Audrey had just returned from her morning ceramics class when Michelle tapped on her open office door. “Got a minute? I have news.”
Audrey stood from her chair. The look on Michelle’s face made her think it was good news. “For you? Always.”
Michelle gave her a kiss on the cheek right there in her office with the door open, and Audrey loved it. They hadn’t announced their imminent departures from the department yet, but they’d decided it was time to go public with their relationship, because who cared? Audrey no longer feared job retribution if Stuart found out. He’d already let her go.
“I’ve been in contact with an acquaintance who works for McGraw Hill,” Michelle said. “They’ve offered me a contract to write two textbooks for them over the next year. If that goes well, there’s the potential to extend my contract.”
“Oh wow. What kind of textbooks?”
“History, of course,” Michelle said, her eyes sparkling. “I think I’ll enjoy this.”
“That’s so great!” Audrey pulled her in for an impulsive hug. “So this is what you’ll be doing for the next year?”
Michelle nodded. “For at least a year, and I’ll still have plenty of time to work on my own book projects. Best of all, the position is remote. I can work from anywhere.”
“It sounds perfect. I’m thrilled for you.”
Their arms were still around each other, and Michelle spun her in a circle, as exuberant as the young Dr. Thompson from Audrey’s memories. “Will you stop feeling guilty about me quitting my job now? I’m excited about this. It’s not my dream job, but it’s a stepping stone,and it might even look good to publishers when I’m ready to submit my novel. I’ll write textbooks while I try to get my fiction career off the ground.”
“Yes,” Audrey said, smiling. “I’ll stop feeling guilty about it now.”
“You’ll find something soon, too, and once we know where you’ll be working, we can decide where we’ll live.” Michelle winked. “Maybe even London.”
Audrey nodded, biting her lip. It really sucked that they couldn’t stay right here. She lovedthisuniversity and especially the classes she got to teach here. She’d come to love living in Vermont, too, and while she would embrace London if that was where life led them, she’d rather stay here, as long as that made Michelle happy too.
As they parted ways to teach their next classes, Audrey forced herself to stay optimistic about the future. Her career was just getting started. There would be more campuses, more classes, more opportunities, maybe even better than what she’d had here at Northshire.
“I heard a rumor about you.”
Audrey sat across from Mercy in the break room and popped the lid off her salad container. “Oh yeah? Which one?”
Mercy’s eyebrows rose. “Is there more than one rumor circulating about you right now?”
“Honestly?” Audrey sighed. “I can think of at least two, and I’ve been looking for the right time to tell you about both things.”
“Okay.” Mercy drew the word out. “So tell me.”
“First, I’m dating Michelle.”
Mercy grinned, pointing her fork in Audrey’s direction before she jabbed it into her lunch, some sort of pasta dish that smelled amazing. “That’s the one I heard, and I’m glad it’s true. She seems happier lately, and I assume that’s your influence. In fact, I think you two might be perfect for each other.”
“I think so too.” Audrey’s cheeks were hot. “We’re really happy together ... actually, we’re head over heels in love with each other.”
“Hell, yes.” Mercy gave a little cheer. “Good for you. That’s great news.”
“Yeah, so things with Michelle are great, but things with my job are not so great. I’m actually leaving at the end of the semester.”
Mercy sat back in her seat, lips parted in shock. “No! Why?”
“They couldn’t renew my contract. Budget cuts.” She wrinkled her nose. “It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but it sucks. I really loved teaching here.”
“Dammit, I loved you teaching here too.” Mercy stabbed angrily at her pasta. “It was so nice having a friend in the department. I’m sorry. Have you found a new job yet?”
She shook her head. “It’s only been a week, but I’m applying for everything I can find.”
“What about Michelle? I assume you’re looking outside Vermont, since there isn’t much else around here. Are you two open to trying things long distance?”
“She, um, she actually quit her job, so we’re both leaving.”
