The Wife Between Us(61)

I saw Maggie peeking out from under her blindfold, violating another rule. “I hate it when I can’t see. It makes me feel claustrophobic.”

“Put it back on,” I instructed. “It’s only for another few minutes.”

As we passed by fraternity houses on Greek Row, guys clapped and cheered, “Go, Chi O!”

Jessica, the wildest girl in our sorority, lifted up her shirt and flashed her hot-pink bra, earning a standing ovation. I was pretty sure Jessica would end up sleeping out tonight; she’d been matching the pledges shot for shot.

Beside me was Leslie, one of my closest friends. Her arm was linked through mine, and she was singing along to “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” with all the other girls. Normally I would have been shouting the lyrics along with them, but I hadn’t had a sip of alcohol. How could I, knowing a little life was inside me?

I thought about the beach. The place where Daniel and I had likely conceived. I couldn’t go there.

“Hey,” I whispered. “I feel like crap. Can you do me a favor? Watch Maggie at the ocean?”

Leslie made a face. “She’s kind of a dud. Why’d we vote her in?”

“She’s just shy. She’ll be fine. And she’s a good swimmer, I already asked.”

“Whatever. Feel better. And you owe me.”

I found Maggie and told her I was ill. She lifted up her blindfold again, but this time I let it slide.

“Where are you going? You can’t leave me.”

“You’ll be okay.” I was annoyed at the whine in her tone. “Leslie will look out for you. Just tell her if you need anything.”

“Which skinny blonde is she?”

I rolled my eyes and pointed in Leslie’s direction. “She’s our vice president.”

I peeled away from the group as they turned the corner and began to march the last two blocks to the ocean. The faculty housing was on the other side of campus, a fifteen-minute walk if I cut across the quad. I tried Daniel a final time. Straight to voice mail, again. I wondered if he’d turned off his phone.

I thought back to the girl who’d approached him after class this afternoon. I’d been so focused on Daniel that I hadn’t paid attention to her. But now, as if I were watching a movie and the camera was panning back to encompass her, I saw her anew. She was quite attractive. How close had she stood to him?

Daniel had told me I was the first student he’d ever slept with. I’d never doubted that until this moment.

He could be out with her for all I knew.

I didn’t realize I’d quickened my step until I began to breathe more heavily from exertion.

The faculty homes were all in a row, just like the Greek houses. They lined the very edge of campus, back behind the Agriculture Department’s greenhouse. The two-story redbrick structures weren’t fancy, but they were rent-free—a great perk for a college professor.

His Alfa Romeo was parked in the driveway of house number nine.

My plan had been to knock on a door and ask where Daniel—no, Professor Barton—lived. I was going to say I had a paper I had to turn in, that I’d given him the wrong draft in class. But the car eliminated that need. Now I knew exactly where he lived. And he was home.

I pressed the buzzer, and one of Daniel’s professor roommates answered. “Can I help you?” She tucked her wheat-colored hair behind an ear. A calico cat sauntered into the room and rubbed its head against her ankle.

“It’s the stupidest thing. Is Professor Barton here? I just realized I, um, gave him the wrong—”

The woman was turning around to look at someone descending the stairs. “Honey? One of your students is here.”

He almost ran down the final steps. “Vanessa! What brings you to my home so late at night?”

“I—I gave you the wrong paper.” I knew my eyes were wild as they flicked between Daniel and the woman who’d called him “honey.”

“Oh, no problem,” Daniel said quickly. He was smiling too brightly. “Just submit a new version tomorrow.”

“But I—” I blinked hard against tears as he began to shut the door on me.

“Wait a minute.” The woman reached out to stop the door’s movement, and that’s when I saw the gold band wrapped around her finger. “You came all the way out here to talk about a paper?”

I nodded. “You’re his wife?” I was still hoping it was a roommate, that this was some kind of misunderstanding. I tried to keep my voice even and casual. But it broke.

“I am. I’m Nicole.”

She looked at my face more carefully. “Daniel, what is going on?”

“Nothing.” Daniel’s blue eyes widened. “I guess she turned in the wrong paper.”

“Which class is this?” his wife asked.

“Family Sociology,” I said quickly. It was the class I took last semester. I didn’t lie to protect Daniel. I did it for the woman standing in front of me. She was barefoot and wore no makeup. She looked tired.

I think she wanted to believe me. Maybe she would have. She might have closed the door and heated up oil for popcorn and cuddled with Daniel on the couch while they watched Arrested Development. Daniel could have explained me away, as if I were a mosquito to be batted aside. “These kids are so stressed about grades,” he might’ve said. “Remind me, how long until I can retire?”