“Audrey, I’m teasing. I might not go around waving a rainbow flag, but everyone here knows I’m gay. I guess I assumed you did too.”
Audrey still had a hand over her face, but now she peeked at Michelle from between her fingers. “That wasnotfunny. I feel terrible.”
“Please don’t. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“I did hear rumors, back when I was a student ... that you had a wife,” Audrey spoke haltingly. “And I hoped the rumors were true. I mean ... I was just figuring out I was bisexual at the time, and you were so cool, so successful. You must know I idolized you. To think that you were also queer and happily married ... that gave me hope for my own future, you know?”
“Idolized, as in past tense?” Michelle didn’t know why that was the part she’d fixated on or why she kept teasing Audrey. Tonight, she had brought out a side of Michelle that she barely recognized, a more lighthearted version of herself that she hadn’t seen in years.
“It would be weird to idolize my coworker, I think,” Audrey said, seeming to regain her footing in the conversation. “I’m only just getting used to calling you Michelle.”
“You have a point.” Michelle took another sip of her whisky. The warmth in her stomach suggested she might be nearing her limit for the evening. “And I did have a wife. We’ve recently divorced.”
“Oh,” Audrey said softly. “I’m really sorry to hear that.”
Michelle wasn’t sure how to respond, only that she didn’t want to talk about Kelly right now. “Thank you. So, did you leave a significant other back in Boston?”
Audrey shook her head. “No serious relationships for me, at least not yet. I’ve been too focused on my career. My dissertation was mylover for years. I’m sure you remember how much that process takes over your life.”
“I do, and now your dedication has paid off.” She gestured around them. “Here you are, living your dream.”
“Well ...” Audrey glanced over her shoulder at the party behind them.
Somehow, Michelle hadn’t noticed how far they’d wandered from the other guests. This corner of the garden was dark and private. She tended to migrate here to have a little space for herself, but it felt different to be here with Audrey.
“The university only offered me a one-year contract to start,” Audrey said, and Michelle was glad for the darkness then because hopefully it covered her surprise.
“Really?”
Audrey nodded. “If Stuart and the other members of the hiring committee are pleased with my performance, hopefully they’ll offer me a permanent, tenure-track position at the end of this academic year, but right now, I’m still temporary.”
“I’m sorry they’ve done that to you. I know it’s gotten harder to secure a tenured position in recent years.” It was why she was still here, after all. If she didn’t fear for her ability to find a comparable position somewhere else, she would have been long gone as soon as Kelly left her.
“Yeah, so ... I’m determined to make the best impression I can, you know? I’ve got to knock their socks off, give them no choice but to keep me around.”
“I’d say you’re off to a good start. Everyone I’ve spoken to thinks you’re doing well.” Not that Michelle spoke to many people in the department. And anyway, she should probably be rooting for Audrey to fail, because then Stuart might give the Women in Art class to Michelle, to whom it belonged.
“Any tips are appreciated,” Audrey said, eyeing Michelle over her punch glass. “Like, how do I schmooze Stuart? Who else do I need tosuck up to in the department if I want to get ahead? You must know all the department politics.”
“And you must know I’m the wrong person to ask.” Not because she had it out for Audrey, because she didn’t. When it came down to it, Michelle wanted Audrey to succeed, despite her resentment about the Women in Art class. “I’m probably the least popular professor in the department.”
“I know you’ve been teaching here for at least fifteen years and that you’re incredibly smart and observant,” Audrey countered. “I don’t care about other people’s opinions of you.”
Michelle swirled her whisky, debating how to respond. “First of all, you don’t schmooze Stuart. It’s Linda you need to impress. He values her opinion more than anyone else’s.”
Audrey grinned like Michelle had just given her an after-hours, all-access pass to the Louvre. “Go on.”
“But do ask him about his Norman Rockwell collection.”
Audrey’s eyes widened. “Okay.”
“He’s going to want to see your name out there on as many journal articles as possible, especially this year. You should start submitting early and often.”
Audrey gulped. “I’ve been so focused on my classes, I fell behind on my research. Thanks for the reminder.”
“Of course. Aside from that, I think you’re already doing the right things. I see you around campus, making connections. You seem well liked in the department.” More well liked than Michelle, certainly. “Actually, I do have one other suggestion, and please don’t take this the wrong way.”
Audrey gave her a cautious look. “Okay.”
