Part 10 (1/2)
”Have we-” she says.
”Professor Callum,” I cut in, striving for the formal.
”I always seem to be running into you. I didn't realize you came here,” I add, realizing too late how inane this sounds.
”Yes, well, sometimes being in my office gets too ... quiet.” I can't really see how that's funny at all, but of course my sister laughs, her famous one-look-at-me-and-you'll-lose-your-heart-forever laugh, and right on cue Alistair does look at her.
”And this is my sister, Rowena,” I say, focusing on the pattern of Alistair's tie, red diamonds on a black background, until it makes me slightly nauseated.
”Rowena, Professor Callum” Alistair s.h.i.+fts his briefcase from one hand to the other, looks at me through the prism of his gla.s.ses, then angles his head toward my sister. All the hum and chatter of the cafe seem to have fallen away at this moment, leaving a hollow ringing in my ears.
”How lovely to meet you, Rowena,” Alistair says at last. Her name curls, falls slowly off his tongue, the three syllables so sharply distinguished that I lift my eyes to stare at him. Rowena makes a motion to rise, and of course Alistair makes the reciprocal motion to indicate no, don't get up, so she doesn't. She extends her slim hand.
”How nice to finally meet one of Tarn's professors,” Rowena says, as if I have been deliberately squirreling all my teachers away from her.
”He's not my-”But Rowena is already saying, ”Please, sit,” to Alistair.
”Oh, no, Professor Callum, we don't want to keep you,” I interject, but he has already pulled back a chair.
”So formal,” he chides me gently.
”And here I was sure that we were on a first-name basis, Miss Greene” And he bares his teeth in what could pa.s.s for a smile. Swallowing, I pull my chair out, careful not to b.u.mp into anyone this time. I sit, studying the flecks of cinnamon in my iced mocha.
”Are you also a student at”-here Alistair pauses and looks at me for confirmation-”New Hyde Prep, was it?” Rowena laughs merrily and I see two guys at a neighboring table look over at her. I trace my spoon through the muddy dregs at the bottom of my gla.s.s.
”Oh, no. I'm older than Tamsin,” she says, leaning forward a little as if revealing a secret.
”Indeed?” Alistair says politely.
”I couldn't tell who was older. ”
”Thanks,” I say. Alistair looks amused at my tone.
”You're far too young to be worried about looking old, Miss Gr-oh, yes, Tamsin”
He and Rowena smile at each other and all at once I want to kick his chair.
”I just happened to be in the city and Tamsin was helping me shop for my wedding dress,” she informs him as if they're old confidants. I give the ice cubes in my drink a stir with my straw, hard enough so that they rattle audibly.
”Oh, yes? When is the happy event?” As Rowena chatters on about details and Alistair makes the appropriate noises here and there, I study him covertly. He looks tired, and his fingers are trembling slightly as they grip and flex around his mug of tea, like mine do when I've had too much caffeine.
”But I'm afraid we're boring Tam,” Rowena's voice cuts into my thoughts.
”She doesn't find wedding dresses all that fascinating. Or dresses in particular” I stare at her. So much for the sisterly camaraderie she's been foisting on me for the past two hours. Alistair smiles politely and turns to me.
”So,” he says, ”have you had any luck with the ... project?” My fingers tighten on my straw.
”Yes, but why don't I come by your office tomorrow and-”
”Oh, but if you found it, then why not-”
”What's this?” Rowena breaks in, leaning across the table.
”Is this a homework a.s.signment?” she asks and gives another one of her delicate laughs.
”I just told you he's not my professor,” I say. Underneath the table, I try to mash my foot down on hers but end up kicking the table leg instead.
”You haven't told your sister?” Alistair says to me now, and I give up all hope of getting out of this situation alive.
”Alistair asked me to find something,” I burst out.
”To find ... oh!” Rowena gives a little gasp as if she just got burned.
”But ... Tam . .”
I stare at her, wis.h.i.+ng that one of her gifts is telepathy so I can scream silently at her to shut up.
”How would you even manage . .”
She trails off, and now I feel like reaching across the table and slapping the look of confusion off her perfect face.
”I found it,” I hiss at her. Her jaw doesn't exactly drop, but her eyes go wide, and I try to memorize the moment since it's probably all the satisfaction I'm ever going to get. Alistair pins his gaze on me.
”You have?” he asks quietly. His fingers are trembling again and he pushes the mug away from him. I nod, suddenly reluctant to speak.
”What is it?” Rowena asks and then, toying with the sugar packets on the table, adds, ”Of course, if you'd rather not...”
”No, no, that's fine. After all, you are sisters,” Alistair says, and there is something in the way that he draws on the word sisters, similar to the way he said Rowena's name, that makes me suddenly sit up straighter.
”I mean, it's the family business and all, right?”
”I'll bring it to you tomorrow. Do you have office hours?” I watch as the features in his face s.h.i.+ft to accommodate this.
”Yes, but-”
”Why not now?” Rowena interjects. This time I do connect the blunt edge of my sneaker with her s.h.i.+n, but she barely reacts.
”Your dorm's close by, isn't it?”
”No. And it isn't at the dorm,” I say through clenched teeth.
”Where is it, then?” Alistair asks, leaning forward a little.
”Yes, where is it, Tam?” Rowena echoes. Then she puts it together.
”Oh, at Uncle Chester's house.”