“Okay,” Audrey agreed, telling herself it was because of the garden and not because she was eager to see Michelle.
She and Mercy went out through the sliding glass door in the living room, skirting the patio on their way into the garden. “I bet this is gorgeous in the springtime,” Audrey commented as they walked past a row of rosebushes, which were long past flowering for the season.
“I bet it is,” Mercy agreed. “Colin and I have some rosebushes behind our house too. The previous owner planted them, but I love them. There’s nothing like the smell of fresh roses, is there?”
“One of my favorite scents.” Although she could understand why the garden wasn’t a bigger draw tonight, since none of the plants were flowering right now. Two women stood at the end of the path, backlit by the white lights strung over the trellis, but Audrey was pretty sure ...
“Looks like you found her,” Mercy said quietly, gesturing toward the women. “Not sure why you’re looking for her after the way she acted on your first day, but you do you, I guess.”
Audrey’s cheeks flushed hot. “I ... well, we’re on the Sustainability Committee together, and I think we’re becoming friendly. Iwantto be friendly with her. She was such an inspiration to me when I was an undergrad, even if she isn’t quite the same person now.”
“I get that. Mentors are important. Just don’t give her second chances she doesn’t deserve, okay? Because there’s a reason most folks in the department don’t like her.”
“I won’t.” Audrey drank some of her punch. “But if you could have seen her then, Mercy ... she was really something.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Mercy looked unconvinced. “Anyway, let’s go say hello.”
“Okay.” Audrey led the way toward the two women. Michelle was talking to a tall, slim woman with snow-white hair, and at her approach, they both turned toward her.
Michelle’s lips curved in a small but genuine smile that made Audrey’s heart beat way too fast. She had on a black blouse and wide-leg black pants that accentuated her curves. Her hair, which she usually wore pulled back into a neat twist at work, was down tonight, hanging over her shoulders with a loose wave.
The effect was devastating, in the very best way. Audrey’s knees went weak, becausemy god, Michelle was stunning tonight, not that that was an appropriate thing to say ... or even to notice. Her gaze shifted to the striking woman beside Michelle. Was this her wife?
“Audrey, this is Greta Elkin, Marcus’s wife,” Mercy said. “And you already know Michelle.”
Greta held out a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Audrey said as she shook the hand of this woman who wasnotMichelle’s wife. Mercy and Greta commented on the weather while Audrey’s gaze slipped to Michelle’s left hand, which held a glass containing an amber liquid, her ring finger noticeably bare. There had been a gold band there when Audrey was an undergrad. She was sure of it.
How had she not noticed the lack of a wedding ring until now?
“What do you teach, Audrey?” Greta asked, and Audrey yanked herself back into the conversation.
“I’ve got a couple of ceramics classes, which I’m absolutely loving. I’m a potter in my spare time, so I could talk about pottery techniques for hours. But my favorite is my Women in Art class, which evolved from my PhD dissertation. I’ve been passionate about women artists since I took Michelle’s art history class my freshman year of college.” She lobbed the compliment, hoping to ease them back into the rapport they’d shared last night, but Michelle’s expression had gone flat.
Greta turned toward Michelle. “She’s teaching your class?”
What did that mean? Michelle’s class? Audrey made a mental note to find out later.
“No, not mine.” Michelle stared into the amber liquid in her glass. “This is a new class Audrey developed.”
“Well, that’s wonderful,” Greta said. “And what a full circle moment, Audrey, to have been Michelle’s student and now to be here teaching in the same department.”
“It is,” Audrey agreed. “I couldn’t be happier.”
“Give us the scoop, Michelle,” Mercy said. “What was Audrey like as a student?”
Michelle sipped her drink, looking thoughtful. “It probably wouldn’t surprise you that she was very enthusiastic.”
Mercy laughed, nudging Audrey playfully. “That doesn’t surprise me one bit. Tell us more. Was Audrey a total teacher’s pet?”
Audrey sipped her punch as discomfort squirmed between her shoulder blades. Right now, she was trying to find her footing withher new peers, to be taken seriously as a professor. She didn’t want her colleagues thinking about her as a student. Not to mention, she was a little afraid to hear what Michelle might say. What if she’d noticed Audrey’s crush back then? What if she commented on it now? That would be mortifying.
And so,sounprofessional.
“Audrey was one of my best students,” Michelle said, holding Audrey’s gaze. “She always had intelligent questions, always wanted to know more than what I’d presented in class. When I first met her, she was set on a career as a potter, but I soon saw that she had the mind of an academic with a real passion for art history, so I showed her the possibility of a career in academia.” She paused, those golden brown eyes still locked on Audrey’s. She soundedproud, and Audrey wanted to pinch herself. “And here we are.”
“Okay, that’s a hell of a story,” Mercy said. “Especially the part where Audrey ended up back here at Northshire.”
