“Oh my God! Quick! Somebody call Oprah! My daughter is psychic!”
“I’m sorry,” I said, laughing. “I’m just completely frantic today.”
“Mmmhmmm, I’ll just bet you are. But it has nothing to do with your recently acquired business degree.”
“No,” I said. “I’m celebrating with Thomas. He’s taking me away for the weekend, and I’m trying desperately to get my shit together before he shows up this afternoon.” I locked my apartment door and sprinted down the stairs to my car.
“I understand,” she said. “I’ll let you go, but first I must say….”
“Yes?” I prompted.
“Congratulations. I’m so proud of you. I love you. And have fun this weekend.”
“Thank you, Mom,” I said, stopping at the door to my car and leaning against it for a moment. “I love you, too.”
“Goodbye, baby girl. Have fun this weekend.”
“Bye, Mom. I will,” I said laughing.
“Be sure to do everything I wouldn’t do.”
“Goodbye, Mom,” I said firmly, although I was still laughing.
* * *
I drove to the registrar’s office, located in the university’s administrative building, and flew inside, catching the secretary just before she was about to leave for lunch. She handed me my proof of course completion, and congratulated me, before shuffling off, presumably in search of lunch. I followed her out of the building, folding the paper into my purse and gazing at my surroundings numbly. Three and a half years of my life had been spent here. It was strange to think that, aside from coming back for the ceremony in the spring, I’d never really see this place again.
I walked to the quad, found the pathway through the side garden of the English building, and took a moment to stand alone among the snowy bushes and dormant plants. I was isolated and out of sight, the sounds of student chatter distant and hollow as their voices echoed off of days-old compacted snow.
A figure passed in front of a window on the wall of the English building, opposite of me. I squinted in the bright winter light and raised a hand to shield my eyes.
Well hello, Professor.
He was on the phone, pacing back and forth as he spoke. I scooped up a handful of snow, compressed it and threw a snowball at his office window. I saw his back stiffen at the sound of the impact. He turned to the window and looked out, saw me and spoke into his phone again before slipping it in his pocket. Then he bent over and raised the window.
“Jane Claremont.” He smiled at me and my whole body flamed so hotly to attention, I was surprised to see the snow around me hadn’t melted.
“Hi,” I said, and felt my face break out into an oversized grin.
“Hi yourself,” he said softly, his eyes darting around me to see if I was alone.
“I miss you,” I said, feeling my throat tighten at the admission.
“I miss you too,” he said. “Terribly. But I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay, what time?”
He looked at his watch. “Um, about an hour? I’ll call you when I’m on the way.”
“Okay,” I said, then stood there awkwardly. The exhibitionist in me wanted to do something, something sassy or flirty, something to leave him wanting more. “Flash him your boobs!” Lizzy Bendit yelled at me. In my head, I kicked her in the shins and shoved her down a flight of stairs.
“Okay,” he whispered and winked at me. “See you later.”
“Later.” I nodded up at him, raised my hand to my lips, and blew him a kiss.
He pretended to catch it, and pressed it to his chest, before shutting the window and disappearing out of view.
* * *
“Shit!” I skidded into my apartment, ran to the bedroom and frantically mashed piles of clothes and toiletries into my suitcase. The only garment to escape my thuggery was the little black dress. That was zipped into a garment bag and hung by the front door.
The bikini was a disaster. The stain was barely visible, but the suit was a sopping, soapy mess. I threw it into a plastic zip bag and headed for the door, dragging my suitcase and garment bag with me across the street, and down one block to the laundromat.
I added the bikini to the shortest wash cycle the machine would allow, then dug into my purse for a hairbrush and some blush to freshen up. I reached a reasonable approximation of presentability when my phone buzzed. It was Thomas.
Where are you?
Why? Where r u?
At your flat. You aren’t.
Sorry! At laundry. Minor issue. I’ll be there in about ten minutes. Sit tight.
No. Coming to you now.