For the next three hours they probed and questioned the basis of her research and the conclusions she reached. They looked for appropriate acknowledgement of her sources quoted to see these were properly acknowledged. At the end of an exhausting examination, they dismissed her and discussed her work before taking a secret ballot as to whether she qualified for advancement to PhD. The results were unanimous in her favour. They turned to Dr. Beaufort.

“Congratulations professor. You’ve produced another one of your students of excellence to grace the academic world. With those minor suggested changes to her thesis, we are clear on it to be published and recommended. She seems to agree with those changes. Of course, we will have to go through the process to see her through to the graduation ceremony but perhaps you may wish to let her know we agree in recommending her for her degree. She has certainly earned it and has a bright future.”

Dr. Beaufort beamed with pleasure at their enthusiastic response. He would add Bettina to his growing list of adopted children and looked forward to a continuing relationship as she sought her own career path. Professors and their students had that bond through history, and it would always be that way.

On receiving her gown and diploma at the graduation ceremony Bettina paid respect to her parents and uncle who’d been so supportive through the trying years of her research and writing. Then to everyone’s surprise she went from the microphone to her professor guide on stage and he stood as she threw her arms around him and whispered her thanks at his wisdom in getting her through to this goal. The audience stood to their feet and clapped at this demonstration of affection for her teacher and academic father. Tears came to the professor’s eyes as he resumed his seat. This was the first time one of his students had expressed their warm acknowledgement of his work for them in such a public forum.

Soon after graduation she was summoned to the academic office of Imperial College Business School and given her first teaching assignments in recognition of paid for scholarship for which she was committed to five years of teaching with the Business School. She looked forward to commencing her career and determined to keep writing. Not only was this a requirement for recognition of professional appointments on the long road to being recognized as a professor but it was now her passion. Having had favourable comments from workshops conducted at Harvard she’d seek opportunities to hone her skills in presentations whenever available at academic functions. It would be hard to break in but with the Harvard experience on her CV now that would certainly help her gain access to academic conventions. She longed for opportunities to make those presentations in her home country France and as her parents were influential in academic circles there, she urged them to seek those opportunities. To her surprise those invitations to the noted educational centres in France did not eventuate despite her parent’s fame in the academic world there.

She slowly built her reputation in the English-speaking world and was able to get invitations to present to academic bodies there. She also submitted countless articles to academic journals with mixed success and had them translated into French for potential publication there. But while she was building some acceptance in her field in the Anglo world, she was not able to get any recognition in her beloved France. She contacted her father Gabriel Reddy to try and find out why she was being ignored by her own people. Apparently, the academics of Paris had been insulted she’d chosen to do her higher studies in London rather than Paris and her own parents were also on the receiving end of their collective ire. Bettina was halfway through her second scholarly book which she simultaneously was completing in English and French, and she shed tears as she realized it would be some time before she could make a name for herself in her own country.

Bettina had fully intended to return to France and join a university there on completion of her contract with Imperial College Business School in London and was aghast at the thought she may not be accepted in France at the level she was being recognized in the Anglo world. She paused the simultaneous translation into French in recognition this might not be the right time to attempt to market this in her home country. Harvard had been putting out feelers for her to join their faculty there, but she’d informed them she had contractual relations with her present employer. They’d offered to pay out whatever financial obligations she had with Imperial College Business School to entice her to the US and the salary on offer far exceeded what she was presently receiving. But Bettina wanted to complete her contract as that was the honourable thing to do after they’d all been so good to her. Learning of the Harvard offer Imperial College offered to increase their salary and allowance offer but obviously they couldn’t match the financial backing of Harvard. Bettina went to consult with her academic father Dr. Beaufort. She explained she’d wanted to return to France but under the circumstances that seemed difficult to advance her career for the present.

Horace Beaufort asked for a day to think it over then visited her at her uncle’s home the next evening. Uncle Louis welcomed him at the door and ushered him inside shouting to Madame Vincent to bring refreshments while Dr. Beaufort protested. He did not want to be an inconvenience and had come to visit with Dr. Bettina Reddy. But French hospitality was not to be swept aside that easily and Madame Vincent descended on the room with an overwhelming supply of French delicacies and drink standing over the professor as he sampled the treats expectantly. She only departed smilingly when Dr. Beaufort had poured praises on her gifted offerings. While the professor was being entertained Louis disclosed that he was retiring and returning to France to enjoy his retirement years and would be selling his property in London, so Bettina was out looking at accommodation that evening but was expected home at any minute. Louis phoned Bettina and she assured him she was only minutes away from returning home soon arriving to rescue the professor from her uncle’s lengthy stories of diplomatic life. On Bettina’s arrival Uncle Louis retreated to his office. Madame Vincent remained just out of sight to listen into the conversation between Bettina and the professor. The professor spoke.

“Bettina I’ve considered your situation and concluded that accepting the position at Harvard would probably be in your best interest. The French do not have the same level of competition with the US as they do with London. After a few years in the US, you’ll probably find more acceptability at home if you still want to have your future there. So that would be my advice. I hope you’ll still consider travelling with me on some of my academic travels in future as I look on you as a daughter now.”

Bettina moved over to the professor’s chair and gave him a kiss on both cheeks in European style.

“Thank you, sir. I owe you the success I’ve had here and to be looked on as your daughter is an amazing thing. I don’t deserve that but value what you said immensely and would like to maintain our relationship that way. I’ll proudly respond to that and nothing you ask would be too much trouble as I’d drop what I was doing where possible to attend to your every need.”

The professor who’d always shown a stern though kind appearance was overwhelmed at what his student had just said. He had no heirs and suddenly felt comforted to know there was at least someone who cared that much for him. Tears formed in his eyes and Bettina seeing this hugged the old man.

The professor blushed in embarrassment. He’d not experienced this kind of affection since his mother had passed away. His father had been an academic but was detached and had never been a father figure to him as an only child, but his mother had been supportive and encouraged him as he fought his way up in the academic community until he was finally recognized as one of the greats in the academic world. All that travel and the stress of guiding students through their PhD studies along with his consultancy work with governments was beginning to be too much for him to handle. He was in his seventies now and knew he’d have to slow down. Obviously, he could never be happy in a sedentary lifestyle after such an active career but perhaps he could confine himself to work advising the government and writing scholarly articles for print now and limit his travels. He mentioned that to Bettina as he prepared to leave, and she reacted in surprise. To her this father figure was indestructible and the thought of him deciding to slow down she wondered how he’d manage to do that. She saw him to the door with her arm around him.

To be continued.

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