Yes, she’d noticed that, and in fact, she was starving, but ... was he asking her to bring refreshments because she was the newest and youngest member of the committee or because she was one of the only women? Regardless, she couldn’t say no to the committee chair, not when she was trying to make a good impression.
“Sure,” she told him. “I’d be happy to.”
“Thanks.” He patted her on the shoulder, much as Stuart had done last week, and she still didn’t like it. “You’re a lifesaver. Have a good evening.”
By the time she left Sierra Hall, streetlamps had come on, illuminating the walkways outside. The fading glow of the sunset was visible behind the administration building to her left. Next week, Dr. Thompson would be speaking. That should be interesting. Audrey hadn’t heard her say more than a few sentences so far this semester. And yes, she knew she was spending too much time thinking about her former advisor.
Stubbornly, she pushed Dr. Thompson from her mind. When she got home that evening, she spent some time painting ceramics to clear her head. She was working on a set of mugs decorated with a pattern of fall leaves, and she loved the way they had turned out. Hopefully, they’d sell quickly once she posted them to her website.
After that, she FaceTimed her parents. Her mom had been asking for more pictures of her rental house—especially her home studio—so she took them on a quick video tour, walking through the house while they caught up before calling it a night.
The next morning came all too soon, marking the end of Audrey’s first week as a full-time professor. The week had had its ups and downs, but overall, she was calling it a win. After work, she’d been invited to dinner with Mercy and her husband. Rather than the standard bottle of wine, since Mercy didn’t drink, Audrey brought a vase she’d made, decorated in jewel tones and filled with a selection of red and orange gerbera daisies.
Mercy lived on a tree-lined street full of small colonial-style houses, about a ten-minute drive from the campus. Audrey’s GPS guided her to a brown-paneled house with a well-kept lawn. A dog barked when she rang the doorbell, and a fluffy golden face peered at her from the glass pane beside the door. It looked like some kind of poodle mix.
Mercy opened the door. “You’re right on time. Come in, and don’t mind Maple here. She gets excited when we have visitors, but she’s friendly.”
“Hi, Maple,” Audrey said to the dog, who was still barking. Maple quickly moved in to circle Audrey, fluffy tail wagging. “And this is for you.” Audrey held out the vase to her friend.
“Oh, it’s beautiful. Did you make this?”
Audrey nodded. “I noticed you favor jewel tones in your clothes, so I hoped this might go well with your decor.”
“It’ll be absolutely perfect in my home office. Thank you so much. Here, I’ll introduce you to Colin. He’s in the kitchen.” She led Audrey through the living room while Maple danced around them, still barking occasionally. A tall white man stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove. “Colin, this is Audrey. Audrey, my husband, Colin.”
“Nice to meet you,” Audrey said, extending her hand.
Colin gave it a firm shake. “Likewise. How are you settling in at the university?”
Audrey tipped her hand back and forth. “Mostly, really well. My classes have been great so far. It’s the administrative side of things that’s been more of a transition, getting all my accounts set up and meetings and things like that.”
“I hear you,” Colin said, reminding Audrey that Mercy had mentioned he was a fellow professor. Finance, she thought. “It can be a lot, learning all the ins and outs. Don’t let them dump too much on you. People tend to take advantage of the newest hires sometimes.”
“Especially when you’re a woman,” Mercy added.
“Yeah, Brad Folchuk asked me to bring refreshments to the next Sustainability Committee meeting, and I have a feeling he wouldn’t have if I were a man.” It had been bothering her ever since it happened.
Mercy frowned. “No, probably not.”
“I’ll do it this time, but I hope it doesn’t become a habit. Dr. Thompson and I are the only women on the committee.”
Mercy let out a little scoff. “Lot of help she’ll be.”
Audrey flinched. “I couldn’t believe it at first when you told me she was unpleasant, but I guess I don’t know her anymore. She was a different person when I was a student. She was so enthusiastic, sopassionatewhen she taught. She inspired me to become a professor myself. I don’t know how to reconcile that with how she acts now.”
“Sparkling water?” Mercy asked, turning from the fridge with a bottle in hand.
“Please,” Audrey said, then bent to pet Maple.
Mercy started pouring three glasses. “Honestly, I’ve never met the woman you’re describing. This is my fourth year at Northshire, and the Michelle I’ve known in that time has always been cold and standoffish. I hesitate to use certain terms to describe women, but you can imagine what the other professors call her.”
Audrey scrunched her nose. Yes, she could imagine.
“In my opinion, she’s part of the old guard, the tenured professors who’ve been here so long they just don’t care anymore. She’s set in her ways, always complaining about new technologies and initiatives. We need fewer professors like her and more like the ones in this room, if you ask me.” Mercy raised her eyebrows for emphasis. “Young, progressive minds who want to make the department—and the university—a better, more inclusive place.”
“We’re ‘woke,’” Colin said, making air quotes around the word.
Mercy made a face at him. “Oh, honey, no. Conservatives have ruined that word forever.”
