Pentimento

Chapter 9 - Back Home

Marjorie hadn't woken up when Rose left for work two days later. Connie had been delighted to hear Rose was back and had phoned her to make sure she would be stopping by for coffee.

"Good morning!"

"Well, a good morning indeed! I'm so happy you're back, I'm so full of gossip, I don't even know where to begin!" Connie took her to the back area behind the reception desk, which was hidden from the students by a blurred window.

A plate with cookies was lying on the table. They were still warm, and Rose ate two while Connie gave her an update on the ins and outs of the lives of their colleagues.

"Did you happen to hear anything about the art department?"

"You know what, I never do! They're so tight nit there. Way too many boys if you ask me. They're all friends too so I suppose that's why they never pop up in the gossip. Why? Do you have your eye on a certain someone? Oh, that would be exciting, wouldn't it!"

Connie's eyes sparkled like someone had just offered her a grand prize she'd always wanted. She had set up Rose with multiple men over the years (and once a woman, just to be sure), it never worked out, but Connie was as determined as ever to find her friend a soulmate.

"I was just wondering about Dr. Headley."

Connie frowned, he was quite old for Rose, in her opinion. But, she thought while her face cleared, whatever would make Rose happy.

"Well, he used to be quite famous, he did lectures all over the country, he's the head of the art department. Though I never see him around campus. They all tend to stay in their little art area."

"Hmm, I wonder if I've ever seen him here."

"You must have! There is a picture of him in the hallway with famous alumni! Though I think I've never seen him on this side of campus."

"I guess I'll check it out then."

"So, is someone setting you guys up for a blind date or something?" said Connie, trying not to feel too threatened in her job as a matchmaker.

Rose raised her eyebrows, "No? Why?"

"Well, you know his name already, but you don't even know what he looks like!"

Rose shook her head, "His name popped up in conversation, I just wondered if he still lectured here."

Connie was incredibly disappointed and took a cookie from the plate to angrily bite in.

"I'll keep you updated if I hear anything about the art department. You know, there is a guy your age there, Sebastian, I think?"

Rose nodded without registering her words, "I'm going to get to class, we'll catch up more later, okay!"

In between classes, as casually as she could manage, she walked by the wall of famous alumni. Nerves racing through her body, she looked into all the eyes staring at her. Until she saw them. So unmistakable that it gave her shivers. Eyes that looked like Rembrandt painted them himself and a gold plate engraved with the name Dr. Evert Headley. As soon as she got her shaking legs under control she fled to the bathroom where she sat in silence until she had gathered the courage to call Marjorie and update her. After a few minutes, the bell forced her into another classroom.

The rest of the day she was distracted by several dead psychologists and her lively students, but when she walked home through the cold air, something seemed to weigh on her. Her full day hadn't allowed her to think much more about Dr. Headley, but now that she was out on the street it felt like he was watching her, waiting for her to make a move so he could attack. He had been here all this time and she had never noticed, never even seen him. If she had just gotten over her fear of anything to do with art, she might have gone to that part of campus and recognized him. Maybe he had been watching her all this time.

She shook her head, "Don't be silly," she whispered to herself. Still, she looked around her and then turned around to make sure no one was walking behind her. There was no one, obviously. But the feeling of eyes pinned on her stayed until she opened the door to a lovely smelling apartment.

"Good evening!"

"Hi! What is all this?"

"I decided to spend the amount that I saved on a hotel on food." Marjorie didn't seem bothered by her own excessive spending and proudly presented the full kitchen island.

With raised eyebrows, Rose walked around it. She recognized several packages from the local Chinese, but some wrappers she had never seen before, presumably because that was from restaurants not accustomed to a teacher's salary.

With chopsticks in hand, she asked, "Did you find out anything more today?"

Marjorie shook her head, "I send emails to all of my previous sources on the story, but I don't know when they'll get back to me. I gathered all the info I could get on Dr. Headley too. I got a list of his Facebook friends printed out too. How crazy that that picture was hanging there all along!"

"I can hardly believe it. I don't actually think I do believe it?"

With slight worry in her voice, Marjorie said, "It is him, right? You are sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure, but it doesn't feel real, is all."

Rose didn't tell her about how she used to be unable to close her eyes, because she would see his eyes, staring at her. And how that went away when she got older. Now, she was aware every time she blinked because the eyes were there again, staring at her.

"Well, we don't have to do anything about it tonight. We are just going to eat this delicious food, I claim that big spring roll, and we'll have some wine and just relax!"

Rose smiled and got her wine glasses from the back of the cabinet.

Pondering over what their next steps should be, they both went to bed early. After tossing and turning for almost two hours, Rose decided to make herself a cup of tea.

"Good morning," she heard when she opened her bedroom door. Marjorie sat on the couch in her pajamas, with a blanket around her shoulders and a bottle of wine in her hand.

"You want some?"

Rose sighed, "yes please."

"Nightcap that's called."

"Dutch courage is what it's called," said Rose.

"Pff, we don't need courage."

Rose looked at Marjorie, her head slightly turned to the side.

"Okay, maybe we do need a little bit," Marjorie laughed.

Rose laughed with her.