Read Better Deeds Than Words (Words#2) Online

Authors: Georgina Guthrie

Better Deeds Than Words (Words#2) (32 page)

“Well, she does,” he protested indignantly.

Trina had apparently reached the end of her tether. Her face was almost as bright as her magenta hair. Maybe the pent-up stress of the week was getting to me, but I couldn’t help bursting out laughing. Everyone turned to me, as surprised by my outburst as they’d been by Cara earlier.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Phew, stressful week. I needed that.” I rubbed my eyes and looked at Vince. “Comic relief is definitely your forte. Oddly enough, you have a point. If anyone wants to verify Mr. Costa’s claims, check Act Four, Scene Four. Helena definitely enjoyed consummating the marriage.”

Vince smiled and shrugged. “Sorry, Trina. Guess I’m not talking outta my butt this time.”

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. I looked at my watch and scanned the table. There was plenty of time left, but the tone of the discussion had gone downhill, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get things back on track, even if I wanted to.

“I know you’re all stressed with final papers and exams coming up. What I’d suggest at this point is getting your notes in order and making sure you set up an appointment with either Professor Brown or me if you need to work anything through before the exam. Would everyone be okay with wrapping up early?”

Of course there was a unanimous nodding of heads and murmured assent.

“In that case, let me just say it’s been a really interesting semester. I know it’s been difficult, with the loss of Mary, but I’ve enjoyed my time with you and learned a great deal through this process. I wish you all good luck in your final exams and whatever the future brings.”

I expected them to all start packing up and pushing their chairs back, but no one moved. Aubrey and Julie looked at each other. A few people glanced over at Cara. She stood up self-consciously.

“Um, before we go, Daniel, there’s something I wanted to say. It’s kinda on behalf of all of us.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a small wrapped gift with a card attached. “We got you something. Well, my mom got it, but we all chipped in, and everyone signed the card, and, well, yeah, it’s just to say thanks. We had a good semester. And you helped us a lot. Well, I know you helped
me
a lot. So, yeah.”

She walked around the table to hand me the present. I was utterly shocked.

“Thank you.” I took the gift and sat there feeling awkward and strangely ill. “This is, well, unexpected. Should I open it now?”

Everyone nodded encouragement. I removed the card from the envelope. It was full of signatures along with some personal messages. I would read them later. I ripped open the wrapping of the gift and found a small box, “Sheaffer” inscribed on the top. Nestled inside the silk lining was a brushed silver pen, mechanical pencil, and letter opener set. My name was engraved on the side of the pen. The pencil and the handle of the letter opener were similarly engraved. A lump formed in my throat.

I shook my head and looked up and down the table. Aubrey smiled encouragingly, probably sensing how overwhelmed I was. Suddenly I realized that this is what she’d been keeping from me—the secret that, as a
student
, she hadn’t wanted me to know. This is what Cara had been up to all week. Collecting donations.

“Everyone, this is…really…very nice. Thank you so much. And thank you for organizing this, Miss Switzer. I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, since you’re speechless, can I make a request?” Julie asked.

“Yes, of course,” I replied.

“Could you lose the whole last name bit before we go?”

I laughed. “Too much?” I looked around at the vociferous nodding. “My apologies. This was my first real experience as a teacher’s assistant. The formality seemed like a good idea at the time. I suppose there was as much of a learning curve here for me as there was for all of you. So, yes,
Julie
, I think I can oblige.”

“Ah, thank you, that’s so much better!” Julie sighed and relaxed back in her chair, eliciting laughter from her peers. Aubrey clasped Julie’s hand tightly and smiled.

“Oh, and speaking of my failings.” I reached into my bag and pulled out a large manila envelope. “I almost forgot. The English department has asked you to fill out these questionnaires to give me some feedback on my performance as TA. It’s not mandatory, and they’re anonymous, but if you’d like to complete one and bring it to class on Monday, Professor Brown will collect them. Try to be nice. Think about all those good things Cara just said, okay?”

I handed the pile to Neil, who took one and passed on the remaining sheets. Everyone packed up as the pile of questionnaires traveled around the table. One by one, people wished me a good weekend, and Neil actually shook my hand before exiting. At the door, Aubrey subtly bobbed her head at the hallway—an invitation to leave together. I shook my head, just as inconspicuously, and she sighed in frustration.

She tossed her bag over her shoulder and reluctantly followed Julie toward the door. The only people left were Cara, Shawn, Lindsay, and Vince. I interrupted them as they headed out.

“Cara? May I have a word?”

“Sure. I’ll catch up with you guys back at the Kap house.”

“You want me to wait out here for you?” Shawn offered.

“No, that’s okay. Go ahead.”

She waved them off then turned to look at me.

“I wanted to reiterate my gratitude,” I said. “For the gift. It was very thoughtful.”

“It’s okay. Everyone said it was a good idea. No one needed to be talked into it or anything like that.”

“You’ve made a lot of progress this term. You should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

“I meant what I said before. I know you went out of your way to help me. I’m sure I was starting to, like, get on your nerves or something. This stuff doesn’t come easy for me like it does for people like Shawn, or Aubrey…”

Aubrey
. Her name hung in the air between us.

“Yes, well, I suppose that makes your achievement all the more satisfying. You’ve, ah, you’ve worked hard for it.” I was struggling to speak coherently.

She shrugged. “Thanks.”

She watched me expectantly while I tried not to betray my mental gymnastics, sorting through the potential consequences of what I was about to do.

Oh, fuck it.

I opened the flap of my bag and took out the folder.

“Look, Miss Switzer—Cara. I’ve been thinking about your essay. I hope you realize I had no intention of showing it to anyone. In fact, there’s no need for me to hang on to it. So, here.” I pulled the essay from the folder and handed it to her. “You can have it back.”

She held it in her hands, looking down at it for a moment as a voice in the back of my mind shrieked, “
Noooooooo, what have you done?
” But it was too late. It—whatever
it
was—my fate perhaps—was in her hands now. Literally.

She rolled it up and curled her hand around it. “Thanks. That does make me feel a bit better. Well, I guess I should go,” she said, taking a few steps backward. “Have a good weekend.”

“You too,” I barely managed to choke out.

I spent the rest of the afternoon castigating myself for giving Cara her essay back, but as I sat at my desk that evening, gazing at the engraved pen set, I couldn’t help thinking my worries were completely unfounded. Would she have gone to all the effort of collecting money and buying me a gift if she was harboring ill will against me?

When I opened my email account and found a message from Aubrey—the one I’d been waiting almost a week for—all thoughts of Cara evaporated immediately. I knew as soon as I read the subject line what was in store for me:

From: Miss_V
To: Jung Willman
Date: Fri, Apr 17, 8:47:56 PM
Subject: “Wilt thou hear some music, my sweet love?”

Okay, mister. You seemed a little melancholy today at the end of class, and I decided you must need a little pick me up. So, grab that CD, make yourself comfy, and open the attachment. I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed the one you made for me.

Love & hot, wet kisses,
Your Poppet

After being momentarily distracted by the thought of Aubrey’s kisses, I found the disc and inserted it into the CD drive of my laptop.

I opened the attachment and flaked out on the couch, alternately closing my eyes to listen to the songs and reading the notes she’d included. Her words took me on a little journey through our relationship thus far, this time from her perspective.

Listening to that CD was easily the best seventy-five minutes of my week. The songs she’d picked were a perfect escape. In fact, the message she’d written to accompany the last song filled me with so much hope that I could barely contain my desire to steal her away somewhere.

I love Ingrid Michaelson, Daniel, but I may regret ending the CD with the song “Overboard.” In fact, I already feel my stoic pride-or whatever the hell it is that makes me so stubborn and determined to do everything for myself-rearing its ugly head and trying to beat me back down. I’m choosing to ignore it. Like Ingrid says in the song, you can catch me, Daniel. I will let you. That’s how much I love you. I hope you understand the significance of those words and how hard they are for me to say.

All my love, Aubrey.

The CD finished. The words ended. I wanted both to go on forever. Now I understood why Aubrey had said the CD I’d made for her had been the best gift she’d ever received.

You can catch me.

Did this mean that she would let me help her? Allow me to make her life easier? I snatched my phone off the coffee table, determined to get clarification, but as I passed my thumb across the display, I realized the inadvisability of doing that. This admission wouldn’t have been easy. No. I wouldn’t push the issue. I’d let things be.

That didn’t mean I couldn’t call her, though. If she was going to let me catch her, it wouldn’t hurt to remind her that I was there, right beside her, behind her, wherever she needed me to be.

Aubrey